Six of Crows
{{Short description|2015 fantasy novel by Leigh Bardugo}}
{{Long plot|date=February 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Six of Crows
| author = Leigh Bardugo
| language = English
| country = United States
| genre = Fantasy, Young Adult
| published = September 29, 2015
| publisher = Henry Holt and Co.
| media_type = Print (hardcover and paperback), audiobook, e-book
| pages = 465
| isbn = 978-1522609735
| followed_by = Crooked Kingdom
| image = Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo book cover.jpeg
| series = Six of Crows duology
| caption = First edition cover
}}
Six of Crows is a fantasy novel written by the Israeli–American author Leigh Bardugo and published by Henry Holt and Co. in 2015.{{cite web|last=Wappler|first=Margaret|title=Y.A. Crossover|website=The New York Times|date=2015-10-23|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/25/books/review/ya-crossover.html|access-date=2016-02-17}}{{cite web|author=Nava4|title=Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo – review|website=The Guardian|date=2016-01-21|url=https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/jan/21/six-of-crows-leigh-bardugo-review|access-date=2016-02-17}} The story follows a thieving crew and is primarily set in the city of Ketterdam, which is loosely inspired by Dutch Republic–era Amsterdam.{{cite web|last=Press|first=Daily|title=Criminals attempt intricate heist in 'Six of Crows' - HRBooks review|website=Daily Press|date=2016-01-25|url=http://www.dailypress.com/entertainment/books/dp-fea-hrbooks-0126-20160125-story.html|access-date=2016-02-17}}{{cite web|last=Bardugo|first=Leigh|title=Leigh Bardugo reads from Six of Crows|website=The Guardian|date=2015-09-24|url=https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/sep/24/leigh-bardugo-reads-from-six-of-crows|access-date=2016-02-17}} The plot is told from third-person viewpoints of five (seven if the opening and closing chapters are considered) different characters.
The novel is the first of a duology, completed in Crooked Kingdom (2016). The series is part of Bardugo's Grishaverse.{{cite news|title='Six of Crows' continues Leigh Bardugo's streak of smart fantasy novels|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=2015-11-16|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2015/11/16/six-of-crows-continues-leigh-bardugos-streak-of-smart-fantasy-novels/|access-date=2016-02-17}}{{cite web|title=Leigh Bardugo Talks Six of Crows, Heist Movies and Skinny Dipping|website=The Huffington Post|date=2015-09-29|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-parkin/post_10220_b_8210398.html|access-date=2016-02-17}} Nina's storyline continues in the King of Scars duology: King of Scars (2019) and Rule of Wolves (2021), with the other Crows making brief cameos in the latter. They are also featured in the Netflix television series Shadow and Bone (2021–2023), the series' first season giving them an original storyline.{{cite web |last1=VanArendonk |first1=Kathryn |date=21 April 2021 |title=Shadow and Bone Almost Gets Lost In The Dark |url=https://www.vulture.com/2021/04/review-shadow-and-bone-almost-gets-lost-in-the-dark.html |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=Vulture}}
Plot
In Ketterdam, the capital of Kerch, Councilman Hoede tests a drug called jurda parem on a Grisha Healer. The drug enhances her abilities, allowing her to control and manipulate human minds. She escapes after paralyzing Hoede and some guards, but is found dead days later.
Wealthy merchant Jan Van Eck divulges the results of Hoede's experiment to criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker and tasks him with rescuing its inventor, Bo Yul-Bayur, from the Ice Court, an unbreachable military stronghold in Fjerda, and preventing the drug's existence from being exposed to the world.
Kaz agrees for a hefty price and starts recruiting a crew: Inej Ghafa, his right-hand spy that he saved from a pleasure house; Nina Zenik, a Grisha Heartrender, who joins upon learning of his intention to employ Matthias Helvar, a former Fjerdan drüskelle (Grisha-hunter) detained at Hellgate Prison because of Nina; and Jesper Fahey, a Zemeni sharpshooter with a gambling addiction. Together, they break Matthias out of prison, who agrees to help in exchange for a pardon that would enable his reinstatement as a drüskelle. Kaz also enlists Wylan Van Eck, Jan Van Eck's runaway son, as a demolitions expert and leverage if Van Eck reneges on their deal.
As they are about to sail from Ketterdam, the crew repels an ambush by rival gangs; after torturing a gangster, Kaz learns that gang leader Pekka Rollins, the man responsible for his brother Jordie's death, is also after the scientist. Kaz explains his rescue plan to the crew: they will enter the Ice Court as prisoners, cross to the embassy sector through the roof, and disguise themselves as foreign dignitaries during a festival. After finding and freeing Yul-Bayur from the White Island, on the inner ring, they will exit from the embassy sector.
Upon reaching Fjerda, Nina and Matthias are finally able to talk about her betrayal. Nina had been a Grisha soldier captured by Matthias with his Fjerdan drüskelle party and put on a ship to Fjerda for trial and eventual execution. The ship sank during a storm, and Matthias and Nina fell in love while trying to find civilization. When they arrived at a city, Nina was questioned by Grisha spies and, to save Matthias from her compatriots, Nina reported him as a slave trader to a Kerch citizen in the harbor, unaware that Matthias would be imprisoned in Hellgate. Instead of returning to Ravka, Nina stayed in Ketterdam to try and free him. Matthias reconciles with Nina upon learning the truth, and they agree to kill Yul-Bayur, both acknowledging that jurda parem is a threat to Grisha and Fjerdans alike.
The crew intercept a cart of prisoners being taken to the Ice Court and take the place of six of them. Due to the constant feeling of bodies pressing against him, Kaz loses consciousness, and more of his past is revealed. After he and his brother were conned by Pekka Rollins, a plague had swept through Ketterdam, killing many of its residents, including Jordie. Kaz was mistakenly thought dead and tossed in the Reaper's Barge with the bodies for burning. He was only able to survive by swimming to shore using Jordie's corpse as a buoy. The experience created an intense aversion to any sort of physical contact with human skin, prompting him to wear gloves constantly.
Kaz wakes up as they enter the Ice Court and the crew is split up. Kaz goes with Nina to search the holding cells for Yul-Bayur, but he deviates from the plan and goes on his own to find Pekka Rollins in a cell. Nina is spotted by guards, who manage to raise the alarm before she can kill them. With the prison alarm triggered, their plan is ruined, so they improvise to get to the center of the Ice Court. Inej and Nina get in by taking the place of two Menagerie girls, but only Nina gets through the guards; Inej is held back. Matthias and Kaz get in through a secret bridge known only to drüskelle. Jesper and Wylan move to destroy the ringwall gate and trigger the Ice Court's alarm.
While trying to coax information from a Fjerdan official, Nina is surprised to see Jarl Brum, leader of the drüskelle and the former commander of the ship that she was held captive in. Brum lures Nina into touring prison cells specifically constructed to detain Grisha and locks her in a cell. Matthias shows up, appearing to have betrayed her, but turns against his old commander and frees Nina, making a sacred drüskelle vow to keep her safe until he dies. They look for Bo Yul-Bayur, but learn of his death. His son, Kuwei Yul-Bo, is alive and is being forced to replicate his father's research. Matthias and Nina forgo killing him, as he is only fifteen and a Grisha. They take the boy and leave, blowing up the lab as they go. They meet up with Kaz and escape through a waterfall he unearthed.
Meanwhile, Inej is spotted by her former employer Heleen van Houden, who informs the guards of Inej's true identity. Jesper and Wylan rescue her and hijack a Fjerdan tank, using it to ram through the walls and escape. They head toward the dock to rendezvous with their ship and find a large Fjerdan party waiting for them, a Heartrender using parem at the fore. With no other choice, Nina takes jurda parem and subdues the army.
The crew safely reaches Ketterdam, with Nina already suffering from withdrawals. They leave her with Wylan, while the rest of the crew take Kuwei to Jan Van Eck. Van Eck, however, reveals that he only wanted the formula for jurda parem to profit from the fallout of its release to the world. He sinks the crew's ship despite Kaz's warning that Wylan is aboard. Van Eck reveals that he deems his son unfit to inherit his business empire, as Wylan is dyslexic. Kaz, however, reveals that the boy Van Eck thinks is Kuwei Yul-Bo is actually Wylan, tailored by Nina to look exactly like the scientist's son. Furious, Van Eck kidnaps Inej and gives them seven days to bring him the real Kuwei. Unwilling to endanger Inej, Kaz lets the merchant go. Kaz and his remaining crew go to Pekka Rollins, revealed to have been set free by Kaz at the Ice Court, and Kaz sells his shares in the Crow Club and the Fifth Harbour to raise the money he needs. He then hatches a plan to rescue Inej and redeem the money they were promised.
Characters
{{Main article|Characters of the Grishaverse}}
- Kaz Brekker, also known as Dirtyhands and the "Bastard of the Barrel",{{cite web |title=Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo - review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/sep/29/six-of-crows-leigh-bardugo-review |website=The Guardian |access-date=5 October 2021 |date=29 September 2015}} is seventeen and a master thief with a reputation for doing anything for the right price.{{cite web |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Gemma E |title=Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo review: Misfits come together in fast-paced adventure |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/19000072.six-crows-leigh-bardugo-review-misfits-come-together-fast-paced-adventure/ |website=The National |access-date=5 October 2021 |date=11 January 2021}} He is second-in-command of the Dregs, and, as the mastermind of the group, the de facto leader of the Crows.{{cite news |last1=Sheehan |first1=Jason |title='Six Of Crows' Is A Well-Turned Heist Tale |url=https://www.npr.org/2015/10/01/443413805/six-of-crows-is-a-well-turned-heist-tale |website=NPR |access-date=5 October 2021 |date=1 October 2015}} He is haphephobic due to a traumatizing incident in his childhood and has a limp in his right leg from an improperly healed break.{{Cite book|last=Bardugo|first=Leigh|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/905667917|title=Six of Crows|date=2015|isbn=978-1-62779-212-7|edition=1st|location=New York|publisher=Henry Holt & Co.|oclc=905667917}} He is described as very pale, with dark hair and dark brown eyes. He uses a cane with a crow's head top as a mobility aid and, occasionally, as a weapon.
- Inej Ghafa is a sixteen-year-old Suli girl known as the Wraith. She is a spy for the Dregs, working directly under Kaz. She is religious, and her preferred weapons are knives, which she names after different saints.{{cite web |last1=Radulovic |first1=Petrana |title=If you're planning on reading the Grishaverse books, don't start with Shadow and Bone |url=https://www.polygon.com/22406182/shadow-and-bone-grishaverse-book-order |website=Polygon |access-date=5 October 2021 |date=27 April 2021}} Her family was a travelling troupe and her act was tightrope walking, making her extremely agile and light-footed. She was kidnapped by slavers when she was fourteen and forced into working in a brothel before Kaz bought her indenture. She's described as short, with bronze skin and black hair, worn in a braid.
- Wylan Van Eck is a sixteen-year-old disowned merchant's son with a penchant for chemistry and demolition. He can not read, but is an excellent mathematician, chemist, and musician. He is described as having curly red-blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin.
- Matthias Helvar is an eighteen-year-old former drüskelle (Grisha-hunter) from Fjerda, who is conflicted between his hatred for Grisha and his feelings for Nina. He is the oldest, tallest, and most muscular of the group, with pale skin, shaved blond hair, and blue eyes. He is religious and follows Djel, the Fjerdan god.
- Nina Zenik is seventeen, and is a powerful Grisha Heartrender and former soldier and spy for the Ravkan Second Army. She has fair skin, thick brown hair and green eyes, and is described as round and voluptuous.
- Jesper Fahey is a seventeen-year-old Zemeni sharpshooter with a gambling problem. He is described as being tall and lanky, with dark skin, and grey eyes. He is a Grisha but hides it to avoid being kidnapped or killed.
- Jan Van Eck is a rich man and a prominent merchant who sits on Ketterdam's Merchant Council. He is Wylan's abusive father.
- Pekka Rollins is the leader of the Dime Lions gang and Kaz's main adversary.
Reception
The New York Times recommends Six of Crows in the YA Crossover shortlist: "There’s conflict between morality and amorality and an appetite for sometimes grimace-inducing violence that recalls the "Game of Thrones" series. But for every bloody exchange there are pages of crackling dialogue and sumptuous description. Bardugo dives deep into this world, with full color and sound. If you’re not careful, it’ll steal all your time."{{Cite news|last=Wappler|first=Margaret|date=2015-10-23|title=Y.A. Crossover (Published 2015)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/25/books/review/ya-crossover.html|access-date=2020-10-13|issn=0362-4331}} It was also included in their "7 Great Fantasy Novels for Teenagers" list.{{Cite news|last=Russo|first=Maria|date=2020-01-06|title=7 Great Fantasy Novels for Teenagers|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/27/books/7-great-fantasy-novels-for-teenagers.html|access-date=2020-10-13|issn=0362-4331}} The Hollywood Reporter likened the duology to a blend of Ocean's 11 and Game of Thrones."{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/shadow-bone-author-gets-two-706656 |title=Shadow and Bone Author Gets Two-Book Deal With Henry Holt & Co.|website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2014-05-22 |access-date=2015-04-01}}
The Guardian opined the plot was "bursting with action and overflowing with suspense right from the beginning fast-paced transitions between chapters and points of view were immaculate and really provided a sense of urgency and impact to the most significant scenes."{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/jan/21/six-of-crows-leigh-bardugo-review|title=Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo – review|last=Nava4|date=2016-01-21|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-06-06}}
Although NPR books criticized the characters, claiming that the characters do not behave or think like adolescents, but rather display the wisdom and traits of much older people, it also comments "Six of Crows is a well-turned heist tale....[It] has a muscle car's drive and a cast that hangs with you like they were made of magnets" {{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2015/10/01/443413805/six-of-crows-is-a-well-turned-heist-tale|title='Six Of Crows' Is A Well-Turned Heist Tale|work=NPR.org|access-date=2018-06-06|language=en}}
According to The Times of India, different perspectives in the book each provide an in-depth view of each character's traits and backgrounds. It further says, "Bardugo's language and her intelligent storytelling effectively makes The Six of Crows a white-knuckle page-turner."{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/micro-review-six-of-crows-moves-beyond-genres/articleshow/58925829.cms|title=Micro review: 'Six of Crows' moves beyond genres - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-06-06}}
It has been praised by various media for its inclusivity and diversity, with characters who are LGBT, disabled, have different body types, various religious backgrounds, and are of different races.{{cite web |last1=Aderhold |first1=Beth |title='Six of Crows' sets new standard in YA Fantasy for diversity and inclusivity |url=https://www.hypable.com/six-of-crows-diverse/ |website=Hypable |access-date=6 October 2021 |date=4 June 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Ciara |title=6 Reasons You Should Read Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows Duology |url=https://bookstr.com/article/6-reasons-you-should-read-leigh-bardugos-six-of-crows-duology/ |website=Bookstr |access-date=6 October 2021 |date=20 September 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Rose |first1=Sydney |title=Sydney Books reviews 'Six of Crows' duology |url=http://thedailycougar.com/2021/03/26/sydney-books-reviews-six-of-crows-duology/ |website=The Daily Cougar |access-date=6 October 2021 |date=26 March 2021}}
= Accolades =
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Year-end lists |
| Year
! Publication ! Category ! Result ! Ref |
|---|
| 2015
| Bustle | The 25 Best YA Books Of 2015 | 16 |
| 2015
| rowspan = "2"| BuzzFeed | 16 Of The Best YA Books Of 2015 | 7 |
| 2015
| The 32 Best Fantasy Books Of 2015 | 8 |
| 2015
| 10 best fantasy novels | 3 |
| 2016
| Our favourite children's and YA books of 2016 | {{n/a}} |
| 2015
| Notable Children's Books of 2015 | {{n/a}} |
| 2015
| Paste | The 30 Best Young Adult Books of 2015 | 25 |
| 2015
| PopSugar | The Best YA Books of 2015 | 3 |
| 2019
| Best Young Adult books: great YA books to read today | 3 |
| 2015
| Best of the Best-of Lists: Best Young Adult | {{n/a}} |
| 2021
| Wired | 36 of the best fantasy books everyone should read | {{n/a}} |
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Decade lists |
| Year
! Publication ! Category ! Result ! Ref |
|---|
| rowspan="2"|2019
| rowspan="2"|Paste | The 30 Best Fantasy Novels of the 2010s | 14 |
| The 30 Best Young Adult Novels of the 2010s
| 18 |
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ All-time lists |
| Year
! Publication ! Category ! Result ! Ref |
|---|
| 2018
| Paste | The 50 Best Fantasy Books of the 21st Century (So Far) | 15 |
| 2020
| Time | 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time | {{n/a}} | |
Awards and nominations
The awards and nominations are as follows:
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Result ! Ref |
|---|
| 2016
| Best Young Adult / Middle Grade Novel | {{nom}} |
| 2018
| Best International Novel | {{won}} |
| 2015
| Best Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction | {{nom}} | {{cite web |title=Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction |url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-young-adult-fantasy-books-2015 |website=Goodreads |access-date=6 October 2021}} |
| 2016
| El Premio El Templo de las Mil Puertas | {{n/a}} | {{won}} |
| rowspan="2" | 2017
| Missouri Gateway Readers Award | {{n/a}} | {{nom}} |
| Hea Noorteraamat
| Best Youth Books | {{won}} |
| rowspan="2" |2018
| Evergreen Teen Book Award | rowspan="2" {{n/a}} | {{nom}} |
| Rhode Island Teen Book Award
| {{nom}} |
Adaptations
{{main|Shadow and Bone (TV series)}}
In January 2019, Netflix greenlit an eight-episode series based on Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy Book 1) and Six of Crows with Eric Heisserer as showrunner. Bardugo is also serving as an executive producer on this series.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/01/netflix-orders-shadow-and-bone-series-leigh-bardugo-grishaverse-fantasy-novels-1202532783/|title=Netflix Orders 'Shadow And Bone' Series Based On Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse Novels From Eric Heisserer & Shawn Levy|last1=Petski|first1=Nellie Andreeva, Denise|last2=Andreeva|first2=Nellie|date=2019-01-10|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-06-26|last3=Petski|first3=Denise}} Production began in October 2019 with Freddy Carter as Kaz Brekker, Amita Suman as Inej Ghafa, Kit Young as Jesper Fahey, Danielle Galligan as Nina Zenik, and Calahan Skogman as Matthias Helvar.{{Cite journal|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/tv-news-roundup-netflix-shadow-and-bone-1203356620/|title=TV News Roundup: Netflix Reveals Cast of New Series 'Shadow and Bone'|journal=Variety|first=Latesha|last=Harris|date=2 October 2019|access-date=2 October 2019}} Wylan Van Eck did not appear in the first season but debuted in the second season, played by Jack Wolfe. The first season follows the plot of Book 1 of Shadow and Bone and acts as a prequel to Six of Crows, setting up a future adaptation of the novel. The second season adapts elements of Crooked Kingdom and sets up the Ice Court Heist plotline from Six of Crows.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.leighbardugo.com/ Leigh Bardugo's Website]
{{Grishaverse}}
Category:American novels adapted into television shows
Category:Henry Holt and Company books