Books Like Six of Crows — 12 Heist Fantasy Picks You'll Devour
If you raced through Six of Crows and immediately needed more, you're not alone. Leigh Bardugo's heist fantasy set the gold standard for ensemble casts of morally grey misfits — Kaz's cold cunning, Inej's quiet courage, Jesper's reckless charm — bound together by loyalty they'd never admit to and sent on a job that should be impossible. The twelve books below share that same irresistible DNA: elaborate schemes, found families forged in danger, antiheroes you root for against your better judgment, and worlds so vivid you grieve leaving them. Whether you're here for the heists, the banter, the morally grey protagonists, or the found-family bonds that gut-punch you at the end, there's something on this list for you.
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The Cruel Prince
by Holly Black
A mortal girl stolen into the fae world schemes her way into power among a court of beautiful, ruthless faeries — including the prince who despises her. Like Six of Crows, it thrives on razor-sharp political maneuvering and a morally grey protagonist who outsmarts everyone in the room.
View on AmazonMorally Grey HeroinePolitical IntrigueFaeFound Family - 2
An Ember in the Ashes
by Sabaa Tahir
A slave girl infiltrates a brutal military empire to save her brother while a soldier torn between duty and conscience fights to survive its deadliest trials. The dual POV, high stakes, and morally complex cast make this essential reading for any Six of Crows fan.
View on AmazonDual POVMorally Grey CharactersResistanceMilitary Fantasy - 3
Shadow and Bone
by Leigh Bardugo
An orphaned soldier discovers she has a rare power that could save her war-torn country — or destroy it — when she's swept into the glittering, dangerous world of the Grisha. The foundation of Bardugo's Grishaverse and the world Six of Crows inhabits, packed with the same dark magic and betrayal.
View on AmazonChosen OneFound FamilyDark MagicEnemies to Lovers - 4
Children of Blood and Bone
by Tomi Adeyemi
A young girl fights to restore magic to a land where it was violently erased, leading a desperate heist-like quest against a tyrannical king. The ensemble cast, breakneck pacing, and morally layered characters deliver the same found-family heist energy as Six of Crows.
View on AmazonFound FamilyQuestMorally Grey VillainNigerian Mythology - 5
The Name of the Wind
by Patrick Rothfuss
A legendary figure tells the true story of how he became the most feared wizard of his age — a tale of impossible cleverness, desperate poverty, and the kind of daring that gets people killed. Kvothe's cunning and theatrical scheming will feel instantly familiar to fans of Kaz Brekker.
View on AmazonUnreliable NarratorMorally Grey HeroMagic SystemSlow Burn - 6
Red Queen
by Victoria Aveyard
A lowborn girl with a secret power is thrust into a world of silver-blooded elites and forced to play a dangerous game of deception inside a royal court. The political scheming, hidden identity, and ensemble of double-crossers hit the same notes as Six of Crows.
View on AmazonHidden IdentityPolitical IntrigueMorally Grey CharactersRebellion - 7
The Poppy War
by R.F. Kuang
A war orphan aces a brutal imperial exam to win a place at the country's most prestigious military academy, only to discover she carries a terrifying divine power. Darker and more brutal than Six of Crows, it shares the same found family of misfits and a protagonist who will do anything to survive.
View on AmazonDark FantasyFound FamilyMilitary AcademyWar - 8
Nevernight
by Jay Kristoff
A girl seeking vengeance enrolls in a secret school for assassins where students are as dangerous as the teachers. Kristoff's lush, footnote-laden prose and a morally compromised heroine make this one of the closest matches to Six of Crows' atmosphere of glamorous, lethal scheming.
View on AmazonAssassinDark AcademiaMorally Grey HeroineRevenge - 9
The Lies of Locke Lamora
by Scott Lynch
A gang of gentleman thieves run increasingly audacious cons on the richest nobles in their city — until they cross someone far more dangerous than themselves. If Six of Crows is your favorite book, this is your next: the heist plotting, found-family loyalty, and found-family banter are unmatched.
View on AmazonHeistFound FamilyMorally Grey HeroThieves Guild - 10
Daughter of the Moon Goddess
by Sue Lynn Tan
A young woman embarks on a treacherous quest across celestial kingdoms to free her mother from an immortal prison, forging unlikely alliances along the way. The found-family bonds, impossible odds, and lyrical world-building inspired by Chinese mythology make this an essential pick.
View on AmazonFound FamilyQuestChinese MythologySlow Burn - 11
The Jasmine Throne
by Tasha Suri
An exiled princess and a prisoner-servant with hidden magical gifts forge a dangerous alliance inside a corrupt empire. Suri's intricate political world, morally grey ensemble, and the slow-burning trust between her leads echo Six of Crows' most beloved dynamics.
View on AmazonMorally Grey CharactersPolitical IntrigueFound FamilyF/F Romance - 12
A Little Hatred
by Joe Abercrombie
A new generation of morally compromised heroes navigates a world on the brink of industrial revolution, where every act of heroism comes with a brutal price. Abercrombie's trademark cynicism, complex ensemble cast, and refusal to spare anyone makes this essential for fans of Six of Crows' grimdark edge.
View on AmazonGrimdarkEnsemble CastMorally Grey CharactersAnti-Hero
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Six of Crows so unique in fantasy?
Six of Crows stands out for its ensemble cast of morally grey antiheroes, its Ocean's Eleven-style heist plot set in a richly detailed fantasy world, and the found-family bonds that develop between characters who would all rather die than admit they care about each other. The combination of tight plotting, diverse characters, and emotional payoff is rare.
Are there other books set in the Grishaverse?
Yes — Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone trilogy (starting with Shadow and Bone) is set in the same world and introduces the Grisha magic system Six of Crows builds on. The duology King of Scars continues with characters from both series, and there are several short story collections set in the Grishaverse as well.
Which book on this list is most similar to Six of Crows?
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch is the closest match in terms of heist mechanics, found-family loyalty, and morally grey protagonists running elaborate cons. If you loved Kaz's scheming, Locke Lamora was almost certainly an influence. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff comes second for its dark atmosphere and morally compromised heroine.
Are these books appropriate for younger readers?
Six of Crows itself is marketed as YA but deals with mature themes including trauma, violence, and addiction. Most books on this list are similar in tone or darker — The Poppy War and A Little Hatred in particular are adult grimdark with significant violence. Parents of younger teens should check individual content warnings.
What should I read if I loved the found-family aspect above all else?
Children of Blood and Bone, The Jasmine Throne, and Daughter of the Moon Goddess all prioritize the found-family dynamic. An Ember in the Ashes also builds a tight-knit group across its series. If you want that same crew-of-misfits-who-would-die-for-each-other feeling, start with any of those.