Review: Six of Crows Duology

 You guys won't believe the sheer amount of people that had told me to read this duology. Since 2021 I swear to God. I even had a whole month dedicated to Leigh Bardugo's books in the official tbr [mostly Grishaverse] but then I bought Shadow and Bone in March, so here we go I guess.

1. Book One: Six of Crows

Just gaze upon this eleganza called "Collector's Edition" of  a cover. Like I swear to God, official versions have nothing on these covers. Owlcrate, Translation, Collector's Editions are the real gems. I mean, the sheer dedication that went on these covers is probably more than the ones that went into the original cover, I'm pretty sure I can bet you that.

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . .

A convict with a thirst for revenge

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager

A runaway with a privileged past

A spy known as the Wraith

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

QUICK THOUGHTS AND REVIEW: 4.8/5, PEOPLE HYPING IT UP KIND OF DID PUT IT OFF FOR ME.

Possible Trigger Tags:

1. Gore

2. Violence

3. Double Crossing

4. Death

5. Manipulation

6. Substance abuse 

WHAT DID I FEEL ABOUT THE  BOOK'S: 

1. Writing Quality: The writing quality isn't much different from Shadow and Bone, they're quite similar in a number of ways. But what did strike me was the third person narration in six different POVs. One thing which I do not absolutely like at all is the existence of POV when it's more than two people. It's just an internal hate for it I guess. Even though it merges with the story well and it's an integral part of the book to keep the story and the mystery going, it just kind of irks me to follow everyone's POV.  But I do love the dialogue. Insane dialogues, just fricking insane. I was screaming every time there was good dialogues because these six motherfuckers are as smooth as fuck. Like damnnnnnnn son.

2. Worldbuilding: The worldbuilding is in Grishaverse. And I think I have mentioned Grishaverse before when I was reviewing Shadow and Bone. But this one is more like the underbelly of the Grishaverse? With grittier setting. Like "kill or be killed". Because everyone's rougher, everyone knows what it takes to survive in the streets or alleys. Kind of gives me the old black and white detective movie vibes. Where you get mugged at every other alley. Or robbed. Or gutted. But yeah Ketterdam has those vibes.

3. Character Development: The Crows were certainly one of the few interesting characters that I've ever had to make a very detailed cross examination of. They're pretty interesting and they're very multilayered, each having a secret more interesting than the last.

Kaz Brekker: Everyone knows Kaz Brekker is the ring leader, he's the one running the whip and calling the shots. And you know better than to disobey the man "with blood on his clothes and a knife in his hand" [Jesper's words, not mine]. Kaz appears to be one of the most mysterious type among the six, but it does feel like I know about him the most. Even though the chapters told through his POV aren't plenty, there are loads of times where Kaz is seen reminiscing a memory or a piece of his past that makes up every single bit of him. I think despite being shown as the most mysterious character to other characters, it feels like Kaz is the one who's laid out bare in front of the audience.

Inej Ghafa: Okay, first of all, I like her so much. I love her so much to the depths that I can't even begin to describe. I kind of feel like she's the one to say "If you want me to listen, then get on your knees and beg!" After Kaz, Inej is the one whose character is laid out bare for the audience to see and assess. Though other than the fact that she used to work for Tante Heleen and that she came from a family of acrobats, there isn't much to find out about Inej's past. And it is quite clear that Inej holds some sort of affection for Kaz and has a really soft spot for him ever since he got her out of the house. It's clear. Like so clear.

I certainly did not feel enough of the Kanej pull as much as some of my peers did, but there was something between the two of them that had happened that made them like this. It certainly was before the events of the book because I didn't find anything that made them bond over the course of the heist.

Jesper Fahey: Jesper is hands down one of my most favourite characters in the entire Grishaverse after Nikolai. Like seriously, manz is a sharpshooter and is like one of the funniest characters to ever exist. And this man in no way is straight. The sheer pansexual vibes that Jesper emits, is just my type. And later, it is seen that he prefers men too. And the way that he flirts with Wylan. Good lord, you'll be screaming, just kiss already. Among the Crows, I found Jesper to be the most mysterious, even though he doesn't seem the type. But I think his character was more difficult to figure out. He has this shroud of uncertainty and mystery that I can't unravel yet.

Nina Zenik: Another badass and a confirmed Grisha. Other than from her perspective, there aren't any reference to Grisha and Ravka. And I kind of feel like this book does pretty well even if you don't read Shadow and Bone. I mean, Zoya is mentioned a couple of times and Genya is mentioned once. But I do think that one would simply think of them as side characters or characters from the past that are mentioned in the present. But yes, she's badass, and the fact that she was willing to consume drugs so that she can actually save everyone else. And I think that's really badass. She kind of literally breaks that bimbo stereotype in my opinion.

Matthias Helvar: Wild Viking himbo. That's what his vibes are. I literally got Thor-ish vibes from him, you know from the first movie. All wild and long hair types. And on top of that he's a fucking saint. Or priest. Priest, right? Yeah, on top of that he's a fucking priest, well, a priest general. And he talks like he was involved in some great godly war that made him weak and hence he is just a war veteran who's also turning into a reluctant hero.

The tension between Nina and Matthias though, now that is a tension that was really very much understandable. They have a past and they have this really combustible energy whenever they are around. It's like walking on eggshells around them because it feels like any moment either of the two is gonna combust and say "fuck it" and some very intense activities will be happening. Like too intense for the young eyes to watch.

Wylan Van Eck: Wylan gives me prodigal son vibes. Like completely. Well, in more ways than one can he be called a prodigal son. First because he left his privileged home and second because he joined the Dregs. It does give off prodigal son-ish vibes to me. I don't get much of Wylan because apparently there aren't enough POVs of him to know about him, so he's also in some kind of shrouded mystery for me. What I do know is that he's queer as fuck and pretty sure he and Jesper are flirting more than arguing. BECAUSE THE TENSION.

Kuwei is basically like a very minor character so I don't have much to say for him. But BEAN.

4. Couldn't put it down- Ness: 8/10. Pretty good in my opinion.

5. Plot Twists: The plot twists in the middle of the book were far better than towards the end because they became predictable at a point. But yeah, the ones in the middle were pretty cool. I really liked those ones. Plot twists are usually better when the book is usually ending because that means the author actually fucking made a fool out of you and actually managed to mislead you. But yeah, the ending was kind of predictable.

6. Plot: On the whole, I like the plot. I remember describing the book to someone as "Ocean's Eleven but make it very medieval fantasy". I would like to think of it as a more of 1950s + medieval fantasy. It's hard to describe. But when it's a fricking heist, that's where I'm in. I kind of like the plot in itself. It's interesting and I like it. And thankfully it has a much better plot than Shadow and Bone.

OVERALL, A  NICE READ,  I can see where this is headed.

2. book two: crooked kingdom

I don't know what to do now that school's over. I mostly read, but am in abso-fucking-lutely in need for money. I'm willing to tutor kids for a really affordable price but it's like no one wants to hire me. Or all students have found teachers already. Like damn, the unemployment issue is real.

Welcome to the world of the Grisha.

Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives.

Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties.

A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets - a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

QUICK THOUGHTS AND REVIEW: 5/5, SOBBING, CRYING, SCREAMING, WRITHING, THROWING UP.

Possible Trigger Tags:

1. Gore

2. Violence

3. Manipulation

4. Gambling

5. Money laundering

6. Mentions of sexual abuse

WHAT DID I FEEL ABOUT THE  BOOK'S: 

1. Writing Quality: The first chapter wasn't quite interesting, I'll give you that. But then when it delves into the second chapter from Wylan's POV. That's when stuff gets really interesting. Like really good stuff. Though as I will say again, I do not like the multiple POV. Well, I do like how it's used in the story. I just don't like that it exists. A great relief in the multiple POV was the fact that I could actually understand whose POV was actually in action because I literally never remember POV names in the story. Like never ever. [Cue the song]

2. Worldbuilding: The setting's still in Ketterdam, but it makes a business of making it more about the actual grit and dirt settlement. And I kind of like this setting better than the previous one. I kind of wanted to know how everything actually happens in Ketterdam and it actually provided me that.

3. Character Development: Smooth motherfuckers, each and every single one of them. 

I kind of like and hate this artwork at the same time.

Kaz Brekker: Smooth motherfucker is what I'd like to say. We no more get glimpses of Kaz's past but it's rather easier to read him now. He does remind me of that character from Peaky Blinders by a bit. But Kaz no longer makes me feel like he's a robot, which I got the vibes from him, but it makes him more approachable as a human I guess. He seems more vulnerable and I think it's a very admirable quality. And he FINALLY, FINALLY admits to being whipped with Inej. The denial in the previous book was so real. 

Inej Ghafa: I love Inej, I really do. I think she's one of the most badass women in the entirety of the Grishaverse. Like not even Alina can compete and woman's a fucking Saint. I just love how she carries herself and she links her past with her present. She of course, does it unknowingly, because the moment someone else pointed it out to her, it became her worst nightmare. But compared to the previous book, Inej seemed more closed off to me. Might be because of Kaz calling her an investment so many times, she just decided to close off her heart. 

Kaz, I love you so much, but I will push you off a cliff. 

Jesper Fahey: I love Jesper. More than I'll ever be able to describe in words. Because he's queer, he's funny, he has a gambling addiction, runs on the thrill of adrenaline. And I feel it personally on so many levels. And when he interacts with Nikolai, it's so wholesome, it's like two crackheads on their way to become best buddies for life. To be honest, Jesper is literally the only one other than Wylan whose past is revealed here, more so as a Grisha. He doesn't seem closed off to me, but he still remains a mystery to me which I have been unable to decipher. Maybe when I reread it again, I'll understand.

Wylan Van Eck: Another queer bean I absolutely adore. Even though Wylan is not really shown in the limelight, the fact that he's Van Eck's firstborn, makes him so much more important in the series. Like more important than he likes to show because everyone will think him to be a ninny. Sad really. But then the scene with his mother comes and it takes me all my power to not hug this little boy and tell him it will be alright.

Nina Zenik: BADASS WOMAN #2. I love that she's funny, even though she's showing withdrawal symptoms and is having a really hard time trying to recover from the effects of having consumed jurda parem, and she's trying. She's trying so hard to be normal. As normal as she can be and she's trying to be as useful as she used to be without the consumption of the drug. The redemption/ corruption arc she shows towards the end though. *chef's kiss*

Matthias Helvar: Okay, he was my second favourite character in the series. Probably because he still considers himself to be a holy man, but looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooord, it is hella funny to try to exercise restraint in front of Nina because the sheer amount of want and desire he has towards Nina is enough to combust everything within a 10 mile radius around him to combust in flames. Like seriously manz is so whipped for her.

What breaks me is that he fucking dies! HE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO DIE. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO COURT NINA AND TELL HER HOW MUCH HE LOVED HER AND HOW MUCH HE HAS ALWAYS WANTED HER INSTEAD TO DIE. Bro, I kid you not that scene broke me so much. Like all of them were supposed to return back alive. BRO Nina never even got to actually tell him she loved him. THIS ISN'T FAIR.

Kuwei Yul-Bo: I added a pic of him in this here because I didn't add it earlier. Even though Kuwei played like a really minor part towards the beginning of the book, he did turn out to be important towards the end of the book. And he's a cute little bean. And pretty sure he's into boys too because he legit tells Jesper that he is a good kisser.

I'll mention one more thing. NIKOLAI MY BELOVED!!!! I just realized that the events are synonymous with the time that the Great War is over and Nikolai is now the king. So anyways, yeah, there's Zoya and Genya and they're still the same as ever. I love them both the same as I loved them back in Shadow and Bone, but Nikolai!!! I will never get over his insufferable ass in it. AND EVEN BETTER HE'S IN THERE AS STRUMHOND. Ugh that makes it so much better. I have mentioned it in the review that I will lay down my life for Nikolai if I could.

4. Couldn't put it down- Ness: 10/10. Please, I am now emotionally scarred.

5. Plot Twists: HOLY FUCK. LIKE SERIOUSLY. I was pulling off a pokerface throughout the whole of the book only to be hit with plot twists at the end of a book? It's like I'm not being allowed to breathe when I'm hit in the gut by another twist. Like BAM, another plot twist when I'm just recovering from one. Leigh Bardugo is fricking evil, I tell you. And I am not kidding, not even by one bit.

6. Plot: I quite like the plot considering I know that the beginning of this is partly fueled by the fact that Kaz is fucking WHIPPED for Inej and he's so fueled by his desire to want her back that he actually plans all of this and to bring Van Eck down. Like that's hot. When a man burns down everything for the one he loves, it's hot. Plus, death, destruction, arson. That gotta mean only one thing.

And it is kind of pulling a reverse heist, like getting back your stuff instead of stealing it. Plus the Grishaverse reference is stronger in this one. Like really much more than the other book, and I feel glad to have read the trilogy to actually understand those references.

I added one more pic just for, you know, I liked it, I don't have any other excuse.

AVERAGE RATING: 4.9/5.

OVERALL, A REALLY NICE READ, I really like this series.