Six Main Characters, Six Narrators – Six of Crows {Review}

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Series: Six of Crows #1
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company (2015)
Hardcover (465 pages)
Via: Library
Rating:
Also by this author: Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising
Reading Challenges: Read 2016

Synopsis

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

Find the book: Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository

My Review

I was pleased when I was finally able to pick up Six of Crows and reenter the world of the Grisha, even from a different view. The novel mentions the events of the Grisha trilogy though we are not in Ravka this time.

Kaz basically runs the Dregs, a street gang in Ketterdam, and the Crow Club, a gambling house. He is a talented thief, able to avoid the authorities and take on dangerous jobs. He is seen as something other than human and emotionless, rumors he is happy to promote. I really like Kaz, especially as we learned more of his backstory.

Inej is known as the Wraith. Trained as an acrobat in her childhood, now she is a spy for the Dregs and Kaz. Inej knows everyone’s secrets as it is her job to learn them. She dreams of someday being able to see her family again, but is still wounded by her past.

Jesper is a Dreg sharpshooter. His inability to walk away from wagers, particularly games, leaves him perpetually indebted to the Dregs. He is excellent with his guns and hates to be parted from them. When it would come to a fire-fight, I’d want Jesper on my side.

Nina is a Heartrender member of the Dregs. As a Grisha, she is very valuable because of her abilities. She can not only stop a heart but also affect emotions and even heal a little. At any time she could easily return to Ravka, but something is holding her in Ketterdam.

Wylan is a runaway Kaz has determined may be useful. His ties in Ketterdam make him somewhat valuable though the rest of the crew doesn’t know what to make of him.

Matthias is a convict, a Fjerdan tasked with hunting down Grisha simply for the crime of existing. He has his own reasons for what he does, be they for revenge or for something else. He is always honest in his words.

I felt that all six perspectives, while done well, were unnecessary. The characters were usually together, so I felt the novel could have been good with just three or so voices. I would have loved even more Kaz since, for some reason, he is rather amazing. I cannot wait to see where the sequel takes us!

If you have read this book, what did you think of all six narrators? If you haven’t, would you read a book with six different narrators?