SKU: 16155508153
avocado succulent

avocado succulent Avocado Tree 'Monroe' – Incredible Edible Landscapes

Sale price$23.59 Regular price$26.21
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $6.55 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 30 - Aug 4

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

avocado succulent Avocado Tree 'Monroe' – Incredible Edible LandscapesFlower Type: B Guatemalan West Indian Harvest: Nov Jan Monroe is a highly productive and consistent cultivar, with great eating quality. It ripens from November to January. The fruit are medium sized, green skinned, with good seed to flesh ratio and a nice creamy flavor. Monroe is popular across Florida and Central America, and is a great choice for home growers. The tree grows to a bushy rounded shape with medium vigor.

Flower Type: B  /  Guatemalan-West Indian  /  Harvest: Nov-Jan

‘Monroe’ is a highly productive and consistent cultivar, with great eating quality.  It ripens from November to January.  The fruit are medium sized, green skinned, with good seed to flesh ratio and a nice creamy flavor.  ‘Monroe’ is popular across Florida and Central America, and is a great choice for home growers.  The tree grows to a bushy rounded shape with medium vigor.

_________________________________________________________________

Latin name - Persea americana

The Avocado tree originates from the highlands of Central America, and has been under human cultivation for at least 5,000 years.  Rich with monounsaturated fats, vitamins, and minerals, Avocados are a supremely healthy fruit.  Their rich, buttery flavor and culinary versatility make them a prized ingredient in kitchens worldwide, but mostly we think of Avocados as a pillar of Mexican cuisine.  

Avocado trees can thrive in a broad range of climates and growing conditions, but one of their most remarkable features is their widespread fruiting season.  In Florida, Avocado season is at its peak in the late-summer and fall months, but fruit can be harvested almost year-round when planting multiple varieties with overlapping ripening periods.   See our Avocado variety guide below for information on early, mid, and late ripening cultivars.

The Avocado tree itself is reasonably fast growing, evergreen, and usually takes a wide, bushy form.  Tree vigor can vary between varieties, and each seems to have their own unique leaf shape and growth habit.  Avocado trees can begin to bloom in early spring and continue through summer, usually shedding lots of leaves during the onset of the bloom period.  They require ample water to thrive, but will not tolerate flooding, standing water, or overly saturated soils.   Root rot can occur quickly when standing water is present, so choose a location with well draining soil or consider planting on a mound.  

In backyard cultivation as well as commercial growing, it is recommended to prune Avocado trees from a young age to encourage lateral branching, which leads to easier harvesting as fruit is kept within reach.  Pruning can be done in mid-summer as well as after harvest.  Avocado trees need full sun to thrive, but in our plantings we have noticed that young trees benefit greatly from partial shade in the first couple of years while establishing.  This can be achieved by planting fast growing support species in the vicinity of your tree, and pruning periodically to manage the level of sunlight hitting your tree.

Grafted Avocado trees will usually produce fruit within two years, but seedling trees take 8-10 years on average, with varying fruit quality.  One common misconception about Avocado trees is that multiple trees are required to get fruit.  This isn’t exactly the case, but it stems from the fact that Avocados have two different classes of flowers - Type A and Type B.  These are distinguished by their tendency to exhibit their male and female anatomy at different times of day.  Type A flowers will open as females in the morning of the first day, and then close.  In the afternoon of the second day, the flowers will open again, this time as males.  Type B flowers open as females on the afternoon of the first day, then close and open again as males the following morning.  Both Type A and Type B Avocado trees are capable of self-pollinating and will produce fruit on their own, without another tree present.  However, this split flowering pattern means that fruit set and overall yield can be significantly increased when both types are planted in close proximity to each other.  For this reason, we do recommend planting multiple trees if you have the space.  As mentioned above, different Avocado cultivars can be harvested many months of the year.  So if you love eating avocados, you’ll benefit from planting both A and B types as well as early, mid, and late ripening varieties.

One final major distinction between Avocado types is their geographical origin and associated traits.  There are three primary races of Avocados:  Mexican, Guatemalan, and West Indian.  Each of these categories have distinct qualities of both the fruit and the tree. 

Mexican Avocados are the most tolerant of cold weather, some even surviving temperatures below 20 degrees fahrenheit.  They are the least salt tolerant, and generally more adapted to dryer conditions.  Their leaves tend to be smaller and pointier, and sometimes the crushed leaves will smell of anise.  This seems to be an indication of cold tolerance.  Mexican avocados are relatively small and have a thin, waxy skin, often turning black at maturity, but not always.  The oil content of the fruit tends to be higher than other types, making them creamier.

Guatemalan Avocados are somewhat less cold tolerant, but still plenty hardy from south Florida to central Florida.  They are fairly salt tolerant.  The fruit can vary in size but are usually larger than pure Mexican types.  Guatemalan avocados have a thicker skin, usually with a rough texture, and color can vary from dark green to black.  The oil content of the fruit is average, somewhere between the Mexican and West Indian types.  The fruit takes the longest to develop on the tree compared to the other types.

West Indian Avocados can be somewhat vulnerable to cold and are better planted in the southern part of Florida, or in a warm microclimate or coastal region further north.  They have a much higher level of salt tolerance compared to Mexican types.  The leaves tend to be larger and more round.  The skin of the fruit is thin and usually shiny but sometimes dull green.  The fruit can vary in size but some of the largest avocados come from the West Indian race.  The oil content is lower than Guatemalan and Mexican types and can have a more watery flavor.  Often when people refer to “Florida” avocados, they are actually referring to West Indian varieties.

Many cultivated Avocado varieties are a hybrid of two or more of these types.  It is important to note that these categories don’t necessarily indicate the growth rate/size of the tree, amount of fruit production, harvest season, or flavor/eating quality of the fruit.  Each cultivar will have its own tendencies.  

Perhaps the most common question asked by customers choosing an avocado variety is this:  “Is it a creamy ‘Hass’ or a watery ‘Florida’ avocado?”

The reality is that there is a large spectrum of flavor, and oil content alone doesn’t always determine whether an avocado is enjoyable.  We are used to buying Hass avocados at the grocery store, due to their massive commercial production in California and Mexico,  but the Hass variety isn’t produced and actually doesn’t perform all that well in Florida, because of our heavy seasonal rainfall and high level of humidity.  Many of our favorite avocado varieties come from all over the spectrum, including West Indian, Mexican, and Guatemalan types and their hybrids.  If you enjoy eating Avocados and they are an important part of your diet, you’ll be thrilled when you can pick them from your own trees!  One of the best perks of growing avocados is that they don’t need to be picked all at once, and can be harvested a few at a time from the tree and ripened on your counter for whenever you need them. We encourage you to try as many varieties as you can, and discover your own favorites!

___________________________________________________________________________

Size: Can grow 30+ ft tall, but possible to manage at 12-15 ft with pruning.

Sun Requirements:  Full sun 

Cold Hardy: Variable - see individual variety descriptions.

Harvest Season:  Summer, Fall, Winter - depending on variety.

Watering requirements: Loves water.  Will tolerate short drought periods, but thrives with irrigation.  

Food Forest Layer: Canopy

**Important Note:  Avocado trees will not tolerate flooding for any period of time.  Avoid planting in areas where there may be standing water after a heavy rain.**

 

 

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 16155508153

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell avocado succulent

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.4 ★★★★★
Based on 8 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
C
Verified Purchase
Colleen Marie Zukowski
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 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.”
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2015
S
Verified Purchase
Shawn Craven!
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
A fun heist adventure with a lovable cast of characters!
Format: Kindle
Kaz Brekker is a young criminal mastermind with a knack for meticulously planning every step of a greater picture before making a single move. He's spent a lot of time gaining a reputation, gathering a small gang, and building a legend and mystique around himself. His ultimate goal is revenge, and every move he makes is just another step toward it. When he is hired to carry out an impossible heist, he needs to gather a crew and plan his moves even more carefully. Where this book truly shines is with its characters. Kaz and his crew are all very different personalities, and their banter and relationships with each other are all wonderful. Each of the six main characters are given full, compelling backstories, motivations, skill sets, personality quirks, and personal demons to sort out. It was a joy getting to know these characters and seeing them bounce off of each other. Kaz is an excellent character, and feels like a teenage supervillain-in-training. He is human, and suffers from trauma, insecurities, getting emotionally attached, but does everything he can to come off cold and detached to keep up with the legacy he has built for himself - and when you get to see Kaz from other peoples' perspectives, you can see just how successful he's become at it. I'll admit I was not a fan of Matthias, one of the POV characters, at first. He's well-written, but his worldview and way of thinking were difficult for me to wrap my head around or justify. As the story went on and Matthias got more fleshed out and complex, I came to love him. Although there are six main characters, only five of them get POV chapters -- the sixth is still a very interesting character, and I would love to see a bigger glimpse into his mindset. After finishing the book I can understand why he was not given his own chapters, and I'm VERY excited to learn more about him in the sequel. The worldbuilding is also very impressive. I understand that there are other books and trilogies and such set in this same world. I've yet to read the others at the time of writing this review, but I am intrigued by the world these characters live in, the customs and cultures of its people, the history that is alluded to, etc. This world feels real and fleshed out, and it's very clear that a lot of thought and care were put into it. Six of Crows is an extremely fun book, I'm pumped to read its sequel and the other stories set in this world, and to check out the Netflix series based on one of them! I highly recommend this book!!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2025
F
Verified Purchase
FranJessca @ A Book Lovin Mama's Blog
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 4
4-stars: 'Six of Crows' by Leigh Bardugo
Format: Hardcover, Format: Hardcover
This is going to be a very long review. I’m sorry ahead of time, but I knew it wouldn’t be a short review after I finished the book. Lots needed to be typed, but I promise no spoilers. Six of Crows is set in Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, but this time readers will get to follow six different characters on a mission to pull off a very dangerous heist together. This book will pull you in different directions because all six characters get to tell the story from their point of view before, during, and after the heist. It’s crazy how Leigh Bardugo managed to keep up with all six points of view while building the storyline to this new epic adventure in the Grishaverse. Storyline/My Thoughts: First, if you read the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, then I will let you know now that Six of Crows doesn’t take place simultaneously as the trilogy. It’s set further in the years after the war has happened. Unfortunately, the Grisha are still treated horribly, and most are hidden or at Ravka helping the King rebuild, but this book is not focusing on that storyline. Instead, it’s focusing on six different characters, which each have a different personality and background. They are all supposed to be in their teens but come off as maturer in age. If you lived the way they did, then you would be much wiser in years to deal with the issues they have had to succumb. Readers will get to read some of their backstories when they tell their points of view in Six of Crows. (It’s amazing how authors can keep up with everything. I can’t even remember yesterday sometimes due to memory issues.) I’m going to try to break down what I liked about each character without going overboard. I loved how Leigh Bardugo wrote each character differently. This is one reason why I was interested in the book. Kaz Brekker has a heartbreaking back story, but he has managed to fight through everything thrown at him. He has a disability that requires him to have a cane, but he’s stronger than ever. He’s one scary character, even to his team, because he plans things that will put himself and everyone at risk. I enjoyed his character, especially after finding out what happened to him. He’s on a mission for revenge for what happened to him, and he will do anything to get that revenge. One thing that drove me crazy about him is his feelings for a particular character that he would rather deny than tell the truth. Just tell her!!!! Inej Ghafa is by far my favorite character of the six. She’s been through a lot too, and Kaz saved her from the life she had at the Menagerie. She became known as the Wraith since she’s able to sneak up on people. She’s a fighter. She puts Kaz in his place a couple of times, and only she can do it to him. I could go on and on about her character. I loved getting to read her point of view. Jesper Fahey has a secret that he’s unwilling to share with anyone on the team until he has to on the heist. He has a gambling issue, but he’s an excellent sharpshooter. I loved how even he questioned Kaz, but he also became friendly with another person on the heist. Nina Zenit is a Grisha Heartrender who uses her magic to survive the slums. Her abilities include controlling someone’s breathing, heart, and cells in their bodies. She’s one Grisha you don’t want to mess with, and in this book, she ends up putting herself at risk for everyone else to survive. Matthias Helva is a former druskelle and a Fjerdan witch hunter. Both Nina and he are dangerous together because he can’t stand what she is, and Nina is trying to make it right by Matthias. They have a complicated past and relationship that could put the others at risk. Matthias is one person you either could trust or not, and there were times I didn’t feel I could trust him with the group during the heist. Wylan Van Eck is someone that Kaz brings to the crew for leverage since the person who requested Kaz’s help happens to be Wylan’s father. Wylan, though, has his own tricks up his sleeve, and I hope I get to know him more in the next book. He fit right into the crew during the heist. All six are on a dangerous heist to break out a scientist from an impenetrable prison and put themselves at risk of being put in jail or, worst, being killed. (It’s all Kaz’s fault, but it was a deal that no one could turn down.) The heist reminded me of the movie Ocean’s Eleven, but much more risk to it, and instead of stealing money and gold, they have to steal a person. This person is someone everyone wants for themselves since they have created something that will change the odds. The thing that drove me bonkers about this book was how slow it started for me. It took me a while to gain my interest in the story. I’m used to reading multiple POVs, so that was not an issue. It was the issue of getting to the heist, going through everything, and then how it ended. It took a while to get through it all. I also was bothered by how Kaz did not get the revenge he wanted in this book. He had a chance but didn’t take it. He deserves revenge for what happened to him. He also didn’t share his feelings with a specific character that he should have in this book. I hope he starts sharing them in the next book. I know Kaz will be out for revenge even further in the next book, but for something else entirely. Overall, this book receives four stars from me. I think if the book would’ve grasped me from the beginning and not been slow to start, then I would have given it five stars. There was a lot to take in the beginning. Leigh Bardugo is a master at storytelling, though, and I can’t wait to see the Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows books be brought to life in the Netflix series. I already love the actors/actresses they chose to play the book characters. Now I need to make time to read the Crooked Kingdom because this book left me with a cliffhanger. Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Six of Crows Duology. It’s also part of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse. (If you read the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, then you will read about certain characters in this book from the current characters. There will be a moment of clarity of who Nina is and where she came from, and why she ended up with the crew. I don’t think you have to read the Shadow and Bone Trilogy to read this book, but I feel readers will miss out on some connections between the books.) Cliffhanger: Yes. Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you are a fan of YA Fantasy involving a dangerous heist with six different characters, you will enjoy this book. I also would recommend the audiobook if you enjoy listening to books. The narrators were fantastic at having the characters come to life when I listened to the book instead of reading it.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2021
S
Verified Purchase
Suzanne Wiseman
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
This may just be my new favorite YA Fantasy series!
Format: Hardcover
*May contain spoilers Six of Crows is one of those books that I could truly kick myself for waiting so long to read. Now that I’ve finally finished reading it, all I keep thinking is what a fool I was to deprive myself of one of the most original and amazing fantasy stories I’ve ever read. I feel like I’m not even going to begin to do this book justice, but hopefully, since I’m pretty sure I’m one of the last people on the planet to actually read it, you guys will all just nod your heads in agreement because you already know why Six of Crows is such a fabulous read. For those unfamiliar with the basic storyline, Six of Crows follows Kaz Brekker, a teenage criminal mastermind, who has been offered an opportunity to achieve wealth beyond his wildest dreams. How? By completing what can probably best be described as Mission Impossible. He has to break into the Ice Court, a heavy guarded military stronghold that has never successfully been broken into before. Once inside, his mission is to locate and smuggle out a scientist who is being held hostage there because he possesses knowledge on how to amplify and weaponize magic. Kaz knows enough about the dangers of the Ice Court to know that, without the right team, this heist is going to be nearly impossible, possibly even a suicide mission. Lucky for Kaz though, he knows exactly who the right team is: a deadly gang of young thugs, thieves, and runaways who are just desperate enough to agree to be part of this crazy mission. LIKES What I loved most about Six of Crows are the characters. Leigh Bardugo has crafted some of the most fascinating and unique characters I’ve come across in YA fantasy. I always enjoy stories that feature an anti-hero and with Kaz and his “Crows,” we have 6 anti-heroes! I love anti-heroes because they’re always such complex characters and these characters are no different. What each of the Crows have in common is that they have no family and they’ve each had to do some pretty awful things in the name of survival, including resorting to thievery and murder. Through flashbacks that give us backstory on each of the characters, however, Bardugo manages to make this gang of thugs so sympathetic that you can’t help but fall in love with them. I also liked the angle that each character seemed to have their own, sometimes selfish motives, for wanting to be a part of Kaz’s mission and it added an element of suspense at times, as I wondered if someone would sabotage the mission to serve their own needs. It’s hard to pick a favorite character because they’re all so badass, but Kaz is definitely near the top of my list. As I’ve already mentioned, he’s a criminal mastermind. Even though he’s a teenager, his reputation precedes him and he is feared by many in Ketterdam, the city where the story takes place. Kaz can be as greedy as he can be cruel, but he’s also so brilliant, brazen, and daring that you can’t help being drawn to him. Kaz is also haunted by events from his past that left him alone and destitute, and he’s highly motivated by the desire for revenge against the man he holds responsible for what happened. In addition to Kaz, there are also two badass female characters, Inej and Nina. Inej, known as the wraith, has a reputation for being somewhat of a ninja. Kaz calls her his spider because she can climb her way pretty much anywhere and can do so undetected, a very handy skill in their line of “work.” She’s also very skilled with knives and is perhaps the most murderous member of Kaz’s team. I just loved watching her in action as she cut down anyone who posed a threat to the team. What made Inej especially fascinating to me was the connection between her and Kaz. As much as Kaz tries to be all business, all the time and never show any emotion or weakness, it’s clear that he has a soft spot when it comes to Inej and her safety. It’s also pretty clear that there’s a good chance the feeling is mutual. Nina is what is known as a Grisha, which means she possesses magical abilities. For the purposes of Kaz’s mission, Nina can use that magic to do useful things like slow people’s heartrates down until they lose consciousness. She can also use her powers for healing purposes, also handy when you’re on a super-dangerous mission. As we learn from her backstory, Nina’s people have been persecuted for years because of their magic -- imprisoned, tortured, and even burned at the stake. Because the Grisha are the ones whose magic would be weaponized, Nina has personal reasons for wanting to take part in this mission. Matthias is one of the characters that intrigued me the most. At first, I couldn’t stand him, but the more I got to know about him, the more I just grew to adore him. Kaz recruits him by breaking him out of jail and offering him a pardon for his crimes in exchange for his help with the mission. Kaz sees Matthias as one of the biggest assets to the team because he used to work in the Ice Castle and can therefore give them the overall layout of the place, how the security works, etc. Matthias is torn because he knows he should be loyal to the Ice Castle, but at the same time, how can you turn down a chance to be pardoned so that you can get your life back? What makes the whole situation even more complicated is that he and Nina have shared history and he holds her responsible for his imprisonment. Tension, much? I swear I was convinced those two were going to kill each other for about half the book! Beneath all that hate they seemed to have for each other though, you could sense there was something more, an almost smoldering attraction for one another. Let me tell you – I’m not usually big on romance, but I was shipping the heck out of Nina and Matthias! Jesper and Wylan. While these two guys were clearly assets to the team as well with their knowledge of weapons and explosives, respectively, what I loved most about Jesper and Wylan was that they provided a bit of comic relief where the other characters were so intense all the time. Jesper and Wylan teased each other relentlessly and their banter was just hilarious at times. The world building in Six of Crows is also top notch. Bardugo paints a vivid picture of Ketterdam with its rival street gangs swarming around duking it out for power. It’s a dark and gritty world, as well as a dangerous one, filled with assorted thieves, predators, and traitors. It’s hard to know who, if anyone, can be trusted. The atmosphere definitely creates a sensation that all of the characters are vulnerable to attack by anyone anywhere so they have to be in survival mode at all times. The Grisha magic system is also well thought out and vividly drawn. I went into Six of Crows without having read the Grisha series, which was probably a mistake as I’m sure it would have further enriched my understanding of the Grisha magic and their history, but even without having read it, I still felt like I completely understood the magic and why it would be such a valuable weapon if it could be amplified and harnessed. Imagine practically indestructible armies of Grisha fighting on your behalf. You’d be unstoppable. Action, Action, Action! As I’m sure you can imagine just based on the details of their mission, Six of Crows is truly action-packed. There are endless twists and turns, obstacles that need to be overcome, enemies that need to be taken out, plans that fall apart and then need to be improvised. Although the novel starts out at a fairly slow pace as we are meeting each character and establishing the world of Ketterdam, once Kaz and his gang get started on their missions, it’s like jumping on a thrill ride that doesn’t stop until the final page. DISLIKES I can’t really say this is a dislike of the book, but it did take me about a hundred pages or so to really become invested in the characters and get sucked into the story. Again, I’m chalking up my slow start to needing extra time to understand the Grisha magic and how it worked because I didn’t read the Grisha trilogy first. Once I did get sucked in, however, there was no stopping me. It probably took me 3 or 4 days to get to page 100, but then I inhaled the last 300 or so pages in another day and a half. I guess my advice would if you are struggling to get into it, stick with it until they actually get started with the planning of their mission. It might be a slow build in the beginning, but it’s a wild ride from that point to the very end. FINAL THOUGHTS I truly loved pretty much everything about Six of Crows, hence why I’m kicking myself for having waited so long to read it. Up until now, Victoria Schwab’s Shades of Magic series has been, hands down, my favorite YA fantasy series. I have to say though, Six of Crows is seriously giving it a run for its money. RATING: 4.5 STARS
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2017
M
Verified Purchase
M Burks
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 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.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2019

recommand products