89 pages • 2-hour read
Six of Crows
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Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. What did you think of the novel’s cliffhanger ending? Did you expect Van Eck to betray Kaz, or did this plot twist surprise you?
2. The Six of Crows duology is the second series set within Bardugo’s Grishaverse. How does Six of Crows expand the fantasy world established in Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising while incorporating elements introduced in the trilogy?
3. Are you familiar with any of Bardugo’s more recent writings, such as the historical fantasy The Familiar (2024) or the contemporary occult fantasy Ninth House (2019)? If so, how does Six of Crows differ from these novels, and what common themes and techniques can you trace across her body of work?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. Each of the six main characters has a distinct personality and approach to life. Which of them do you find yourself relating to the most, and why?
2. Kaz’s crew is composed of outcasts who left their childhood homes by choice or force, and they become a found family. Have you ever felt like an outsider? If so, how did you cultivate a new source of belonging? Did anyone help you in this endeavor?
3. For much of the novel, Kax’s driving motivation is his thirst for vengeance against Pekka Rollins. Do you think that the pursuit of vengeance is ever justified, or is it always self-destructive? Consider sharing an example to support your reasoning.
4. The hatred between Nina’s and Matthias’s cultures poses a serious obstacle to their relationship. Has a stereotype ever prevented someone from seeing you for who you are? Have your own biases ever interfered with your judgment of someone else? What did you learn from either of these experiences?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.
1. In the ruthless city of Ketterdam, money is valued over human life. How might this story offer a challenge to society’s obsession with wealth and prioritization of profit over people?
2. Despite Fjerdans’s prejudice toward Grisha, Matthias grows close to Nina. What can this novel teach us about the power of human connection and its ability to both change hearts and dispel discrimination?
3. Near the end of the novel, Jesper reveals that he is secretly a Grisha. How might his character arc resonate with those who feel pressured to hide part of their identities, such as their gender identity or sexual orientation?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.
1. How does Kaz’s relationship with Injej evolve over time? How does their connection develop the themes of revenge and redemption?
2. Why do Matthias and Nina initially view one another as monsters? How do they come to understand one another’s humanity, and how does this change impact the novel’s overall meaning?
3. Choose two members of Kaz’s crew and compare and contrast their searches for home. Why do they leave their original homes, and to what extent do they succeed in finding a new home for themselves by the end of the novel?
4. How does Bardugo use magic tricks and sleight of hand to develop Kaz’s characterization and increase the novel’s suspense?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.
1. Choose one of the six main characters and create a playlist that captures their emotions and experiences over the course of the story. Which song most clearly conveys the peak of their character arc, and why?
2. Imagine that you can enter Bardugo’s fantasy world. Would you choose to be a Grisha? Why or why not? If so, which Grisha power would you prefer to have, and how would you like to use it?
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