Let me start off by saying, Leigh Bardugo is a genius. To me, at least, her writing and her stories are unparalleled in the most recent generation of fantasy novels. I was first introduced to Bardugo through her Shadow and Bone series, and against what seems to be the popular opinion, fell in love with it. The plot, the character development, Nikolai Lantsov (*heart eyes*). They all prove how unique her mind and writing style are. So, imagine my excitement when my friend gifted me the Six of Crows duology for my birthday over the summer!
For background purposes, Shadow and Bone tells the story of a young woman, Alina Starkov, learning about a surprising new ability that may or may not be the key to defeating the Shadow Fold, a large expanse of darkness that slices her home country of Ravka down the middle. Alina is shuttled away to train with other Grisha, people who possess magical powers. Of course, many twists and turns and magical quests ensue, along with (at least) one love triangle-turned-quadrangle? I’ll stop there in an effort to avoid spoilers.
Anyways, Six of Crows takes place in the same universe, two years after the events of Ruin and Rising (the finale to Shadow and Bone), and though this series can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the first three novels, if only for world-building and historical context. Bardugo takes her readers to a new continent in her universe, a large island called Ketterdam. There, we meet six unlikely allies living among the dregs of society (excuse my pun… but then again it was Leigh Bardugo’s pun first.)
Kaz Brekker, a gang boss with a tragic past who’s not afraid to bulldoze anything or anyone in his path, except, maybe, his right-hand-woman, Inej. Inej Ghafa, a.k.a. “The Wraith”, a girl who was kidnapped at fourteen, sold as a sex slave, and now fights for her freedom each and every day. When they are approached with a proposition, break a valuable asset out of the most heavily guarded prison in the world in exchange for millions, they begin to put together a team. Nina Zenik is a Grisha who’s run away from Ravka’s Second Army, Matthias Helvar is a Drüskelle, a soldier sworn to hunt down Grisha, with a score to settle, Jesper Fahey is a sharpshooter in Kaz’s gang, and Wylan, well, he’s a bit of a mystery.
Not only do I love this duology for the magic and pure fantasy and adventure of it all, but this is also one of the few fantasy series I’ve read with fully developed characters! Kaz is such a unique protagonist, one of those that in the back of your mind you’re asking, “Should I really be rooting for him?” I think the fact that he lives with not one, but two disabilities is a testament to his strength and is an amazing representation for people living under similar circumstances. Inej, a sex slave favored for the color of her skin, where others have used the same basis to discriminate against her, represents an entirely different culture and message. Each character has their own histories, their own traumas and hurts, but they are all finding a way to live with the past and fight for their future.
Leigh Bardugo amazes every time. The follow-up novel, Crooked Kingdom, leaves off from a huge cliffhanger and wraps up certain storylines beautifully. Bardugo has since released King of Scars, yet another spin-off series featuring characters from both the Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows series, with her next novel set for release in early 2021. The characters from both of Bardugos’ series will appear in the new Netflix series entitled Shadow and Bone which will premiere hopefully sometime late 2020 or early 2021!