It’s finally time for our first Six of Crows discussion, and I’m so pumped! I’m really glad that I announced this readalong and put up the sign-up form a little earlier than I normally do, because I think it gave more of you extra time to plan for the readalong book in regard to the rest of your reading schedules (let me know if I guess right, here!) But, the wait felt much longer! Agh! I really enjoyed this first 3rd of Six of Crows, and I hope that you did too!
– The Book –
SIX OF CROWS BY LEIGH BARDUGO
Title: Six of Crows
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Type: Fiction
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Imprint: Henry Holt and Company
Publisher: Macmillan
Date published: September 29, 2015
Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker has been offered wealth beyond his wildest dreams. But to claim it, he’ll have to pull off a seemingly impossible heist:
Break into the notorious Ice Court
(a military stronghold that has never been breached)
Retrieve a hostage
(who could unleash magical havoc on the world)
Survive long enough to collect his reward
(and spend it)
Kaz needs a crew desperate enough to take on this suicide mission and dangerous enough to get the job done – and he knows exactly who: six of the deadliest outcasts the city has to offer. Together, they just might be unstoppable – if they don’t kill each other first.
– Chapters 1-14 Discussion Questions –
Note: Those of you who have not yet read Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo and still intend to read it, don’t read beyond this point (including the comments), because there will be spoilers! You have been warned. But if you like spoilers go right ahead…haha.
To participants: It’s not mandatory that you answer these questions! This is not school, haha. The questions are mainly meant to generate conversations in case some of our readalongers are having a hard time picking something to talk about. Also, feel free to mention and discuss anything which I may not have thought of in the questions below! Please, also keep in mind that we are discussing chapters 1-14 at this point only, and that if you have read ahead, that you be conscious about not sharing spoilers. We want to keep this fun for everyone! Please be considerate.
Also! if you do decide to answer the questions in the comments, please number your answers to correspond with the questions. It just makes it easier and less confusing for everyone to keep up! Thank you!
- Did you read the Grisha series before starting this book? And if so, what did you think?
- What do you think of Six of Crows so far? Has it been meeting your expectations?
- Based on what we’ve read of Six of Crows so far, do you have a favourite character? What about a favourite place in the city, country in the world, or nationality?
- Do you have a favourite Grisha power?
- Do you like the way that Kaz handles things?
- What do you think the heist was going to be before it was revealed in detail?
- Was it satisfying for you when Inej got hurt and Kaz went a little crazy?
- Do you have any other thoughts about anything that happened in chapters 1-14?
– MY ANSWERS –
- Yes! I read Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising late in 2016. I also read some of the short stories which where then collected into The Language of Thorns before they’d been collected like that (all of “The Traitor” and some of “The Demon in the Wood.”) I wasn’t too crazy about Alina, loved The Darkling, thought Mal was okay. But the world…oh the world. I absolutely fell in love with Ravka, the other countries, and the magic system!
- I really loved this section of the book! I like how quickly it immersed us into the world, and how quickly the action started. I’ve had issues with loving books that were very hyped up before, and was worried that this would be one of those…but I worried for nothing! I loved every page.
- I really like Kaz and Inej…and I shipped them long before I opened and read the first page of this book because of the fanart circulating the internet haha. I also really like Jesper, Nina, and Matthias. I think that if I were to have to pick a favourite romantic pairing…I’d probably vote for Nina and Matthias. The tension is just…gah. But Kaz and Inej would be a close second. I really enjoyed reading about Ketterdam, and how different it is from any place in Ravka. I think that The Little Palace in Ravka remains my favourite place, just because I love old Russia, and it’s very much based on old Russia in my opinion. I like how we got to experience a different country in the Grisha world though, and also how we were given the perspective of criminals through this book. Ugh. So good.
- Yes! My favourites are Etherealki. The Corporalki are a close second. If I had to get more specific, I’d say that I like the Inferni most, then Heartrenders, then Squallers, then Tidemakers.
- I love his ruthlessness! Being a perfectionist, I also understand his need to keep the important details to himself, and his need to plan everything to a T. But from an emotional standpoint, I wish that he’d open up to the others more, especially Inej.
- I thought that they would have to steal something, or kill someone. I didn’t expect that they’d have to steal a persona haha.
- Yeeeees. Omg, yes. I love it when cold guys have a soft spot for one person in their life, and get a little crazy when that person is hurt. Haha. Sorry if that’s weird.
– Schedule –
| DATE | CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS | DISCUSSION LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| December 8, 2017 | Start reading! | N/A |
| December 15, 2017 | Chapters 1-14 | This post! |
| December 22, 2017 | Chapter 15-30 | Flavia the Bibliophile |
| December 29, 2017 | Chapter 31-46 | Flavia the Bibliophile |
THANK YOU FOR READING AND THANK YOU TO THOSE OF YOU PARTICIPATING IN THIS READALONG! I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTS, AND DISCUSSING THEM WITH YOU! I ALSO HOPE THAT YOU HAVE ALL ENJOYED THE BOOK SO FAR!
So here are the answers to your questions.
1.No I have not read the Grisha series but I am hoping to get to it soon.
2. So far I have loved Six of Crows. It has totally been meeting my expectations.
3. I love Kaz. I don’t why, I just do. I also love Nina. She is so sweet and caring while also being able to murder you.
4. For some reason I don’t. I think that they are all equally bad and awesome at the same time.
5. Yes I do. He plans it really well and all the scenarios that could happen after it.
6. I thought that they were going to have to murder someone important. Imagine how I felt when I realized what they were actually doing.
7. Yes it was because it meant that Kaz actually did have feelings for Inej. Which I had guessed about since we first met both of them.
8. No. Not really, I think that you summed it all up.
Thanks for hosting this fun read-along. Great post.
Thanks so much for participating! 😀
1. I hope that you enjoy the other Grisha books and short stories when you get to them!
2. I’m so glad that it’s been meeting your expectations too! 🙂
3. Yessss something about Kaz…maybe it’s his cold demeanor, or just his bad boy vibes 😛 but I really love him too. And YES! Nina is awesome.
7. Hehe yes! I figured he had feelings for her…but the question was going to be whether he’d frigging let her know or not hahaha. So frustrating. TELL HEEEER
8. Okay great! 😀
Obviously as this is a re-read for me, I can’t really fully answer some of the questions.
1. Okay, so yes, I originally read the Grisha trilogy before I read Six of Crows the first time, but I didn’t feel the need to re-read the Grisha books before this readathon. The trilogy was good, but I can definitely say that I prefer this duology.
2. Yes, this reread is definitely meeting my expectations. I remember wanting to start this book over as soon as I finished it the first time.
3. I love Kaz as a character…and because my opinions on characters is now based on having read the whole duology, I also very much like Wylan and Jesper.
4. Hmm..I don’t know that I could pick a favorite Grisha power.
5. Kaz has a very impressive mind, with the way he figures things out and makes plans. I think sometimes the issue is that not everyone else sees the plans the way he does and that complicates things, especially when it comes to communication.
6. I don’t think I figured out the heist first, but the first time around I was so wrapped up in the story that I didn’t really have a lot of time to stop and think.
7. I’m not answering this one..but oh man, just you wait until you read Crooked Kingdom.
Of course! 🙂 I had remembered that you’re re-reading. P.S. I finished this today, because I don’t know how much reading time I’ll have this coming week, and oh my gosh. I need Crooked Kingdom. Right. Now.
1. I get what you mean! I loved the world building in the Grisha trilogy, and the fact that it’s set in Ravka and that it gives us the first look at the world. But I’m not sure if I’ll ever re-read the series. Maybe in a few years? Who knows.
2. I can totally see why! I definitely want to re-read it all over again.
3. Yes. Kaz is quite special. <3
5. I agree that he has an impressive mind! And yes, I feel like he needs to trust his team more at times....but at other times, I completely understand why he chooses not to share certain info with them.
7. GAH. I neeeeed it.
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eeeeeK! loved reading your thoughts on the first third of SOC! I LOVE Nina & Matthias SOOOOO friggin much! Ketterdam def gave me Russian inspired vibes, I’ve heard others say they got London vibes but I don’t see it lol. The world building is A++ & I hope you all continue enjoying the read, can’t wait to read more thoughts & impressions 🙂
Yeeees omg their chemistry is CRAZY. And their love plot is exactly the kind of plot that I love reading about. YAS. Ooooo I’d meant that Ravka gave me Russian vibes hehe…but Ketterdam…kind of something between London and Moscow or something. Maybe a big Eastern European city?
Also, oh my gosh the world building. So good. I don’t even know what to say other than that. I actually finished the book a few days ago hahaha, because I just couldn’t stop reading, and I also had a feeling that I wouldn’t have much reading time this week (and I was SO RIGHT).
1. Yes, I rushed through the Grisha series before starting this one, and I loved it!!
2. I’m surprised at how different Six of Crows is from the Grisha series. It’s a more mature style of writing and plot. I thought it would be much more similar to Alina’s voice in the trilogy.
3. Kaz is my favourite character so far. He doesn’t take any nonsense from anyone, and he’s very clever. I don’t have a favourite place.
4. I like the healers. That is very useful!
5. I like the way Kaz handles things. He gets the job done, even if it means lying along the way, which makes for some entertaining situations.
6. I thought the heist was going to be stealing an object rather than a person!
7. Yes, I was glad to see Kaz’s emotional side when she got hurt. He showed that he really cares about her.
8. I liked the little references to the Grisha trilogy when Nina talked about Zoya. I hope there will be more references and appearances of characters from that trilogy.
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