Set in a fantasy world inspired by the Dutch Republic, Six of Crows begins in Ketterdam; international trading city full of merchants, tourists and criminals. We follow 17-year-old Kaz Brekker, the ruthless deputy leader of the criminal gang the Dregs, as a merchant presents him with a job too irresistible to refuse.

Bo Yul-Bayur, a Shu scientist and inventor of jurda parem, the highly addictive and power-enhancing drug to Grisha, has been captured by the Fjerdans and needs to be rescued. Kaz accepts the task in return for an immense sum of money if he succeeds. 

But he can’t do it alone. He’ll need the most skilled and most trustworthy criminals the Barrel has to offer: a stealthy acrobat, a Grisha Heartrender, a former drüskelle (Grisha-hunter), a sharpshooter and of course some leverage, the son of the merchant who hired him.

The crew prepares to undertake the most daring heist yet; infiltrate the impenetrable Ice Court in the capital of Fjerda, home to the drüskelle. As they battle rival gangs, endure icy landscapes and outwit Fjerdan guards, the crew’s trust of each other is tested and their talents are pushed to their limits. 

What I enjoyed most about this novel was the rich world building and the tension between the characters. The chapters are written mostly from the point of view of Kaz and his crew. They each have their own agenda and motivations, and hold their cards close to their chests. Kaz in particular is cunning and forward-thinking, only telling the others what is essential for his plan to work. Will his scheming pay off? You’ll have to read it to find out.