Review: Six of Crows

Source: Purchased
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Series: Six of Crows #1
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy,
Pages: 465 (Hardback)
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Description (From Goodreads):

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...
 A convict with a thirst for revenge A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager A runaway with a privileged past A spy known as the Wraith A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes  Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

My Rating:
Ahhh this delightful read follows five con artists that are set to take on the biggest cons of their lives.  They all have their own debts, baggage, and causes motivating them to take on such an impossible feat.  Led by Kaz, the mastermind and leader, the reader follows along the twists, turns, and slight of hands that Ms. Burdugo throws.  She expertly crafts a world that draws the reader in from the first page to the last.  Things are never as they seem and the characters are perfectly imperfect but they grab you heart and make you root for their success.
I loved loved this book.  I loved the world, the characters, and the surprises.  Kaz, and thus Ms. Bardugo, always seemed one step of the reader, yet she made sure to drop many hints and clues along the way.  I felt I could visualize Ketterdam perfectly.  I especially love the complexity of the characters.  I find the best books/movies manage to make the most imperfect (or not so good) characters so easy to connect with.  I was certainly rooting for the bad guys.  This was almost an Awesome rating but it isn't quite there.  I found myself a tad confused in this world and wondering a about many events that had occurred.  Much was alluded.  my discomfort with this, is likely my fault and not the fault of the read since I didn't read the Greisha series.  That might have given me a background that was very much needed.  Overall, I loved the world building and I wanted to teach those 5 little con artists home with me.   Unfortunately, I had to settle for putting the book on my bookshelf.
I read this book as part of the 2017 Goodreads Best of list of books that I challenged myself to read.
This series is a duology.  The first that I've noticed.  I was disappointed that these characters that I bonded with would be taken from me so quickly.  It may be life, but I don't have to like it.