Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1) by Leigh Bardugo -- Restarting January 12th 2024

[Elaina]

I will be adding this book and starting soon. I have to go to the libray and pick up the hard copy.

[Cinthia]

I meant to start it yesterday but got busy with other stuff... I'll try to pick it up in the morning...

[Catrin]

I would like to join you in reading this book please.

[Brianna]

Great! The more the merrier :)

[Elaina]

I was able to pick up and start the book today. This book is off to a great start. Instantly, 2 different criminal activities happen and pull the reader in.

[Elaina]

Just started part 3 today and I am still enjoying the story. Which I did not think I would after reading the back cover. My favorite aspect so far has been the world building through the multiple POVs. Everything has been laid out nicely and I do not feel like I am missing any key details to the story. Which is impressive as this is technically book 4 in the Grish series according to Goodreads.

For anyone who has read the previous books did reading the first 3 affect your experiences with this book? Are there any important details that add to this book's experience?

Another aspect that I am loving so far is the large cast of characters telling their side of the story in each chapter. I think having these charaters each narrate a chapter allows the reader to form a connection that would not be there otherwise. Thinking back to other books told in third person limited, third person omniscient, or first person, the reader does form connections with all important characters. I could easily see Kaz and Inej being the focus of this book if Bardugo decided to use one of those narration styles. Instead she uses a multiple narrartor single person style that allows each charater to take shape. At this time I find Nina and Matthias's story to be particularly interesting and cannot wait to read more about them.

[Brianna]

Elaina wrote: "Just started part 3 today and I am still enjoying the story. Which I did not think I would after reading the back cover. My favorite aspect so far has been the world building through the multiple P..."

I read the shadow and bone trilogy. Tbh, unpopular opinion, I think it was better than this book. I am not really sure when this happens in relation the first trilogy, and I'm not sure I would understand fully what the grisha are/what they do, or understand the fold had I not read the first trilogy before going into this. What are your thoughts since you havent read it? I find that this book is very different from SAB, and they do take place mostly in different areas. I know Kerch might be mentioned in SAB but nothing really takes place there.

I also love a book with multiple POVs, I think its important for readers to understand that people and characters are very different and not always black and white. You can have characters who are seen as the villain from another POV but also understand why they take the actions they do and have empathy for those "villains". Personally I am not really connecting with Kaz or Inej. I don't understand the hype there. Kaz kinda bothers me, I just don't find him all that interesting and I find it hard to see why so many people are so loyal to him. I agree about Nina and Matthias, they are also my favourite characters at the moment and I feel like I connect with their story the most.

Also apologize I havent posted any updates, I originally started this in august and got about half way, so I've just really skimmed until now. I am going away to a winter cottage this weekend so I am hoping to finish the last half and post all my updates from there! :)

[Elaina]

Brianna wrote: "Elaina wrote: "Just started part 3 today and I am still enjoying the story. Which I did not think I would after reading the back cover. My favorite aspect so far has been the world building through..."

I am able to follow the story without reading the SAB trilogy. I believe this is book 4 in the Grisha series, SAB are books 1-3. Bardugo has left enough clues for me to somewhat understand the Grisha through Nina and Inej. I would say its a crash course and does leave information out. When I hit part 3, I was left using context clues about the girls to fully attempt to understand the situation in the Ice City. Part 4 was where I realized that the SAB series may have helped me with the book and shed light on the reason for the prejudice towards the Grisha and the witch hunters. Other than that, if you focus on the thieves the story's plot is easily understandable.

I am on Chapter 39 at this time so I am marking this as a spoiler.

(view spoiler)[At first I felt the same way about Kaz. Once I read the chapters about his past experience with Pekka Rollins' and what happened to his brother Jordie I opened up to him a bit more. I get losing his "only family", especially at such a young age, broke him. Pekka stole their money and that left him and Jordie homeless and left to fend on their own. This is, in Kaz's mind, how they caught the fever, and what killed Jordie. In addition, Kaz ended up being tossed into the dead pile next to his brother's body left to die. He somehow surrvied and used his brother as a raft. He now is driven to get revenge on the man, which contributes to his hard personality. If I lost a sibbling that way I do not know how I would react, but I do not think I would be the same. He still is not my favorite character in the book, but he is the one responsible for the team and the entire hiest. Which is why I think he would have been the main narrator if told in a different style. (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

up to chapter 30

(view spoiler)[ I just realized we didn't actually find out what happened with Kaz when he found Peka Rollins. I wonder if we do find out or its just left in mystery...
I liked the scene where Matthias had a gun with Kaz but didn't do anything. But to be completely honest it just feels like the writer is trying too hard with Kaz. I know so many people just love him so much and I feel very indifferent to Kaz. (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

Up to Chapter 36

(view spoiler)[Wow, I totally flip floped with those last 2 chapters. I thought Brum might have been onto her until they were in the prison, but I did not see that coming with Matthias showing up and turning on Nina, OR then turning on Brum. Damn. lol. Those last 2 chapters have honestly been my favourite of the book so far lol (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

Finished!

(view spoiler)[The last quarter really picked up and kept me more interested while reading, but I really feel like this book is way overhyped. I stick with my original assessment that shadow and bone is greatly superior.
In the end, after they got out I feel like this should have been a standalone and ended there. When they return it was just too much.. I knew that something was going to happen and Inej would be taken about halfway through the book, it was the only way I saw this turning into a duology. But I just think all of that was so unnecessary. To me all those twists and turns with Pekka Rollins, and Kuwei/Wylan was just way too much, too ridiculous and unbelievable. I was starting to enjoy it a bit more towards the end but this just ruined it for me. (hide spoiler)]