Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Kaz Brekkar is never seen without his worn leather gloves covering his poison damaged, permanently bloody…or was it…horribly scared hands? Like his hands Kaz has’t had a limp from birth, like his famous hands and distinguished limp, Kaz has managed to turn his weaknesses into his greatest strengths in order to survive Barrel and has earned himself many nicknames along the way Dirtyhands or Bastard of Barrel to name a few. But at age 17 Kaz Brekkar has done more than just survived, he’s thrived. Kaz has managed to build The Crow Club, up from nothing more than neglected pile of rotting wood, coaxing a few unwilling investors into giving up their life savings and somehow turning that money and the lone pile of rotting wood, into the now almost over-popular Crow Club. He’s also the reason why the once rundown and dejected Fifth Harbour is no longer rundown and dejected. Now bursting full of life and flourishing as huge tourist magnet and the best part about it all, Kaz has managed to do all this from the position of lieutenant, without even full authority over the gang he owes his allegiance to, The Dregs, even if most don’t view it that way. And Kaz did all this, starting out as an orphan, living rough on the streets…well that’s how the story goes anyway but, we know how reliable they can be, especially when The Bastard of the Barrel is involved!
A real street to success story, certain to garner at least some attention, surely Fifth Harbour had been neglected too long to have been revived that easily? And one of the most notorious gambling parlours, built from a pile of rotting wood, surely that’s impossible too? That is why Kaz Brekker is the optimum choice for any impossible task especially one as impossible as breaking into the Ice Court of all places? Should Kaz actually choose to accept the task, will it really be worth it in the end? Whatever about that, will Kaz be able to assemble a crazy yet skillful enough crew to undertake such a treacherous journey?
Teen Rating: Leigh’s world has a spot on ratio of realism to a brilliant story. If it weren’t for a few small inconsistencies, believe it or not, I feel this book could get even higher out of five, making it possibly the second best book I’ve ever read after The Way of Kings p.2 . 5/5 14+
