I read and reviewed the previous book earlier on the blog:
I picked the second instalment a while ago but was unable to read it because I realised I had not done a very good job of reading the first. I liked the first but was not blown away as I had expected and promptly forgot the nitty-gritty of the narrative. As I already had the second in my hand, I actually went back and re-read Six of Crows.
This is probably one of the only times that I actually reread a book in the pace that I did so that I could enjoy the second even more. I found myself liking them all the second time around. Since I was already settled on their ages in my head, I let that argument float away. Once that was done, the read went very well. The second instalment, however, is a much better book in all regards. I loved the way the plot turned and the actual con(s) that were carried out were more about the brain than brawn. It let the brutality of the fights between rival gang members and others fade to the background.
In the last we had the team pull off a job that very few expected them to come away from alive. They have now established a level of rapport (or not) between them and have essentially paired off. The entire city turns on them while they have to wriggle out of the situation. Each member of the team has to use their special skill to work as a cog in their combined machinery. I have always enjoyed a well-written multi-starer, be it in film or books. In this one, despite a few having more chapters dedicated to their thoughts than others, I felt like they all played an equally important role and each learnt and grew from it all making it heartening to watch unfold.
I am not going into any particulars about names, places and events because the surprise is what will get you if anything has to. A few most can see coming but every alternate scenario that caught me by surprise.
Superfluous Reading 