• Six Of Crows Leigh Bardugo
• Six Of Crows Leigh Bardugo Book Trailer

Six of Crows is a fantasy novel written by American author Leigh Bardugo published by Henry Holt and Co. The story follows a thieving crew and is primarily set in the city of Ketterdam, loosely inspired by Dutch Republic-era Amsterdam. Parents need to know that Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows is related to her Grisha trilogy, but you can read this first book of the related series without reading the trilogy first. As in the fantasy series, the content is consistently mature and a better fit for mature teen readers.

With the release of Crooked Kingdom, I had to give myself a week to compose myself and make a post that was actually useful and not just me gushing about the series. Six of Crows is a fantasy heist novel set in the same universe as Bardugo’s other Grisha series (which at this point I’m almost ashamed to admit I haven’t read). I’ve seen it described more than once as a mix of ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Oceans Eleven’; I would argue that it is better than either. It’s a great mix of gritty realism and pretty cool magic, with gangs, corruption, cons and criminals (of the best kind). It’s also one of the most all-encompassing books I’ve ever read, representation-wise. I didn’t think it possible, but Crooked Kingdom stepped up the game even further.

The first novel alone brings us a bisexual character in Jesper Fahey. Of course ‘bisexual’ is never actually mentioned in the book itself, which is my one complaint, but it is clear from his actions (and as far as I know confirmed by the author). Jesper is very open about his sexuality, with a whole lot of flirting included.

Then there’s Wylan, who I think is gay. I don’t think his sexuality has been confirmed in any way other than ‘definitely not straight’. We get quite a few suggestions of this through the first book, but since we don’t get any Wylan POV chapters until Crooked Kingdom, it’s not clear whether he already knew he was gay or figured it out as he went, or how he feels about it (although there’s nothing to suggest he’s anything but unfazed by it).

As well as not-straight characters, there is a whole range of other things covered- a physical disability, a learning disability, a fat character (who is considered the most beautiful), plus a variety of races. It lacks trans characters, but it’s better than most books out there. It’s also very, very easy to headcanon certain characters as asexual. (Unfortunately not so much aromantic since the main six are all paired romantically up by the end.)

Crooked Kingdom brings us two more not-straight characters! The lovely Nina confirms she is interested in girls, so presumably bisexual. And the more minor character (who still plays a big part), Kuwei, is also not straight. Oh boy. That scene was interesting. Counting Kuwei as one of the main characters, four out of the seven are now confirmed as queer. It also brings us a beautiful relationship between two boys, continued from the first book with pretty satisfying results.

To recap;

Cons: No mention of the word bisexual within the pages. Every single main character paired off romantically.

Pros: Everything else.

Six of Crows is a fantasy novel written by American author Leigh Bardugo published by Henry Holt and Co. in 2015.^[1][2] The story follows a thieving crew and is primarily set in the city of Ketterdam, loosely inspired by Dutch Republic-era Amsterdam.^[3][4] The plot is told from third-person viewpoints of seven different characters.

The novel is followed by Crooked Kingdom and is part of the Grishaverse.^[5][6]

Plot[edit]

In Ketterdam, capital of island nation Kerch, Councilman Hoede tests a drug lethal to humans and addictive to Grisha called jurda parem on a Grisha Healer. The drug enhances her abilities more than expected, allowing her to control and manipulate human minds too easily. She escapes after paralyzing Hoede and some guards, but is found dead days later.

Wealthy merchant Jan Van Eck divulges the results of Hoede's experiment to 17-year-old criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker and tasks him with rescuing its inventor, Bo Yul-Bayur, from the Ice Court, a military stronghold in Fjerda never before infiltrated; and prevent the drug's existence from being exposed to the world. Kaz agrees for a hefty amount and starts recruiting a crew: Inej Ghafa, his right-hand spy he had saved from a pleasure house called the Menagerie two years before; Nina Zenik, a Grisha Heartrender, who joins upon learning of his intention to free and employ Matthias Helvar, a former Fjerdan drüskelle or Grisha-hunter detained at Hellgate Prison because of Nina; and Jesper Fahey, a Zemeni sharpshooter with a gambling addiction. Together, they break Matthias out of prison, who agrees to help in exchange for a pardon that would enable his reinstatement as a drüskelle. Kaz also enlists Wylan Van Eck, runaway son of Jan Van Eck, as a demolitions expert and leverage if Van Eck reneges on their deal. As they are about to sail from Ketterdam, the crew repel an ambush by rival gangs; and after torturing a gangster, Kaz learns that gang leader Pekka Rollins, the man responsible for his brother Jordie's death, is also after the scientist. Kaz explains his rescue plan to the crew, where they will enter the Ice Court as prisoners, cross to the embassy sector through the roof and disguise themselves as foreign dignitaries during a festival. After finding and freeing Yul-Bayur from the White Island, the inner ring, they will exit from the embassy sector.

Upon reaching Fjerda, two Grisha on jurda parem bearing a symbol of the Shu government attack the group. The crew prevail but Nina recognizes one of their assailants as an old friend who only begs for more of the drug before succumbing to his wounds. Troubled by their deaths and believing they would have survived were they not drastically weakened by the drug, Nina stays behind to bury them. Matthias assists, letting them finally talk about her betrayal. Nina was a Grisha soldier of the Ravkan Second Army captured by Matthias with his Fjerdan drüskelle party and put on a ship to Fjerda for trial and eventual execution. The ship sank during a storm, and only Matthias and Nina survived; they fell in love while aiding each other find civilization. When they arrived at a city, Nina was questioned by Grisha spies about her drüskelle companion. To save Matthias from her compatriots, Nina reported him as a slave trader to a Kerch citizen in the harbor, unaware that Matthias would be imprisoned in Hellgate immediately after reaching Ketterdam. Instead of returning to Ravka, Nina stayed in Ketterdam to try and free him. Matthias reconciles with Nina upon learning the truth and decides to help kill Yul-Bayur, both acknowledging that jurda parem is a threat to Grisha and Fjerdans alike.

Six Of Crows Leigh Bardugo

The crew intercept a cart of prisoners being taken to the Ice Court and take the place of six of them. Kaz loses consciousness due to claustrophobia, and more of his past is revealed. After he and his brother were conned by Pekka Rollins, a plague swept through Ketterdam, killing many of its residents, including Jordie. Kaz fell ill and recovered but was mistakenly thought dead and tossed in the Reaper's Barge with the bodies for burning. He was only able to survive by swimming to shore using the dead body of his brother as a buoy. The experience created an intense aversion to any sort of physical contact with human skin, prompting him to wear gloves constantly. He wakes up as they enter the Ice Court. The crew is split as men and women are taken to different wards. Jesper, revealed to be a Grisha Fabrikator, fashions lock picks from the cell bars. Kaz frees Nina and Inej from their cells while Matthias and Jesper gather as much rope as they can find. Kaz goes with Nina to search the other holding cells for Yul-Bayur and while split up, Kaz deviates from the plan and finds Pekka Rollins in a cell. Nina is spotted by guards, who manage to raise the alarm before she can kill them. She hurries to the basement where Inej has scaled a six-story incinerator shaft to the roof, securing an escape route for the rest of the crew. With the prison alarm triggered, their plan is ruined so they improvise to get to the center of the Ice Court. Inej and Nina get in by taking the place of two Menagerie girls but only Nina gets through the guards; Inej is held back. Matthias and Kaz get in through a secret bridge known only to drüskelle. Jesper and Wylan move to destroy the ringwall gate and trigger the Ice Court's alarm.

While trying to coax information from a Fjerdan official, Nina is surprised to see Jarl Brum, commander of the ship she was held captive in. Brum beguiles Nina into touring prison cells specifically constructed to detain Grisha and locks her in a cell. Matthias shows up, appearing to have betrayed her but turns against his old commander and frees Nina, making a sacred drüskelle vow to keep her safe until he dies. They look for Bo Yul-Bayur, but learn of his death. His son, Kuwei Yul-Bo, is alive and is being forced to replicate his father's research. Matthias and Nina forgo killing him as he is only fifteen and a Grisha. They take the boy and leave, blowing up the lab as they go. They meet up with Kaz, and escape through a waterfall unearthed by Kaz after destroying the tree at the center of the White Island. Meanwhile, Inej is spotted by the leader of the Menagerie, her former employer Heleen van Houden, who informs the guards of Inej's true identity. Jesper and Wylan rescue her and hijack a Fjerdan tank and use it to ram through the walls and escape, eventually rejoining their allies and emerging outside the Ice Court. They head toward the dock where they are supposed to rendezvous with their ship, but find a large Fjerdan party waiting for them, a Heartrender using parem at the fore. With no other choice, Nina takes jurda parem and subdues the army. Brum and a team of drüskelle arrive, but before she can kill them, Matthias intervenes and begs her to let them live so Nina relents.

The crew safely reaches Ketterdam, with Nina already suffering from withdrawals. They leave her with Wylan, while the rest of the crew take Kuwei to Jan Van Eck. Van Eck, however, reveals that he only wanted the formula for jurda parem to profit from the fallout of its release to the world. He sinks the crew's ship despite Kaz's warning that Wylan is aboard. Van Eck deems his son unfit to inherit his business empire as Wylan is illiterate. Kaz, however reveals that the boy Van Eck thinks is Kuwei Yul-Bo is actually Wylan, tailored by Nina to look exactly like the scientist's son. Furious, Van Eck kidnaps Inej with the help of Grisha under the influence of jurda parem and gives them seven days to bring him the real Kuwei. Unwilling to endanger Inej, Kaz lets the merchant go. Kaz and his remaining crew go to Pekka Rollins, revealed to have been set free by Kaz at the Ice Court, now back in Ketterdam. Kaz sells his shares in the Crow Club and the Fifth Harbour to raise the money he needs. He then hatches a plan to rescue Inej and redeem the money they were promised.

Characters[edit]

• Kaz Brekker, also known as Dirtyhands, is seventeen and a master thief with a reputation for doing anything for the right price. He has a personal vendetta against Pekka Rollins, who swindled Kaz and his older brother Jordie out of all their money when they first arrived in Ketterdam. He is a lieutenant of the Dregs, and as the mastermind of the group, the de facto leader of the Crows. He is severely haphephobic due to a traumatizing incident in his childhood, and thus always wears black leather gloves. He has a limp in his right leg from an improperly healed break. He is described as very pale, with dark hair and dark brown eyes. He uses a cane with a crow's head top as a mobility aid and occasionally, as a weapon.
• Inej Ghafa is a sixteen-year-old Suli girl known as the Wraith. She is a spy for the Dregs, and considered the best in Ketterdam. Her family were travelling performers and her act was the tightrope, so she is extremely agile and lightfooted. She is rather superstitious, and, with the exception of Matthias, the most religious out of the Crows. Her preferred weapons are knives, and she always carries her six favourites with her. She was kidnapped by slavers and tricked into working in a brothel called the Menagerie until Kaz bought her ‘indenture’. Since then, she has proven invaluable to Kaz and the Dregs, working as their spy to pay off her indenture and be free to travel or return home. She's described as short, with 'burnt caramel' skin and black hair, worn in a braid.
• Wylan Van Eck is sixteen, a merchant's son with some talent for demolition, whom Kaz takes on as a member of the crew in the hopes of using him as leverage against his father, Jan Van Eck. He is dyslexic but is an excellent mathematician and musician. He is described to have curly red-blonde hair and pale skin.
• Matthias Helvar is eighteen, a former drüskelle (witchhunter) from Fjerda. A year before the story, he and his fellow drüskelle kidnapped Nina and other Grisha, but were shipwrecked on their way back to Fjerda. He washed ashore with Nina and they were forced to work together to avoid freezing to death, eventually coming to trust one another and pursue something of a romantic relationship. However, Nina then accused him of being a slaver and he was incarcerated in Hellgate prison in Ketterdam. He is conflicted because of his hatred for Grisha and his feelings for Nina. Kaz frees Matthias from Hellgate because of his knowledge of the Ice Court and bribes him into working with the Crows in exchange for a pardon, which would allow him to return to Fjerda. He is the oldest, tallest and most muscular of the group with pale skin, shaved blond hair and blue eyes.
• Nina Zenik is seventeen, a powerful Grisha Heartrender and former soldier of the Ravkan Second Army — until she was captured by Matthias. She betrayed his trust to protect him from Grisha spies, choosing to stay in Ketterdam in the hope of finding a way to free him from Hellgate. She was initially recruited to join the Dime Lions, but after meeting Inej, who brought a counteroffer from Kaz, decided to join the Dregs instead. She works at The White Rose brothel, specialising in altering clients’ moods. She has fair skin, thick brown hair and green eyes, and is described as round and voluptuous.
• Jesper Fahey is seventeen, a Zemeni sharpshooter with a gambling problem. His father believes that he is studying in a university at Ketterdam, his occupation until he discovered gambling and found himself deep in debt. He is described as being tall and lanky, with dark skin and grey eyes. Like his late mother, he is a Grisha, but hides it to avoid being kidnapped or killed. He is almost never seen without his weapons of choice, twin pearl-handled revolvers.
• Jan Van Eck is a rich man and a prominent merchant who sits on Ketterdam's Merchant Council. He makes a deal with Kaz Brekker to retrieve the creator of jurda parem from the Ice Court. He is Wylan's father, but because of his son's dyslexia, does not love him.
• Pekka Rollins is the leader of the Dime Lions gang and Kaz's main adversary. When Kaz and his brother first arrived in Ketterdam, Rollins used the name Jakob Hertzoon and conned Kaz and Jordie out of all their money, eventually resulting in Jordie's death. Through Rollins, the Dime Lions own several gambling halls and pleasure houses.

Reception[edit]

The New York Times recommends Six of Crows in the YA Crossover shortlist: 'There’s conflict between morality and amorality and an appetite for sometimes grimace-inducing violence that recalls the 'Game of Thrones' series. But for every bloody exchange there are pages of crackling dialogue and sumptuous description. Bardugo dives deep into this world, with full color and sound. If you’re not careful, it’ll steal all your time.'^[7] It was also included in their '7 Great Fantasy Novels for Teenagers' list.^[8]The Hollywood Reporter likened the duology to a blend of Ocean's 11 and Game of Thrones.'^[9]

Six Of Crows Leigh Bardugo Book Trailer

The Guardian opined the plot was 'bursting with action and overflowing with suspense right from the beginning...fast-paced...transitions between chapters and points of view were immaculate and really provided a sense of urgency and impact to the most significant scenes.'^[10]

NPR books criticized the characters, claiming that the characters do not behave or think like adolescents, but rather display the wisdom and traits of much older people.^[11]

According to The Times of India, different perspectives in the book each provide an in-depth view of each character's traits and backgrounds. It further says, 'Bardugo's language and her intelligent storytelling effectively makes The Six of Crows a white-knuckle page-turner.'^[12]

Adaptations[edit]

In January 2019, Netflix greenlit an eight-episode series based on Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy Book 1) and Six of Crows with Eric Heisserer as showrunner. Bardugo is also serving as an executive producer on this series.^[13] Production began in October 2019 with Freddy Carter as Kaz Brekker, Amita Suman as Inej Ghafa, Kit Young as Jesper Fahey, Danielle Galligan as Nina Zenik, and Calahan Skogman as Matthias Helvar.^[14] Wylan Van Eck is not set to appear in the first season. The first season will mostly follow the plot of Book 1 of Shadow and Bone and act as a prequel to Six of Crows, setting up a future adaptation of the novel.

References[edit]

1. ^Wappler, Margaret (October 23, 2015). 'Y.A. Crossover'. The New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
2. ^Nava4 (January 21, 2016). 'Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo – review'. the Guardian. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
3. ^Press, Daily (January 25, 2016). 'Criminals attempt intricate heist in 'Six of Crows' - HRBooks review'. dailypress.com. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
4. ^Bardugo, Leigh (September 24, 2015). 'Leigh Bardugo reads from Six of Crows'. the Guardian. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
5. ^''Six of Crows' continues Leigh Bardugo's streak of smart fantasy novels'. Washington Post. November 16, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
6. ^'Leigh Bardugo Talks Six of Crows, Heist Movies and Skinny Dipping'. The Huffington Post. September 29, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
7. ^Wappler, Margaret (October 23, 2015). 'Y.A. Crossover (Published 2015)'. The New York Times. ISSN0362-4331. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
8. ^Russo, Maria (January 6, 2020). '7 Great Fantasy Novels for Teenagers'. The New York Times. ISSN0362-4331. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
9. ^'Shadow and Bone Author Gets Two-Book Deal With Henry Holt & Co'. The Hollywood Reporter. May 22, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
10. ^Nava4 (January 21, 2016). 'Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo – review'. the Guardian. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
11. ^''Six Of Crows' Is A Well-Turned Heist Tale'. NPR.org. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
12. ^'Micro review: 'Six of Crows' moves beyond genres - Times of India'. The Times of India. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
13. ^Petski, Nellie Andreeva, Denise; Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (January 10, 2019). 'Netflix Orders 'Shadow And Bone' Series Based On Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse Novels From Eric Heisserer & Shawn Levy'. Deadline. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
14. ^Harris, Latesha (October 2, 2019). 'TV News Roundup: Netflix Reveals Cast of New Series 'Shadow and Bone''. Variety. Retrieved October 2, 2019.

External links[edit]