Crossing Over: Fantasy Heist Stories

Hey all. It's been awhile Crossing Over post. If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature that stemmed from my desire to recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA or sometimes Middle Grade book that are similar. I hate that we pigeonhole books into a specific age range and so I try to combat that. Plus it's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. It runs once a month (usually) here and I pick the books based on the theme of what I'm reading. So this month my focus is fantasy and honestly this should be the easiest one to come up with but somehow it isn't. Maybe it's too general. But then the perfect idea hit me, heist stories. I love a good fantasy heist. It's the perfect combination between fantasy and mystery. So here you go...

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Read My Review / Add to Goodreads

I really enjoyed this series. It's super fantastic and fill of action and magic and adventure and mystery. It really has everything. And the sequel is even better. I am still not over that ending! This is a book that combines a bunch of different elements that you wouldn't think would work well together and they do. For one thing, it's got an amazing world that is full of magic and adventure. I fell in love with this world in the Grisha trilogy and loved exploring it even more in this book. Plus it's a book that is super dark, which I enjoyed.

The best thing about this book however is the characters. It is a book full of interesting and likable characters. It alternates perspectives between a handful of characters and they are all fantastic and dark and terrible people. I mean it is a book about thieves and the criminal underground so you know they are terrible people. But you still totally root for them especially when they go through terrible things. And they really go through some terrible things. It doesn't seem possible that they will get out of the dangerous scrapes they get into but somehow they do and somehow they want them to.

And it's a heist novel so there is that fantastic aspect. My favorite heists are ones where all the clues or elements of the heist aren't revealed until the very end. I love when you think they are going to fail and then suddenly something falls into place that makes it all possible. This is that kind of book. It really is a great series that combines adventure, mystery, and fantasy really well.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Read My Review / Add to Goodreads

This book and series came very highly recommended. So many of you fellow bloggers who love the same books as me, love this series. I  enjoyed the first book but haven't continued reading the series for no particular reason that I didn't have holes in my TBR. It's super fantastic and full of action and magic and adventure and mystery. It really has everything! This is a book that combines a bunch of different elements that you wouldn't think would work well together and they do. For one thing, it's got an amazing world that is full of magic and adventure. But it's a subtle kind of magic which is cool. Plus it's a book that is super dark, which I enjoyed.

The best thing about this book however is the characters. It is a book full of complex and likable characters. It alternates perspectives between a handful of characters and they are all fantastic and dark and terrible people. I mean it is a book about thieves and the criminal underground so you know they are terrible people. But you still totally root for them especially when they go through terrible things. And they really go through some terrible things. It doesn't seem possible that they will get out of the dangerous scrapes they get into but somehow they do and somehow they want them to.

And it's a heist novel so there is that fantastic aspect. My favorite heists are ones where all the clues or elements of the heist aren't revealed until the very end. I love when you think they are going to fail and then suddenly something falls into place that makes it all possible. This is that kind of book. It really is a great series that combines adventure, mystery, and fantasy really well.

These are both good examples of books I think can combine genres really well. It combines fantasy and mystery in a way that is thrilling and interesting. It really seems like an obvious choice though too because of the really dark with complex characters that you root for despite them being theives and rogues, not to mention that they're both heist novels so there is that. I think the main difference though is that with the Gentleman Bastards/Lies of Locke Lamora series is more of a long game. I'm not entirely sure what to say about it though because I've only read the first book.

Have you read Six of Crows and/or The Lies of Locke Lamora? What did you think? What steampunk novels with crossover appeal do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

*** This is the second book in a series. If you have not read Six of Crows beware of spoilers and proceed with caution. Also... READ SIX OF CROWS! It's amazing. Here's my review! ***

Title: Crooked Kingdom Series: The Dregs #2 Written by: Leigh Bardugo Published: September 27, 2016 by Henry Holt Co (Macmillan) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: When you can’t beat the odds, change the game.  Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

After having such a not great reading month is September I think I am officially out of my reading slump. Because guys, this book was so fantastic! So so fantastic! I loved Six of Crows and so I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next in this series. Excited and nervous. And no surprise here, but this was just as amazing and enthralling.

The best thing about this series is probably the characters. This is a book full of a diverse and quirky cast of characters and everyone of them is complex and likable. But everyone of them is also incredibly dubious. These are dark and devious thieves and murderers and yet you love them so much. They walk that fine line between good and evil, which makes them my favorite kind of characters. We get perspectives from all six main characters here and it definitely makes for an interesting narrative and helps you connect with each of the characters making. Them even more sympathetic. I wanted to see them all succeed and come out on top. I wanted to see them all celebrating at the end with waffles.

But this is not the kind of book, née series, where things go perfectly. This is the kind of book where things go horribly wrong and you have to compensate for that with the next plot and scheme that means you'll win in the end. But that kind of plot is so compelling and I loved that about Crooked Kingdom. This is a book so well plotted and that things slowly start unfolding to reveal things that you didn't expect. With this book I didn't even bother to figure out how it was all going to end because I knew I would never be able to predict it. And I love predicting how things. But the charm of this book is that it is unpredictable.

The other amazing thing about this book is the world. I am a big fan of the Grisha magic system and I will always enjoy seeing it at work. There are also still some surprises when it comes to Grisha powers which was an amazing addition to the magical system. In addition to the magic, this world has a great setting. Instead of taking to a new part of the world, this book narrowed it's focus to Ketterdam. Which honestly was a great call. We get to see more of the dark and gritty underworld of the city which made for the perfect setting for this dark fantasy heist novel. I'm such a fan of this universe's world and Leigh does a great job building and explaining it with every passing book.

On the whole Crooked Kingdom was everything I was hoping it would be.I have been nervously anticipating this book for a year now and I am happy to report that it was just as amazing as the first book. This is an amazing series with complex characters, a great heist plot, and a dark fantasy world and Crooked Kingdom was a great ending to that series. But honestly I still want more!

I give Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! f you loved Six of Crows then you will love this book, it is a great ending to an amazing series. YA fantasy fans should definitely check this series out. But even if you don't read a lot of fantasy and you like well-plotted and interesting mysteries especially heist novels, check this out.

Have you read Crooked Kingdom? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts? Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Six of Crows Series: The Dregs #1 Author: Leigh Bardugo Published: September 29, 2015 by Henry Holt (Macmillian) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: 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.  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.

**** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher at BEA in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ****

I absolutely loved the Grisha trilogy. I found it a fantastic YA fantasy with a great world, dubious characters, and a plot full of mystery. So when I heard she was writing a new series, set in the same universe but with new characters and a heist-style plot I was absolutely on board. It was one of my must have books to get at BEA and I couldn't have been more ecstatic to get a copy. And once again I fell in love with the world, the characters, and the plot. But Six of Crows is a very different story from the Grisha trilogy. It's somehow darker and more dramatic which was pretty fantastic.

One of the things that makes Six of Crows darker and more dramatic is the world. I thought Ravka was a scary and dark place but Ketterdam makes it look downright demure. I mean, not really but it's still darker. Ketterdam is center of trade but it's also a center for underworld. It feels almost Dickensian with it's pickpockets and brothels, along with it's sharply dressed dandies in suits and women in elaborate gowns. Leigh's descriptions of dark alleys and dingy streets set the tone and atmosphere for the book while providing a compelling and elaborate setting. But it's more than that. In The Grisha trilogy we got to know all about Grisha powers. In Six of Crows there isn't much use of Grisha powers despite the fact that they are very much still a part of the world and the plot. But they are treated very differently in this book. They're not viewed as heroes and soldiers in this part of the world and as a reader who has grown to see them that way, it makes things seems darker and more treacherous even. The darker setting and their view on Grisha also added a lot on conflict to the book.

The characters of Six of Crows are also much darker and more dramatic. Because Ketterdam is a place with a thriving underworld, our characters are dubious underworld types. The book is told from five different perspectives and each one of them is a thief and/or a rogue. I personally love those kinds of characters. I love unlikable characters that do devious and morally grey things. No one is more devious than Kaz Brekker who is the leader leader of the gang. Kaz is pretty hard to love but his intellect, resourcefulness, and loyalty to his crew makes him a compelling and complex character and someone I love to read about. But each character was just as complex, compelling, and just as memorable. My personal favorite was probably Inej who is Kaz's spy, right hand woman, and arguably his moral compass. She has tons of vulnerability and badass fighting skills. I also really enjoyed Jesper who is great comic relief and a reckless gambler, as well as Nina a Grisha heartrender who doesn't think twice about using her powers and still has a heart of gold. But all the characters are also full of secrets. Throughout the book we get a little bit of their backstories which informs us how they got to be the way they are and where they are. Plus there are some truly magnificent ships (this from someone who just did a post about how they are romancephobic).

But the characters are not the only thing that is full of secrets, so is the plot. I don't want to give too much away because while this isn't really a mystery, the real story of the book comes to you in pieces as it develops. The general plot here is a heist type of story. The characters are trying to break into a place that is impossible to break into. But this reckless crew is perfect for the job and yet things still don't go well. I mean of course it's going to be a challenge. What fun would it be if things didn't go a little wrong? There are so many twists, twists that may or not have all been part of the plan to begin with but had me on the edge of my seat wondering just how the characters were going to get out of one scrap after another. The schemes are elaborate and interesting and it gave the book a real high stakes adventure feel which I totally loved.

But because it is about scheming and plotting a crime the plot here was a little bit slow. We had to meet and get attached to the characters so when they were put in trouble we would be invested in their success and when they were thrown twists from within the group and without we would be shocked and concerned. That kind of took awhile and for someone like me who is more of a plot driven reader I was waiting to get to the more action-packed moments. There were a few moments of action towards the beginning of the book but it did take a little bit for things to really get interesting. Despite the fact that the pacing was a little slower than I usually like, it was incredibly entertaining and I stayed up much later than I expected reading it and I really had to force myself to go to sleep a few nights because I was furiously turning pages and needing to know what happens next.

On the whole Six of Crows was a dark and dramatic read with an interesting setting and world, complex and devious characters, and a plot full of mystery and action. And even though the pacing was a little slower than I usually like I was hooked from the very beginning and when it was all over I was in desperate need of the next book in the series.

I give Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo 9.5 out of 10

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. Leigh Bardugo has done it again. She has taken a world that I already was a fan of and relocated us to a place that is just as much if not more interesting, with dark and complex characters who you can't help but love, and given us a plot that will keep you reading through all 460 amazing pages. Another fantastic series that fans of the Grisha trilogy will love and even if you haven't read that series and you enjoy fantasy heist books or books about thieves, check this one out.

Have you read Six of Crows? What did you think? Leave a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday: Top Five Books I Will Be Waiting In Line For at BEA

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

1.) Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
(Amazon / Goodreads)
Published: January 5, 2016 by Tor Teen

Synopsis: On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery”, a magical skill that sets them apart from others. In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

Why I'm Waiting: Epic Fantasy, elemental magic, strong female protagonists, and a roguish prince all written by Susan Dennard

2.) Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
(Amazon / Goodreads)
Published: October 6, 2015 by Macmillan

Synopsis: Game of Thrones meets Ocean's Eleven in this brand-new book in the world of the Grisha by New York Times-bestselling author Leigh Bardugo.

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.

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

Why I'm Waiting: More from Leigh Bardugo set in the Grishaverse. Plus I seriously love heist stories. OHMYGOD I need this book!

3.) Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

(Amazon / Goodreads)
Published: January 5, 2016 by Disney Hyperion

Synopsis: Violin prodigy Etta Spencer had big plans for her future, but a tragedy has put her once-bright career at risk. Closely tied to her musical skill, however, is a mysterious power she doesn't even know she has. When her two talents collide during a stressful performance, Etta is drawn back hundreds of years through time.

Etta wakes, confused and terrified, in 1776, in the midst a fierce sea battle. Nicholas Carter, the handsome young prize master of a privateering ship, has been hired to retrieve Etta and deliver her unharmed to the Ironwoods, a powerful family in the Colonies--the very same one that orchestrated her jump back, and one Nicholas himself has ties to. But discovering she can time travel is nothing compared to the shock of discovering the true reason the Ironwoods have ensnared her in their web. 

Another traveler has stolen an object of untold value from them, and, if Etta can find it, they will return her to her own time. Out of options, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the mysterious traveler. But as they draw closer to each other and the end of their search, the true nature of the object, and the dangerous game the Ironwoods are playing, comes to light -- threatening to separate her not only from Nicholas, but her path home... forever.

Why I'm Waiting: More from Alexandra Bracken! Plus you guys it's an epic adventure through time! Plus look at that cover and the synopsis and *dies*

4.) After Alice by Gregory Maguire
(Amazon / Goodreads)
Published: October 27, 2015 by William Morrow

Synopsis: From the multi-million-copy bestselling author of Wicked comes a magical new twist on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Lewis’s Carroll’s beloved classic

When Alice toppled down the rabbit-hole 150 years ago, she found a Wonderland as rife with inconsistent rules and abrasive egos as the world she left behind. But what of that world? How did 1860s Oxford react to Alice’s disappearance?

In this brilliant new work of fiction, Gregory Maguire turns his dazzling imagination to the question of underworlds, undergrounds, underpinnings—and understandings old and new, offering an inventive spin on Carroll’s enduring tale. Ada, a friend of Alice’s mentioned briefly in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, is off to visit her friend, but arrives a moment too late—and tumbles down the rabbit hole herself.

Ada brings to Wonderland her own imperfect apprehension of cause and effect as she embarks on an odyssey to find Alice and see her safely home from this surreal world below the world. If Euridyce can ever be returned to the arms of Orpheus, or Lazarus can be raised from the tomb, perhaps Alice can be returned to life. Either way, everything that happens next is “After Alice.”

Why I'm Waiting: More from Gregory Maguire. He has written some of my absolute favorite fairy tale retellings. I love the ones with more high concept fantasy stuff so I'm excited to see his take on Wonderland.

5.) Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
(Amazon / Goodreads)
Published: September 22, 2015 by Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins)

Synopsis: The first book in a new trilogy from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Rae Carson. A young woman with the magical ability to sense the presence of gold must flee her home, taking her on a sweeping and dangerous journey across Gold Rush–era America.

Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her. Left with nothing, Lee disguises herself as a boy and takes to the trail across the country. Gold was discovered in California, and where else could such a magical girl find herself, find safety? Rae Carson, author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, dazzles with this new fantasy that subverts both our own history and familiar fantasy tropes.

Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first book in this new trilogy, introduces—as only Rae Carson can—a strong heroine, a perilous road, a fantastical twist, and a slow-burning romance. Includes a map and author’s note on historical research

Why I'm Waiting: I haven't read any Rae Carson before (shhh, I know) but I've heard amazing things and a historical fantasy set in the gold rush with a girl who can sense gold. I want to go to there.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday? Are you at BEA with me? Will I see you in any of these line? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!