son with some talent for demolition. He is unable to read due to severe dyslexia. He is initially engaged as a potential hostage, but later proves his worth as a valuable member of the Crows. Matthias Helvar, a former Drüskelle witchhunter from Fjerda. Kaz frees Matthias from Hellgate Prison in Six of Crows because of his knowledge of the Ice Court as well as for his skills as a soldier. He has a romantic history with Nina. Nina Zenik, a powerful Heartrender who worked in a brothel named "White Rose". She was a soldier of the Ravkan Second Army who was captured by Fjerdan Drüskelle, leading to her first encounter with Matthias. After the events of Six of Crows, her Grisha power shifted from the ability to manipulate the human body to the ability to communicate with and control the dead. Jesper Fahey, a dark-skinned Zemeni sharpshooter with a gambling problem. He is described as being tall and lanky, with an intense facial bone structure. He is known for his quick wit and even quicker shooting. Colm Fahey, a Kaelish jurda farmer who set up shop in Novyi Zem. He is Jesper's father. Jan Van Eck, a rich and prominent merchant who sits on Ketterdam's Merchant Council. He makes a deal with Kaz Brekker to retrieve the creator of jurda parem from the Ice Court. He is also Wylan Van Eck's father. Kuwei Yul-Bo, the son of Bo Yul-Bayur, the creator of jurda parem. Kuwei was rescued from the Ice Court by the Dregs in Six of Crows, and brought back to Ketterdam. He is an Inferni, and is Shu. Pekka Rollins, leader of the Dime Lions and Kaz's main adversary. He is the rich owner of a successful gambling hall and runs one of the most formidable gangs in Ketterdam. Reception Kirkus Reviews calls the novel "dark and violent...but gut-wrenchingly genuine". It was nominated for the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards for "Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction". This second book in the Six of Crows duology is regarded by many to be sadder and darker than its predecessor. References 2016 American novels 2016 fantasy novels American fantasy novels Henry Holt and Company books Novels by Leigh Bardugo Third-person narrative novels