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cinnamon plant nursery Buy Cinnamon Prickly Pear Phoenix, AZ | O. microdasysPhoenix's Warmest Bunny Ear Cactus Cinnamon Brown Dots That Glow in Desert Light Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear (Opuntia microdasys 'Cinnamon') is the warm toned sibling of the classic Bunny Ear Cactus family and one of the most unique small cacti you can grow in the Phoenix Valley. This compact Mexican native forms neat, bushy clumps of bright green pads covered in dense clusters of reddish brown glochids that give the plant a warm, cinnamon speckled
Phoenix's Warmest Bunny Ear Cactus — Cinnamon-Brown Dots That Glow in Desert Light
Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear (Opuntia microdasys 'Cinnamon') is the warm-toned sibling of the classic Bunny Ear Cactus family — and one of the most unique small cacti you can grow in the Phoenix Valley. This compact Mexican native forms neat, bushy clumps of bright green pads covered in dense clusters of reddish-brown glochids that give the plant a warm, cinnamon-speckled appearance. Growing just 1–2 feet tall and 2–3 feet wide, it's perfectly sized for containers, rock gardens, and accent plantings. In late spring, it may produce yellow to orange blooms that complement the warm-toned dots beautifully. Whether you're building a desert container collection in Scottsdale, adding warm texture to a Gilbert rock garden, or creating a unique indoor display in Tempe — Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear adds warmth, character, and zero-fuss charm.
Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Opuntia microdasys 'Cinnamon' |
| Common Names | Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear, Cinnamon Bunny Ear Cactus |
| Mature Height | 1–2 feet |
| Mature Width | 2–3 feet |
| Growth Rate | Moderate — 1–2 new pads per season in Phoenix |
| Sun | Full sun to partial shade (6+ hrs ideal). Handles reflected heat. |
| Water | Very low once established. Highly drought-tolerant. |
| USDA Zones | 9–11 (Phoenix is Zone 9b–10a) |
| Soil | Well-draining sandy or loamy soil. Adapts to Arizona caliche with added drainage. |
| Foliage | Evergreen — bright green pads year-round |
| Bloom Color | Yellow to orange, late spring to early summer |
| Special Feature | Dense cinnamon-brown glochids create a warm, speckled appearance |
Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear Uses in Phoenix Landscapes
Container and Patio Gardens
Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear is one of the best cacti for decorative containers. Its compact size and warm-toned dots make it a conversation piece on any patio, porch, or pool deck. Use a wide, shallow pot with well-draining cactus mix and a gravel top-dressing. Pair with its White Dot sibling for a stunning warm-and-cool contrast in matching pots on a Scottsdale courtyard or Chandler front entry.
Rock Garden Accent
The cinnamon-brown dots create beautiful warm contrast against gray decomposed granite, flagstone, and light-colored boulders. Plant among a curated desert bed with Agave, Golden Barrel Cactus, and Desert Spoon for a textured, low-water rock garden. The compact form means it won't outgrow its space — perfect for small planting pockets and garden vignettes.
Indoor Desert Display
Like its White Dot cousin, Cinnamon Dot does well indoors near a bright, south-facing window. Its small size and moderate growth make it ideal for windowsill collections, sunroom displays, or as a living sculpture on a desk or shelf. Just ensure good drainage and minimal watering indoors.
Color-Contrast Companion Planting
Plant Cinnamon Dot alongside White Dot Prickly Pear for a striking warm-and-cool pairing. The cinnamon-brown and white glochid clusters create visual contrast on otherwise identical plant forms — one of the most eye-catching combinations in desert container and rock garden design. Add a Purple Prickly Pear behind them for a three-color desert palette.
Best Time to Plant Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear in Phoenix
Fall (October–November) is ideal for planting. Warm soil promotes root growth while cooler air reduces transplant stress, giving the plant 6–8 months to establish before its first Phoenix summer. Spring (February–April) is the second-best window. Avoid summer planting when possible — the extreme heat makes establishment harder for small plants.
How to Plant Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear
- Dig wide, not deep — excavate a hole 2x the root ball width but only as deep as the root ball itself.
- Check for caliche — break through any hardpan layer for drainage. Standing water will rot cactus roots quickly.
- Backfill with amended soil — mix native soil with 30–40% pumice, perlite, or decomposed granite for sharp drainage.
- Spacing — 2–3 feet apart for a grouped planting; 3–4 feet for standalone specimens.
- No water basin needed — keep the grade flat or slightly mounded to prevent water pooling around the base.
- Gravel mulch — 2–3 inches of decorative gravel around the base keeps moisture away from the crown and prevents rot.
Watering Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear in Phoenix
First Year Watering Schedule
- Weeks 1–2: Water deeply every 3–4 days to settle soil around roots.
- Month 1–3: Every 7–10 days, deep and slow.
- Month 3–6: Every 2–3 weeks.
- After Year 1: Little to no supplemental water needed. Once a month during extreme summer heat is more than sufficient. No winter irrigation required.
Drip Irrigation
If using drip, place a single 0.5–1 GPH emitter 8–12 inches from the base. Run it very infrequently — overwatering is the most common mistake with this cactus. Once established, it can survive on rainfall alone in most Phoenix Valley locations.
How fast does Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear grow in Phoenix?
Moderately. Expect 1–2 new pads per growing season. A 1 gallon plant will fill out to its mature 2 foot spread in about 3–4 years with minimal care.
Is Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear drought tolerant once established?
Extremely. This is one of the most drought-tolerant plants you can grow. Once established, it thrives on rainfall alone and needs almost no supplemental water.
What's the difference between Cinnamon Dot and White Dot Prickly Pear?
Both are varieties of Opuntia microdasys with the same growth habit and care needs. The difference is the glochid color — Cinnamon Dot has warm reddish-brown clusters while White Dot has white clusters. Both make excellent companions when planted together for color contrast.
Can Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear grow indoors?
Yes — it's one of the few prickly pears that does well indoors. Place it near a bright south or west-facing window, use well-draining cactus mix, and water sparingly. It makes an excellent desk or windowsill plant.
Will it produce flowers?
It can produce yellow to orange blooms in late spring to early summer, though flowering is less consistent in cultivation than in wild plants. The warm cinnamon-dotted pads are the main attraction regardless of bloom.
You May Also Like
- White Dot Prickly Pear — Same adorable bunny ear shape with bright white dots instead of cinnamon. Plant them together for beautiful warm-and-cool contrast.
- Beavertail Prickly Pear — Spineless pads with stunning magenta-pink spring blooms. Another compact, pool-friendly prickly pear.
- Baby Rita Prickly Pear — Compact purple-tinted pads with bright magenta flowers. A colorful dwarf prickly pear perfect for small spaces.
- Blind Prickly Pear — Smooth, virtually spineless pads with a clean modern look. Great for pool areas and high-traffic landscapes.
- Purple Prickly Pear — Dramatic purple-tinted pads that intensify in cold and drought. Pairs beautifully with both Bunny Ear varieties.
How Many Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear Do I Need?
Cinnamon Dot is a compact prickly pear that matures just 2 to 3 feet wide, so it shines in containers and small planting pockets rather than long runs. Plant single as a container or rock-garden accent, or in a small cluster of 3 spaced about 2.5 feet apart for a fuller low mound. For a low accent border, figure roughly 2.5 foot centers:
| Border Length | Plants Needed (2.5 ft spacing) |
|---|---|
| 5 ft | 2 to 3 plants |
| 10 ft | 4 to 5 plants |
| 15 ft | 6 to 7 plants |
| 20 ft | 8 to 9 plants |
The reddish-brown glochids detach on contact and are tedious to remove from skin, so keep pots and plantings off the edges of walkways, patios, and pool decks.
Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear Season-by-Season in Phoenix
- Spring (Feb to Apr): New pads flush as soil warms, and the plant may open yellow-to-orange blooms in late spring. A strong second planting window once frost risk passes.
- Summer (May to Sep): Tough in heat and reflected sun, though in the most brutal west-facing spots a little afternoon shade keeps the pads from scorching. Monsoon humidity (Jul to Sep) is the time to back off water so the fast-draining mix never stays soggy.
- Fall (Oct to Nov): Prime planting season. Warm soil and mild air let this small plant settle in before winter.
- Winter (Dec to Jan): Evergreen green pads hold, but this is a frost-tender Mexican species. Expect damage in the mid to upper 20s°F: site it in a warm microclimate, grow it in a pot you can move, or cover it on hard frost nights.
At a Glance
✔ Heat-Loving (Reflected-Heat Tolerant) ✔ Drought-Tolerant ✔ Evergreen ✔ Low-Maintenance ✔ Deer & Rabbit-Resistant
Plant It With
- Crested Microdasys: a crested cousin in the same Opuntia microdasys family, perfect alongside for a collector's container grouping.
- Baby Rita: a compact purple-tinted dwarf prickly pear that adds color contrast next to the warm cinnamon dots.
- Beavertail Prickly Pear: a low, magenta-blooming prickly pear that fills the next size up in a small desert bed.
- Blind Prickly Pear: a smooth, fuller prickly pear that anchors the back of a rock-garden vignette.
Is Cinnamon Dot Prickly Pear Right for Your Yard?
Cinnamon Dot is an ideal fit for containers, rock-garden pockets, and small warm-toned accents in a bright spot with sharp drainage, and it is one of the few prickly pears that also does well indoors at a sunny window. Give it fast-draining soil and protect it from hard frost. It is not a fit for an unprotected, frost-exposed bed or for a low-spine planting near a pool deck or busy walkway, where the fine detaching glochids become a nuisance.
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4.1 ★★★★★
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 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!!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2025
★★★★★ 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.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2021
★★★★★ 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
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Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2017
★★★★★ 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.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2019
★★★★★ 5
Good start to a series
Format: Kindle
I delayed reading the series for reasons I don’t remember. But my TBR list is huge so I thought I’d take a shot of this and I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t think the blurb about it was anything special. But it was a very good book. It took some interesting twists and turns. I am so glad the second book is already out. Because I would not have waited patiently. Very slow burn but good storyline. 🔥🔥/5
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Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2025