Six of Crows

By: Leigh Bardugo

Published by: Henry Holt and Co.

Publication date: 29th September 2015

I discovered Six of Crows after coming off the Shadow and Bone Trilogy - and originally was not sure if it would be as good or worth reading compared to the original series despite loving the Grisha Universe. The story is told from the perspective of several key characters, and after finally diving into it, I am pleased to reveal that it certainly did not disappoint! Despite being set in the same universe as Shadow and Bone, there is very little cross-over of characters and storyline, making Six of Crows very easy to read without requiring backstory or prior knowledge. 

The Good

Six of Crows is a well-paced novel and is an extremely fun read, with each character bringing to the table their own defining personality, motive and backstory. It has a strong plot, and is packed with action and banter weaved gracefully into the fabric of the story. 

Part of why this book stands out for me is that the characters in this book are not all “good” or “bad”. It always makes for a far more interesting read when characters are morally challenged and their actions are not wholly predictable. The author has added these traits to her characters so artfully that in my opinion, she has painted each and every one of them to be even more likeable than the typical personable and good-natured hero/heroine. 

The Not-So-Good

This book (and its sequel) have very little investment in the romance department - so if you are hoping for an epic romance to rival Shadow and Bone, then retreat… this is not the book for you. In saying that, it is not that there is no romance at all, it is simply not the main point of the storyline (so this may not even be a ‘con’ if you are a reader who does not enjoy romance). To voice my own opinion however, this was a slight let-down for me as I always like to fan-girl over a well-written cute couple!

My rating: 5/5