King of Scars (King of Scars Duology, 1) Paperback – December 29, 2020

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo is a breathtaking and masterfully crafted novel that transports readers back into the captivating world of Grishaverse. With her brilliant storytelling and vivid imagination, Bardugo once again proves why she is a literary genius.The story picks up after the events of the previous Grishaverse books, immersing readers into a world of political intrigue, magic, and personal struggles. The character development is exceptional, as we delve deeper into the complexities of Nikolai Lantsov, the beloved and charismatic king of Ravka. Bardugo beautifully portrays his internal conflicts, fears, and the weight of his responsibilities, making him a truly compelling protagonist.The plot is intricately woven with layers of suspense, unexpected twists, and heart-pounding moments that kept me on the edge of my seat. Bardugo's ability to seamlessly blend action, romance, and emotional depth is unparalleled. The pacing is perfect, gradually building up the tension and allowing readers to become fully invested in the characters and their journey.What truly sets King of Scars apart is the rich and immersive world-building. Bardugo effortlessly brings to life the diverse landscapes of Grishaverse, from the bustling streets of Ketterdam to the grandeur of Ravka's royal court. The attention to detail in describing the magical elements and the unique Grisha powers is simply awe-inspiring, drawing readers deeper into this enchanting universe.Moreover, the book beautifully explores themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the darkness that resides within us all. The secondary characters, such as Zoya and Nina, bring their own compelling storylines, adding depth and further enhancing the overall narrative.Leigh Bardugo's prose is poetic, lyrical, and evocative. Her ability to create vivid imagery with her words is nothing short of magical. Every page of King of Scars is a delight to read, with passages that will leave you breathless, laughter that will warm your heart, and poignant moments that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.In conclusion, King of Scars is an absolute triumph, delivering a thrilling and emotionally resonant story that will captivate both new and returning readers. Leigh Bardugo's remarkable talent shines through in every aspect of this novel, making it an unforgettable journey through the intricacies of power, love, and self-discovery. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking a spellbinding and immersive reading experience.

I have been so hyped for this book ever since I first caught wind of it. Nikolai was not my favorite character in the Grisha Trilogy, but I did love him and I was very excited to see how his story played out! In case you didn't already know, I am OBSESSED with the original trilogy, but didn't much care for Six of Crows. It felt too different, but King of Scars is a nice blend of the two and it was amazing to be back in Ravka! I'm going to try really hard to keep this coherent, but no promises.First, it's important to point out that, although this is marketed as Nikolai's book, the title is literally Nikolai, and the synopsis is 100% Nikolai, this is not really his book. There is so much more going on here, most obviously that about half the chapters are from Nina's perspective. As I said, I didn't love the Six of Crows duology, but I didn't dislike Nina here. Although I would have been just fine with it if her chapters were left out completely, I do think it was a nice way to bring together the two series.So, let's get to Nikolai. He is the prince/privateer we all remember, but a little more grown up. To me, Nikolai was obviously a bit more mature than he was in the trilogy and I loved seeing this side of him. Of course, he still has the snark and remains full of himself. His journey in this book revolves around purging the darkness put in him by the Darkling and it is a long and fascinating one. I loved his struggle with the demon inside him and the complexity it brought to his character. I also loved his banter with Zoya, who I found myself loving even more than I already did! I definitely ship the two of them.Speaking of shipping, there was not much romance in this book and that surprised me. While not every book needs romance, a Grisha book without anyone to swoon over didn't feel quite right. As I said, I loved Nikolai and Zoya together, so hopefully we get some of that in book two! It also seems possible that there will be a new Nina romance, but I won't say anything else to avoid spoilers.My biggest question about King of Scars was whether or not the Darkling would be back. While it seemed a little impossible, we all know what that word means in the Grishaverse. Here's what I'll say about that: This book does a really good job of solidifying that the Darkling was a BIG BAD. I'll come right out and say he will always be my problematic fave. But there was a LOT of focus on how terrible he was in this book and I assume it may have something to do with how many readers loved him despite his being kind of awful. I still love him.As you can see, the story is quite complex. There are multiple points of view and two to three main storylines happening at any one time. I enjoyed the entire book, but there were most definitely points where it dragged, especially the chapters with Nikolai and his crew. His story should be the most interesting, but there was quite a bit of walking and talking and sitting. At 528 pages, this is a big book and I did love it, but it could probably have been whittled down a little.The only other thing I'll say is THAT ENDING blew me away and took this book from four stars to five in a page! I am going to be throwing one long fit between now and when book two is finally published because I cannot wait to see what happens next. I'll admit, this book was a little different than I expected, but Leigh Bardugo knows how to write a great story and I can't wait to read the next chapter!