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Description
Anarchy Labs | AL Senshi Stim-Free | 20 Servings10g Citrulline. CellFlo6 Pumps. Fully Transparent, Stim Free Performance. Anarchy Labs Senshi is a simple stim free pre workout that focuses on one thing: crank up blood flow, keep you hydrated, and make your workouts feel better without caffeine, weird stimulants, or a bunch of random ingredients. It's not trying to do everything. It's all about pumps and performance, led by a huge dose of L Citrulline, backed by a patented green tea extract, some
10g Citrulline. CellFlo6® Pumps. Fully Transparent, Stim-Free Performance.
Anarchy Labs Senshi is a simple stim-free pre-workout that focuses on one thing: crank up blood flow, keep you hydrated, and make your workouts feel better without caffeine, weird stimulants, or a bunch of random ingredients. It's not trying to do everything. It's all about pumps and performance, led by a huge dose of L-Citrulline, backed by a patented green tea extract, some electrolytes, and an absorption booster. You get a clean product for when you want vasodilation and that good workout vibe without the stims.
The star here is L-Citrulline at 10,000mg per full scoop. That's not just solid; it's more than what you see in a lot of studies on exercise performance, where 3-8g is common. Citrulline gets turned into arginine in your kidneys better than taking arginine straight, which helps make nitric oxide for wider blood vessels. In the gym, that means more blood to your muscles, better nutrient delivery, killer pumps, and a steadier feel across sets. Studies back it for lowering blood pressure and helping with endurance too, which is why it's a go-to in serious pump products.
CellFlo6® Green Tea Leaf Extract at 600mg makes Senshi stand out from basic citrulline-and-salt options. It's used in pump formulas to boost nitric oxide signals and improve how your blood vessels respond. Green tea polyphenols help with endothelial function – that's the lining of your blood vessels – and support blood flow, working alongside citrulline's nitric oxide boost. In real terms, you feel a fuller, longer-lasting pump with more 'roundness' to it.
AL Senshi Stim-Free by Anarchy Labs contains 10000mg L-Citrulline, a clinical dose for muscle recovery and growth.
Key Highlights
- 10,000mg L-Citrulline per full serving is what makes this formula killer. Most stim-free pump products stick to 4-8g, but Senshi cranks it up, giving you a real dose for nitric oxide support, better blood flow to muscles, and pumps that you actually feel.
- L-Citrulline is one of the best-backed pump ingredients out there. It boosts arginine levels better than arginine itself, and arginine is what your body uses to make nitric oxide for relaxing blood vessels and improving flow.
- 600mg CellFlo6® adds a patented ingredient for real pump support instead of cheap fillers. This green tea leaf extract helps with endothelial function and nitric oxide signals, making the pump feel fuller and stick around longer.
- 500mg Himalayan Pink Salt is a smart add for actual performance. Sodium helps with fluid balance, blood volume, and keeping muscles hydrated, turning that nitric oxide boost into real fullness and better muscle squeezes.
- 50mg AstraGin® throws in absorption help. Data from the makers shows it can up the absorption of citrulline, which fits perfect in a formula that's all about that big citrulline hit.
- This is a real stim-free pre-workout, not some low-stim fake-out. No caffeine in the actives, so it's great for late workouts, folks sensitive to stims, or anyone stacking pumps separate from energy.
- The formula is 100% transparent with no prop blends. Every ingredient and dose is listed, so you can check it against research and know exactly what you're getting.
- The half-scoop and full-scoop option gives you flexibility. Half scoop gets you 5g citrulline for easy days or stacking, full scoop hits with the full 10g for big training sessions.
AL Senshi Stim-Free by Anarchy Labs contains 10000mg L-Citrulline, a clinical dose for muscle recovery and growth.
Who Is This For?
- Bodybuilders and folks chasing physique who want that mind-muscle link and visible pumps in medium-to-high volume workouts. The 10g L-Citrulline is legit strong, and CellFlo6® adds a smart vascular twist beyond basic citrulline.
- Night owls training late who need better sessions without killing sleep. Stim-free means Senshi boosts flow, hydration, and feel without caffeine hanging around.
- Lifters who grab coffee or separate stims and want to handle caffeine on their terms. Senshi lets you stack around a solid pump base without forced stim doses.
- Athletes in big hypertrophy blocks needing better muscle blood flow and quality through long hauls. Citrulline plus sodium helps when sets pile up and rest is short, keeping things from going flat.
- Stim-sensitive people who still crave a real pre-workout boost. It delivers through nitric oxide, vessels, and hydration instead of relying on caffeine hype.
- Folks fed up with prop blend pump products that hide citrulline amounts. Senshi lists everything, so you see the real 10,000mg payload.
How to Use
Mix 1/2 to 1 full scoop in 12-20 ounces of cold water and sip 20-30 minutes before you lift. Start with half if you're testing high-dose pump stuff, do short workouts, or stack with stims. Go full scoop for the whole 10,000mg citrulline and max pumps. Shaker bottle mixes it even, and more water makes it taste better while helping hydration. It shines when you're already drinking enough, since sodium and nitric oxide work best with good fluids. Empty stomach for faster kick-in, or with a small meal if your gut's picky; big meals might slow it. Stacks great with creatine, electrolytes, or your caffeine choice. No need to cycle without stims. Keep it sealed in a cool, dry spot for best mix and taste.
What to Expect
Minutes 0-10: no stim kick here, so it's chill – easy to drink, gets some hydration in, and sets a neutral vibe before training. Minutes 10-20: things start subtle, with fullness creeping in as you warm up and blood starts flowing better. Minutes 20-40: this is peak time, where the 10g citrulline and CellFlo6® deliver strong pumps, more veins, and squeezes that feel great. Minutes 40-90: it holds steady unlike stim crashes; fullness can last if you keep hydrated and training intense. Days 1-7: effects hit right away, but sticking with it helps tweak your water and timing. Weeks 2-4: sessions get more consistent, you trust the pump more, and it's easier to train late without messing up rest.
Key Ingredients
- L-Citrulline — 10000mg — Clinical-plus nitric oxide support for bigger, longer-lasting pumps
- CellFlo6® Green Tea Leaf Extract — 600mg — Patented vascular support that amplifies the pump experience
- Himalayan Pink Salt — 500mg — Hydration-backed muscle fullness and better contraction quality
- AstraGin® — 50mg — Absorption support designed to improve formula efficiency
AL Senshi Stim-Free by Anarchy Labs contains 10000mg L-Citrulline, a clinical dose for muscle recovery and growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much caffeine is in Anarchy Labs Senshi?
Based on the verified active formula, Senshi is a stim-free pre-workout and does not include caffeine as an active ingredient. That makes it a strong option for evening training, stimulant-sensitive users, or anyone who wants to add their own separate caffeine source.
Is 10,000mg of L-Citrulline a strong dose?
Yes. It is well above the typical underdosed pre-workout range and sits above the commonly studied 3-8g daily range seen in much of the citrulline research. This is one of the most impressive parts of the formula and the main reason Senshi should deliver a noticeable pump effect.
What does CellFlo6® do in this formula?
CellFlo6® is a branded green tea leaf extract used in pump-focused formulas to support nitric oxide signaling and vascular function. In practical terms, it helps complement citrulline so the pump feels more complete and sustained rather than relying on a single ingredient pathway.
What is the difference between a half scoop and a full scoop?
A half scoop is approximately 7g of powder and gives you half the active doses, including 5,000mg L-Citrulline. A full scoop is approximately 14g and delivers the full formula, including 10,000mg L-Citrulline, 600mg CellFlo6®, 500mg Himalayan Pink Salt, and 50mg AstraGin®.
Can I stack Senshi with coffee or a stimulant pre-workout?
Yes. Because Senshi is stim-free, it stacks cleanly with coffee, caffeine capsules, or other energy-focused products if you want to build your own pre-workout system. Just be mindful of total stimulant intake from whatever you add on top.
Is Senshi better for pumps or for energy?
Senshi is clearly built for pumps, blood flow, and workout feel rather than stimulant-driven energy. If you want caffeine, focus agents, and thermogenic effects in one scoop, this is not that product. If you want strong pumps without stimulants, this is exactly what it is designed to do.
Do I need to cycle Anarchy Labs Senshi?
No stimulant cycling is required because the formula does not rely on caffeine or similar central nervous system stimulants. Most users can take it consistently on training days, and some use it daily simply to keep their pre-workout routine and hydration habits consistent.
What should I stack with Senshi to make it a more complete performance formula?
A standalone creatine monohydrate is the most logical addition for strength and power support. If you also want energy, add a separate caffeine source, and if you sweat heavily or train long, an electrolyte product can further support hydration on top of the included 500mg Himalayan Pink Salt.
Is AstraGin® actually useful here?
In this formula, yes, because AstraGin® is not random garnish. Manufacturer data suggests it can improve the steady-state absorption rate of citrulline, which is highly relevant in a product built around a large 10g citrulline dose.
Are there proprietary blends in Senshi?
No. Senshi uses a fully disclosed label with each active ingredient and dose listed. That is a major advantage in a category where many pump pre-workouts still obscure their formulas behind proprietary blends.
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4.9 ★★★★★
Based on 2010 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 3
Adult Fiction disguised as YA
Format: Kindle
When you first read the blurb and or the initial chapters of Crows, you’d think this was an adult fantasy book. The book even reads like adult fantasy, until you discover it’s anything but.
I think the biggest plot twist to this is in the way the author matter-of-factly tells you the exact age of her characters and its always coupled after explaining that characters extraordinary background.
Somehow it’s possible to be a seasoned assassin, rogue or racketeer (or all three, in that order) at just 13-17 years old.
Somehow you can live the life of a jaded 50-year-old at the ripe ol’ age of 12.
Somehow all the adults are either too rich, too dense or too dead (or all three, in that order) to operate a lucrative underground business, but kids are exceptionably capable.
Somehow it’s possible to be a father-figure to people the same age as you.
I’m specifically talking about Kaz here. He’s like that hardnose uncle who grunts all the time and tells you only what he wants you to hear. I loled each time he scolded a member of his crew.
Initially (before I knew the ages of these people) I thought Kaz & Inej’s relationship was more a teacher/mentor relationship, but then it morphed into this awkward romance where Kaz has less personality than a rubber ducky and Inej a lukewarm glass of water. To be fair, Inej got better as the story progressed, becoming the only one I really liked.
To the author’s credit, she does make a point to explain Numbuh One—I mean, Kaz’s abnormal cynical mannerism. But then the other characters (who are younger btw) act similarly. What’s their excuse? It was jarring to get behind, but what aided me through was that I just pictured everyone looking like the main cast from Kids Next Door and it helped tremendously!
Matthidus and Nina are virtually the same character. Their chapters were a drag on the narrative due to the fact that these two NEVER STFU about what they did to one another. It’s the “woe, it’s me” amped up to a thousand.
Jesper and Wylan were cool… that’s all I have to say about them.
Never at one point did I have a liking to any of the characters (besides Inej), neither did I feel they were ever in any real danger. Kaz is a walking-talking dues ex machina. The characters find themselves in a bind and he already has the solution to their problems. He’s like Superman morphed with Batman while the other characters are just your bog standard Metropolis denizens who constantly need saving or guidance.
In a nutshell, he’s a Mary Sue.
I found the pacing bogged down to the point that it was hard to keep my eyes open while reading. Not because it’s badly written but because the author constantly reverts back to the characters’ backstory over and over again. There would be a needless flashback in the middle of a fight scene. Characters near death randomly float off to dream land while getting the crap beat out of them. It was jarring.
Closing remarks
All-in-All, Crows is a unique book. I can’t really talk about the plot without spoiling anything, but it’s innovative and engaging. I can say the book is worth your time if you can circumvent the kids playing grownup, then you should enjoy it.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2019
★★★★★ 5
No Mourners..
Format: Hardcover
‘No mourners…’
‘…no funerals.’
Among them, it passed for good luck. ”
This quote is a perfect description of the tone set throughout this entire novel. A hopelessness so ingrained in a group of people that their phrase for good luck is hinged around the idea of no one mourning or honoring their deaths.
Having read the Shadow and Bone trilogy, I was familiar with the Grisha universe prior to reading this novel. If you’re wondering which you should read first, I suggest reading the trilogy prior to the duology — it will get you a lot of historical context that lays the foundation for the problems, war and ultimate state of the world this book is set it. I will say, I enjoyed the Grisha trilogy but found myself frustrated with the direction the story ended up going. Leigh Bardugo is a phenomenal writer but it felt like the end of that trilogy took the easy way out — but that review is for a different day.
Six of crows shows Bardugo’s redemption in making the difficult but correct plot choices, in my opinion. This entire book is thrilling because the reader (presumably having read her previous Grisha trilogy) goes into the story assuming they will have some idea of where the story will go, having explored this world before. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Six of crows follows the dark and dangerous mob-lifestyles in the Barrel of Ketterdam, far away from the Golden Palace of Prince Nikolai and the worshiped Sankta Alina. Bardugo does not shy away from the dark and gruesome reality of the mob lifestyle, she embraces it. Readers are shown vivid descriptions of call-girls, gambling rings, mistakes punishable by death and ruthless leaders capable of lethality at any second. Despite such a horrific environment, Bardugo’s character development leaves the readers connecting, loving and rooting for characters with truly horrible qualities.
One thing I appreciated was the pacing of this story – you’re shown an enticing and mysterious scene right off the bat, completely immersing you into this story as you crave to find out more behind what happened. Immediately, you’re pulled away and shown the humble beginnings of Kas Brekker and the Dregs from the Crow Club, learning about their personalities, roles, and motives for the dangerous job that takes up most of the story. Readers learn details slowly — not so slow that they’re bored — but slow enough that they’re kept hooked to the plot, hoping the next page turn will provide the answer they need. Just when you might become a bit bored by the plot, a twist or exciting, unexpected wrench gets thrown into the mix bringing you back in.
As you go along in the story, you’re introduced to more details about each member of the Dregs, their pasts that led them to this journey they take together, and the secrets that shape their relationships. These details are done brilliantly, as readers are able to see these memories and experiences from each characters point of view. This brings a human quality to the characters and allows readers to empathize with their situations, thus creating a bond between reader and character that allows them to continue to love and support the Dregs despite the horrible things they do to each other and others throughout the journey. You’re rooting for them to get the endings they want and deserve and hoping they won’t choose to lie, cheat, kill and steal in order to get there, but ultimately accept that that is just who they are.
The only time this aspect of the characters was frustrating was at the end of the book. The relationship between Kaz and Inej is tantalizingly frustrating throughout the story, but the end of the book is where we really see Kaz’s nature and I found myself so frustrated that he couldn’t be better for her and that because of him, Inej gets placed in the worst case scenario. I’m hoping that he redeems himself in the second installment.
Overall — there’s no denying that Leigh Bardugo has talent and if you loved the first trilogy, I guarantee you’ll love this one even more. If you had mixed feelings on the first Grisha trilogy, I urge you to give this duology a try. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Stay tuned for the review around book two!
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Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2017
★★★★★ 4
Great read with an interesting plot
It took me quite some time to get to this book, mostly because I never managed to read the original Grisha trilogy, I tried several times to get started with it, but there was something about it that didn’t quite suck me in. Eventually though, I gave up that series and decided to dig into Six of Crows even though I had not read the Grisha trilogy in advance. And I am happy that I did because Six of Crows was an easy read that pulled me in rather quickly.
In Six of Crows we follow a group of six criminals from a gang called the Dregs, and when their leader, Kaz, gets a job that would change their lives forever, he can’t say no, despite the job being as impossible as it gets. So, in this book, we get to come along on the quest as they set out to break into one of the most secure prisoners in Fjerda.
There’s a lot of things that I really enjoy in this book, but also a few things that slightly annoyed me. But for the most part this is a great read and the way the author has managed to keep the reader invested in all three characters and their separate POVs is impressive, not once did I feel like any of the characters were unnecessary or flat. Every character is well developed with interesting backstory and there’s also a lot going on in their relationships and thanks to the separate POV’s you get a very intimate connection to each an ever characters emotions and reasons to what they do. It’s, like I said, beautifully crafted and the writing too is beautiful and vivid.
The wordbuiling is great and Bardugo manages to incorporate details of the world and the scenery in the story without it feeling heavy with information. It all flows very well, and as I read it was easy to picture the scenes.
The plot was interesting, full of twists and turns and seeing the team’s job take shape from the eyes of multiple POVs made for a very interesting read and also gave the heist that sense of mystery and surprise that we’re used to seeing on tv and in movies.
As for the things that I didn’t quite like it was not bad enough to really make a difference in the overall rating, but it was still things that stuck out to me. The first being that I felt like the heist sometimes got overshadowed by massive bits of backstory. The backstory itself didn’t bother me because they were interesting and great, and they made me understand and connect with the character a lot more, but I didn’t feel like they were necessary for the story in that elaborated manor they had been written in, less information had been enough and kept the pacing of the main plot more consistent. So, even though I enjoyed learning about the characters pasts and the reasons they ended up in the gang, I would have preferred more focus on the heist itself.
The second thing is the beginning. It was unnecessary and pointless. Why make us invested in Joost and Anya just to basically never mention them again? I get the point of showing what the drug could do, but there must have been a better way to do it.
The third thing is related to the Fjerdans and primarily their language. The Fjerdan’s are, according to what I’ve read from interviews with Leigh Bardugo, heavily influenced by Scandinavia, and more specifically Sweden and Norway. As a swede, I can totally see that, and I knew that it is a fictional language and that my own language has been used as inspiration. But I couldn’t help feel a bit thrown off when there was suddenly words that I knew from my own language being used when there was so many other words used that didn’t fit at all with the way we’d use those words. It’s hard to explain, and truly it doesn’t really matter since it’s fiction and not real, but it was something that stood out to me, like a hiccup that broke the flow of my reading. I think it would have bothered me less if the Fjerdans had actually spoken any of the Scandinavian languages, or at least had a more reasonable structure to their sentences and words that would have fit well with the use of actual words from our language. And in this same line are the names of the Fjerdan Drüskelle. There were typical Scandinavian names at a lot of the times, but then there were these names that stood out and didn’t fit in with the rest we’d been told. But, I’m not going to let any of this affect the rating since this is just a personal thing that most likely wouldn’t bothered anyone else, and if does not in any way affect the intensity and greatness of the story.
So, overall, this book will get a solid 4/5 stars from me, and I can’t wait to dig into the sequel. I can also highly recommend this book to basically everyone, it’s a great read and the way Leigh Bardugo handled all six POVs is reason enough for every author to pick up this book.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2019
★★★★★ 5
SIX OF CROWS: My favorite book of 2015
Format: Hardcover
REVIEW: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Published September 29th, 2015 by Henry Holt and Co. Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy Edition: Hardcover Source: Purchased Pages: 465 Rating: 5/5 stars
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.
From the moment I heard the description of this book, I was intrigued. A band of thieves attempting to pull off a huge heist? Sign me up! I was counting down the days till it released. I had such high expectations for this book. And believe me, they were met. I couldn’t put this book down. I loved every minute of it. Now, it is one of my favorite books of all time, and I’ve read a lot of books. I titled this “review”. In a review, you usually find criticism of the book. But since I loved this book, it’ll mostly be me gushing about all my thoughts. I just want to run up to people, shove this book in their face, scream “READ IT”, and then go and reread it by myself.
the plot
It was so interesting! I loved the whole heist. Something was always happening, and it was always interesting. It kept me surprised: PLOT TWISTS!
the characters
The characters were probably my favorite part of this book. We meet six that, by the end of the book, I had come to love. They’re all so unique. I loved reading from each perspective, that way I got to know the characters a lot better.
“No mourners. No funerals. Among them, it passed for “good luck.”
Kaz- The leader.
“Greed is your god, Kaz.”
He almost laughed at that. “No, Inej. Greed bows to me. It is my servant and my lever.”
“A liar, a thief, and utterly without conscience. But he’ll keep to any deal you strike with him.”
Nina- She’s so brave, snarky, funny, and just an amazing strong female character. I loved that we had a Grisha in the group.
Inej-MY FAVORITE. She’s an ex-circus performer who now is a spy known as The Wraith. She struggled between her dedication to the gang and her desire to see her family again.
“Besides, she was the Wraith-the only law that applied to her was gravity, and some days she defied that, too.”
Jesper- the sharpshooter, who added so much to the story. The chapter told from his point of view are really great, because you see the other characters how he does, and I think he sees them how they truly are.
“Take good care of my babies,” Jesper said as he handed [his guns] over to Dirix.
“If I see a single scratch or nick on those, I’ll spell forgive me on your chest in bullet holes.”
Wylan- He was this adorable, innocent, little boy at first. But his character changed/revealed as the story went along, and I LOVED it. I wished we could have gotten chapters from his POV, but Leigh said there will be in the 2nd!
“Always hit where the mark isn’t looking.”
“Who’s Mark?” Asked Wylan.
Matthias- I loved how he struggled with loyalty to his country and his love for Nina, and I also loved seeing the backstory of how him and Nina met.
“And what did you do, Matthias? What did you do to me in your dreams?”
“Everything,” he said, as he turned to go. “Everything.”
the romance!
I loved how the story was not overpowered by the romances in this book. It was a side plot that made the story more interesting. It wasn’t as prominent as the action part, but it was there. And it was amazing. I won’t spoil anything, but let me just say, I have 3 new OTPs just from this book.
the setting
In Bardugo’s previous trilogy, which I loved, we get to know the world a little, but it’s mostly set in Ravka, one country. Six of Crows was in a different country in this world, Kerch, and the group travels to a new country, Fjerda. I loved getting to know this world better. Also, the characters are from different countries so we get to know their view on their country and the others.
the writing
Her writing, like always, was incredible. It flowed beautifully. Some people have said it starts out slow, but once you pass the first 100 pages, things start picking up and getting really interesting. (I was interested the whole time, of course. I loved it from the very beginning.) But if you’re not enjoying it as much, I’m begging you. Keep trying. It’s SO worth it. There’s so many amazing quotes! I literally have notes and notes full of them.
This book is funny! It made me laugh out loud a lot (and I was in public, so people stared at me.)
“Jesper knocked his head against the hull and cast his eyes heavenward. “Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get Wylan’s ghost to teach my ghost how to play the flute just so that I can annoy the hell out of your ghost.
Brekker’s lips quicker. “I’ll just hire Matthias’ ghost to kick your ghost’s ass.”
“My ghost won’t associate with your ghost,” Matthias said primly, and then wondered if the sea air was rotting his brain.”
This book is so gorgeous! The cover is beautiful, but my absolute FAVORITE thing about it has to be the black edged pages. And the maps!! There’s two beautiful maps. TWO!
what I didn’t like
I honestly can’t think of anything I didn’t like in this book. I tried to come up with something, but I loved it too much.
I highly, HIGHLY recommend you check this book out. It brings all the feels. I need the second book, Crooked Kingdom, NOW. Also, if you haven’t read Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy, you should. A lot of people have asked me, “Do I have to read the Grisha Trilogy before Six of Crows?” My answer has been: No, you don’t have to. Of course I would recommend that you do, as it is one of my favorite trilogies. If you don’t, you might be a little lost in the world, and there are some characters mentioned in here from that trilogy that you wouldn’t understand, but you could understand the story. There are minor spoilers of the end of Ruin and Rising in Six of Crows, but there is also some misleading. If you read the Grisha trilogy, you learn more about Ravka, where Nina is from, which helps you understand her better. Plus, it’s just an amazing trilogy. You SHOULD. But no, you do not have to.
Okay, I’ll just conclude my ramblings now. Go read this book, please. This review took so long to write, because I had so many good things to say, and I reread Six of Crows while writing it.
Ava
Bookishnessandtea.wordpress.com
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Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2016
★★★★★ 5
When you finish this book, be prepared to go through withdrawal.
Format: Hardcover
I finished Six of Crows and immediately found myself missing Kaz and his crew, which is a surefire sign that I just finished a book that I absolutely loved. Kaz Brekker, criminal, gang leader, outcast, has assembled a group of misfit criminals from The Barrel to pull off the crime of a lifetime, a crime that even the most capable and seasoned lawbreakers would find nearly impossible. But for a group of men and women who have nothing left to lose, the impossible could be the one thing that will bring them salvation and the wealth they need to start new lives. But before they can go about saving the world they must first get past the secrets they are hiding, the resentment they hold back, and the mistrust they feel towards one another, and focus on not getting killed by the odds stacked against them.
I had been looking forward to reading this book since it was released because there were so many tempting aspects to it: theft, magic, fantasy, so many things that I love in a good story. Six of Crows is set in the same world as Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy but in a different land, with different characters, and it is not necessary to read the other trilogy first. I felt like the story got off to a slow start but after the first part of the book (it is divided into several parts) it really picked up and I could not put it down. Once I was halfway through the book I caught myself thinking about it all the time and wondering what would happen next with each of the characters that I had grown to love so much.
To tell the story, Bardugo switches each chapter to be from a different main character’s point of view, but I felt she did it in a different and more engaging way than I have seen it done by other authors in the past. The trouble I fall into sometimes when reading a story that switches between characters is the breakup of the storyline, since each character usually jumps to a different time or location. Bardugo switches characters yet tells the story seamlessly so that each chapter starts exactly where the last left off, but with the point of view of someone new. So the story never breaks succession and there is never a lull in the action. This way we learn the emotions, motivations, and differing viewpoints of each character without the excitement of the story ever getting interrupted.
The character development in the story is incredible and you quickly begin to learn the talents and flaws of each character and feel as if you know them personally and love each of them for who they are. Bardugo uses the present, flashbacks, internal thoughts, etc. to teach you the history of each character and give you a glimpse into why they have each become the person they are. The storyline was very unique and often focused on special abilities that some characters possess (the Grisha) which are incredibly interesting and a different take on magic. Once you get about 100 pages into the book the story really picks up pace and it is basically nonstop action after that point, done in near flawless fashion. There were small things about the book that bothered me, but these are rather insignificant details like the ages of certain characters or odd interactions which took nothing away from the story at all and were just little things that I noticed occasionally. Overall Bardugo told a brilliant story and I loved every second of it.
I finished this book several days ago and I still find myself missing the characters, Ketterdam, and everything about the story. It has been a long time since I have read a book that tugged at my heart enough that it made me go through a slight withdrawal and left me feeling a little depressed that I was not still immersed in the world of the book and the lives of its characters. Six of Crows has done that to me and the more I think about the book the more I love it and I find myself already anticipating the next novel in the trilogy. The book ends with a cliffhanger but not one that leaves you screaming in rage at having to wait so long for the next book, but enough for you to feel eager with anticipation as you patiently await book two. I look forward to the day where I am back in The Barrel hanging out with Kaz and the rest of the crew as the next part of the incredible journey takes place.
“When everyone knows you’re a monster, you needn’t waste time doing every monstrous thing.”
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Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2015