Six of Crows is a YA fantasy novel written by New York Times bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo. The story follows six criminals that come together to take on a nearly impossible heist. This novel takes place two years after the events in the Grisha trilogy. 

The book begins in the fictional city of Ketterdam, the capital of Kerch, where Hoede (a member of the Kerch Merchant Council) tests a drug called jurda parem on a Grisha healer. The drug dangerously amplifies the Grisha’s power and results in them also having the ability to manipulate minds. When a wealthy merchant and member of the Kerch Merchant Council, Jan Van Eck, discovers Hoede’s experiment he hires Kaz Brekker, gang leader of the Dregs, to rescue the inventor of the drug, Bo Yul-Bayur, from the Ice Court to prevent the drug’s existence from being exposed. Since the Ice Court is an impenetrable prison in the fictional country of Fjerda, Kaz recruits a crew to successfully accomplish this heist. He eventually recruits Nina Zenik (a Grisha Heartrender), Jesper Fahey (a sharpshooter), Wylan Van eck (Jan Van Eck’s runaway son), Inej Ghafa (a Dreg member and his right-hand spy), and Matthias Helvar (a Grisha-hunter). From this point onward, the crew has one mission: to rescue Bo Yui-Bayur and for all to successfully return home. Breaking into the Ice Court is already a challenge, but it becomes even more difficult when new information is revealed through the heist. 

I honestly wasn’t a big fan of the Grisha trilogy––the prequel series to Six of Crows––however, I really enjoyed this book from the moment I picked it up. More than anything, I liked the character development the most. The book is written in third-person with the point of view switching between the main characters with each chapter. The writing style allows the author to reveal what led them to do what they are doing now––breaking in an impenetrable prison––and how they became who they are now. I truly believe that each character has a beautifully written story. 

I highly recommend this book to readers who love and enjoy an action-packed, fast-paced, and a character and plot driven story. 

**The Grisha are the magical elite in the fictional country of Ravka.

-Dulce M.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo is available from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive.