Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows: Meet the Cast

    Six of Crows follows of a band of murderers and thieves (and one rich official’s ostracized son) as they attempt to kidnap a scientist from the clutches of a ruthless and power-hungry government. This scientist knows how to create Jurda parem, a substance which enhances the supernatural powers of Grisha warriors to unfathomable levels, leaving a hopeless and fatal addiction as the effects wear off. The group sails from the crime-ridden tourist hub that is Ketterdam, towards the unforgiving north that is Fierda. As they create and execute a plan, each character has an internal struggle. Some wonder if this is the life they want to live, others contemplate betraying the group to appease their own morals. The result is an intriguing story populated by surprisingly human characters. I was impressed that the author could draw sympathy for these outlaws. I have identified two components which contribute substantially to the relatability of the characters. 

1) The characters make decisions based upon their unique prejudices.

    A prime example of this in the text is the tension between Matthias and Nina. Their respective nations are engaged in a generations-long war. Each was raised hearing stories of the other’s people: their horrid ways and barbaric mindsets. They struggle to set aside the prejudices even when cooperation is the difference between life and death. These blinding prejudices make Nina and Matthias more real, as humans are creatures of gossip and quick, general impressions. We operate based on what we think we know and what we can infer from that knowledge, and that’s just what Nina and Matthias do. The conflict between Nina and Matthias also helps solidify the world the story takes place in, giving us some diplomatic information as we get to know the characters.

2) Each character has a distinct set of experiences, which are explored in the story, and used to soften the harsh reality that they are outlaws.

    Again, I settle on a more prominent case of this within the story: Kaz Brekker. Kaz is infamous in this reality, a figure of legend. His peers see him as a calculating and infallible leader. Kaz, as a child, suffered a tragic experience, and blames solely one person for this. His intense hunger for revenge, paired with life on the streets, pushed Kaz to become what he is. Kaz’s tragedy helps the reader sympathize with him. He would otherwise be an abhorrent, barely human entity with bloodied hands. Kaz’s human traits are developed through a bit of a cliché (the tragic outlaw protagonist), but they are potent nonetheless.

    I feel that the author sacrificed an perfectly smooth story to develop these characters in their respective chapters and incorporate details about them that would otherwise have been lost. Flashbacks occur frequently to inform the reader of the character’s motivations. (I really enjoyed the flashbacks, and would venture to say they kept me more interested than the main story.) Each character has their own struggle during the heist, and each is individually narrated. I have labeled this a slight annoyance because these obstacles seemed slightly incohesive, and happened during the intense action of the heist. However, I think these character-specific narratives allow a reader to know the characters more intimately, and help emphasize the individual conflicts that transform these outlaws into characters the reader can sympathize with.

    Overall, I enjoyed the story and connected with the characters. I look forward to reading the sequel, Crooked Kingdom.

Rating: 4/5

-Fallon M.