A review by readwithde
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.75

This was everything I wanted from a heist book and more.

This group of characters seem rare to me; they aren't heroes or even fighting for their own survival, but they are survivors. It's refreshing to have morally grey characters, to have greedy and selfish characters, to have a life of riches and luxury and freedom be the goal and reward. It honestly felt like a well-played D&D game with lots of pitfalls and personal stakes.

There are so many obstacles and villains in the story; it's fun to watch them choose, to prioritize what the biggest threat is, and knowing that it is different for each of them for their own reasons. The constant shuffle of plans and priorities adds extra tension that keeps the midsection of the book relevant and interesting. 

My only complaint is the preface; it tries to do too much. A shorter, more focused POV would help set the stage, theme, and mood much better, especially as most of the information is repeated in the first few chapters. Despite that misstep, this is a fun read with hidden depth and very real, human characters. 

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