SOLVED. Adult Fantasy ragtag band with different powers infiltrate heavily armed northern citadel to pull “Ocean’s Eleven” style extraction of a scientist and his invention; 1 memorable gladiatorial scene

[D.]

Read this book a few months ago!

Fantasy world in four kingdoms: one based on Africa (almost never visited in the book) one based on Asia, one based on Europe, and one based on the Vikings. An asian scientist has discovered a chemical that can enhance your powers, and he is kidnapped. The leads must break into the northern citadel and reach him.


—ragtag band of heroes with all different powers
—one lead is a viking-style warrior who hunts with wolves; their enemies are witches
—of course another hero is one of these witches
—memorable scene: toward the beginning, the gang needs to break into an island prison to spring someone whose skills they need for the heist; the prison features a huge underground roman-style arena where the wealthy in town come to bet on the gladiators in the ring. The gladiators spin a wheel which chooses the monster/beast they will take on. (Tiger, venomous monster, etc.)

[Chrissy]

All of this sounds exactly like Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. Except for the "Adult" descriptor... SoC is technically YA, although lots of people have said that the characters act much older than they are and not like the teenagers they are meant to be...

[D.]

Thank you yes!!!!!!!