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Six of Crows
Six of Crows
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Six of Crows is a fantasy novel written by the American author Leigh Bardugo and published by Henry Holt and Co. in 2015.[1][2] The story follows a thieving crew and is primarily set in the city of Ketterdam, which is loosely inspired by Dutch Republic–era Amsterdam.[3][4] The plot is told from third-person viewpoints of five (seven if the opening and closing chapters are considered) different characters.

Key Information

The novel is the first of a duology, completed in Crooked Kingdom (2016). The series is part of Bardugo's Grishaverse.[5][6] 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, including time with characters from Shadow and Bone like Nikolai Lantsov and Genya Safin.[7]

Plot

[edit]

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 cannot read. 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.[8]

Characters

[edit]
  • Kaz Brekker, also known as Dirtyhands and the "Bastard of the Barrel",[9] is seventeen and a master thief with a reputation for doing anything for the right price.[10][8] He is second-in-command of the Dregs, and, as the mastermind of the group, the de facto leader of the Crows.[11] He is haphephobic due to a traumatizing incident in his childhood and has a limp in his right leg from an improperly healed break.[8] 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.[8]
  • Inej Ghafa is a sixteen-year-old Suli girl known as the Wraith.[9][8] 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.[12][8] Her family was a travelling troupe and her act was tightrope walking, making her extremely agile and light-footed.[8] 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.[8]
  • Wylan Van Eck is a sixteen-year-old disowned merchant's son with a penchant for chemistry and demolition.[8] 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.[8]
  • Matthias Helvar is an eighteen-year-old[8] former drüskelle (Grisha-hunter) from Fjerda,[12] 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.[8] He is religious and follows Djel, the Fjerdan god.
  • Nina Zenik is seventeen,[8] and is a powerful Grisha Heartrender and former soldier and spy for the Ravkan Second Army.[9][12] She has fair skin, thick brown hair and green eyes, and is described as round and voluptuous.[8]
  • Jesper Fahey is a seventeen-year-old[8] Zemeni sharpshooter with a gambling problem.[12][9] 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.[8]
  • Jan Van Eck is a rich man and a prominent merchant who sits on Ketterdam's Merchant Council. He is Wylan's abusive father.[8]
  • Pekka Rollins is the leader of the Dime Lions gang and Kaz's main adversary.[8]

Reception

[edit]

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."[13] It was also included in their "7 Great Fantasy Novels for Teenagers" list.[14] The Hollywood Reporter likened the duology to a blend of Ocean's 11 and Game of Thrones."[15]

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."[16]

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" [17]

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."[18]

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.[19][20][21]

Accolades

[edit]
Year-end lists
Year Publication Category Result Ref
2015 Bustle The 25 Best YA Books Of 2015 16 [22]
2015 BuzzFeed 16 Of The Best YA Books Of 2015 7 [23]
2015 The 32 Best Fantasy Books Of 2015 8 [24]
2015 The Independent 10 best fantasy novels 3 [25]
2016 The Irish Times Our favourite children's and YA books of 2016 N/a [26]
2015 New York Times Notable Children's Books of 2015 N/a [27]
2015 Paste The 30 Best Young Adult Books of 2015 25 [28]
2015 PopSugar The Best YA Books of 2015 3 [29]
2019 ShortList Best Young Adult books: great YA books to read today 3 [30]
2015 The Wall Street Journal Best of the Best-of Lists: Best Young Adult N/a [31]
2021 Wired 36 of the best fantasy books everyone should read N/a [32]
Decade lists
Year Publication Category Result Ref
2019 Paste The 30 Best Fantasy Novels of the 2010s 14 [33]
The 30 Best Young Adult Novels of the 2010s 18 [34]
All-time lists
Year Publication Category Result Ref
2018 Paste The 50 Best Fantasy Books of the 21st Century (So Far) 15 [35]
2020 Time 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time N/a [36]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

The awards and nominations are as follows:

Year Award Category Result Ref
2016 Dragon Awards Best Young Adult / Middle Grade Novel Nominated [37]
2018 German Fantasy Awards Best International Novel Won [38]
2015 Goodreads Choice Awards Best Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction Nominated [39]
2016 El Premio El Templo de las Mil Puertas N/a Won [40]
2017 Missouri Gateway Readers Award N/a Nominated [41]
Hea Noorteraamat Best Youth Books Won [42]
2018 Evergreen Teen Book Award N/a Nominated [43]
Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominated [44]

Adaptations

[edit]

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.[45] 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.[46] 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.

In May 2024 the indie music artist Lilith Max released the song "Birds of a Feather" which she says was inspired by the character of Kaz Brekker.[47]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Six of Crows is a fantasy written by and published on September 29, 2015, by Henry Holt and Co. It serves as the first installment in the Six of Crows duology, set in the fictional Grishaverse universe established in Bardugo's earlier trilogy, and centers on a ragtag crew of young criminals led by the cunning Kaz Brekker as they undertake a high-stakes heist in the gritty, commerce-driven city of Ketterdam. The story unfolds in a richly imagined world blending elements of magic, geopolitics, and urban intrigue, where Grisha—individuals with specialized abilities—are both revered and persecuted amid international tensions between nations like , Fjerda, and Ravka. Kaz, a cane-using mastermind haunted by his past, assembles an unlikely team including Inej Ghafa, a Suli acrobat and skilled spy known as ; Jesper Fahey, a sharpshooting Zemeni gambler; Nina Zenik, a powerful Grisha Heartrender; Matthias Helvar, a Fjerdan witch hunter; and Wylan Van Eck, a demolitions expert and merchant's son. Their mission involves infiltrating a heavily guarded fortress to a who has developed a potent substance called jurda parem, capable of amplifying Grisha powers at devastating costs, promising them a fortune of 30 million kruge if successful. Ketterdam, the novel's primary setting, is depicted as a sprawling port city inspired by 19th-century , rife with canals, gangs, and black-market dealings, where survival often hinges on deception, loyalty, and raw ingenuity. Themes of found family, redemption, trauma, and the blurred lines between criminality and heroism permeate the narrative, explored through multiple perspectives that reveal each character's backstory and motivations. Upon release, Six of Crows received widespread acclaim for its intricate plotting, diverse ensemble, and immersive world-building, earning five starred reviews from major outlets and appearing on over 30 "best of" lists. It became a #1 New York Times bestseller, a USA Today bestseller, and an American Booksellers Association Indie bestseller, while also winning the Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers and the Sakura Medal in Japan's High School English category. The novel was nominated for the 2015 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction. The book has been adapted into elements of Netflix's series (2021–2023), which incorporated Crows characters into its storyline, though a dedicated Six of Crows spinoff entered development but was ultimately canceled in 2023 following the cancellation of the parent show. Its sequel, , was published in 2016, completing the duology and further expanding the Grishaverse, which has since grown into a franchise including additional novels and graphic novels.

Background and Publication

Author and Development

Leigh Bardugo established the foundation of her Grishaverse with the Shadow and Bone trilogy, published between 2012 and 2014, which introduced a sprawling fantasy world centered on Grisha magic and political intrigue in the kingdom of Ravka. Following the trilogy's success, Bardugo sought to expand this universe by shifting away from the "chosen one" archetype of her protagonist Alina Starkov, opting instead for a standalone duology that would explore the criminal underbelly of a new nation, , through the lens of antiheroes—ordinary, flawed individuals ensnared in larger conflicts without inherent magical or royal advantages. This pivot allowed her to delve into themes of survival and ambition among expendable characters, drawing from her own experiences with chronic illness and to inform figures like the protagonist Kaz Brekker. The heist narrative of Six of Crows drew direct inspiration from films like , which Bardugo cited as a model for assembling a ragtag crew of specialists for an impossible job, blending high-stakes tension with interpersonal dynamics. She envisioned the story as " meets ," emphasizing a gritty ensemble heist over epic heroism, while incorporating historical elements such as the architecture and mercantile culture of the to shape Ketterdam, Kerch's bustling port city modeled loosely on the at its 17th-century peak. Bardugo's research extended to real-world criminal underworlds, including studies of and heist logistics, as well as diverse cultural influences from , , and immigrant histories to populate Ketterdam's multicultural Barrel district with authentic textures, such as Suli nomadic traditions for character Inej Ghafa and Zemeni influences for Jesper Fahey. This groundwork ensured the setting felt lived-in and reflective of global trade routes, without relying on overt fantasy tropes. Developing the duology presented unique challenges, particularly in managing multiple points of view to maintain heist through selective reveals, a technique Bardugo described as more demanding than the POV structure itself. She outlined the plot meticulously using tools like whiteboards and software to track timelines in 15-minute increments, iterating through drafts to differentiate character voices that initially overlapped, while ensuring Grisha magic—primarily embodied by heartrender Nina Zenik—served character arcs rather than dominating the narrative's focus on human cunning and vulnerabilities. Bardugo also addressed her earlier works' lack of diversity by intentionally crafting a more inclusive cast, informed by critiques of the trilogy's predominantly white representation, to highlight , disabled, and multicultural perspectives without .

Publication History

Six of Crows was initially published on September 29, 2015, by in the United States and by Orion Children's Books in the , marking the first installment in a duology later completed by in 2016. The original edition spans 480 pages and bears the 978-1-62779-212-7, with subsequent formats including , , and audiobook versions released in the following years. The novel quickly attained commercial success, debuting on the New York Times bestseller list for hardcovers and contributing to the Grishaverse series' surpassing 1 million copies worldwide by 2018; by 2023, the Grishaverse books had sold more than 20 million copies worldwide; it has since been translated into more than 30 languages. To commemorate the 10th anniversary, a special "Dregs Edition" was issued on September 30, 2025, featuring new by Harol Bustos, black stained edges, an updated of the Ice Court by Francesca Baerald, and editorial revisions that eliminate explicit mentions of the protagonists' ages as teenagers to reposition the story for an adult audience. These textual changes, which make the characters' ages ambiguous, drew significant and backlash from fans, who criticized the unannounced alterations for diminishing the narrative's themes of youth and trauma, with discussions proliferating on and in media outlets. Marketing and promotion leveraged the established Grishaverse fandom from 's preceding trilogy, fostering significant pre-release anticipation among existing readers through author events, online campaigns, and teaser content.

Setting and World-Building

The Grishaverse

The Grishaverse is a shared created by , encompassing multiple young adult fantasy series, novellas, and short stories that explore interconnected narratives across diverse nations and cultures. Inspired by Tsarist for its central monarchy of Ravka, the Dutch Republic for the mercantile island nation of , and elements from Scandinavian, Chinese, Mongolian, and other global histories, the Grishaverse blends historical aesthetics with speculative elements to depict a world of political intrigue, warfare, and supernatural abilities. At its core, the Grishaverse distinguishes between everyday "Small Magics"—non-Grisha abilities like bone-setting or luck manipulation practiced by ordinary folk—and the rare, structured powers of the Grisha, who manipulate the world at a molecular level through what they call the "Small Science." Grisha are organized into three primary orders: the Corporalki, or Order of the Living and the Dead, who affect human bodies such as wounds or stopping hearts; the Etherealki, or Order of the Summoners, who control natural elements like wind, fire, or ; and the Materialki, or Order of the Fabrikators, who alter non-living including metals, fabrics, and . These abilities, while powerful, are limited by the Grisha's stamina and can be amplified through rare objects like animal-bone relics or stag antlers, which bond to a user and permanently enhance their strength but often at great personal risk. Grisha face systemic prejudice, particularly in nations that view their powers as unnatural or heretical, leading to persecution and underground existences in some regions. A pivotal element in the Grishaverse's magic system is jurda parem, a highly addictive derived from the jurda plant native to Novyi Zem, which dramatically amplifies Grisha abilities to god-like levels but causes rapid physical deterioration, addiction, and near-certain death upon use. Developed through secretive experiments, jurda parem represents both a weaponized threat to Grisha society and a symbol of the dangers inherent in pushing magical boundaries. Geopolitically, the Grishaverse is marked by ongoing tensions among key nations: Ravka, a vast eastern monarchy and traditional Grisha homeland torn by civil strife and border conflicts; Fjerda, a northern that hunts and imprisons Grisha as witches through its of drüskelle; Kerch, a neutral island republic dominated by merchant guilds and trade hubs like the port city of Ketterdam; and Shu Han, an imperial power to the south experimenting with Grisha enhancements amid territorial wars. These rivalries, fueled by resource scarcity, ideological clashes over Grisha rights, and imperial ambitions, have sustained centuries of border wars, with Ravka bearing the brunt as a between Fjerda and Shu Han. Six of Crows is set concurrently with the conclusion of the Shadow and Bone trilogy, occurring approximately one to two years after the events of Ruin and Rising, during a fragile period of postwar recovery and escalating international intrigue in the Grishaverse.

Ketterdam and Society

Ketterdam serves as the capital and primary setting of Six of Crows, depicted as a sprawling port city on the island nation of , characterized by its intricate network of canals, , and a vibrant economy. Modeled loosely after the during its height, the city functions as a global hub where legal commerce intertwines with illicit dealings, allowing "anything [to] be had for the right price." Its architecture and layout emphasize accessibility for shipping and trade, with key landmarks like the Exchange—where trade shares under the Enjent, Voorhent, Almhent (Industry, , )—highlighting the city's commerce-driven . Kerch's society is structured as a putative governed by the Merchant Council, comprising thirteen of the oldest and wealthiest families who wield significant influence without a or centralized royalty. This class dominates economic and political life, fostering a culture where wealth equates to divine favor under the worship of Ghezen, the god of industry and commerce. While the nation promotes , underlying prejudices persist against Grisha—individuals with magical abilities—who are often bound as indentured servants to merchants, reflecting a broader social hierarchy that marginalizes ethnic minorities such as Suli or Ravkans. The stadwatch, functioning as the city's police force, maintains order but is frequently undermined by , allowing criminal elements to thrive alongside legitimate trade. Central to Ketterdam's underbelly is the Barrel, a notorious district encompassing the red-light area, gambling halls, and pleasure houses, where vice and opportunity coexist in a precarious balance. This ecosystem is divided into gang territories controlled by rival factions, including the Dregs, Black Tips, and others, each enforcing their domain through intimidation and strategic alliances under the grim philosophy of "No mourners, no funerals." Indentures, a form of debt-based , further entrench social inequalities, as individuals are bound to labor in the Barrel's establishments or merchant ventures until their debts are repaid. Cultural influences from neighboring Novyi Zem introduce Zemeni elements, such as diverse cuisines and customs, blending with Kerch's mercantile pragmatism to create a cosmopolitan yet stratified atmosphere. Economically, Ketterdam thrives on the trade of commodities like jurda—a crop—facilitating global shipping routes and opportunities amid widespread . This system not only drives the city's prosperity but also enables high-stakes heists, as merchants and gangs alike exploit legal loopholes and shadowy networks. In contrast, the Ice Court in Fjerda emerges as a rigid, prison-like stronghold, underscoring Kerch's more fluid, profit-oriented societal dynamics.

Narrative Elements

Plot Summary

Six of Crows is set in the gritty port city of Ketterdam, where criminal mastermind Kaz Brekker, leader of the Dregs gang, is approached by merchant Jan Van Eck with an offer of 30 million kruge to orchestrate an unprecedented heist. The mission involves infiltrating the heavily fortified Ice Court in the rival nation of Fjerda to extract Shu scientist Bo Yul-Bayur, who possesses the formula for jurda parem—a dangerous substance that amplifies Grisha magical abilities at a severe cost. To execute this impossible task, Brekker assembles a specialized crew of outcasts: Inej, an agile spy; , a skilled ; Wylan, a demolitions ; Nina, a Grisha Heartrender; and Matthias, a Fjerdan witch hunter with insider knowledge of the Ice Court. Each member brings unique expertise and personal incentives to the operation, though tensions and rivalries threaten their fragile alliance from the start. The narrative divides into two main phases: meticulous pre-heist planning amid Ketterdam's underworld intrigues, followed by the perilous journey to Fjerda and the high-tension incursion into the Ice Court. The team navigates elaborate traps, intense chases, and internal conflicts as they attempt to breach the fortress's multiple security layers, blending cunning strategy with bursts of magic and combat. As the heist unfolds, unexpected double-crosses and revelations about jurda parem's catastrophic potential escalate the stakes, leading to a dramatic escape that resolves the immediate mission but leaves lingering threats and sets the stage for further confrontations in the . The story emphasizes relentless action, strategic , and the crew's evolving bonds amid and survival.

Structure and Style

Six of Crows employs a multi-point-of-view (POV) structure, utilizing third-person limited perspectives that alternate between the five primary crew members—Kaz Brekker, Inej Ghafa, Jesper Fahey, Nina Zenik, and Matthias Helvar—across its chapters, with Wylan Van Eck introduced as a key figure whose viewpoint emerges more prominently in the . This approach allows readers to experience parallel storylines, revealing character motivations and building suspense by withholding information from other perspectives, a technique Bardugo described as natural for a heist story where secrets drive the plot. The novel adheres to heist genre conventions through non-linear flashbacks integrated into individual chapters, which provide backstory without disrupting the forward momentum, alongside frequent cliffhangers at chapter ends and progressively escalating stakes that echo the ensemble dynamics of films like . Bardugo's writing style features vivid, sensory-rich prose that immerses readers in the gritty underbelly of Ketterdam, incorporating invented slang such as "kruge" for the Kerch currency to evoke a distinct cultural flavor, while blending sharp humor, raw intensity, and subtle romantic tension among the crew. Spanning 46 chapters, the pacing maintains a dual-timeline feel by contrasting the initial planning and recruitment phases in Ketterdam with the high-tension execution at the Ice Court, effectively balancing pulse-pounding action sequences with introspective moments that deepen emotional investment. Bardugo innovates on traditional fantasy formatting by including detailed maps of Ketterdam and the Ice Court, as well as illustrated chapter headers depicting symbolic elements like crows and weapons, enhancing the reader's spatial and thematic immersion in the Grishaverse.

Characters

The Dregs Crew

The Dregs crew consists of six young outcasts assembled by Kaz Brekker for an audacious endeavor in Ketterdam's criminal underworld, each bringing specialized abilities shaped by their turbulent pasts. This ragtag group, operating under the banner of the Dregs gang, navigates the harsh realities of the Barrel through mutual reliance, despite initial tensions. Kaz Brekker, the 17-year-old lieutenant and de facto leader of the Dregs, is a criminal prodigy known as Dirtyhands for his ruthless reputation in Ketterdam's underworld. Orphaned during a plague that claimed his family, Kaz survived by turning to thievery and quickly ascended the ranks of the Barrel's gangs through his unparalleled strategic acumen and expertise in lockpicking. He relies on a cane for mobility due to from an old leg injury, which he also wields as a concealed , and often wears gloves to manage his aversion to touch stemming from past trauma. Inej Ghafa, a Suli acrobat of Romani-inspired heritage, serves as the crew's primary spy, earning the moniker for her near-invisibility in the shadows. Captured from her nomadic family and sold into at a pleasure house in the , Inej was freed by Kaz, whom she now loyally assists, honing her skills in stealth, knife-throwing, and through agile, acrobatic maneuvers. Her resilience shines in her ability to rise above adversity, embodying a decisive spirit forged in survival. Jesper Fahey, a Zemeni with dark brown skin, is the son of a owner who fled to Ketterdam seeking excitement, only to develop a debilitating that keeps him perpetually in . Renowned for his marksmanship with revolvers, Jesper thrives on risk and danger, often quoting Zemeni philosophy to navigate moral ambiguities, while his flirtatious nature adds levity to the crew's interactions. Wylan Van Eck, the teenage son of a wealthy merchant, ran away from his privileged but abusive home life, where his left him feeling inadequate despite his inventive genius. As the crew's demolitions expert, Wylan excels in chemistry and bomb-making, creating explosives and gadgets from scavenged materials, though his illiteracy poses unique challenges that he overcomes through visual ingenuity. Nina Zenik, a Ravkan Grisha known as a Heartrender, possesses the ability to manipulate internal organs and functions through subtle gestures, using her powers to incapacitate foes or provide aid in the slums where she honed her survival instincts. Orphaned and trained in the Grisha , Nina grapples with to the amplifying drug parem, which enhances her abilities at great personal cost, yet her compassionate nature persists amid the crew's hardships. Matthias Helvar, a towering Fjerdan drüskelle—a elite witch-hunter trained to eradicate Grisha—joins the crew as an unlikely ally after , bringing immense and prowess from his zealous upbringing in a society that vilifies magic. Captured during a mission, Matthias contends with deep-seated prejudices against Grisha like Nina, yet his path toward atonement reveals a reflective side, complicating his role within the group. The crew's dynamics evolve from initial mistrust and rivalries—stemming from diverse origins and personal vendettas—into a surrogate family bound by shared vulnerabilities and loyalties forged in the Barrel's crucible. Romantic undercurrents intensify these ties, including the subtle tension between Kaz and Inej built on mutual respect and unspoken affection, the budding connection between and Wylan marked by playful banter, and the star-crossed bond between Nina and Matthias, tempered by cultural clashes. Their collective traumas, from betrayals to addictions, ultimately reinforce a fierce interdependence that sustains the group.

Antagonists and Supporting Figures

Jan Van Eck serves as a prominent , acting as a scheming councilman in Ketterdam who hires Kaz Brekker's crew for the heist to rescue Bo Yul-Bayur from the Ice Court. Obsessed with monopolizing jurda parem to enhance Grisha abilities and bolster Kerch's power, Van Eck secretly plans to use the drug for his own gain, ultimately betraying the crew by withholding payment and deploying forces against them. His manipulative actions, including testing the drug on indentured Grisha, underscore his ruthless ambition and create the initial setup for the plot's central conflict. Pekka Rollins, the leader of the rival Black Tips gang, is Kaz Brekker's historical enemy, rooted in a past tragedy where Rollins, under the alias Jakob Hertzoon, conned Kaz's brother Jordie, leading to his death from fever. As a powerful Barrel boss controlling significant territories, including brothels and the Emerald Palace, Rollins poses a direct threat through gang rivalries and territorial disputes. His ambitions clash with the Dregs, forcing the crew to navigate betrayals and counter his enforcers during the heist's preparations in Ketterdam. Jarl Brum functions as the commander of Fjerda's drüskelle, an elite force dedicated to hunting Grisha, embodying the nation's anti-Grisha zealotry. As a mentor figure to Matthias Helvar, Brum instills rigid ideologies that conflict with the crew's mission at the Ice Court, where he oversees security and the imprisonment of key targets. His leadership amplifies the heist's dangers, representing institutional opposition that the protagonists must outmaneuver. Bo Yul-Bayur, a , invented jurda parem, a dangerous drug that amplifies Grisha powers at great cost, and his capture by Fjerdan forces drives the entire heist as the crew's primary objective. Held captive in the Ice Court, Yul-Bayur symbolizes the ethical dilemmas of scientific weaponized for warfare, with his work sparking international tensions among Ravka, Shu Han, and Fjerda. The mission to extract him highlights the high stakes of preventing the drug's proliferation. Among minor figures, Tante Heleen, the cruel proprietor of the , serves as Inej Ghafa's former captor, enforcing her through and exploitation, which fuels personal vendettas within the . Big Bolliger, an enforcer for the Dregs, betrays Kaz by aligning with Pekka Rollins, illustrating internal gang vulnerabilities and prompting decisive responses. Ice Court guards, under Brum's command, represent the fortress's formidable , their patrols and protocols creating layers of obstacles during the infiltration. These interactions emphasize escalating gang rivalries and the challenges of breaching high-security environments. Collectively, the ambitions of these antagonists—Van Eck's economic dominance, Rollins's territorial control, Brum's ideological enforcement, and Yul-Bayur's captured invention—erect multifaceted obstacles that compel the crew to improvise strategies, adapt to betrayals, and exploit weaknesses in Ketterdam's and the Ice Court's defenses. Their roles not only propel the narrative through direct confrontations but also heighten the heist's peril, showcasing the interplay of personal grudges and geopolitical intrigue.

Themes and Motifs

Key Themes

One of the central themes in Six of Crows is vengeance and , which propel the characters' motivations and underscore the moral ambiguities of retribution in a cutthroat . Kaz Brekker's deep-seated with Pekka Rollins stems from personal and loss, driving him to orchestrate elaborate schemes that blur the line between and destruction, while Van Eck's relentless ambition for jurda parem exemplifies how corrupts familial and societal bonds. These forces are not portrayed as redeemable in isolation; instead, they highlight the characters' internal conflicts, where the pursuit of often exacts a heavier toll on the avenger than the target. The novel also delves into found family and , contrasting the isolation of its outcast protagonists with the bonds they forge through shared peril. The Dregs crew evolves from a disparate group of mercenaries—each motivated by self-interest—into a cohesive unit that prioritizes mutual support, redefining home as a network of chosen relationships rather than blood ties or national allegiance. This theme is evident in how the characters' diverse skills and vulnerabilities complement one another, fostering that transcends their initial transactional alliances. Trauma and recovery permeate the narrative, illustrating how past abuses shape the protagonists' worldviews and behaviors without offering simplistic resolutions. Characters like Inej, scarred by and exploitation, and Kaz, haunted by the loss that left him averse to physical contact, navigate Ketterdam's dangers while grappling with emotional wounds that manifest as or emotional barriers. Their arcs emphasize reclaiming agency through incremental steps—such as Matthias confronting his prejudices—yet underscore recovery as an ongoing, imperfect process amid unrelenting adversity. Prejudice and power expose the systemic discrimination embedded in Kerch society, mirroring broader inequalities faced by marginalized groups. Grisha face enslavement and fear due to their abilities, while ethnic minorities like the Suli and Zemeni endure exclusion and exploitation, positioning the crew as underdogs who subvert power structures through ingenuity rather than brute force. This theme critiques how prejudice perpetuates cycles of oppression, with characters challenging societal hierarchies that undervalue their worth. Finally, the ethics of power interrogates the perils of enhancements like jurda parem, questioning whether ambition justifies moral compromise in a corrupt world. The drug's potential to amplify Grisha abilities at the cost of and control raises dilemmas about wielding power responsibly, as seen in the characters' debates over its use and the broader implications for exploitation. Bardugo uses these elements to explore the tension between personal gain and ethical boundaries, portraying power as a double-edged force that demands constant vigilance.

Symbolism and Representation

In Six of Crows, and emerge as potent symbols of and , weaving through the narrative to contrast the characters' quests for liberation against their in societal and personal cages. The titular reference Kaz Brekker's emblem—a drinking from a goblet—which embodies cunning intelligence and unyielding memory, traits attributed to the bird's real-world ability to recognize human faces and seek retribution. This motif extends to Inej Ghafa's "Wraith" alias, evoking a that slips through shadows, underscoring her agile escapes and the elusive pursuit of from . Colors and amplifiers further illuminate the narrative's exploration of power's allure and its burdensome cost. Kaz's signature black attire and gloves serve as visual barriers, concealing the physical and emotional scars from his trauma while projecting an impenetrable, shadowy amid the Barrel's chaos. In contrast, the vibrant, order-specific hues of Grisha keftas—red for Corporalki, blue for Etherealki—symbolize structured authority and enhanced abilities, yet their association with merzost, the forbidden "abomination" of creation magic, highlights the perilous erosion of humanity that accompanies unchecked amplification. The Ice Court stands as a multifaceted for rigid and Fjerdan religious , its fortified, labyrinthine architecture reflecting not only physical barriers but also the convoluted internal struggles of and . This imposing structure, with its tiers of isolation and surveillance, embodies the druj—Fjerdan zealotry against Grisha—trapping individuals in cycles of persecution, much like the crew's own psychological mazes of and . Kaz's explosive disruption of the sacred ash tree at its heart further desecrates this symbol, exposing the fragility of dogmatic control. Diversity representation in the novel functions as a literary tool to mirror global influences and challenge monolithic identities, fostering a richer tapestry of resilience and alliance. Ethnic backgrounds draw from real-world inspirations: Inej's Suli heritage evokes South Asian nomadic traditions, Jesper's Zemeni roots nod to West African and Indigenous American elements, and Nina's Ravkan origins reflect , all converging in Ketterdam's to emphasize cultural hybridity as a strength. The relationship between Jesper and Wylan adds nuance to themes of hidden selves, portraying without . Kaz's chronic limp from a leg injury integrates as an unromanticized aspect of cunning adaptation, avoiding tropes of overcoming to affirm multifaceted personhood. Author has noted that starting with Six of Crows, she diversified her world to better reflect contemporary authenticity, countering the whiteness of her earlier works. Motifs of performance underscore identity's fluidity, portraying disguises and as essential survival strategies in the Barrel's deceptive underbelly. The crew's elaborate heists rely on theatrical transformations—Nina's shape-shifting Heartrender abilities altering appearances, or Wylan's fabricated personas—illustrating how reinvention blurs authentic and assumed selves, much like actors donning masks to navigate peril. This recurring imagery reinforces the novel's commentary on as both empowerment and exhaustion, tying briefly to broader trauma motifs where facades shield inner wounds.

Reception

Critical Response

Upon its release, Six of Crows received widespread praise for its intricate plotting, richly developed diverse characters, and exhilarating heist narrative, often drawing comparisons to reimagined in a fantasy setting. Reviewers highlighted the novel's ambitious world-building and the way it blends cunning schemes, high-stakes action, and emotional depth among a crew of misfits, creating a "crackling" page-turner that reveals intriguing surprises through character backstories. The New York Times noted its status as a standout in young adult fiction, commending the tense, immersive storytelling that launches a compelling new series. The book's representation of LGBTQ+ and multicultural identities was particularly acclaimed, with critics appreciating the authentic integration of diverse voices into the ensemble without tokenism. Kirkus Reviews described the protagonists as a "multiethnic band of misfits with differing sexual orientations who satisfyingly, believably jell into a family," emphasizing how this diversity enriches the heist dynamics and emotional arcs. Publishers Weekly echoed this, praising the "damaged, complex, and relatable" characters from varied backgrounds who navigate prejudice and power structures in a richly detailed world. Despite the acclaim, some reviewers critiqued the novel for its characters feeling overly mature for a audience, pacing challenges during the initial setup, and occasional reliance on familiar fantasy tropes. NPR's review, while lauding the heist elements, observed that the teenage protagonists occasionally strain believability with their world-weary sophistication and strategic acumen. Other critiques pointed to slow pacing in early sections, where extensive backstory exposition can disrupt momentum before the action intensifies, and a dependence on ensemble heist conventions that, while effective, sometimes feels predictable. In scholarly analyses published after 2015, Six of Crows has been recognized for elevating fantasy through its empathetic portrayal of trauma, , and , fostering greater understanding among readers. A 2021 study in the Children's Literature in Education examines how the duology builds for characters with PTSD, positioning the book as a pivotal work in YA literature for addressing psychological depth amid genre conventions. Retrospectives on the 2025 Dregs Edition, marking the 10th anniversary, have sparked discussion about author Leigh Bardugo's edits to age up the characters from teenagers to , aiming to align the narrative more closely with its mature themes and broaden its appeal beyond YA categorization—though some critics argue this alters the original's youthful intensity. The 's enduring popularity is evidenced by its rating of 4.5 out of 5, based on over 1.1 million user ratings (as of November 2025), reflecting strong reader engagement and frequent mentions of its rereadability due to layered plots and character growth.

Accolades and Awards

Six of Crows received several major awards following its publication. It won the RT Reviewers' Choice Award for /Fantasy in 2016. The also secured the in the category in 2017, recognizing outstanding English-language books read by students in . In 2018, it earned the German Fantasy Award (Deutscher Phantastik Preis) for Best International . The book garnered notable nominations as well. It was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction in 2015. In 2016, Six of Crows was a nominee for the Dragon Award in the Best Young Adult/Middle Grade Novel category. It received a nomination for the Beehive Award in the Young Adult category in 2018. The novel appeared on prominent year-end lists. It was included in the New York Times Notable Children's Books of the Year in the Young Adult category for 2015. Six of Crows also featured on the American Library Association's (ALA) Best Fiction for Young Adults list in 2016. Internationally, Six of Crows achieved recognition beyond English-speaking markets. It won El Premio El Templo de las Mil Puertas for Best Foreign Novel in a Series in 2016 in Spain. The book was selected as one of the Hea Noorteraamat (Best Teen Books) in Estonia for 2017. It won the Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers in 2018 (2017-2018 cycle). In recent years, no major new awards have been bestowed on Six of Crows since 2018, though it continues to receive enduring recognition in educational and retrospective contexts. The novel was featured in updated lists such as the 100 Best Books of All Time for 2025. It is frequently cited in teaching resources for curricula.

Adaptations and Legacy

Television Adaptations

The Netflix series Shadow and Bone (2021–2023), developed by Eric Heisserer, incorporated characters from Six of Crows into its first two seasons through original prequel storylines set prior to the events of Leigh Bardugo's duology. In Season 1, the Crows—Kaz Brekker, Inej Ghafa, Jesper Fahey, Nina Zenik, and Matthias Helvar—were introduced as a criminal gang in Ketterdam, embarking on heists and intrigue that intersected with the main Shadow and Bone plot involving Alina Starkov, diverging from the books where the Crows' stories occur years later without such direct crossovers. Season 2 further expanded this by introducing Wylan Van Eck and advancing the Crows' arcs with altered timelines to fit the series' pacing, blending elements from the Six of Crows duology while prioritizing ensemble dynamics over the source material's isolated heist focus. Heisserer, as showrunner, cast as Kaz Brekker, as Inej Ghafa, as Jesper Fahey, as Nina Zenik, and as Matthias Helvar, promoting them to series regulars by Season 2 to emphasize ' role in the expanded Grishaverse narrative. These portrayals drew from the duology's character foundations but adapted them for television, including romantic tensions and backstory reveals tailored to the format. In March 2023, Netflix announced development of a dedicated Six of Crows spinoff series, with Heisserer confirming scripts had been completed to center on the book's central Ice Court heist, potentially running alongside a third season of Shadow and Bone. However, on November 15, 2023, Netflix canceled Shadow and Bone after two seasons and shelved the spinoff amid broader budget cuts affecting multiple original productions. The adaptations significantly boosted the popularity of Six of Crows, contributing to Bardugo's eight-figure, 12-book deal with in March 2023, which highlighted the Grishaverse's expanded readership driven by the series' success. Post-cancellation, fans launched campaigns like "#SaveShadowAndBone" and "#SaveTheCrows," including a petition that garnered over 120,000 signatures by late November 2023 and billboards in New York and in January 2024 advocating for revival. By 2025, ongoing discussions among fans and industry observers continued to push for a potential reboot of the Six of Crows project at or another platform, underscoring the Crows' enduring appeal.

Other Media and Editions

The Six of Crows duology has inspired various expansions within the Grishaverse, including special editions and ancillary media that enhance the reader's experience of Leigh Bardugo's world. In 2025, Macmillan Publishers released the Six of Crows: The Dregs Edition, a paperback featuring new cover art by Harol Bustos, black stained edges, and an updated map of the Ice Court by cartographer Francesca Baerald. Collector's items such as sprayed edges and signed copies were made available through retailers like Vroman's Bookstore, appealing to longtime fans. Merchandise and tie-ins have further embedded the series in the broader Grishaverse. Official maps of Ketterdam and surrounding regions, illustrating key locations like the Barrel and the Ice Court, are hosted on the Grishaverse website, aiding visualization of the heist narrative. Character art, including illustrations of Kaz Brekker and the Dregs crew, appears in promotional materials and companion products. The 2017 anthology The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic collects six folk tales set in the Grishaverse, with indirect connections to Six of Crows through shared cultural elements like Ravkan and Grisha lore, though it predates the duology's direct expansions. Music inspired by the series includes indie artist Lilith Max's "Birds of a Feather," released on May 10, 2024, which draws from Kaz Brekker's cunning persona and blends folk melodies with fantasy themes of loyalty and thievery. The track, available on streaming platforms, captures the duology's atmospheric tension without direct . As of November 2025, the series contributes to ongoing Grishaverse expansions, with unconfirmed discussions of a potential third book in the Six of Crows sequence described by Bardugo as a "big someday" project. A titled A Darker Shore: Letters from Ketterdam, set after and featuring the Crows through epistolary mystery, was announced for release in June 2026 by Insight Editions (an imprint of ), building on the duology's legacy. No official audio dramas have been produced, though full-cast audiobook elements in related Grishaverse titles highlight the narrative's dramatic potential.

References

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