I know everyone's already read this, but guess what? It's still really good! 
 I very much enjoyed Leigh's earlier trilogy that's set in the same world as this one. Six of Crows is on a whole 'nother level. It's taut, intriguing, funny, and well-paced. 
 Here's something that I couldn't stop thinking about while I was reading this--just because this was published as YA, is it actually YA? Of course, the debate about what makes a book YA is vast and contested and likely not fruitful. But this is my job and something that I can't help but consider. The most obvious answer is the age of the characters and Kaz and his crew are all older teenagers. Not all books about teens are YA, though, like in Among Others. And even though they're technically teens, I'd say five out of the six main characters are dealing with issues that qualify as adult problems. They have jobs and debts and responsibilities. *shudder* Not only that, but most of them respond to their problems in an adult matter, which I appreciate. The writing style is closer to A Darker Shade of Magic than, say, Clare or Black or Brennan or any of the other talented YA fantasy mavens. (ADSOM, it should be said, holds a lot of crossover appeal for teens, but is firmly situated in the adult market.) There are a few hallmarks of YA in Six of Crows, usually having to do with Ships and Feels and actual ships. Wait, never mind, teens don't care as much about the actual ships. But the relationships make this book a feast for anyone looking for a solid 'ship. The chemistry and banter between the characters match the best romances that I've read this year, although there is a distinct lack of kissing in this book that sure as hell better be rectified in the sequel. As an adult, I would have rather had the grown-up (ahem) version of this book, though that's just me being selfish. 
 The probable answer here, of course, is the publishing industry and that's why it's YA. Money and marketing and genre and who knows what else. It's the kind of book puzzle that I enjoy thinking about and if you have your own ideas on why this should or should not be YA, I'd love to hear. 
 {4.5 stars}