Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo (Probably her best book written to date)

 I started this book with the question "will I still like the book as much as when I read it for the first time" & "will this book keep its 5/5 status"? Oh boy, let me tell you what.

I. Couldn't. Put. It. Down. It got to the point where my boyfriend had to say "Elke? Can you just try to get some sleep"? 'cause I was so bound to devour it. In my mind, I was just thinking "Okay, if I sleep now I'll wake up early and will be able to finish it completely." Just to give you a little inkling of how addictive this story is. 

Why is this book so good? Well let's dive into it, shall we?:

The story is about a crew of criminals, a lot of money, and a heist. Doesn't that already sound like the best concept ever? Casa De Papel probably had its inspiration here (probably not, but hey? They could've??). And what Leigh did different here in comparison to the Shadow & Bone-trilogy is giving each of those crewmembers a character. They were all different. All skilled at something. Each one of them has a reason to participate in this ludicrous and dangerous heist. They're morally not well in their head and they, for sure, know that everything has a price. The leader of them is Kaz who is probably the most complex character in this crew. Everything he does is with the idea of gaining something. No mercy. No sorry's. Just profit. I love how he compares himself as a businessman, but that could be indeed the best way to describe him. A cunning, cheating, violent businessman. There was even a part in the book where Kaz is torturing a guy (like, written in a very detailed way) and I just sat there reading "Huh, I sometimes forget how cruel they are because I just love all of them"!

Throughout the book, you get to know the characters and their demons. How they wound up with each other and what happened in their past. Let me tell you, none of their stories are pretty, but it gives you a grasp of what their personal motives are. You mix these people together with each other? Then you get a cocktail of witty conversations, a lot of action-packed scenes, and a lot of shameless flirting with death. 

Next to an amazing cast of thieves, criminals, Grisha; there's also a good world built up around them. Ketterdam is the starting point and I adored it because it's (what my guess is) based on the Netherlands and Flanders. Being a Flemish girl myself and having lived in the Netherlands for some months, I absolutely adored it. The names of streets, the last names of characters, ... The vibe was so well described that it was easy for my imagination to bring this world to life. 

Another great aspect of the story was the pace. They did not hang around in comparison with Shadow & Bone. No, they were always scheming, always busy doing something that was advancing the story. The heist itself is more than 300 pages in the book. Just imagine how detailed it's written? They're traveling with a purpose and take on everything they encounter. You basically just fly through the book because every time you think 'I can put it to rest now' something new happens that keeps you on your toes. The best book I've ever read when it comes to great action scenes!

So to answer the first two questions of this review: YES. It's still as good as reading it for the first time and yes it's still worthy of its 5⭐️'s. 

The biggest MUST READ from Leigh Bardugo!

Now, on to Crooked Kingdom.

xoxo, peace out
Elke

Ruin & Rising - Leigh Bardugo (The end of the Shadow & Bone - Trilogy)

 Well well well. Here we are. Finally, the end of the Shadow & Bone-trilogy. About time. 

I might've complained, hated, and laughed at a lot of the things happening in this story, but overall I quite enjoyed it! Let's dive into the last review about Alina, Mal, and the Darkling... 

There were some things in this book that I again found very annoying. Something that has bothered me throughout the entire series was the whole 'Saint' idea , but for some reason, it was worse for me more than in the previous books. In this one, Alina truly starts to think she is one, which is just a ridiculous thought. Let's be real. You read through her eyes and can tell that she doesn't even know how to act in front of people. She's the most inconsistent character out of all of them. 

Can I also complain about the fact that they're traveling the entire time???!!! "Let's go to find the 'firebird'." *5 seconds later* "Oh no, let's go to West Ravka"... "On second thought, let's go to the Fold!" - I HATED IT. It didn't really feed into my love of worldbuilding that I had come to love. Nothing felt build up properly or was round up. They always arrived in a new location after 'near death' and then they have to flee, again, after 'near death'. This made it very difficult for me to read and stay in the reading flow. 

Furthermore, I would looooove to complain about her and Mal's relationship. What was that entire thing of a mess? Okay, so I think Leigh wanted to set up some love triangles throughout the entire series (see the Darkling and Prince Nikolai), but nothing really came through, did it? From the beginning, I knew that it was gonna be Mal even though she kissed the other guys... It just bothered me that all these sorts of triangles were unfinished? It always came down to ' Mal deserves a normal life' and ' I'm too powerful for Mal' or 'Mal and I could never work because of my fate'. Come on???? Fate is what you make for yourself (at least that's my opinion). Besides, I already touched upon this in my last review, she's just being enabled by everyone to start thinking this way... In all honesty? The fame just went to her head haha. That's just my opinion oops haha... 

Let's get onto the spoiler parts of my review where I do touch upon the specific storyline and what happened... 

What I did like was Mal in the story. I loved the fact that he ended up being the 3rd amplifier. That served Alina right in her face. "No girl you ain't the only person who's born 'special'!" I just lived for that haha. 

Another thing that I enjoyed sooo much was Zoya her character being more out there! Leigh was already setting up her arc for in the King of Scars-duology which is just amazing. The hints weren't even subtle about her being queen someday and I truly do believe Zoya will end up marrying Nikolai in Rule of Wolves.* Additionally, it was a nice set-up from Leigh to not dive in too deep yet into what is happening to the new king. All in all, a good way to not end their stories yet. ;) 

Now okayyyy, let's get to the big finale. I LOVED it. I enjoyed so much that she killed off Mal and the result of that was giving up her powers even though they all thought she was going to be the most powerful Grisha in the universe? THE TWIST! I did not see that coming! Well done Leigh. What a misdirect! I applaud you! It was the perfect ending because the Darkling just dies as a 'commoner' and we all basically go back to the status quo. They all are no ones. The perfect way to round up a story where so many people left their lives and gave up things. 

*I'm writing this review before the release of Rule of Wolves so this is pure speculation. 

All in all, this book gets 3.5/5⭐️'s again. That would be my overall take of the series too. It was enjoyable but could've had better-developed characters with more traits other than 'witty, flirtatious and handsome'. Storywise, I enjoyed it a lot and the way everything was set up made the book a real page-turner. A must-read for people who love epic adventures and power!

Now, I will devour the Six of Crows-series. I cannot wait to see all of my favorite characters in the Grisha-verse. 

I'll see you in the next review! 

xoxo, peace out
Elke

Siege & Storm - Leigh Bardugo (A story easier to remember)

 Okay, this book was a little bit better than the first one and therefore it gets a 3.5/5⭐️'s. 

I reread the book for the second time, as I did with the first one, and again I couldn't remember a single thing. I really forgot everything that I read back in 2017 which felt, at the same time, great because it was as if I was experiencing everything in the story again for the first time, so there's that. I wasn't really spoiled by my previous memories! Anyways. Let's get reviewing!

The ending of the book was just flawless. I adored the pure chaos of it all and actually enjoyed the relationship-issues between Alina and Mal? I will soon get into more detail about that. ;) 

Note: I'm so sad. I wrote an entire review of me ranting like a crazy person, and when I pressed 'published' my laptop said I had no internet connection meaning I lost nearly everything I wrote :'( can someone please just cry along with me while I'm trying to recreate my rant????? Thank you! Also, PS, there are some spoilers in here because I did get a little carried away with the word vomit coming out of me! So, beware... 

Now, the beginning was a little bit weary for me. What was the entire point of them running away from the Darkling if they're gonna be captured again by him in, like, the first 20 pages of the book??? It was super confusing and made no sense to me. It felt like a waste of writing and I assume Leigh Bardugo didn't know how to start up the story again after ending the first book so they're just discovered again in 5 seconds. Anyways, I found it pointless and was flabbergasted that the book just commenced like this. 

Luckily, everyone's favorite privateer comes into play soon and made me enjoy reading a lot more! Nikolai is a character who keeps the flow of the story going. He's lighthearted, flirty, and an all-around fun character to have in the book. He even made it possible for me to like Alina a little bit more??? How did that happen? I don't know, but he put he helped her give some more depth into her own thoughts. And I did not know that was possible with such a plain character! 

Another thing I enjoyed was the dynamic of Alina and Mal. Yes, finally something that feels 'realistic' between the two of them. I could completely understand Mal of feeling that he gave everything up just to follow Alina. Like, yes dude, you should be annoyed with her. She's just being mean to you and expects you to follow her everywhere like a little puppy. You're your own man! She's not what makes you, you!(Although debatable because, still, they don't have really specific character traits so I don't really know him that well... but here's to changes in the hope of the next book).

What did disappoint me was the lack of action in the middle of the book? I think we spent like 200 pages doing nothing? Just strutting around on the palace grounds and denying proposals? Don't get me wrong, I loved the dialogue with Nikolai (and lucky for us, he's in nearly everything), but I lost track of why they went all the way back to the palace? She wanted the Second Army of Grisha, but nothing happened with them? What was the point then? Nowhere in the book, I had the feeling that she would be a good leader to them? Does she barely interact with them? This was just a little frustrating. 

The Darkling, on the other hand, I still don't understand? Is he still a possible ship or not? Like, why is he so attracted to Alina??? Just because of her power? Even then, a little bit more of 'relationship depth' could be written here... Also, the thing about "like calls to like" what is that about? Alina is NOTHING like the Darkling? The only thing they have in common is that they're both powerful, but that's that??? And she's like that because of everyone enabling it to her. She's being seen as a literal Saint and being treated like a freaking princess? The only person who's not doing that is Mal, and even he is being pushed away in this scenario. No, I'm not on board with the whole "like calls to like" thing. She's powerful, but I just wonder how powerful in comparison to other Grisha? Because that's never been truly discussed or explained. So yeah... that's that rant. 

Overall, the book was good and better in comparison with the first one. Hopes are, that the last book will be even better! Although, I don't want my hopes to get too high for the grand finale as I barely can remember what happens. Only of the very last pages, I have a vague memory of. All in all, this means the trilogy is almost over and I can soon move on to my beloved Six of Crows! 

xoxo, peace out
Elke