Literature & Fiction
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Six of Crows (Six of Crows, 1)
See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with the Netflix series, Shadow and Bone -- Season 2 streaming now!
Meet Kaz Brekker and his crew: Jesper, Inej, Wylan, and the star-crossed Nina and Matthias, on the heist of a lifetime in Six of Crows from #1 bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo.
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price―and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone. . . .
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction―if they don't kill each other first.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo returns to the breathtaking world of the Grishaverse in this unforgettable tale about the opportunity―and the adventure―of a lifetime.
Read all the books in the Grishaverse!
The Shadow and Bone Trilogy
(previously published as The Grisha Trilogy)
Shadow and Bone
Siege and Storm
Ruin and Rising
The Six of Crows Duology
Six of Crows
Crooked Kingdom
The King of Scars Duology
King of Scars
Rule of Wolves
The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic
The Severed Moon: A Year-Long Journal of Magic
The Lives of Saints
Demon in the Wood Graphic Novel
Meet Kaz Brekker and his crew: Jesper, Inej, Wylan, and the star-crossed Nina and Matthias, on the heist of a lifetime in Six of Crows from #1 bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo.
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price―and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone. . . .
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction―if they don't kill each other first.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo returns to the breathtaking world of the Grishaverse in this unforgettable tale about the opportunity―and the adventure―of a lifetime.
Read all the books in the Grishaverse!
The Shadow and Bone Trilogy
(previously published as The Grisha Trilogy)
Shadow and Bone
Siege and Storm
Ruin and Rising
The Six of Crows Duology
Six of Crows
Crooked Kingdom
The King of Scars Duology
King of Scars
Rule of Wolves
The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic
The Severed Moon: A Year-Long Journal of Magic
The Lives of Saints
Demon in the Wood Graphic Novel
Editorial Reviews
"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." ―The New York Times Book Review
"This has all the right elements to keep readers enthralled: a cunning leader with a plan for every occasion, nigh-impossible odds, an entertainingly combative team of skilled misfits, a twisty plot, and a nerve-wracking cliffhanger." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Set in a world that will be familiar to fans of the author, this book can be fully enjoyed without having read any previous title. . . . This is an easy choice for teens who enjoyed The Grisha Trilogy, Diviners, or any of the Shadowhunter books." ―VOYA, starred review
"Cracking page-turner with a multiethnic, band of misfits with differing sexual orientations who satisfyingly, believably jell into a family." ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Unlike anything I've ever read." ―Veronica Roth, New York Times-bestselling author of the Divergent Trilogy, on Shadow and Bone
"A heady blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure." ―Rick Riordan, New York Times-bestselling author of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, on Siege and Storm
"Triumphant." ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on Ruin and Rising
"Mesmerizing. . . . Bardugo's set up is shiver-inducing, of the delicious variety. This is what fantasy is for." ―The New York Times Book Review on Shadow and Bone
"This is one book series you want to get hooked on." ―Seventeen.com
"These books are the grea...
"This has all the right elements to keep readers enthralled: a cunning leader with a plan for every occasion, nigh-impossible odds, an entertainingly combative team of skilled misfits, a twisty plot, and a nerve-wracking cliffhanger." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Set in a world that will be familiar to fans of the author, this book can be fully enjoyed without having read any previous title. . . . This is an easy choice for teens who enjoyed The Grisha Trilogy, Diviners, or any of the Shadowhunter books." ―VOYA, starred review
"Cracking page-turner with a multiethnic, band of misfits with differing sexual orientations who satisfyingly, believably jell into a family." ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Unlike anything I've ever read." ―Veronica Roth, New York Times-bestselling author of the Divergent Trilogy, on Shadow and Bone
"A heady blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure." ―Rick Riordan, New York Times-bestselling author of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, on Siege and Storm
"Triumphant." ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on Ruin and Rising
"Mesmerizing. . . . Bardugo's set up is shiver-inducing, of the delicious variety. This is what fantasy is for." ―The New York Times Book Review on Shadow and Bone
"This is one book series you want to get hooked on." ―Seventeen.com
"These books are the grea...
Readers Top Reviews
Muse
Firstly I want to state that I've never read anything like Six of Crows! It is definitely the YA book that I didn't know I needed and now desperately want more of. I honestly felt like I was watching a DC film, because of the gritty characters and cinematic aspects! I'm a sucker for great villains/criminals in a book, and Leigh Bardugo gave me six of them, who I now love fiercely! What I find so incredible about this book, is that I genuinely care for and love all of the main characters, which is very rare for me. Each character is just so brilliant in their own right, but together they make for a truly unforgettable cast. Although I cherish them all dearly, I do have to put it out there that Kaz and Inej are my faves and that I may be slightly obsessed with Kaz! The switch in point of views for each chapter was genius, as it definitely allowed me to get to know each of the characters better. It's truly a great skill to be able to write from so many different point of views, whilst staying true to each character and without causing the flow of the book to suffer. The whole organisation of the book was just immaculate, It was utterly thrilling to be slowly fed bits of information, at a time, about the characters' past. I much preferred playing that little waiting game than seeing all of the characters cards at once. I really liked the way the world was crafted, with the magic of the Grisha and the skill of ordinary individuals intermingling so well. It was refreshing to see how people without powers of their own, still managed to makes themselves deadly, through honing their skills. This balance between being skilled and possessing powers isn't really done in fantasy, and it really should be done more often. All of the romances in Six of Crows have my full blessing and support! I seriously adore all of the relationships in this book, but there's one in particular that I completely live for! I literally had everything I wanted in this book; morally grey characters, diversity (in many ways), romances in every variation, great writing, a freaking heist, YA characters that were mature and KAZ BREKKER! Even if you weren't that impressed with the Grisha trilogy (like myself), please pick this up, you won't regret it!
HayleyMuse
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams - but he can't pull it off alone. Oh, how I've missed my angsty YA stories. I'm a sucker for a book filled with twists and heartache. Six of Crows has certainly help fill the Cassandra Clare void I've been in since Clockwork Princess! I've had this book a while and finally caved to the Kaz Brekker hype... And I'm here to stay for it! This book was full of twists and turns (predictable in that I never doubted Kaz always had something up his sleeve). The writing style was addictive enough that it pulled me through the multiple character POVs. I tend to have a habit of skimming through 'lesser characters' POVs in most stories - but I found that I enjoyed reading through all five of them in Six of Crows. I'm emotionally invested in each of the main characters and that's rare for me. They all have their own horrific backgrounds and I can't wait to read through their development in the next book! I'm diving straight into Crooked Kingdom because if my heart is going to be broken - I just want to get it over with! Favourite quotes “When everyone knows you’re a monster, you needn’t waste time doing every monstrous thing.” Kaz knew death. He could feel its presence on the ship now, looming over them, ready to take his Wraith. He was covered in her blood. The autumn leaf might cling to its branch, but it was already dead. The only question was when it would fall. A gambler, a convict, a wayward son, a lost Grisha, a Suli girl who had become a killer, a boy from the Barrel who had become something worse. She’d laughed, and if he could have bottled the sound and got drunk on it every night, he would have. It terrified him.
OddsocksRose Quar
Would you go to the cinema and leave 30minutes before the end of the film? Are you the type of person who watches a TV series and stops before the last episode? You would? Then this is the book for you. What happened to the rest of the book? Really disappointed that this finished with such a cliff hanger. I hate it when books are released and the story finishes half way through. There is no real end to speak of it just stops abruptly. So many questions are left unanswered - I shall not be buying the next book. Disgusted that I paid over £10 for this book - its going straight in the bin.
Jess GoftonOddsoc
I can't remember the last time I read a book and fell so head-over-heels in love with an entire group of characters. People have been recommending Six of Crows to me for a long time now. It's a book I've always meant to get to - who doesn't love a heist story? - but this year I finally sat back, opened it up and was sucked into the seedy underbelly of Leigh Bardugo's fantasy world. As someone who hasn't read Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy this world was entirely new to me, and I loved it. 2018 feels like the year in which I'm rediscovering my first love, fantasy, after several years of being intimidated by it for a reason I still can't quite put my finger on, and Ketterdam has to be one of my favourite fantastical places now purely because Bardugo brings it to life so vividly. While Ravka, which we hear of but don't go to in this book, seems to be a Russian-inspired country, there's no doubt in my mind that Ketterdam is a fantastical version of Amsterdam, with its waterways, merchant-run economy, and the entire districts whose cogs are kept whirring by a constant stream of gambling and prostitution. The Barrel, not at all dissimilar from Amsterdam's Red Light District, is ruled by gangs, and one gangster in particular has Ketterdam in his pocket. Kaz Brekker is one of the most compelling protagonists I have come across in a fantasy novel in a long time. From the blurb I thought he would be very different to the kind of boy he is, but I love how Bardugo has imagined him; she straddles the line between 'criminal prodigy' and 'only a 17 year old' beautifully, creating a character who's had to grow up far too fast and has the dirt of the worst and best of humanity wedged under his fingernails. He's like that first sip of a bitter coffee in human form. It was also so refreshing to read about a protagonist who needs the assistance of a cane to walk and I'd like more protagonists like this please! What makes Six of Crows really sing is its characters. The setting is brilliant and the plot is wonderful, but the characters are what make this book - dare I say it - perfect. Alongside Kaz we have his right-hand woman Inej Ghafa, who was stolen from her home and her family as a child and sold into human trafficking before she began working for the Dregs. Known as the Wraith, she's an expert at going undetected and is yet another example of Bardugo's wonderfully complex characters. Inej's faith is important to her and her morality is something she struggles with when she has essentially become Kaz's personal assassin, but how else is she supposed to survive in a land that sees her as a commodity that can be sold for profit? I loved Bardugo's exploration of religion through Inej and through Matthias, another protagonist from Fjerda, the country next to Ravka, who has essentially been raised in a cult of witch hunters whose own...
Suzanne WisemanJe
*May contain spoilers Six of Crows is one of those books that I could truly kick myself for waiting so long to read. Now that I’ve finally finished reading it, all I keep thinking is what a fool I was to deprive myself of one of the most original and amazing fantasy stories I’ve ever read. I feel like I’m not even going to begin to do this book justice, but hopefully, since I’m pretty sure I’m one of the last people on the planet to actually read it, you guys will all just nod your heads in agreement because you already know why Six of Crows is such a fabulous read. For those unfamiliar with the basic storyline, Six of Crows follows Kaz Brekker, a teenage criminal mastermind, who has been offered an opportunity to achieve wealth beyond his wildest dreams. How? By completing what can probably best be described as Mission Impossible. He has to break into the Ice Court, a heavy guarded military stronghold that has never successfully been broken into before. Once inside, his mission is to locate and smuggle out a scientist who is being held hostage there because he possesses knowledge on how to amplify and weaponize magic. Kaz knows enough about the dangers of the Ice Court to know that, without the right team, this heist is going to be nearly impossible, possibly even a suicide mission. Lucky for Kaz though, he knows exactly who the right team is: a deadly gang of young thugs, thieves, and runaways who are just desperate enough to agree to be part of this crazy mission. LIKES What I loved most about Six of Crows are the characters. Leigh Bardugo has crafted some of the most fascinating and unique characters I’ve come across in YA fantasy. I always enjoy stories that feature an anti-hero and with Kaz and his “Crows,” we have 6 anti-heroes! I love anti-heroes because they’re always such complex characters and these characters are no different. What each of the Crows have in common is that they have no family and they’ve each had to do some pretty awful things in the name of survival, including resorting to thievery and murder. Through flashbacks that give us backstory on each of the characters, however, Bardugo manages to make this gang of thugs so sympathetic that you can’t help but fall in love with them. I also liked the angle that each character seemed to have their own, sometimes selfish motives, for wanting to be a part of Kaz’s mission and it added an element of suspense at times, as I wondered if someone would sabotage the mission to serve their own needs. It’s hard to pick a favorite character because they’re all so badass, but Kaz is definitely near the top of my list. As I’ve already mentioned, he’s a criminal mastermind. Even though he’s a teenager, his reputation precedes him and he is feared by many in Ketterdam, the city where the story takes place. Kaz can be as greedy as he can be cruel, bu...
Short Excerpt Teaser
Six of CrowsBy Leigh BardugoHenry Holt and CompanyCopyright © 2015 Leigh Bardugo
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-250-07696-0
ContentsTitle Page,
Copyright Notice,
Dedication,
Maps,
Part 1: Shadow Business,
Chapter 1: Joost,
Chapter 2: Inej,
Chapter 3: Kaz,
Chapter 4: Inej,
Chapter 5: Kaz,
Chapter 6: Nina,
Part 2: Servant and Lever,
Chapter 7: Matthias,
Chapter 8: Jesper,
Chapter 9: Kaz,
Chapter 10: Inej,
Chapter 11: Jesper,
Chapter 12: Inej,
Chapter 13: Kaz,
Chapter 14: Nina,
Chapter 15: Matthias,
Part 3: Heartsick,
Chapter 16: Inej,
Chapter 17: Jesper,
Chapter 18: Kaz,
Chapter 19: Matthias,
Chapter 20: Nina,
Part 4: The Trick to Falling,
Chapter 21: Inej,
Chapter 22: Kaz,
Chapter 23: Jesper,
Chapter 24: Nina,
Chapter 25: Inej,
Chapter 26: Kaz,
Part 5: The Ice Does Not Forgive,
Chapter 27: Jesper,
Chapter 28: Inej,
Chapter 29: Matthias,
Chapter 30: Jesper,
Chapter 31: Nina,
Chapter 32: Jesper,
Chapter 33: Inej,
Chapter 34: Nina,
Chapter 35: Matthias,
Chapter 36: Jesper,
Chapter 37: Nina,
Chapter 38: Kaz,
Part 6: Proper Thieves,
Chapter 39: Inej,
Chapter 40: Nina,
Chapter 41: Matthias,
Chapter 42: Inej,
Chapter 43: Nina,
Chapter 44: Jesper,
Chapter 45: Kaz,
Chapter 46: Pekka,
Acknowledgments,
Shadow and Bone Teaser,
About the Author,
Copyright,
CHAPTER 1Joost
Joost had two problems: the moon and his mustache.
He was supposed to be making his rounds at the Hoede house, but for the last fifteen minutes, he'd been hovering around the southeast wall of the gardens, trying to think of something clever and romantic to say to Anya.
If only Anya's eyes were blue like the sea or green like an emerald. Instead, her eyes were brown - lovely, dreamy ... melted chocolate brown? Rabbit fur brown?
"Just tell her she's got skin like moonlight," his friend Pieter had said. "Girls love that."
A perfect solution, but the Ketterdam weather was not cooperating. There'd been no breeze off the harbor that day, and a gray milk fog had wreathed the city's canals and crooked alleys in damp. Even here among the mansions of the Geldstraat, the air hung thick with the smell of fish and bilge water, and smoke from the refineries on the city's outer islands had smeared the night sky in a briny haze. The full moon looked less like a jewel than a yellowy blister in need of lancing.
Maybe he could compliment Anya's laugh? Except he'd never heard her laugh. He wasn't very good with jokes.
Joost glanced at his reflection in one of the glass panels set into the double doors that led from the house to the side garden. His mother was right. Even in his new uniform, he still looked like a baby. Gently, he brushed his finger along his upper lip. If only his mustache would come in. It definitely felt thicker than yesterday.
He'd been a guard in the stadwatch less than six weeks, and it wasn't nearly as exciting as he'd hoped. He thought he'd be running down thieves in the Barrel or patrolling the harbors, getting first look at cargo coming in on the docks. But ever since the assassination of that ambassador at the town hall, the Merchant Council had been grumbling about security, so where was he? Stuck walking in circles at some lucky mercher's house. Not just any mercher, though. Councilman Hoede was about as high placed in Ketterdam government as a man could be. The kind of man who could make a career.
Joost adjusted the set of his coat and rifle, then patted the weighted baton at his hip. Maybe Hoede would take a liking to him. Sharp-eyed and quick with the cudgel, Hoede would say. That fellow deserves a promotion.
"Sergeant Joost Van Poel," he whispered, savoring the sound of the words. "Captain Joost Van Poel."
"Stop gawking at yourself."
Joost whirled, cheeks going hot as Henk and Rutger strode into the side garden. They were both older, bigger, and broader of shoulder than Joost, and they were house guards, private servants of Councilman Hoede. That meant they wore his pale green livery, carr...
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-250-07696-0
ContentsTitle Page,
Copyright Notice,
Dedication,
Maps,
Part 1: Shadow Business,
Chapter 1: Joost,
Chapter 2: Inej,
Chapter 3: Kaz,
Chapter 4: Inej,
Chapter 5: Kaz,
Chapter 6: Nina,
Part 2: Servant and Lever,
Chapter 7: Matthias,
Chapter 8: Jesper,
Chapter 9: Kaz,
Chapter 10: Inej,
Chapter 11: Jesper,
Chapter 12: Inej,
Chapter 13: Kaz,
Chapter 14: Nina,
Chapter 15: Matthias,
Part 3: Heartsick,
Chapter 16: Inej,
Chapter 17: Jesper,
Chapter 18: Kaz,
Chapter 19: Matthias,
Chapter 20: Nina,
Part 4: The Trick to Falling,
Chapter 21: Inej,
Chapter 22: Kaz,
Chapter 23: Jesper,
Chapter 24: Nina,
Chapter 25: Inej,
Chapter 26: Kaz,
Part 5: The Ice Does Not Forgive,
Chapter 27: Jesper,
Chapter 28: Inej,
Chapter 29: Matthias,
Chapter 30: Jesper,
Chapter 31: Nina,
Chapter 32: Jesper,
Chapter 33: Inej,
Chapter 34: Nina,
Chapter 35: Matthias,
Chapter 36: Jesper,
Chapter 37: Nina,
Chapter 38: Kaz,
Part 6: Proper Thieves,
Chapter 39: Inej,
Chapter 40: Nina,
Chapter 41: Matthias,
Chapter 42: Inej,
Chapter 43: Nina,
Chapter 44: Jesper,
Chapter 45: Kaz,
Chapter 46: Pekka,
Acknowledgments,
Shadow and Bone Teaser,
About the Author,
Copyright,
CHAPTER 1Joost
Joost had two problems: the moon and his mustache.
He was supposed to be making his rounds at the Hoede house, but for the last fifteen minutes, he'd been hovering around the southeast wall of the gardens, trying to think of something clever and romantic to say to Anya.
If only Anya's eyes were blue like the sea or green like an emerald. Instead, her eyes were brown - lovely, dreamy ... melted chocolate brown? Rabbit fur brown?
"Just tell her she's got skin like moonlight," his friend Pieter had said. "Girls love that."
A perfect solution, but the Ketterdam weather was not cooperating. There'd been no breeze off the harbor that day, and a gray milk fog had wreathed the city's canals and crooked alleys in damp. Even here among the mansions of the Geldstraat, the air hung thick with the smell of fish and bilge water, and smoke from the refineries on the city's outer islands had smeared the night sky in a briny haze. The full moon looked less like a jewel than a yellowy blister in need of lancing.
Maybe he could compliment Anya's laugh? Except he'd never heard her laugh. He wasn't very good with jokes.
Joost glanced at his reflection in one of the glass panels set into the double doors that led from the house to the side garden. His mother was right. Even in his new uniform, he still looked like a baby. Gently, he brushed his finger along his upper lip. If only his mustache would come in. It definitely felt thicker than yesterday.
He'd been a guard in the stadwatch less than six weeks, and it wasn't nearly as exciting as he'd hoped. He thought he'd be running down thieves in the Barrel or patrolling the harbors, getting first look at cargo coming in on the docks. But ever since the assassination of that ambassador at the town hall, the Merchant Council had been grumbling about security, so where was he? Stuck walking in circles at some lucky mercher's house. Not just any mercher, though. Councilman Hoede was about as high placed in Ketterdam government as a man could be. The kind of man who could make a career.
Joost adjusted the set of his coat and rifle, then patted the weighted baton at his hip. Maybe Hoede would take a liking to him. Sharp-eyed and quick with the cudgel, Hoede would say. That fellow deserves a promotion.
"Sergeant Joost Van Poel," he whispered, savoring the sound of the words. "Captain Joost Van Poel."
"Stop gawking at yourself."
Joost whirled, cheeks going hot as Henk and Rutger strode into the side garden. They were both older, bigger, and broader of shoulder than Joost, and they were house guards, private servants of Councilman Hoede. That meant they wore his pale green livery, carr...
