King of Scars
In Leigh Bardugo’s King of Scars, readers are reunited with King Nikolai, legendary Grisha Squaller Zoya, and Grisha soldier Nina as they work to rebuild Ravka and protect it from dangerous forces.
With enemies gathering at Ravka’s weakening borders and empty coffers, Nikolai is once again working to accomplish the impossible. As if it weren’t hard enough, he is also battling the dark magic left inside by the Darkling’s spell. Zoya faithfully stays by his side and ends up learning the true power behind Grisha magic. Still grappling with the death of Matthias, Nina is in Fjerda on a mission for Nikolai. But when she discovers what the Fjerda government is doing to Grisha, she sets off on a path that will lead her to face her most dangerous enemy.
As if I wasn’t already in love with Bardugo’s work, this book solidified that love. I missed Nikolai in Six of Crows and I’m glad he’s getting his own duology. His humour leapt off the page just as I remembered from the Grishaverse trilogy. What I really liked about his chapters was how difficult it was for him to fight his (literal) inner demon. He tried to push it aside and forget it, but like all demons, it wouldn’t let go. He eventually had to face his demon, as we all do. I especially liked how Bardugo didn’t make the demon magically vanish. Sometimes we have to live with our demons, and Nikolai hasn’t seen the last of his demon.
Zoya was such a foreign character to me in the first three books. I’m so glad she had a bigger role to play in King of Scars and I got to see why Zoya was the way she was. I learned a lot about her in such a short amount of time. It’s much easier to be sympathetic to her and to see she was fighting her own demons, too. One of the things I especially liked was the relationship between Nikolai and Zoya. They are more than just a king and his general, or even good friends. They had an understanding that goes deeper than I initially expected. I can’t wait to read more of that in the next book.
I was so worried for Nina after Crooked Kingdom that I wasn’t sure what she would be like in King of Scars. I’m glad we got to see what her new powers are like and to actually see her wield them confidently. Bardugo captured how a grieving person changes when they lose someone they love. Nina was changed by Matthias’ death and it will take time for her to move on. I’m excited to see how she handles her new mission as she faces off with Jarl Brum in his very home. And I’m even more interested to see how Nina’s potential relationship with Brum’s daughter, Hanne, develops.
This book blew me away. It had everything I wanted – action, drama, hard choices, friendship, blossoming romance(s), magic – and so much more. It’s a good thing I’ve got time to mentally prepare before the next book comes out.
King of Scars Rating: ★★★★★
With enemies gathering at Ravka’s weakening borders and empty coffers, Nikolai is once again working to accomplish the impossible. As if it weren’t hard enough, he is also battling the dark magic left inside by the Darkling’s spell. Zoya faithfully stays by his side and ends up learning the true power behind Grisha magic. Still grappling with the death of Matthias, Nina is in Fjerda on a mission for Nikolai. But when she discovers what the Fjerda government is doing to Grisha, she sets off on a path that will lead her to face her most dangerous enemy.
As if I wasn’t already in love with Bardugo’s work, this book solidified that love. I missed Nikolai in Six of Crows and I’m glad he’s getting his own duology. His humour leapt off the page just as I remembered from the Grishaverse trilogy. What I really liked about his chapters was how difficult it was for him to fight his (literal) inner demon. He tried to push it aside and forget it, but like all demons, it wouldn’t let go. He eventually had to face his demon, as we all do. I especially liked how Bardugo didn’t make the demon magically vanish. Sometimes we have to live with our demons, and Nikolai hasn’t seen the last of his demon.
Zoya was such a foreign character to me in the first three books. I’m so glad she had a bigger role to play in King of Scars and I got to see why Zoya was the way she was. I learned a lot about her in such a short amount of time. It’s much easier to be sympathetic to her and to see she was fighting her own demons, too. One of the things I especially liked was the relationship between Nikolai and Zoya. They are more than just a king and his general, or even good friends. They had an understanding that goes deeper than I initially expected. I can’t wait to read more of that in the next book.
I was so worried for Nina after Crooked Kingdom that I wasn’t sure what she would be like in King of Scars. I’m glad we got to see what her new powers are like and to actually see her wield them confidently. Bardugo captured how a grieving person changes when they lose someone they love. Nina was changed by Matthias’ death and it will take time for her to move on. I’m excited to see how she handles her new mission as she faces off with Jarl Brum in his very home. And I’m even more interested to see how Nina’s potential relationship with Brum’s daughter, Hanne, develops.
This book blew me away. It had everything I wanted – action, drama, hard choices, friendship, blossoming romance(s), magic – and so much more. It’s a good thing I’ve got time to mentally prepare before the next book comes out.
King of Scars Rating: ★★★★★