What do a criminal mastermind, prostitute-turned-assasin, gambling addicted sharpshooter, illiterate pyromaniac, hypersexual witch, and imprisoned religious fanatic have in common? For one, they are all under the age of 18. Second, they inhabit a rip-off fantasy Amsterdam. Third, they are the outcasts that make up the ensemble cast of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows.
Kaz Brekker didn’t need a reason. Those were the words whispered on the streets of Ketterdam, in the taverns and the coffeehouses, in the dark and bleeding alleys of a pleasure district known as the Barrel. The boy they called Dirtyhands didn’t need a reason any more than he needed permission – to break a leg, sever an alliance, or change a man’s fortunes with the turn of a card.
The newest collector’s edition dust jacket of Six of Crows
The Book
I will admit, I gave you very two-dimensional descriptions of the cast of Six of Crows in the introduction – let me break them down more, as they are a bigger part of the novel (in my opinion) than the actual plot:
Criminal mastermind: This is the aforementioned Kaz Brekker, unaffectionately known as Dirtyhands. Kaz is the 17 year old leader of the gang known as The Dregs. He is cunning, cold, and driven by a never-ending thirst for wealth and revenge. He also wears black leather gloves 24/7 for unknown reasons (at least until you read the book).
Prostitute-turned-assasin: Inej Ghafa – another character with an unaffectionate nickname. She is known as “The Wraith”, slinking over rooftops and murdering from the shadows. Sold into sexual slavery at age 14, her indenture was bought by Kaz when she was 16 and her murder-sprees are working off her debt. She was an acrobat in her family’s circus as a child and is devoutly religious, leading to an interesting inner conflict for her. She also carries significant trauma from her time in the pleasure houses, which she struggles to overcome.
Gambling addicted sharpshooter: The lovable Jesper Fehey, an immigrant who has conned his family into believing he is studying at university while he actually blows his life savings gambling. He, too, is repaying Kaz by working as his sharpshooter. Jesper is funny and lovable – starkly different from the other two.
These three make up the “originals” – that is to say, they have known each other before the start of the novel. It is very clear that the three characters have history and there is both a sense of trust and connection between them that the newcomers do not have.
Illiterate pyromaniac: Wylan [redacted] – another Kaz hire who he pulled from the streets. Wylan is quiet and unassuming but has a gift for pyrotechnics and serves as the team’s explosives expert. Wylan’s also the only character of our main six that is originally from Ketterdamn, making him irreplaceable.
Hypersexual witch: Nina Zenik, who can only be described as a hoot. She sleeps with anything that walks, although she is holding a candle to a certain someone. She’s Kaz’s ace in the hole – she also owes him a debt and he’s not afraid to use her when he needs her. She’s from Ravka – the governing seat of the fantasy world.
Imprisoned religious fanatic: Matthias Helvar, a witch-hunter from Fjerda, a frozen tundra. Through unfortunate events, he ends up in the high security prison, Hellgate. He’s determined to get back home and get revenge on those who put him in Hellgate.
These six come together in a series of unlikely events to complete what has been deemed an impossible task – a heist of the fabled Ice Court. It will take all of them working together to achieve – that is, if they don’t kill each other first.
The characters are some of the most morally grey I’ve ever read (something I love). All have done some pretty terrible things which they have justified in different ways. Each is driven by their own personal quest, but to achieve their goals they have to work together. Kaz, in particular, is extremely compelling. He is the true main character – the other five revolve around him and his planning for the heist. As stated before, he is cold and cunning and often times cruel, but the introspective third-person perspective allows for the reader to truly understand his thought process.
Throughout the course of the novel, the characters form a ragtag family. It is easy to forget they are teenagers with their mature attitudes and the horrors they have endured, but they truly are all searching for a place to belong – something they seem to find together.
Six of Crows gets five stars. It has everything I love in a book – fantasy elements, three-dimensional characters, sarcasm and puns (The Dregs are the bottom of the Barrel – get it?) and a found family at the center.
The Bop
Six of Crows‘ bop is Teenagers by My Chemical Romance. A pulsing punk anthem, the song sings about the prejudice towards teenagers instituted by adults. The characters of Six of Crows are often patronized or looked down upon by adults – something which annoys them but they use to their advantage. You can imagine the gang strutting through the alleys of Ketterdamn with this song blasting.
To hit the bullseye, take the time to read Six of Crows. You will fall in love with The Dregs and their banter, and root for them as they brutally murder all those who wrong them. And even better – there’s a sequel!
Inej had wanted Kaz to be become someone else, a better person, a gentler thief. But that boy had no place here. That boy ended up starving in an alley. He ended up dead. That boy couldn’t get her back.
Dirtyhands had come to see the rough work done.
