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My Top Picks for Fans of Kaz Brekker & The Crows
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items Finished Six of Crows and now you’re staring at your bookshelf with a Kaz-sized hole in your heart? I’ve been there. You’re looking for that perfect mix of found family, high-stakes heists, and morally gray antiheroes who would actually burn the worl...
Sections
3
Masterminds and Impossible Heists
Found Families and Fierce Loyalties
Morally Gray Worlds and Antiheroes
Masterminds and Impossible Heists
This section is for those of us who live for a "plan within a plan." If your favorite part of Six of Crows was the tension of an impossible mission and the cleverness of a criminal prodigy, these books are going to be your new obsession.
This is basically the adult version of Six of Crows. It follows Locke, a gifted con artist leading a group of "Gentleman Bastards" as they pull off massive scams in a city that feels just as dark and alive as Ketterdam.
The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard Series #1)
Ren is a con artist who returns to a corrupt city to trick her way into a noble house. The world-building is incredibly dense and magical, and Ren’s "fake it 'til you make it" energy reminds me so much of Kaz's early days.
The Mask of Mirrors
Set in a magical 1889 Paris, this book features a diverse crew of outcasts on a treasure hunt. The banter is top-tier, and the historical-meets-fantasy vibes are so lush you can almost smell the French pastries and expensive cologne.
The Gilded Wolves: A Novel
Sancia is a thief who stumbles onto an artifact that could change the way magic works in her industrial city. It’s gritty, clever, and perfect for anyone who loves the "street rat with a heart of gold" (or at least a very sharp knife) trope.
Foundryside (The Founders Trilogy #1)
Welcome to the City of Sin. This story has everything: a girl looking for her mother, a legendary street lord, and a world of magical casinos. It feels like the glamorous, dangerous cousin of the Barrel.
Ace of Shades (The Shadow Game Series #1)
Found Families and Fierce Loyalties
One of the best things about the Crows is how they became a family by choice. These picks focus on groups of misfits who start as strangers or rivals but end up being the only people they can actually trust.
The friendship in this series is so intense it feels like a physical thing. It’s about a group of "prep school" boys and a girl from a family of psychics hunting for a dead king, and honestly, the "vibes" here are unmatched.
The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle Series #1)
If you want Six of Crows but in space, this is it. It’s about a squad of rejects from a space academy who end up being the galaxy’s last hope; the humor and "us against the world" energy is pure gold.
Aurora Rising (Aurora Cycle Series #1)
This book features a "Threadwitch" and a "Truthwitch" who are best friends first and everything else second. The loyalty between Safi and Iseult reminds me so much of the bond between Inej and Nina.
Truthwitch (Witchlands Series #1)
This is a modern-day King Arthur retelling with a secret society and a heavy dose of "don't touch my friends." The lead character, Bree, has that same fierce determination that makes Kaz and Inej so compelling.
Legendborn
Set in a hidden fae world in Toronto, this features a group of queer outcasts who have to team up to stop a series of murders. It’s witty, dark, and the ensemble cast chemistry is absolutely electric.
A Dark and Hollow Star
Morally Gray Worlds and Antiheroes
Let’s be real: we like the Crows because they aren't "good" people. They’re survivors. These books feature characters who walk the line between hero and villain and aren't afraid to get their hands dirty to get what they want.
Kell is a smuggler who can travel between parallel Londons, and Lila is a cross-dressing thief who wants to be a pirate. Their dynamic is prickly and perfect, and the world-building is some of the best in modern fantasy.
A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic Series #1)
Ryia Cautane is the deadliest blade in the kingdoms and is hiding from a powerful Guildmaster. She has to team up with a crew of criminals for a heist that feels like it was ripped straight out of the Crow Club.
Among Thieves
This is a story about two college roommates who figure out how to give themselves superpowers—and then spend the next ten years trying to kill each other. It’s dark, non-linear, and explores what it really means to be a "hero."
Vicious
This book follows Adelina, a girl with a dark power and a lot of trauma who is slowly turning into a villain. It’s a heartbreaking and fascinating look at what happens when the world treats you like a monster.
The Young Elites (Young Elites Series #1)|Paperback
If you haven't read Leigh Bardugo's adult series yet, you have to. It’s set at Yale but involves secret societies and ghosts; it’s much darker and more mature, but Kaz Brekker fans will recognize that signature grit.
Ninth House