A 2020 LOCUS AWARD FINALIST!The Grishaverse will be coming to Netflix soon with Shadow and Bone, an original series! Enter the Grishaverse with the instant #1 New York Times-bestseller King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo, the first book in the King of Scars Duology. “[Bardugo] touches on religion, class, family, love — all organically, all effortlessly, all cloaked in the weight of a post-war … all effortlessly, all cloaked in the weight of a post-war reckoning with the cost (literal and figurative) of surviving the events that shape both people and nations.” —NPR
“The story exists at an intersection of past and future selves, and in the dawning understanding that what you most fear may be what you most need.” —Washington Post
Face your demons…or feed them. The dashing young king, Nikolai Lantsov, has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, Nikolai must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.
Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha general, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.
An Imprint Book
Read all the books in the Grishaverse!
The Shadow and Bone Trilogy
(previously published as The Grisha Trilogy)
Shadow and Bone
Siege and Storm
Ruin and Rising
The Six of Crows Duology
Six of Crows
Crooked Kingdom
The King of Scars Duology
King of Scars
The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic
The Severed Moon: A Year-Long Journal of Magic
Praise for the Grishaverse
“A master of fantasy.” —The Huffington Post
“Utterly, extremely bewitching.” —The Guardian
“The best magic universe since Harry Potter.” —Bustle
“This is what fantasy is for.” —The New York Times Book Review
“[A] world that feels real enough to have its own passport stamp.” —NPR
“The darker it gets for the good guys, the better.” —Entertainment Weekly
“Sultry, sweeping and picturesque. . . . Impossible to put down.” —USA Today
“There’s a level of emotional and historical sophistication within Bardugo’s original epic fantasy that sets it apart.” —Vanity Fair
“Unlike anything I’ve ever read.” —Veronica Roth, bestselling author of Divergent
“Bardugo crafts a first-rate adventure, a poignant romance, and an intriguing mystery!” —Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series
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An excellent fantasy and no spoilers but that ending just blew me away at the same time it made me want to reread the earlier books. One of the best Fantasy series today!
It has been almost a week since I finished this book and I’m still not over it. I loved this book, and everything about it. Once think I should say is that you should most definitely read at least The Bone and Shadow trilogy first, as well as the Six of Crows Books. Six of crows is maybe not necessary but will most definitely help to understand and know the characters. This books starts off a few months after the event in the last Bone and Shadow book, and a lot has happened since then. We see a mix of characters from Bone and Shadow as well Six of Crows. I thought it was a great blend of characters and they worked well together. The group is split into basically three mini groups and all work on different missions but the same goal, we again get multiple POVs which makes it so much more fun to read and follow our friends. The friendship and characters were always one of my favorite parts of the grisha-verse and that is not any different here. It is fast paced and we never get a minute if rest. The book is also chockfull of twist and turns. Overall, I think this book was my favorite book in the grisha-verse yet, even with that horrible, horrible cliffhanger. I rate it full 5 and can’t wait for the next book to be released.
Even though at parts this book felt like just one elaborate set-up for the next book where the real plot would happen, it was still a pretty good time. We return to Nikolai’s fun and entertaining voice and character with the added bonus of an actual look into his mind, and Zoya, who seemed petty and one-dimensional in the original trilogy, is fleshed out into one of the most compelling characters of the novel. There’s excellent worldbuilding in regards to the actual Ravkan religion and history where in the original trilogy things were slightly hand-wavy, and the world, continents, and wars were much clearer. I’m not sure how I would’ve felt about it had I not read the rest of the Grishaverse; King of Scars was marketed as a standalone that could’ve been read without the rest of the books, but it does rely heavily on previous knowledge, especially in regards to Shadow and Bone.
The main complaint: the constant switching of POVs really broke up the flow of the narrative and I felt myself wanting to skim certain chapters in a hurry to get back to the POV where the action was, but I suspect (hope) that the stories will tie together in a more cohesive plotline in the next book. If they don’t, I feel like this easily could’ve been two separate Grisha books: one with Nikolai and Zoya and one with Nina. Six of Crows had so many different POVs, but since we were following one group and narrative, it never felt like the action slowed down. I hope that’s what Bardugo is building up to.
What a ride! How am I so attached to each and every character? They each have such distinct voices and motivations, and more to the point – I actually LIKE them. Well, except for the nasty ones. Too often these days I find that writers try so hard to make their characters complex and flawed, that they end up being self-centred to the point I stop caring about them. Not so in the Grishaverse. Compassion shines through as a theme in this series, and I can really connect with that. This story has heart. And mine is now quietly broken in all the best ways.
this book. i really went into this having no clue what to expect, but i can now say i was so shocked about how much i end up loving this. nikolai has always been one of my favorite grishverse characters, so naturally i loved a book focused quite a lot on him. also zoya?? i think i might love her more than nikolai, leigh wrote her so well, and i really enjoyed getting to finally know more about her past and a look into her thoughts through her chapters. due to the longer length i really expected this book to get slow at times and leave me uninterested, suprisingly though it didn’t. i was engulfed in this from the moment i started and until the moment i read the last page. if you are reading this review, go read this book. zoya and nikolai will not let you down.
Whoever thinks Zoya and Nikolai are not a good pair is insane. You are crazy. I am sorry but I have not been this excited about a couple since Kaz and Inej and that is saying something. This was definitely not as incredible and exciting as six of crows, but it was also WAY better than the shadow and bone trilogy itself. I like Nikolai way too much to not enjoy his books.
The Zoya and Nikolai storyline has NEVER crossed my mind but I think this was a genius move. She is everything he is not and vice-versa. She is the gloomy, violent, cold, distant, brooding, ruthless character and he is the ray of sunshine, flirtatious, happy, excited, outgoing and handsome king. This is one of the top 5 tropes to read and I am here for it.
Nina’s chapters were SO depressing. I don’t know how I got through them. I still can’t get over M’s death. Her chapters were beautifully written at first but they really got me down. I caught myself rolling my eyes and just wishing they would be over soon because I just wanted more Zoya and Nikolai to be honest. Which makes me a little sad, I love Nina but I think part of her died with M and watching her grieve and work through this just hurts too much. What I loved about her isn’t quite there anymore. Maybe she will get better with time?
All I know is, this was a good book. Not super exciting and not a lot really going on but I am not mad about it. I will take any chance I can get to receive some more Nikolai content. Bless me with this sexy man, I will take it. He makes me laugh enough to make this all worth it. Also please, GIVE ME SOME ZOYA AND NIKOLAI ACTION. I need it. On to the next one 🙂
I loved this book. Maybe because it focused more on the Grisha, maybe because I enjoy King Nikolai, or maybe because my favorite villain returns. I dunno, but it’s a great read.
I’ve been continuing on with the Grishaverse books to end June out. Last night, I finished King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo, published by ORION Children’s Books. It’s the first book in the latest duology of the universe. Unfortunately, I don’t have the next book, so finishing out the Grishaverse will have to wait.
King of Scars continues the stories of three beloved characters. Nikolai, King of Ravka, is wrestling with the demon the Darkling left him with during the Ravkan civil war. Zoya, general of the Second Army, has done and will do anything to rebuild the Ravkan armies and save the kingdom. Nina is on a mission in Fjerda, heart set on saving Grisha from the prejudiced country, and also on fulfilling a promise she made to Matthias. Above them all, they must deal with the threat of imminent war to Ravka from all sides, people experimenting with Grisha on a drug called Jurda Parem, and winged Shu coming out of the sky to steal Grisha.
Though I preferred the Six of Crows duology, I can admire how much Leigh Bardugo’s writing has strengthened since the original Shadow and Bone trilogy. I think for her writing in third person is much more of a strength.
Overall, I think the main theme of the book is about coming to terms with who you are, the good and the bad. Nikolai must conquer his literal demons. Zoya must accept her power. Nina must not let her grief or addiction consume her, and find a way to fulfill the promise and her dreams. This is a great theme that can be applied to everyday life and not just a fantasy world–we all have our own demons, even if they aren’t winged or crave human flesh. We must accept the good and bad of ourselves.
I was excited to read this book because it takes the point of view of my favorite characters. But I was also nervous–because returning to Ravka, I thought we might be returning to the writing style of the original style. While I was wrong about that, I found I was still more invested in Nina’s story. I don’t know if Nina is just more compelling or I felt more invested because of how much I loved Six of Crows, and she referenced her friends in Ketterdam occasionally.
Though I love Nikolai and his witty banter, I found his point of view the least compelling. I think I like observing him from another character instead of being trapped in his mind.
Zoya was a great counterpart and I liked being in her head. I always liked her, but it was eye-opening to see her past trauma and understand the way she acts and what she wanted.
Halfway through the book, we also take on another point of view–of Isaak. Isaak is adorable and cautious but eager to do anything for his country. I actually loved being in his head, and seeing how he reacted to the events that were happening in the capital.
Overall, I feel like we didn’t get enough time with the characters because of the switching point of views. Particularly Zoya. I would love to see more of her training with the dragon. I think her chapters might’ve been the least in the book, which is a shame because she was just understanding how Grisha power really works.
I also didn’t like the way the plot was going towards the end. Without spoilers, all I will say is that they are calling to something in the original trilogy instead of bringing in a unique roadblock. Also, I’m quite upset about how the romance is going–particularly if there is indeed a wedding in the next book.
Also, it seems like there are some inconsistencies with how the magic (or small science) works between the books. For instance, in the original trilogy, tailoring had to be done every day to keep up appearances. However, in King of Scars, we see Nina be tailored for months without need of upkeep. Also, there seems to be some confusion on amplifiers. As in I’m confused. But I can’t go in to how or why without spoilers.
Overall, I did like this book. It was much better than the original trilogy, but not as good as the Six of Crows duology. I think, indeed, that this puts it at four stars out of five.
Now I just need to get my hands on the next book. It’s not impossible, just improbable.
Love this series!
So good! So much action! I loved seeing Nina finding her self and figuring out her new powers more, Zoya is and always will be such a badass, and Nikolai is always three steps ahead of everyone else. And that ending! I could not see it coming from a mile away! So excited to see what happens in the next book!
It gives a nice view of some minor characters. Not as interesting as the first in the series.
Nikolai is one of my favorite characters in the Grishaverse, so I really enjoyed this opportunity to get more into his character. Word of advice . . . don’t be fooled by his charm and wit!
(although I love his charm and wit)
Nikolai is a clever and very talented king, but he is starting to lose himself to the dark magic, so he must risk it all, hoping he can save his throne and be able to defend his country from all the people that are plotting to make it burn.
In order to do this, Nikolai will take a trip with Zoya and a fanatic Monk that dreams with the darkling.
Meanwhile Genya, Tolya and Tamar will do the unbelievable to keep Nikolai’s throne for him, with the help of a wonderful character named Issac.
A very entertaining read, with an unexpected ending….
*The biggest spoiler that’s in this is a name you might not be familiar with if you haven’t read.*
I loved this book. The characters are amazing, I enjoyed the plot, and it had me a tangle of emotions the entire time. Honestly, I just want to reread it. It was a little bit slow in the beginning, but for me, the rest of the book made that insignificant.
Nikolai was my favorite character in Shadow and Bone. I still love him. I enjoyed seeing more of him and his past. We also got to see more of what was on in his head, and I lived for it. So much was added to his character in this book. I just want him to be happy.
Zoya Nazyalensky is one of my all-time favorite characters. I knew the first time she showed up in Shadow and Bone that she could be an amazing character. There she was more of a source of conflict for Mal and Alina rather than her own character. But that is no longer the case. Her development through that series and now this book changed it. She’s becoming such a beautiful character. I love her. Her growth since that first book is amazing. We got her backstory, and it killed me; seeing her thought and feelings and memories. It was so good. Her scenes with Juris, especially at the end nearly took me out.
I had no idea Nina was in this book so when I got to her first chapter, I screamed. I love Nina, and I’ve always loved her. I’m so glad we got to see more of her story. It’s obvious how different she is from the beginning of Six of Crows. It broke my heart watching her work through her grief. She is an amazing character, and this book just showed even more of why. I can’t wait to see what she does next.
As usual, Genya and David stole my heart. I love them, and they love each other so much. If anything happens to them in Rule of Wolves, I might not survive. I’m also living for Genya and Zoya’s friendship.
I’m not gonna lie. I really ship Nikolai and Zoya. Like really ship it. I never expected it to happen. It caught me by surprise, but it did not take long at all for it to start. Their interactions are amazing. Their dynamic is one of my favorites ever. I need them to be endgame. Please.
The ending nearly took me out though. I wasn’t expecting it. I yelling for basically the entire last chapter. Cliffhanger isn’t a good enough description for that ending. I don’t really know why this is happening, and I find it utterly terrifying.
I can’t wait for Rule of Wolves. Leigh Bardugo has the power to ruin me.
It was nice going back to Ravka and seeing how the world over there is progressing in the aftermath of Santka Alina and well things are not going too well. Poor Nikolai is having a real tough time. I was always the black sheep with my preferences during the Shadow & Bone trilogy in that I preferred Mal, but Nikolai getting his own time to shine was great and I really came to love him. Zoya though. She was so fierce and rough around the edges and I adore her. But Nina! Nina has come so far since the start of Six of Crows and watching that progression has been great. Also a quick moment to acknowledge that David is the best. King of Scars was another solid addition to the Grishaverse.
Alright, so I loved Nikolai in the Grisha trilogy & I was so excited when Leigh said he was getting his own series. With that being said, I knew it was going to be a duology, so I waited to read it until Rule of Wolves (book 2) was going to come out. I hate waiting for new books in series & I hate feeling like I need to re-read the previous books to fully prepare for the current one. I don’t know if it was me, but while I was reading/listening to KoS I felt like I should’ve re-read the Grisha trilogy & Six of Crows duology. We get the awesome mixing of Nina & Zoya with Nikolai & other characters from the previous series. I just felt like I was forgetting important aspects of the characters’ back stories. Maybe this is beneficial because I saw some readers’ reviews & they were unhappy the characters didn’t seem fully genuine to their past roles in books. I don’t know, but I felt lost sometimes. All in all, I did enjoy the book. For some reason, when I decide to read a book by Leigh, I get sidetracked and it takes me FOREVER, to finish it. It’s taken me all month to get through KoS. I did it though! Just in time for the release of book 2, Rule of Wolves.
Let’s dive deeper into my thoughts, I truly enjoyed getting to see inside Zoya’s mind. I liked her in the Shadow & Bone (Grisha) trilogy. She was a witch in those books, but for some reason I like broody characters. It was great to see her view point & get to understand why she’s the way she is. Nina was a sassy enjoyment in the Six of Crows duology & I feel like she has a long road to fully recovery from that ending. I loved her in SoCs. Her character in KoS was frustrating at times, but I had to remember she was grieving in her own ways. Now, Nikolai….I needed more. I wanted more from his chapters but the felt far & few between. He was himself but also not. I know he’s changed since the trilogy like all the characters but I wanted more insight into him as a person & see his witty charming self. Also, the storyline was slow moving for me at times, but I’m hoping the second book with be quicker paced given the ending of KoS. I’m very excited to see how Leigh crafts Rule of Wolves.
I can’t believe I’m rating a Leigh Bardugo book less than 4 stars, but I really struggled with King of Scars. It’s worth noting that this book, unlike its predecessors, can’t be read as a standalone – it focuses entirely on characters and plot lines that featured in the previous Grishaverse books, so you’ll need to have read all five preceding novels in order to understand this book. Not necessarily a bad thing – I always enjoy a good crossover – but it does mean you can’t get to King of Scars without first experiencing the breakneck pace and energy of Kaz’s crew in Ketterdam, and unfortunately, this book suffered by comparison. Pacing was a massive issue in KoS – Nina’s storyline felt oddly woven in and dissonant, and Issak’s chapters were totally unnecessary. There was just too much going on, and KoS felt more like two books smushed together.
One of those books I loved – Nina is one of my favorite GV characters and she’s still the fierce, wonderful narrator she was when fighting alongside Dirtyhands. I thought the continuation of her story was masterfully done, though I would have appreciated an entire novel’s worth of pages to see her story told more fully and ideally with some more familiar characters coming back to help in her own heist.
The other half – Nikolai and Zoya’s – was really hard to follow. Nikolai is no longer the roguish privateer, but is instead haunted by the darkness that apparently still lives inside him 3 years after the end of the war. Zoya starts to feel like a resurrection of Alina chasing after the limits of Grisha power (despite the many warnings we heard in S&B that this was a Bad Idea). And somehow, even though it’s only been 3 years, which is not a lot of time, people are already forgetting how terrible the Darkling was and are worshiping him as a Saint. I felt like there was a missed opportunity for a prequel about Nikolai’s life as Sturmhold, which I would have vastly preferred.
Well written plot line and empathetic characters. Well paced. Enjoyable Fantasy. Just the escape needed while sheltering from COVID.
King of Scars is an interesting story but it has a very slow start for the length of the book. The first 40% is character back ground and current events. Then things get a bit interesting and entertaining though I am still unclear how the king figures everything out at the end, pertaining to the guard unless he went around examining all female guards of the Shu. Oh well.
• •
: King of Scars
: King of Scars #1 & Grishaverse #6
: Leigh Bardugo
: 4/5
First off all, before starting this book, I highly recommend reading all the other books in the Grishaverse too. A lot of things that happen are interconnected with the previous books and could be confusing if you haven’t read them before. I have a hate/love relationship with the Grishaverse. There are things that I absolutely LOVE and there are things I could care less about. What I love is that you can see the growth of the author’s writing throughout these books, I feel she is getting better with every book. I love Nikolai as a character. He really impressed me as a secondary character in the other books and it was nice to get more from him. I fell in love with his character and struggles even more. Who really surprised me though, especially on the character development front was Zoya. She goes through a lot of stuff and it was nice to get into her head. I am 100% behind a Nikolai and Zoya ship, so I hope that will happen. Some of the things that happened were not really surprising and it also made me skip/skim through some chapters. THAT ENDING though. I could see it coming, but also I couldn’t. Let’s just say I am glad I read this book with the release date of the second one only being one month away. Overall, I am still enjoying this story a lot and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
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