Trivia: How well do you know the Six of Crows duology characters?

How well do you know the Six of Crows characters?

Love Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology? (Of course you do! You’re here!) Test your knowledge of the unforgettable characters below!

  1. What kind of Grisha is Kuwei Yul-Bo?

    A. Heartrender
    B. Fabrikator
    C. Inferni
    D. Tailor

    2. Which of these Grisha skills does Nina have at the beginning of Six of Crows?

    A. Tailor
    B. Heartrender
    C. Healer
    D. All of the above

    3. Where does Pekka Rollins keep his office?

    A. The Kaelish Prince
    B. The Emerald Palace
    C. The Black Veil
    D. Sweet Reef

    4. Which of these characters is NOT a Grisha?

    A. Zoya
    B. Genya
    C. Jesper
    D. Colm

    5. Which one of these characters join a consortium of jurda traders according to Kaz’s plan?

    A. Jarl Brum
    B. Karl Dryden
    C. Mister Crimson
    D. Cornelius Smeet

    6. Which of these roles or disguises does Jesper NOT assume as part of a plan?

    A. Zemeni delegate
    B. Mister Crimson
    C. Jurda farmer
    D. Gambler

  1. C. Inferni

  2. D. All of the above (these are all Corporalki skills)
  3. B. The Emerald Palace
  4. D. Colm (Fahey)
  5. B. Karl Dryden
  6. C. Jurda farmer

Less than 4 questions right: You’re a Six of Crows novice! Maybe it’s time for a re-read!

4 questions right: You’re familiar with the duology, but the details have gotten fuzzy!

5 questions right: You’re almost an expert!

6 questions right: Are you Leigh Bardugo? No? Just a really huge fan? My friend, you are in the right place!

So how did you do?

9 Fantastic Quotes from the Six of Crows Duology

9 Fantastic Quotes from the Six of Crows Duology

Crooked Kingdom is my favorite of the two books in Leigh Bardugo’s brilliant Six of Crows Duology. I had so many highlights! In all fairness to Six of Crows, I’ve plucked out some of my favorites from that book to include in this list, too.

Here they are: Nine fantastic quotes from the Six of Crows Duology.

  1. What about the nobodies and the nothings, the invisible girls? We learn to ring magic from the ordinary. – Crooked Kingdom

2. She’d laughed, and if he could have bottled the sound and gotten drunk on it every night, he would have. It terrified him. – Six of Crows

3. He felt free, dangerous, like lightning rolling over the prairie. – Crooked Kingdom

4. “I would come for you. And if I couldn’t walk, I’d crawl to you, and no matter how broken we were, we’d fight our way out together–knives drawn, pistols blazing. Because that’s what we do. We never stop fighting.” – Crooked Kingdom

5. I’m a business man,” he’d told her. “No more, no less.”
“You’re a thief, Kaz.”
“Isn’t that what I just said?” – Six of Crows

6. “That was how you survived when you weren’t chosen, when there was no royal blood in your veins. When the world owed you nothing, you demanded something of it anyway.” – Crooked Kingdom

The Six of Crows Duology

7. “Nina glanced from Inej to Kaz and saw they both wore the same expression. Nina knew that look. It came after the shipwreck, when the tide moved against you and the sky had gone dark. It was the first sight of land, the hope of shelter and even salvation that might await you on a distant shore.” – Crooked Kingdom

8. He needed to tell her…what? That she was lovely and brave and better than anything he deserved. That he was twisted, crooked, wrong, but not so broken that he couldn’t pull himself together into some semblance of a man for her. That without meaning to, he’d begun to lean on her, to look for her, to need her near. – Six of Crows

9. “Stop treating your pain like it’s something you imagined. If you see the wound is real, then you can heal it.” – Crooked Kingdom

Trivia: How well do you know Six of Crows?

How Well do You Know Six of Crows?
So you think you know your way around the Barrel? These six questions will separate the revelers from the true Crows. Find out if you can hold your own in the darkest corners of Ketterdam below!

via GIPHY

1. Which of these is NOT the name of one of Inej’s knives?

A. Sankta Anastasia
B. Sankta Marya
C. Sankt Constantin
D. Sankt Vladimir

2. True or false: The ship that carries Kaz’s heist team to Fjerda is called The Ferdinand.

3. Which of these are NOT things Inej receives from Kaz?

A. A knife
B. A new contract
C. The Wraith
D. Cold hard cash

4. Which of these is NOT the name of a Barrel gang?

A. The Black Tips
B. The Dregs
C. The Razorbeaks
D. The Dime Lions

5. Which of these things are associated with Nina Zenik?

A. Corpsewitch
B. The White Rose
C. Corporalnik
D. All of the above

6. Which of these is NOT a Barrel business?

A. The Emerald Palace
B. The Silver Lion
C. Club Cumulus
D. The House of the Blue Iris

1. Sankt Constantin
2. False: They sail on Ferolind
3. A new contract (she receives it from Per Haskell)
4. The Razorbeaks (the gang is called the Razorgulls.)
5. All of the Above
6. The Silver Lion

Less than four questions right: Find the nearest Stadwatch officer to escort you home. The Barrel eats nice people like you alive!

Four questions right: Ok, so you’ve been to the Barrel. How much money did you lose?

Five questions right: I think you have what it takes. Per Haskell and the Crows could use someone of your talents,

Six questions right: Talk to Dirtyhands about your next assignment–you’re already a Barrel rat through and through!

So, how’d you do?

Kaz Brekker and my Fjerdan heist level character hangover

Caution: This post contains spoilers for Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom.

Ever had a book hangover? How about a character hangover?

I’ve got one, and it’s because of Kaz Brekker.

Kaz Brekker and my Fjerda heist-level character hangover

Six of Crows introduces readers to the gritty underworld of Ketterdam, from scheming merchants to the gambling empires of the Barrel. As a top underling in a gang called the Dregs, Kaz Brekker is a half mythical figure–which is exactly how he designed his image. There aren’t many anti-heroes that intentional.

Throughout the Six of Crows duology, the story slowly prizes up Kaz’s carefully crafted mask. He’s only a marginally likeable character, his intellectual feats pulling off impossible victories like magic. He’s vicious, living up to his nicknames: Dirtyhands and the Bastard of the Barrel.

So why am I so weirdly obsessed with this character?

Kaz Brekker has a leg injury that leaves him with mobility issues. It’s a little odd in terms of representation because 1) it causes pain but doesn’t seem to hinder him in critical moments and 2) he actually could rid himself of it with a skilled Grisha tailor’s help. He considers it such a part of himself, though, that he doesn’t think of it when he has the chance.

Stock photo of an alley at night
A stock photo by Nicolas Postiglioni with serious Ketterdam vibes

There’s also something fiercely endearing about the moments he fails: when he finally reveals some of his feelings to Inej and when he passes out in the truck in Fjerda. Kaz has his painful backstory to be sure, but I don’t think that’s what makes him an unforgettable character.

It’s the way others view him that does it. From Inej’s challenge that makes him face his flaws, to the way they brighten when they spot his “scheming face.” He’s loyal to those loyal to him, the dark knight sweeping in for the rescue in a merciless city. He’s a super hero with a soft spot, clever and not at all charming, especially with a character like Jesper on the scene. Kaz even gives out second chances.

At the same time, he’s not all that complex: Kaz is totally driven by revenge and ambition. His most lovable moments come when he tries to do normal human things. For all his faults and miraculous heists, it’s this quality I love most about his character: the boy who knows he isn’t ordinary, but for others’ sake, makes the attempt anyway.

And that’s why I won’t forget Kaz Brekker anytime soon.

Do you know Kaz Brekker?

Do You KNow Kaz Brekker?

So, you think you know Kaz Brekker…! Find out below whether you’re a tried and true Crow who knows Kaz cover to cover–or if you’re just visiting the Crow Club for kicks.

via GIPHY

1.What item of Saskia’s does Kaz Brekker keep?

A. A toy lion
B. A pin
C. A ribbon
D. A crow stuffed animal

2. Which of these businesses does Kaz Brekker sabotage?

A. The Rose Garden
B. The Kaelish Prince
C. The Crow Club
D. Club Cumulus

3. What everday item does Kaz keep up his sleeve as a weapon?

A. A shucking knife
B. A paring knife
C. A seam ripper
D. A boning knife

4. True or false: Kaz Brekker has never left Ketterdam until the Fjerdan heist.

5. What real plague does Kaz Brekker orchestrate a fake outbreak of?

A. The King’s Pox Plague
B. The Queen’s Lady Plague
C. The Water Pox Plague
D. The Lady’s Lace Plague

6. Which of these characters does Kaz slip up and call Jordie?

A. Inej
B. Matthias
C. Wylan
D. Jesper

1 C. A ribbon
2. B. The Kaelish Prince
3. A. A (oyster) shucking knife
4. False: Kaz is from the countryside
5. B. The Queen’s Lady Plague
6. D. Jesper

Less than four questions right: Have you been watching Netflix again?

Four questions right: Ok, so you’ve see Kaz Brekker around.

Five questions right: You know Kaz Brekker–but I wouldn’t let him hear you saying that!

Six questions right: Kaz will admit to knowing you. Heck, he may even set up a rescue when you’re in need. But can anyone REALLY know Kaz Brekker?

10 books to read after Six of Crows

Wish you had more Six of Crows? I’ve compiled a list of books to fill that Kaz-shaped hole in your heart after finishing Crooked Kingdom.

10 Books to Read After Six of Crows

When I think of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology, the words gritty, dark, clever and underworld come to mind. If you’re searching for another read full of nimble thieves and/or intrigue, read on!

The Book of Night, by Holly Black – Expert thief Charlie is trying to go straight, but when her shadow-filled version of Eastern Massachussetts is upended by strange murders, the underworld comes for Charlie. This wonderfully gritty story of shadow magic and unexpected love is a riveting urban fantasy.

A Darker Shade of Magic, by V.E. Schwabb – One of two perspectives in this portal fantasy belongs to thief and pirate wannabe Lila; the other to a dimension-walking honorary royal who smuggles for the thrill of it.

The Theft of Sunlight cover

The Theft of Sunlight, by Intisar Khanani – Country girl Rae must work with (and against) thieving rings in the capital in order to find abducted children from throughout Menaiya, including the sister of her closest friend. (You can find my full review here on the blog.)

The Prince and the Poisoner, by Helena Rookwood – A sassy young thief and carnival potionmaker must slip poison to a princess, or else be sent back to the abusive troupe she’s fled from. (Find my review of this indie fantasy here.)

Night Angel (Night Angel Trilogy), by Brent Weeks – If you loved the gritty underworld of the Barrel, you’ll want to meet Kylar and the slew of villains he can’t quite escape.

Half a King, by Joe Abercrombie – A prince becomes a slave who must claw his way back to his kingdom and throne after a betrayal. Fans of Six of Crows will appreciate the intrigue.

Tapestry of Night, by Elm Vince – Cassia is a late bloomer magically, and the perfect person to play government spy and help free rebels before they’re moved to a new prison. (Read my review here.)

The City of Brass, by S.A. Chakraborty – Nahri is a thief and hustler in Cairo–until the day an ifrit chases her and a djinn comes to her defense. As It turns out, the djinni city of Daevabad has enough intrigue going on to keep even Kaz Brekker on his toes. (My review here.)

The City of Brass cover

The Assassin Bride (currently on Kindle Vella), by Anastasis Blythe – An assassin is plucked from her foxhole and dropped into a deadly competition to be Queen–one she can’t escape without surviving each of the dangerous and clever challenges.

A Dark and Hollow Star, by Ashley Shuttleworth – This contemporary fantasy set mostly in a fae-filled Toronto has all the wit of Six of Crows, plus a crime to solve and a heist-like mission to find the culprit. A Dark and Hollow Star is also full of LGBTQ+ rep, fun nerd culture references and an unforgettable fallen Fury.

10 Books to read after Six of Crows