Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1) (Grishaverse, #4)

by Leigh Bardugo

[leahrosereads]

I'm late to the game, but when am I not?

So here's the thing - I'm going to be really upfront for a second. I have not read all of the Grisha trilogy, because I didn't like the main character in it. I actually DNF'd the first book, but gave it 3 stars because I could see the potential. The writing was incredible, the magic system was interesting, and the story itself was fascinating. But the main character ruined it all for me.

SIX OF CROWS is everything I wish Shadow and Bone was. And it all boils down to the characters.

These characters are so fleshed out and fantastically written. They may not all be the type of characters you should empathize with, but I did. Every single one of them. But, mainly Kaz. And maybe he should be the one that no one empathizes with, but I saw myself in him (mainly in the fears and convictions he has - less with the cruelty). He's just one of the best written characters I've read in a while.

Again, this world is as fantastically brilliant as I remembered it from Shadow and Bone, but even it has felt more fully developed. I think it's because this is a duology vs. trilogy, and I already knew a smidgen about the world before entering it. Still, it felt stronger, more real, like I could reach into these pages and feel the corruption and cruelties of Ketterdam and the bitter, bleak coldness of the White Island.

I'm so happy that I've tried more of Leigh's writing, because she's an incredible storyteller. I wish I enjoyed the first trilogy, but I have no doubt in my mind, that I'll be reading and loving more of her work in the future.