Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)

by Leigh Bardugo

“No mourners,” Jesper said as he tossed his rifle to Rotty. “No funerals,” the rest of the Dregs murmured in reply. Among them, it passed for “good luck.”

“When everyone knows you’re a monster, you needn’t waste time doing every monstrous thing.”

You couldn’t train a falcon, then expect it not to hunt.

“We’ll be kings and queens, Inej. Kings and queens.”

He was a dangerous player who was always working an angle.

Move the DeKappel we lifted from Van Eck’s house to the vault. I think it’s rolled up under my bed.

so they were actually the ones who stole the painting 😭

“Please, my darling Inej, treasure of my heart, won’t you do me the honor of acquiring me a new hat?”

😭😭😭

Brick by brick, I will destroy you.

“Meet Wylan Van Eck,” said Kaz Brekker as the boy’s cheeks flooded crimson. “Jan Van Eck’s son and our guarantee on thirty million kruge

kaz brekker, i wasn’t familiar with your game

Kaz leaned back. “What’s the easiest way to steal a man’s wallet?” “Knife to the throat?” asked Inej. “Gun to the back?” said Jesper. “Poison in his cup?” suggested Nina. “You’re all horrible,” said Matthias.

this took me out 😭

Many boys will bring you flowers. But someday you’ll meet a boy who will learn your favorite flower, your favorite song, your favorite sweet. And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won’t matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns your heart.

I’m not sure I have a heart to give anymore, Papa.

She wouldn’t wish love on anyone. It was the guest you welcomed and then couldn’t be rid of.

“Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get Wylan’s ghost to teach my ghost how to play the flute just so that I can annoy the hell out of your ghost.” Brekker’s lips quirked. “I’ll just hire Matthias’ ghost to kick your ghost’s ass.” “My ghost won’t associate with your ghost,” Matthias said primly, and then wondered if the sea air was rotting his brain.

“I don’t want your prayers,” he said. “What do you want, then?” The old answers came easily to mind. Money. Vengeance. Jordie’s voice in my head silenced forever. But a different reply roared to life inside him, loud, insistent, and unwelcome. You, Inej. You.

so kaz is another yearner 🥹😩

It was a humiliating epiphany, but he knew he could have watched her eat all day. This was one of the things he’d liked best about Nina—she savored everything, whether it was a toffee or cold water from a stream or dried reindeer meat.

omg everyone’s a yearner

“No mourners.” “No funerals,”

Matthias put his head in his hands, imagining the havoc these low creatures were about to wreak on his country’s capital. “It’s one prisoner, Helvar,” said Kaz. “And a bridge,” Wylan put in helpfully. “And anything we have to blow up in between,” added Jesper. “Everyone shut up,” Matthias growled. Jesper shrugged. “Fjerdans.” “I don’t like any of this,” said Nina. Kaz raised a brow. “Well, at least you and Helvar found something to agree on.”

He’d tell himself to ignore her, and the next thing he knew his eyes would be seeking her out.

Nina had blown into his life with the wind and rain and set his world spinning. He’d been off balance ever since.

Oh, Matthias

“Hooded, chained, and shackled?” said Jesper. “You’re sure we can’t go in as entertainers? I hear Wylan really kills it on the flute.”

lmao jesper 😭 you’re really the clown of this group

“Duping innocent people isn’t something to be proud of.” “It is if you do it well.”

words of wisdom from kaz 💀

“So why do your eyes keep searching the crowd for her?” “They do not,” Matthias protested.

clock him, inej

The heart is an arrow. It demands aim to land true.

She was Inej Ghafa, and her future was waiting above.

What a badass

A look passed between Kaz and Inej that Jesper didn’t understand; there was knowledge in it that he’d been locked out of.

i love small details like this

A gambler, a convict, a wayward son, a lost Grisha, a Suli girl who had become a killer, a boy from the Barrel who had become something worse.

He buried his face in her hair. She felt his lips move against her ear when he said, “I never want to see you like this again.” “Do you mean the dress or the cell?” A laugh shook him. “Definitely the cell.” Then he cupped her face in his hands. “Jer molle pe oonet. Enel mörd je nej afva trohem verret.” Nina swallowed hard. She remembered those words and what they truly meant. I have been made to protect you. Only in death will I be kept from this oath. It was the vow of the drüskelle to Fjerda. And now it was Matthias’ promise to her.

MY BABIES

“If we make it out of here alive, I’m going to kiss you unconscious.”

ugh matthias and nina are so cute

He thought of Inej’s hand on his cheek. His mind had gone jagged at the sensation, a riot of confusion. It had been terror and disgust and—in all of that clamor—desire, a wish that lingered still, the hope that she would touch him again.

He’d become Kaz Brekker, cripple and confidence man, bastard of the Barrel.

She’d laughed, and if he could have bottled the sound and gotten drunk on it every night, he would have. It terrified him.

SCREAMING

But all he could think of was Inej. She had to live. She had to have made it out of the Ice Court. And if she hadn’t, then he had to live to rescue her.

I can hear the change in Kaz’s breathing when he looks at you.” “You … you can?” “It catches every time, like he’s never seen you before.”

Inej turned to go. Kaz seized her hand, keeping it on the railing. He didn’t look at her. “Stay,” he said, his voice rough stone. “Stay in Ketterdam. Stay with me.”

He took a breath. “I want you to stay. I want you to … I want you.”

“I will have you without armor, Kaz Brekker. Or I will not have you at all.”

“Stay,” she panted. Tears leaked from her eyes. “Stay till the end.” “And after,” he said. “And always.”

“Nina,” he whispered, “little red bird. Don’t go.”

“You … how many times was it you standing beside me on the deck at night when I thought it was Kuwei?” “Every time.”

“Nina might not be able to put you back, you know. Not without another dose of parem. You could be stuck like this.” “Why does it matter?” “I don’t know!” Jesper said angrily. “Maybe I liked your stupid face.” He turned to Matthias. “You knew. Wylan knew. Inej knew. Everyone but me.”

I’m going to get my money, Kaz vowed. And I’m going to get my girl.