Mini Reviewing (nearly) All of Leigh Bardugo’s Work

Leigh Bardugo wrote my favorite book series on the face of this earth: The Six of Crows duology. It follows six teenagers with differing connections to a notorious gang in a crime-infested city. They are hired to pull off an impossible heist in an impenetrable prison. The story also touches upon PTSD, human trafficking, blind patriotism, and addiction. On top of phenomenal writing, it carries a strong message about inner strength and the pursuit of justice.

Naturally, I couldn’t stop at just this series, and I proceeded to read nearly everything that Leigh Bardugo has written. Here’s how they fared:

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The Grisha Trilogy

This was Bardugo’s debut series and the first place that the world Six of Crows was placed in appeared. It has all the qualities of a debut: the author is not yet comfortable pushing the expanses of her imagination and instead focuses on creating an appealing story that will easily get her name in the market. In no way is this a bad series, merely mediocre.

What truly shines in this story is the phenomenal worldbuilding. Not only are there different continents, magic systems, and intranational tensions, there’s also international tensions! Sure, this seems like something one should obviously add into a book, but it’s surprising how many series stay focused on their region and ignore everything else.

The characters also keep the story alive. They (usually) feel real and dynamic. Similarities between the antagonist and protagonist exist to make the reader question the justifications of the protagonist’s choices.

Where the series fails is it falls into a deadly amount of outdated and overused tropes (some probably because the first book was published in 2012). The main character is, of course, the only person who can resolve the main conflict in the series, the romance is triangular and dry, and ultimately it was a wonderful idea with a beginner (but talented) execution.

King of Scars (King of Scars #1)

I read the entire Grisha Trilogy in preparation to read this 514 page book. And boy, was I disappointed. However, I have to admit that it may be Bardugo’s best writing yet. Just not her best storytelling. 

All of the issues that this book suffers from is because Bardugo simply got too good at writing. Where the Grisha Trilogy lacked depth and a willingness to go over the edge, King of Scars dives deep into the abyss. It’s filled with powerful phrases, beautiful descriptions, lovable characters, and fascinating conflicts.

Unfortunately, this made it harder for the story to pick up the pace. One of the points of view was entirely separate from the main storyline and I find it nearly impossible to believe they will intersect at all. It was merely fanservice to Six of Crows fans (like me) to increase the book’s publicity. The story dragged on, pacing so slow and agonizing over the littlest things. Too much time was wasted on backstory in the first half and worldbuilding; only so much lovable character banter can make up for literally nothing happening.

Wonder Woman: Warbringer

I love this book. It’s not groundbreaking, but it is still fantastic. Leigh Bardugo writes wonderful, strong female characters. This book is a perfect example of the power of female strength and friendship. I’m a casual fan of Wonder Woman and she is my second favorite hero of all time. This book does her justice. It’s filled with witty banter, adventure, and a diverse cast of characters. 

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The Six of Crows Duology

I believe that this series is as close humanity ever has and ever will get to achieving perfection. I’ve written praise about this series multiple times and each time I fail to completely describe why I love it so much. 

What first hooked me was the setting. A big city run by gangs and corrupt politicians. In the midst, of course, are teenagers concocting plans for revenge, justice, and power. The series travels from places like the seedy streets of Ketterdam to icy deserts. 

Six of Crows proves, once and for all, why heist books are superior to essentially every other fictional book. It’s like an action and adventure story mixed with a mystery novel to create the ultimate combination of tension, action, suspense, and a tinge of romance. 

The characters are the best part of this series. Each other is fully established, dynamic, and unique. More importantly, they all have strong, realistic relationships with each other.

Leigh Bardugo masterfully brings the reader into the minds and hearts of her characters. You care deeply about what happens to them and it makes the story all the more engrossing. 

Bardugo’s writing is like a beautiful blade. It seamlessly cuts through anything that stands in its way while being pretty to look at. So many quotes struck me through the heart, yet I couldn’t stop reading. Take this one, for example:

“What about the nobodies and the nothings, the invisible girls? We learn to hold our heads as if we wear crowns. We learn to wring magic from the ordinary.” On its own, it’s incredibly powerful, but within the story it hits even harder.

If I could bring only one book onto an island for the rest of my life, it’d be one of these two. I’d recommend checking them out.

If you want to read my full thoughts on the books individually, click on the links below!

Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1)
Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2)
Shadow and Bone (Grisha Trilogy #1)
Siege and Storm (Grisha Trilogy (#2)
Ruin and Rising (Grisha Trilogy #3)
King of Scars (King of Scars #1)