Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1) in Around the Year in 52 Books

Oct 06, 2018 Jacqie rated it liked it

Shelves: sirens-2018

This was fine, but I don't feel compelled to seek out more by this author.

I've been reading a lot of YA lately for a reading challenge, and I'm finding that it has to be pretty damn transcendent YA for me to really like it. I'm at the age where reading about a bunch of teenagers who are all amazingly accomplished and just the best at everything (better than anyone else in the world!) begins to annoy. Teenagers have boundless energy, powerful emotions, and young bodies that can recover from physi This was fine, but I don't feel compelled to seek out more by this author.

I've been reading a lot of YA lately for a reading challenge, and I'm finding that it has to be pretty damn transcendent YA for me to really like it. I'm at the age where reading about a bunch of teenagers who are all amazingly accomplished and just the best at everything (better than anyone else in the world!) begins to annoy. Teenagers have boundless energy, powerful emotions, and young bodies that can recover from physical exertion and abuse. These things do make them interesting characters. But I'm a bit tired of the "being young makes you the best, and those old folks are never going to know what hit them!" trope that seems to be part of so many of these books.

Take Kaz. He's seventeen, but he's the best thief in all of Ketterdam, with the wiliest crew, and the best information network by far. Better than any other master thieves!!!! Bleh. Kaz also uses a cane, but at times he can still sprint like the wind. He's the best at sleight of hand, never backs down from a challenge, and knows the city better than anyone else. Then there's Inej. She's (I think) seventeen, and is the best spy acrobat thief assassin in all of Ketterdam! She's also Kaz's wingman. And because this is YA, there must of course be a tortured romance between them that neither of them ever talk about. That's a lot of mileage for two teenagers, and that's before I even start on each of their backstories.

So, I still thought this was a decent book- there's a lot of interesting world-building, and the cast of characters was interesting, if of dubious possibility. I'm not sure it worked as a heist- I never felt a lot of tension in any scene because I was waiting for Kaz to do something that would solve the whole problem every time, because he knew everything and always predicted accurately what everyone else would do. The double-crossing sometimes worked and sometimes didn't. I just am a bit burned out on YA superheroes who aren't officially superpowered, if you know what I mean. That's probably not this book's fault. ...more

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Dec 14, 2019 Jen K rated it really liked it

Really enjoyed the group heist aspect in the Grisha world. I loved the band of misfits finding their way. There was a good balance of character building mixed with the adventure. Several twists surprised me throughout. I do hate such a serious cliffhanger though. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

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Feb 09, 2022 Duygu rated it liked it

Shelves: popsugar-2022, aty-2022

I almost gave up after the first few chapters. I was sooooooooooooo confused. All the new terminology, world-building, etc. I am glad I stuck with it. But be forewarned, don't get caught up in the words, just keep on reading and the story will take a hold of you. ...more

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Mar 09, 2020 Pamela rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-popsugar-options, 2020-pop-sugar-read

A band of 6 teen criminals/misfits attempt to jail break a scientist for millions + super powers(ability to slow you heart rate or change your appearance) + a fantasy setting that sounds like the underbelly of Vegas = lots of fun. Think a YA Ocean’s 11 set in fantasy land. Really enjoyed this one. I read it with my 14 YO son, good choice if you are looking to read with a teen. Bardugo’s becoming an auto buy. 4.5.5

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