Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
I dragged myself through Shadow and the Bone because
I wanted to read this book. It has been
on my TBR for the last year. I am
kicking myself for not reading it sooner.
Six of Crows is essentially a YA fantasy heist book. Six teens travel to the North to break a
scientist who has developed a dangerous drug out of the most secure place in
the world. Which kind of sounds as if it
will be ridiculous but ended up being awesome.
Some of the reason that I enjoyed Six of Crows more
than Shadow and the Bone was the switch from third person past to first
person. First person is pretty tricky
for me. If the author doesn’t hit
exactly the right note then I get all huffy and start resenting the
narrator. It is a problem. I am far more forgiving of third person
narration.
I was hardcore rooting for each of the couples. There isn’t really any kissing which makes
sense because they are pulling a job and if any of them had been making out I
would have been yelling at them (literally) for being stupid.
Kaz is a magnificent bastard mastermind in the full
tradition of that trope. I know that he
has a hidden heart of gold.
Somewhere. I know it. I hate that I am so much more willing to
accept and a jerk of a character as a male than as a female.
I loved the core of strength and decency in Inej. She more than any of the other is clear
headed about who she is and what she wants.
The process that she goes through to decide what she wants for herself
and for her life is truly inspiring.
Note to YA authors: please write more female characters who can problem
solve their lives like this while still remaining a warm and likable character.
I loved Jesper but I also wanted to put him in a twelve step
program. In addition I want to do some
serious work with his to help him develop more heathy coping strategies for
(what I have diagnosed *not qualified*) as ADHD. So much potential. I am very impressed with his his bisexuality
was handled. It was just casually
addressed. There but not a THING. No Angst.
Yay!
Nina was the most difficult character for me to warm up
to. While her motivations are perfectly
clear I found her a bit too “lone wolf” for me.
However, her actions were never stupid so I can get over it.
Matthias is the kind of damaged and morally torn character
that I am a sucker for. Unjustly imprisoned? Check.
Betrayed? Check. Forbidden love? Check.
Plus he has a grouchy stick up his ass.
Just kiss Nina already.
The plot was impeccable.
There are a lot of elements that felt familiar if you have ever watched
a heist movie. Leigh Bardugo plays with
tropes here to great effect. The plot
and the characters are familiar and yet not predictable. That takes some talent. Immediately started Crooked Kingdom after finishing
this.
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