This was a quicker turnaround than I expected but I love this world so much, I could live in it for all eternity.
Anyway, let’s dive in to this story of thieves and honor and double crossing and heists, shall we?
The Books
Six Of Crows
Crooked Kingdom
The Author
I talked about Leigh Bardugo last time, her biography has not changed much in the past two weeks, as far as I know.
Series Structure
Pretty straightforward here. In the first book we meet Kaz Brekker, the wicked rising crime lord of Ketterdam, another country in the same world as Alina’s Revka. Kaz is putting a team together to break a prisoner out of an ubreakable prison. The team, Inej, a Suli Acrobat from Revka who was sold into a life of prostitution and now works as a spy for Kaz, Nine Kerik, a Heartrender Grisha who left Ravka because of…Matthias Helvar, a Grisha hunter who fell in love with her, Jesper Fahey, a university dropout with a gambling problem and a way with guns, and Wylan Van Eck a wealthy merchants son who’s escaping a pretty rough upbringing.
The chapters rotate points of view between these six characters, with a few others thrown in.
Themes
Y’all know how I love Charles Dickens right? I couldn’t help thinking about Dickens’s unfortunate orphans throughout this series. Kaz is like The Artful Dodger on steroids, far more wicked than even that pick pocket. Kaz has his own code, but it’s obscured by his own belief in his damnation. He’s twisted and dark and difficult. Everyone around him tries to believe the best in him and he keeps swatting them down.
Yes, friends, the theme today is redemption, who deserves it, who wants it, what they’re willing to do to get it, and the bonds formed along the way.
Favorite Book
I mean, there are only two and I loved them both. I might give a slight edge to Six Of Crows because it’s heist is a bit more fun.
Least Favorite Book
Again, only two books, but slight demotion to Crooked Kingdom for having a marginally less fun heist.
Favorite Character
It’s Nina, she’s great. I mean, they’re all great. I also have a soft spot for Jesper, the bisexual dumbass who can’t manage his money. And when Aless pointed out that Kaz reminded her of Jason Todd, it endeared him to me quite a bit. (Kaz does not get beaten to death with a crowbar and return from the dead with a desire for revenge and an unquenchable blood lust, plus a penchant for boning his family member’s exes, but there are striking similarities.) But I adore Nina, and her ability to survive while holding on to her soul.
Reread Possibilities
Oh I will be rereading. My reread bar is Rick Riordan’s Grecco Roman books, which I reread every year. This will also be every year I bet.
Up Next: The Bone Witch Trilogy by Rin Chupeco, which seem cool, and also have cool covers.
The Fangirl's Dilemma 