Six of Crows is the first book in a new duology in the Grisha world by bestselling author Leigh Bardugo. This novel was first published in 2015. Six of Crows is a YA fantasy novel.
In this article, you will find some frequently asked questions about this book. I have tried to answer them as best and honestly as possible.
I hope you enjoy reading these, and I hope this post answers some of the questions you may have about this book!
Since I will be answering questions about the book and its story, this article will contain spoilers.
Also, if you loved Six of Crows and want to read more in this universe, you’ll love our post about the best Six of Crows fanfiction!
Summary
Below is the official summary from the book:
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 is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction. If they don’t kill each other first.
Is Six of Crows part of a series?
Six of Crows is the first book in a duology. The second book is called Crooked Kingdom.
Because Six of Crows is part of the Grishaworld you can also read the Shadow and Bones series before reading this book.
Are Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom related?
Yes, they are both parts of the Six of Crows duology. Six of Crows is book one and Crooked Kingdom is book 2.
Are Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone related?
Yes, they both take place in the same world. Six of Crows takes place a little after the end of the Grishaverse books. Six of Crows contains different characters from Shadow and Bone, but they do reference events from those previous books.
Is this novel YA?
Yes, this book is officially a Young Adult fantasy book. This is mostly because of the age of the characters. But the subjects can be very heavy and don’t always fit in with the YA specifications.
Are there characters from Six of Crows in King of Scars?
Yes, Nina plays a big part in King of Scars. In the second book, Rule of Wolves, Kaz, Jesper, and Wylan also play a part.
Can I read this book after Shadow and Bone?
I wouldn’t recommend reading it after only having read Shadow and Bone. The best time to read Six of Crows is after the third book, Ruin and Rising.
Is this book also enjoyable for adults?
I sure think so. Because it isn’t a typical Young adult book, it covers more serious subjects. And even though Young adult books can be read by anyone, I do understand why some people enjoy them less.
That said, Six of Crows is suitable for everyone who loves a good fantasy story.
Can Six of Crows be read as a standalone?
It is possible to read it as a standalone. But the ending leaves a lot open, so I would recommend reading at least Crooked Kingdom as well.
Trigger Warnings
Below you will find a list of some of the content trigger warnings in this book. This is to make you aware of what you can expect when reading this novel. With this in mind, please take note of the next warnings:
- Addiction
- Child trafficking
- Gambling
- Genocide
- Murder
- Sexual abuse
- Prostitution
- Slavery
- Violence
When and where does the story take place?
The story takes place in the same world as the Grishaverse. But it is a little time after the conclusion of the last book from the Grishaverse.
Ketterdam
The city of Ketterdam is located in Kerch, just west of Ravka. It is a very important trading city. But because of this, it is also crowded with thieves, murderers, prostitutes, and more.
Kaz and his crew of crows are located in Ketterdam. Mostly they use the merchants and tourists to make money. Kaz runs a gambling house with the help of Jesper. And Inej is forced into prostitution to pay off a debt she didn’t make.
Leigh Bardugo stated in an interview that she based Ketterdam mostly on the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Is Six of Crows funny?
The book itself isn’t very funny. But the banter between some of the characters is. Above all, the subjects in the book are more serious than fun.
That said, Jesper is a very funny and sarcastic person. And a lot of his dialogue is really fun to read.
Is there any romance in this story?
Six of Crows isn’t a romance story. It is a real heist story.
Nevertheless, there are a few hints of romantic feelings between Kaz and Inej and between Nina and Mattias.
Nina and Mattias give in to the feelings they have for each other, blossoming into a true romance.
Kaz and Inej however, keep circling around the subject. Inej is willing to admit her feelings toward Kaz. But Kaz is more closed up and does not know what he feels or how to talk about those feelings.
Does the story contain LGBTQ content?
Yes, there is some LGBTQ content. It is no secret from the start that Jesper is attracted to men. The author doesn’t make it a big deal, and he has some male interests during the story.
While there are a few more minor hints towards same-sex interests, it isn’t a primary focus of the book. The people in Ketterdam don’t seem to mind if they hook up with men or women.
Is Jesper a Grisha?
The true nature of Jesper won’t really be revealed until Crooked Kingdom. In this book, we only get small hints thrown at us.
So we don’t yet know what his powers are and if they are Grisha powers.
Why can’t Kaz touch anyone?
When Kaz was just a young boy, he and his brother arrived in Ketterdam. His brother thought he would be able to make a lot of money. But in the end, he was tricked and lost everything they had.
Kaz and his brother had to live on the streets. But then his brother got very sick. After an altercation, they both ended up in the water. His brother eventually died and Kaz could only stay alive by using his brother’s body to stay afloat.
He was in the water for a long time and his brother’s body started to decay. Kaz could never forget how his brother felt. And this causes him to not be able to touch human flesh with his bare hands. So he wears gloves all the time.
Jurda Parem
Jurda Parem is a manmade drug. When given to a Grisha, their powers grow stronger and they are almost unbeatable. But it is also highly addictive. And in the end, it will cause the Grisha taking it to die.
Kaz and his gang are sent to find and retrieve the creator of Jurda Parem.
Will the Shadow and Bone series spoil Six of Crows?
I don’t think it will. The only overlap with the Six of crows books is the characters. The story made in the first season of the TV show is totally different from the books and purely written for the series.
Who dies in Six of Crows?
None of the main characters die in this book. A few minor characters like the scientist die. But nothing major.
How does this book end?
Kaz, Nina, Inej, Jesper, and Mattias escaped the Fjerdan ice prison. The scientist making the Jurda parem didn’t survive, but his grandson did. And he also knows how to make it. This makes it very dangerous for him to be alive.
But he is not the only person they rescued from the prison. Pekka Rollins was also there, and Kaz rescued him for a favor – something they need help with. In the last chapter, we read from Pekka’s point of view what his plans are.
The reader won’t know what these plans are until the next book.
Books like Six of Crows
- Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin – this book is about witches and witch hunters fighting for the same thing with a hint of romance.
- The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi – This one is another real heist, fantasy story with lots of interesting characters.
- A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab – This is the first book in a trilogy with extremely elaborate worldbuilding that will suck you into the story.
Conclusion
Six of Crows is the first book in a duology. This book also takes place in the Grishaverse universe. The story follows a group of teenage outlaws during a heist. Leigh Bardugo again created an amazing story with new characters but made it feel like entering a familiar world yet again.
I hope I have answered some of the questions you may have had about this book!
And if you have more questions that I didn’t answer, feel free to let me know in the comments below!
