Right on the heels of Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora, we have my reread of Six of Crows, something that I has been on my rereads list for many years now. If you’re not sure why I’ve linked these two books together, you should check out my review of The Lies of Locke Lamora – you may even find your next read in doing so. Six of Crows is a YA heist novel that’s taken the world by storm, and the cancellation of the Shadow and Bone TV series has been a stab in the gut for many Six of Crows fans. We almost got the screen adaptation we wanted, but alas, some things will be left to our imaginations.

Leigh Bardugo does a magnificent job establishing Ketterdam; the dark shadows of the streets hiding thieves, conmen and a fair number of spiders lurking on rooftops, the stink of mud, seawater, greed and wealth masked by perfume, the sleight of hand and the pride in thinking you’re winning, and the realities of growing up in the gutter – at least as far as this fantasy world goes. I admire how Ketterdam and The Dregs are slowly described to us, waiting for the moment to let something give, teasing out details to keep us engaged and immersed in the plot. The Dregs are some of the most well-rounded characters I’ve encountered in YA in the last seven years. Their flaws and strengths play active roles in their daily lives, both while working jobs and in their downtime. Their personalities shine through in their most mundane actions, and there are so few mundane actions when we’re talking about a gang of young thieves attempting the biggest heist they’ve ever heard of. There is bravado and vulnerability, concern and caution, faith and resentment, and so many more emotions bouncing around between the six of them, making for some unforgettable dialogue and interactions.

The pacing of Six of Crows is unlike the Shadow and Bone trilogy – we get almost straight into it and so little of the prose is flat. Some parts I found brought the energy of the action down (the recollection of past events that was more exposition for the reader and not wholly genuine reflections the characters would have). These moments made the fast-paced action and anticipation pause and there wasn’t always a payoff. Maybe if these passages were shorter and more to the point, they wouldn’t drag the tension and pace down. The past exchanges between Nina and Matthias, for example, are cute and set their relationship out well enough for the reader, but the current-day longing and emotional build-up between them do a far better job of showing tender history and betrayal. Their dialogue gives the reader the right amount of knowledge about their relationship without the chapter needing to be from either of their perspectives. Kaz’s history is another example, and while it does an effective job at shaping who he is, there are points where it could be sharpened to sound more like Kaz is reflecting on these things instead of the reader being told his past.

The plotting is so well executed, especially the heist. I don’t remember where I heard it, but there is a rule about plans that Leigh Bardugo has successfully followed: if the plan goes right, don’t mention the plan. If the plan goes wrong, detail the plan so the reader can see it has gone wrong. They won’t know otherwise. Not only does this fit in well with the characters (it is even mentioned by several of them that they don’t know all of the plans, making their reactions to changes all the more authentic and interesting), but it creates suspense for the reader. When things go well, the reader is anticipating what will happen. When it goes bad, the reader is eagerly awaiting their improvisations. It also makes the heist feel more immersive, aided by the appropriate description and sensory details. This book is almost 500 pages, yet it can easily be read in an afternoon because there is an investment in the reading. There is a desire to continue, to find out what happens next.

I completely understand how Six of Crows is a well-loved duology, and I agree with the notion wholeheartedly. Even if you’re not a fan of the Shadow and Bone trilogy, Six of Crows is an entertaining read with more action and interest. Maybe that comes down to the multiple perspectives we get to see, or the characters are more compelling and intriguing, and therefore the book is more appealing to readers. Either way, I’ll be reading Crooked Kingdom shortly and you best believe it will be reread in the shortest amount of time possible.