In the country of Ketterdam, Kaz Brekker, a thief and a criminal prodigy, is given the opportunity at the heist of a lifetime, guaranteeing him a get-out-of-the-slums-free card in the form of millions. But he’ll need help from five other dangerous outcasts to pull it off…if they don’t kill each other first.

I was so excited when I got this book for my birthday, and seeing everyone rave about it online made me want to read it even more. I am happy to say that I was not disappointed. I had already fallen in love with the Grisha universe from the Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising), so reading this spin-off was a no brainer.

A definite must read for fantasy buffs, this book has everything one might look for in a fantasy novel: magic, suspense, fantastical creatures, lots of twists, villains, and great backstories, and there are plenty edge-of-your-seat moments that will leave you wondering if your favorite Crow survives. In addition to those, the book also focuses on more than one character. You’re not limited to only one person’s point of view throughout the story, so your favorite character’s perspective will almost definitely come back before the book is finished.

Speaking of characters, Six of Crows does a great job at diversifying them. Even though the universe is fictional with its own countries, ethnicities, and languages, not all of the characters are “white” – we get a mix of everything, making it easier for the reader to identify with the Crows; Bardugo is a master at creating intricate ethnicities with their own cultures and beliefs. The characters also have to face a multitude of challenges: mental health issues, addiction, death, loneliness (and other non issues that some readers may struggle through themselves)…for not being a very long book, it sure was able to pack a lot into it!

And now for the cons (don’t worry – they’re small ones): Out of the six Crows, there is one that never did get his/her own chapter (it’s not a spoiler, but I won’t ruin it for those who have not read it yet). I am hoping this character plays a bigger part in the next book, and it would be interesting for them to get together with the person they seem to be interested in because it would be very cute. My other qualm was the ending. Not in an ugh this ending sucked kind of way, but in an ugh why would you do that?? cliff-hanger way. I guess the ending was not so much a con as just one that made me upset because we are never entitled to a happy ending, am I right? Needless to say, I am excited for the next book and I wish I had not read this one so quickly.

On a side note, the Grisha trilogy need not be read to understand Six of Crows, but it does make it more interesting, and it is fun to spot the references to some of the trilogy’s characters and plot elements (and you should read it anyway because it’s amazing).