16 Six Of Crows Quotes
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Leigh Bardugo is a master of the written word. Any fans of the Grishaverse will know how completely immersive and atmospheric her writing is, with characters that leap off the page and live in our hearts.
This blog post will explore Six of Crows, and some of the very best quotes that will catapult you right back into the action.
What Is Six Of Crows About?
Synopsis:
“Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker 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.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction - if they don't kill each other first.”
Six Of Crows Quotes
Here are 16 of the very best quotes that will make you want to pick up the books and dive back into the Grishaverse.
‘No mourners. No funerals. Among them, it passed for good luck.’
This is the iconic quote that the crew members utter to each other before setting off on a dangerous mission. It’s definitely the section that first comes to mind when I think of Six of Crows.
‘When everyone knows you’re a monster, you needn’t waste time doing every monstrous thing.’
I mean, good point! Especially when you’re Kaz Brekker and your reputation preceds you.
‘She wouldn't wish love on anyone. It was the guest you welcomed and then couldn't be rid of.’
Ah, Nina. This quote really reinforces how cut throat her job is, and how difficult it is for her to let her guard down.
‘Greed may do your bidding, but death serves no man.’
A reminder of the inevitability of death, which the Six of Crows characters face every day.
‘Better terrible truths than kind lies.’
In such a dangerous world, it’s kinder for the characters to know the truth, rather than hide behind wishful stories.
‘The heart is an arrow. It demands aim.’
This metaphor reflects how Inej sees two of the things that are closest to her; her arrows, which are named after the saints she worships, and her heart.
‘It's not natural for women to fight.’
‘It's not natural for someone to be as stupid as he is tall, and yet there you stand.’
Too right! This exchange between Matthias and Nina shows how different the two characters are when they first meet.
‘We are all someone's monster.’
It’s impossible to thrive in Ketterdam without doing terrible things and making enemies along the way.
‘Facts are for the unimaginative.’
Which is true when you’re trying to pull off a heist so elaborate, that the facts need to be treated as changable.
You wouldn't know a good time if it sidled up to you and stuck a lollipop in your mouth.’
This tongue in cheek quote is representative of the dialogue within the book, which is full of cleverly written witty banter.
‘Shame holds more value than coin ever can.’
Another quote that provides an insight into Kaz’s psyche, this sentence reflects how the right information can be invaluable to this gang leader.
‘What doesn't kill me better run.’
A fitting quote from Kaz Brekker, who is known for his ruthless nature.
‘None of us move on without a backward look. We move on always carrying with us those we have lost.’
One of the book’s more noble quotes, this extract is a reminder of the crew’s loyalty and fondness toward one another, while staying focused on their ultimate goal.
‘A secret’s not like coin. It doesn’t keep its value in spending.’
This clever phrase is very true, and highlights how important secrets are in the murky city of Ketterdam.
‘A good magician wasn't much different from a proper thief.’
Which shows how a seemingly innocent skill can be crafted into a valuable tool.
I’ll leave you with one last quote that could only be uttered by Kaz Brekker himself:
‘I'm the kind of bastard they only Manufacturer in the barrel.’
This refers to not only the place where Brekker lives, but also the place that shaped him. Only somewhere this dark and monsterous could grow a man like Kaz Brekker.
Six Of Crows Characters
Kaz Brekker
The iconic leader of the Dregs, Kaz is known for being utterly ruthless. He walks using a cane that’s adorned with a crow’s head, and doubles up as a handy weapon. Woe betide anyone who underestimates Kaz Brekker!
Jesper Fahey
Zemeni sharpshooter and gambler, Jesper has great aim and is not afraid of taking risks. After originally arriving in Ketterdam from Novyi Zem to study at the university, Jesper quickly gets swallowed up by the gambling dens and joins Kaz’s gang.
Inej Ghafa
Also known as ‘the wraith’, Inez is another member of the gang and is close to Kaz. Originally trained as a Suli acrobat, she now works as a particularly lethal spy after being stolen from her family and trafficked to Ketterdam.
Nina Zenik
My personal favourite character, Nina is a Grisha, which means that she has magical powers that mark her as both desired and hunted. Nina in particular is a Heartrender, which means that she can manipulate another person’s heart and organs.
Matthias Helvar
A former Fjerdan soldier known as a Drüskelle, Matthias is trained to hunt Grisha which makes him an unlikely alley to Kaz’s crew.
Wylan Van Eck
An expert in demolition and explosives, Wylan gets tangled up in Kaz’s crew after being used as leverage against his wealthy father.
Six Of Crows Series In Order
There are two books in the main Six of Crows series. Once you’ve read these, I recommend following on with the rest of the books that are in the same universe.
Six Of Crows
The first book in the duology, Six of Crows follows Kaz Brekker and his crew as they group together and plan an elaborate heist.
Crooked Kingdom
The second and final book, Crooked Kingdom picks up where Six of Crows left off, with a fast paced and emotional finale.
Books Like Six Of Crows
If you’ve read and loved the Six of Crows duology and you’re looking for more, then I highly recommend reading the rest of the books in the Grishaverse universe!
Shadow and Bone (Book One)
Synopsis:
“Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Orphaned and expendable, Alina Starkov is a soldier who knows she may not survive her first trek across the Shadow Fold - a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters. But when her regiment is attacked, Alina unleashes dormant magic not even she knew she possessed.
Now Alina will enter a lavish world of royalty and intrigue as she trains with the Grisha, her country's magical military elite - and falls under the spell of their notorious leader, the Darkling. He believes Alina can summon a force capable of destroying the Shadow Fold and reuniting their war-ravaged country, but only if she can master her untamed gift.
As the threat to the kingdom mounts and Alina unlocks the secrets of her past, she will make a dangerous discovery that could threaten all she loves and the very future of a nation.
Welcome to Ravka… a world of science and superstition where nothing is what it seems.”
Siege and Storm (Book Two)
Synopsis:
“Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Alina Starkov's power has grown, but not without a price. Sheis the Sun Summoner - hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Shadow Fold. But she and Mal can't outrun their enemies for long.
The Darkling is more determined than ever to claim Alina's magic and use it to take the Ravkan throne. With nowhere else to turn, Alina enlists the help of an infamous privateer and sets out to lead the Grisha army.
But as the truth of Alina's destiny unfolds, she slips deeper into the Darkling's deadly game of forbidden magic, and further away from her humanity. To save her country, Alina will have to choose between her power and the love she thought would always be her shelter. No victory can come without sacrifice - and only she can face the oncoming storm.”
Ruin and Rising (Book Three)
Synopsis:
“Soldier. Summoner. Saint. The nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.
The Darkling rules from his shadow throne while a weakened Alina Starkov recovers from their battle under the dubious protection of the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Now her hopes lie with the magic of a long-vanished ancient creature and the chance that an outlaw prince still survives.
As her allies and enemies race toward war, only Alina stands between her country and a rising tide of darkness that could destroy the world. To win this fight, she must seize a legend's power - but claiming the firebird may be her ruin.”
King of Scars (Book One)
Synopsis:
“Face your demons… or feed them.
Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country's bloody civil war - and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka's coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.
Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren't meant to stay buried--and some wounds aren't meant to heal.”
Rule of Wolves (Book Two)
Synopsis:
“The Demon King. As Fjerda's massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm - and even the monster within - to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young king's gift for the impossible.
The Stormwitch. Zoya Nazyalensky has lost too much to war. She saw her mentor die and her worst enemy resurrected, and she refuses to bury another friend. Now duty demands she embrace her powers to become the weapon her country needs. No matter the cost.
The Queen of Mourning. Deep undercover, Nina Zenik risks discovery and death as she wages war on Fjerda from inside its capital. But her desire for revenge may cost her country its chance at freedom and Nina the chance to heal her grieving heart.
King. General. Spy. Together they must find a way to forge a future in the darkness. Or watch a nation fall.”