2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Six of Crows, the first book in the Six of Crows series by Leigh Bardugo.

Pages: 465 pages

Length: 1 months (April)

Participants:bailey, Dominique, Lulo, Lorraine, Caterina, Celina, Allie, Kelly. Mara, Clare

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Hello, this is on my TBR. I'd like to join please :)

Welcome, Ice! :)

I plan to start reading this weekend.

Joining in, and starting it today. I've been on a Grishaverse marathon, and I just finished the Shadow and Bone trilogy. I'm hoping Six of Crows will be more entertaining.

I’m still 4 weeks away from my Libby hold! I swear it hasn’t moved in 2 months! I’ll probably be reading this AFTER the buddy read is over 🙄

joining :)

@Insiyah- What did you think of the Shadow and Bone trilogy? I read the first book, but I heard mixed reviews about the series.

Caterina wrote: "@Insiyah- What did you think of the Shadow and Bone trilogy? I read the first book, but I heard mixed reviews about the series."

It's quick and easy to read, and it's somewhat entertaining. That said, if you're a heavy fantasy reader, you need to put aside expectations of good world-building and complex characters. There was potential for a lot more fleshing-out of the characters. I think the TV show makes up for some of that, though. (I'm mostly reading it so I can watch the show).

I’ve finished part 1 and I am enjoying this book so far. We are getting introduce to the characters. I am curious to see what will happen to them.

I am through chapter 9

(view spoiler)[ I feel like we've gotten to know a few of the characters better at this point in the book. I'm still having some difficulty remembering the details we've gotten about the ones who haven't had their own chapters yet. I'm glad that they all have history prior to where we start the story, it makes them feel more real to me! My fave right now is Inej.

So far I'm enjoying the story. I love a heist movie so I'm guessing it'll translate well to books, too. Looking forward to seeing how this crew is going to pull everything off! (hide spoiler)]

I'm also done with part 1. I love heists so I'm pretty excited to see how this all turns out.

Through chapter 14

(view spoiler)[ Okay so Nina and Matthias definitely have some history!! I really love their arc so far and am hoping there'll be good payoff at some point in the book. I am also enjoying the slow reveal of all the characters' backstories rather than laying it all out at the start. Makes them more mysterious and I feel more connected to them by the time I get to hear about their history.

I wonder what's brewing between Kaz and Inej as well. I keep waffling between thinking they're just good friends or there's romantic feelings underneath. I felt really affirmed by Nina mentioning it too lol! (hide spoiler)]

Finished with the book, finally! It's been in limbo for a few days between deadlines and other busy things.

Overall: it was a fun book to read. I liked the plot, liked the morally ambiguous to dark characters, and the cliffhanger definitely got me. And I became way too attached to Wylan (though that may have been the fan-edits from the show all over YouTube).

Finished the book. I liked the story and the characters. I am interested to know about their future. Will certainly read book number 2.

For people who're thinking about reading the second book - go for it. It's good. Definitely my favourite of all the Grishaverse books, though I'm not going to continue with the King of Scars duology.

Has a slump in the beginning of the month, will catch up.

Just finished part 3. While I am only halfway through the book, I should still be able to finish by the end of the month.

Thoughts up to chapter 20: (view spoiler)[I love all the character backstories and I can't wait to hear more.

The plan seems super terrible to me. They're going to infiltrate the Ice Court by getting sent to jail and somehow escaping? So many things could go wrong in this plan. (hide spoiler)]

I bought both books in this series, so I would be onboard to reading the next book in May. I think we need to submit it by the 25th of the month.

Dominique wrote: "Has a slump in the beginning of the month, will catch up."

I'm in the same boat!

I am interested in reading book 2 but not sure it will be possible for me in May. I will try but you should not count me in.

I only read 50 pages and going to stop. Didn't know I had to finish the Shadow and Bone series first!

I asked SarahKat to add Crooked Kingdom to the May Buddy Reads. If you plan to continue, that would be lovely. I've heard great things about this series and I bought both books, so I am definitely in. I also really want to read everything so I can start the Netflix show.

@Dominique- I didn't know you were supposed to read Shadow and Bone first. I read the first book in that series, but I wasn't too impressed. @Insiyah mentioned the books in that series are short, so it might make for quick reads.

@Lorraine- I hope you can join! We could also add this as a 2-month read for May and June, if that would be easier for you.

I definitely plan to read the second book, just not sure when I'll be able to get a copy of it and start reading. Thank you for getting that added, Caterina!!

I'm getting close to finishing the first book, I think I have about 10 chapters left but it's been slow going because of school! (almost done though !!)

Caterina wrote: "I asked SarahKat to add Crooked Kingdom to the May Buddy Reads. If you plan to continue, that would be lovely. I've heard great things about this series and I bought both books, so ..."

Thanks Caterina. Will probably be able to do it in June. I am travelling all month of May so really jot sure jow many books I can fit in that month.

@Dominique: i have read book 1 and 2 of Shadow and Bone and never did number 3. I did not think it was necessary for that series.

I finished this book a week ago but didn't have much time until now.
Even though I didn't like the Shadow and Bones series I really enjoyed Six of Crows and all its characters.

Whenever you plan on reading the second book I will definitely join.

I just finished the book and I am at a loss for words... in a good way.

On the Goodreads page, this is one of the top reviews:

chai ♡

I don't know if I finished this book or if it finished me.

I feel the same way!

I definitely need more time to process Six of Crows, but I'm very excited for the next book, whenever we decide to read it. We are on the schedule for May, but we can also expand it to June, if that works better for everyone.

If we decide to read Crooked Kingdom in June, I would take the time to read the rest of Shadow and Bone in May. Even if it's not necessary for this book series, it might be good background to have for the Netflix show. Which I'm super excited about!

Oh my gosh, Caterina, that review is too accurate! One of the top reviews on my page is this one which is also hilarious:

emma

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

^ That’s me screaming.

This has been: my full review of Six of Crows. Bye.

I finished it a few days ago and I am also still processing lol. There wasn't a single thing I didn't like?
(view spoiler)[ I especially loved the set-up for the next book. I feel like a lot of series I read these days just get sequels because they're popular and not because the author did a good job setting up more books. THIS BOOK, however, has the perfect platform for our next adventure with the Dregs.

I have such a soft spot for Inej and Kaz 🫶 I relate to both of them in many ways so I loved watching their relationship develop. I also loved watching Jesper and Wylan banter (and ofc Nina and Matthias were cute too). Ugh I just loved them all so much. (hide spoiler)]

Definitely need to read more Leigh Bardugo after this one! I also saw there will eventually being a Six of Crows #3 which is exciting !!

Hi!
Finished yesterday. (Got a little delay in my schedule) When i signed up to this Buddy Read, I didn't have any idea about it (and find out about the Shadow and Bones series just reading this post), but the truth is that is a great book. Got hook up almost instantly and i find myself thinking about the story a few times while I was reading it.
(view spoiler)[The part of the ending setting for the next book is the part I most dislike (and the reason I gave it 4 stars insted of 5), felt like this story don't end and is a 2-part book of the same story. (hide spoiler)]
Definitly will read Crooked Kingdom between May and June.