the-modern-typewriter:

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (+ the sequel, Crooked Kindom)

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.

modern-typewriter says: Well, this series made me read everything else that Bardugo has ever written, if that counts for something. Kaz Brekker is an amazing villain/morally grey protagonist, and all of the characters in this are so unique and well developed. They really are the highlight, I struggle to pick my favourite, and the antagonists are also good. I love them all so much and the dialogue and relationships are fantastic. And this has such epic moments. I liked the second one more, but the first was still great! Although it is part of the same fantasy universe as the author’s other works, you do not need to have read these to follow on as I hadn’t. Fantasy heist and go.

It’s also worth noting that while the protagonists are YA age, as someone older than them who doesn’t particularly enjoy teenage or teenage-feeling protagonists, this did not detract. They felt very universal. I would have assumed them older if the author didn’t tell me otherwise.

If you liked this try/you might like this if you liked: Her other books! I am currently working my through them because I liked this duo-series so much.

A villainous/morally gray protagonist…interesting.