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A review by theseventhcrow
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
okay let me just say that i found this book to be worth the hype 100%
the book is a mix of character-driven and plot-driven and i find it's the perfect mix. all the characters are so well developed and complex, as are their relationships with each other. fortunately, leigh bardugo did not sacrifice a well-developed plot to achieve that.
also, what tends to happen in books with so many main characters is that often there will be too much of a focus on 1 or 2 of the characters, but the author will rush through or skip over important parts of the other characters entirely. this was not the case with this book. leigh managed to address all the character's backstories, personalities, etc. equally.
related to character backstories, i have to admit that sometimes i did feel like there was some info-dumping. there were some chapters with crucial moments that were interrupted by a character's memories, making it hard for me to 1) make the connection between the current event and the memories 2) keep track of what was actually happening in the scene. however, i don't find that bothers me much, but for people who get easily confused/frustrated with infodumping etc. i understand how it may be annoying.
all that to say, i like that leigh addressed these characters' backstories, trauma, etc. because she didn't just gloss over it or mention it once and never again. she did a great job of including their pasts and having that influence their present decisions and relationships.
i fell in love with these characters, their world and their goals. i picked up the second book in the duology immediately after, because i was so enthralled in the world.
the book is a mix of character-driven and plot-driven and i find it's the perfect mix. all the characters are so well developed and complex, as are their relationships with each other. fortunately, leigh bardugo did not sacrifice a well-developed plot to achieve that.
also, what tends to happen in books with so many main characters is that often there will be too much of a focus on 1 or 2 of the characters, but the author will rush through or skip over important parts of the other characters entirely. this was not the case with this book. leigh managed to address all the character's backstories, personalities, etc. equally.
related to character backstories, i have to admit that sometimes i did feel like there was some info-dumping. there were some chapters with crucial moments that were interrupted by a character's memories, making it hard for me to 1) make the connection between the current event and the memories 2) keep track of what was actually happening in the scene. however, i don't find that bothers me much, but for people who get easily confused/frustrated with infodumping etc. i understand how it may be annoying.
all that to say, i like that leigh addressed these characters' backstories, trauma, etc. because she didn't just gloss over it or mention it once and never again. she did a great job of including their pasts and having that influence their present decisions and relationships.
i fell in love with these characters, their world and their goals. i picked up the second book in the duology immediately after, because i was so enthralled in the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Slavery
Minor: Body horror, Kidnapping, and Religious bigotry