Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Sei di corvi

Heard so many good things about this book, saw the pretty cover and bought it. I read the first two chapters and then DNFed it because it was very slow and I couldn't understand the world building (as I had not read the Shadow and Bone trilogy). Many months later, I was forced to pick it up again because of an eight hour long train ride and I'm soooo grateful I did. Turned out to be one of my favourite books of all time <3

Characters: The main six characters are the reason this story flourishes the way it did. I love every single one of the crows and I would die for them despite them being a bunch of conniving criminals and thieves and thugs. The character dynamics and backstories were also done so well. The banters and one-liners are worth dying for. I was slightly worried about the romances at first, but they were all so adorably paired and very much shippable. My only teeny tiny issue was that the characters seemed wayyy too mature and self-aware for their ages- like you can't tell me Kaz isn't in his early 20s at least. But since its a YA fantasy novel, I didn't mind it too much.

Plot: It does have quite a slow beginning. It takes around 50 pages to introduce the world and some of the main characters, and then set up for an impossible heist, and another ~100 for Kaz to gather his crew, learn a little bit of their backgrounds, and come up with a plan for said impossible heist. But once the story picks up, it picks up. From then on, the fast-paced plot really gets you hooked and it's impossible to keep the book down. One slight issue was how their mess ups and failures doesn't really seem to have that big of a consequence, but I loved the plot anyway so it didn't matter. It does have a cliff-hanger ending but that's all the more reason to pick up the next book :D

World-building: The world-building would take just a little bit more effort to understand if you haven't read the preceding series, but it's totally not a problem and you should get along fine about a 100 pages in. I really loved the whole Grisha-Drüskelle thing. Somehow the Barrel - and the entirety of Ketterdam - feels like a real place; while Fjerda, Kerch, Ravka, and the nations, in general, feel whimsical. My only pet-peeve was how some of the spellings seemed like they were intentionally made complicated (like why medik when it could've been just medic?? ;-;) but then again it's fantasy so I let it slide.[Update: I learned Kerch is supposed to be Dutch so nvm]

TL;DR: Loveable characters, gripping plot, intriguing world, good writing - all the fun stuff.

Content Warnings

anton13's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The first half was just purely enjoyment. Loved learning about them and seeing them go on this journey. The second half was me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I sat through 2 whole days just reading cause I couldn’t put it down. For anyones that been contemplating getting it and reading it I say DO IT! It’s sooooo good and so well written. I’m in love. So excited to start reading Crooked Kingdom so I can find out how they’re gonna get themselves out of this mess<3

Also: one of the best quotes ever: “Jer molle pe oonet. Enel mörd je nej afva trohem verretn” which means: “I have been made to protect you. Only in death will I be kept from this oath” in Fjerdan. It’s beautiful imo

Content Warnings