Scan barcode
rusty_spurs's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.0
Would have been 5 stars had it not been for the side story with Nina.
Didn’t like the ending but whatevs.
Didn’t like the ending but whatevs.
ghostmila's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lbarsk's review against another edition
5.0
Okay that was FUN AS HELL. Makes me want to reread Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom!
ETA: re-read May 2021 prior to reading Rule of Wolves. Like all of these Grishaverse books, the reread is almost more fun because it allows you to see how everything slots into place, and because you’re not racing ahead to see how the plot unfolds. FUCK YEAH NINA and FUCK YEAH ZOYA. Also I love Nikolai. The end.
ETA: re-read May 2021 prior to reading Rule of Wolves. Like all of these Grishaverse books, the reread is almost more fun because it allows you to see how everything slots into place, and because you’re not racing ahead to see how the plot unfolds. FUCK YEAH NINA and FUCK YEAH ZOYA. Also I love Nikolai. The end.
ninaskokoro's review against another edition
5.0
i didn’t think i could love nina and nikolai more but i do anyways i also love zoya and i just . i love the way leigh bardugo weaves their stories together and the way she writes women is so . i’m bad at reviews but i’ll just put my fave quotes.
“Stop punishing yourself for being someone with a heart.”
“But loss was something different, because she saw no end to it, only the far horizon, stretching on and on.”
“Little red bird, everyday you choose the work of the living. Everyday you choose to go on. There is no failure here, Nina.”
“Stop punishing yourself for being someone with a heart.”
“But loss was something different, because she saw no end to it, only the far horizon, stretching on and on.”
“Little red bird, everyday you choose the work of the living. Everyday you choose to go on. There is no failure here, Nina.”
drridareads's review against another edition
3.0
Fear is a phoenix... You can watch it burn a thousand times and still it will return.
King of Scars begins 3 years after the battle of the fold from Ruin & Rising. We see a post war Kingdom fighting to survive. With threats of war from borders and Nikolai's demon growing stronger..
Nikolai:
“If we don't dream, who will?”
Considering this book is named after him. It was only 1/3rd him. I've found him charming since we first discovered him. And he's still pretty charming. In this book we see him struggling with his inner demon both literally and figuratively. The demon growing inside of him comes to represent his insecurities, his weaknesses.
Was this the real fear that had chased him all these long months? That he would find no cure because the disease was not the demon? That the darkness inside him did not belong to something else but to him alone?
We learn his past, how he established himself even as a child among the royals. We learn about the first friend he made and lost.
Zoya:
“You are owed nothing. Steel is earned. Remember who you are.” .
If I were to describe her in word it would be "survivor". Powerful, dangerous, ruthless Zoya is so much more. Little by little this character's layers were peeled off and what lay under it was just Zoya wearing that mask as as a shield and apologetically. Bardugo goes to show very real issues with her about child marriages about the abuser being crowned. Her amplifier, her strength is all earned.
Zoe Kravitz is my Zoya!
Nina:
“I don't like that word," Nina said, advancing. "Call me Grisha. Call me zowa. Call me death, if you like.”
1/3rd of this book is Nina. And it's the best, most interesting part. Which is sad since this book is supposed to be about Nikolai?
Nina is still in mourning aren't we all? Towards the start she hears Matthias' voice and it's heartbreaking cause we all know it isn't really there. We get to see her parem affected powers evolve. We get to see the harsh sexist (very real like) society of Fjerda. We see how they experiment with different people. Idk it reminds me of racism how a lot of research was done on POC. Also does anyone see a romance blossoming between Hanne and her?
“Ravka made me a soldier. Ketterdam made me a spy. Hanne can help me become something else entirely.”
Katherine Langford or Barbie Ferreira are my Nina Zenik
Isaak
I swear.I pity this guy. He seems like wasted potential. A good hearted soldier told to impersonate the king. With his POV there was barely any character development and that just made me sad. Cause so much more could be done here (but who am I to talk when I can barely write coherent reviews).
Some Random Good Things:
1. David defending Genya.
2. Hanne is such a well written character would really like her POV!
3. Adrik and Leoni seem cool
4. Nina's future purpose
Some Things I did not like:
1. ONLY 1/3rd OF THIS BOOK IS NIKOLAI SO WHY IS THE TITLE AND COVER ABOUT HIM (not that I don't love the cover)
2. The Pace. The second half was just too fast and honestly I wasn't a fan of the part revolving Nikolai and Zoya. Cause what is even going on. It's way too unrealistic. This Fold Realm. These 3 saints.
3. Zoya and Nikolai. Please don't make this happen. I just don't feel they have that kind of chemistry. What is so wrong about letting them remain in a healthy platonic bond. I mean look at Six of Crows.
4. Tamar and Tolya. This is the third book they feature in I think. And these twins need more character. They have so much unexplored potential.
5. Wtf is even that ending?
6. Even though I think you can read Six of Crows Duology without the Shadow and Bone Trilogy but you should not read this before reading previous Grisha books.
Considering this was my most anticipated 2019 i'm disappointed. 3 stars. Idk if I'm being harsh cause of my disappointment or gracious cause of my previous attachment to characters.
Hopefully the second book is better!
King of Scars begins 3 years after the battle of the fold from Ruin & Rising. We see a post war Kingdom fighting to survive. With threats of war from borders and Nikolai's demon growing stronger..
Nikolai:
“If we don't dream, who will?”
Considering this book is named after him. It was only 1/3rd him. I've found him charming since we first discovered him. And he's still pretty charming. In this book we see him struggling with his inner demon both literally and figuratively. The demon growing inside of him comes to represent his insecurities, his weaknesses.
Was this the real fear that had chased him all these long months? That he would find no cure because the disease was not the demon? That the darkness inside him did not belong to something else but to him alone?
We learn his past, how he established himself even as a child among the royals. We learn about the first friend he made and lost.
Zoya:
“You are owed nothing. Steel is earned. Remember who you are.” .
If I were to describe her in word it would be "survivor". Powerful, dangerous, ruthless Zoya is so much more. Little by little this character's layers were peeled off and what lay under it was just Zoya wearing that mask as as a shield and apologetically. Bardugo goes to show very real issues with her about child marriages about the abuser being crowned. Her amplifier, her strength is all earned.
Spoiler
And this is why it pisses me off how she just learnt that Saint Judith's (was it) power within the span of days.Zoe Kravitz is my Zoya!
Nina:
“I don't like that word," Nina said, advancing. "Call me Grisha. Call me zowa. Call me death, if you like.”
1/3rd of this book is Nina. And it's the best, most interesting part. Which is sad since this book is supposed to be about Nikolai?
Nina is still in mourning aren't we all? Towards the start she hears Matthias' voice and it's heartbreaking cause we all know it isn't really there. We get to see her parem affected powers evolve. We get to see the harsh sexist (very real like) society of Fjerda. We see how they experiment with different people. Idk it reminds me of racism how a lot of research was done on POC. Also does anyone see a romance blossoming between Hanne and her?
“Ravka made me a soldier. Ketterdam made me a spy. Hanne can help me become something else entirely.”
Katherine Langford or Barbie Ferreira are my Nina Zenik
Isaak
I swear.I pity this guy. He seems like wasted potential. A good hearted soldier told to impersonate the king. With his POV there was barely any character development and that just made me sad. Cause so much more could be done here (but who am I to talk when I can barely write coherent reviews).
Spoiler
When Nikolai saw the knife. Why didn't he do anything to save his friend?Some Random Good Things:
1. David defending Genya.
2. Hanne is such a well written character would really like her POV!
3. Adrik and Leoni seem cool
4. Nina's future purpose
Some Things I did not like:
1. ONLY 1/3rd OF THIS BOOK IS NIKOLAI SO WHY IS THE TITLE AND COVER ABOUT HIM (not that I don't love the cover)
2. The Pace. The second half was just too fast and honestly I wasn't a fan of the part revolving Nikolai and Zoya. Cause what is even going on. It's way too unrealistic. This Fold Realm. These 3 saints.
Spoiler
2 very powerful ancient saints couldn't overpower the evil one but this newly learned Zoya could?3. Zoya and Nikolai. Please don't make this happen. I just don't feel they have that kind of chemistry. What is so wrong about letting them remain in a healthy platonic bond. I mean look at Six of Crows.
4. Tamar and Tolya. This is the third book they feature in I think. And these twins need more character. They have so much unexplored potential.
5. Wtf is even that ending?
Spoiler
The Darkling is one of the best ya lit villains. I agree. His merzost powers and more is still a mystery. I agree. But that should've been explored in the previous trilogy I think. But yes he's weaker now. So it might be good. But honestly not a fan of resurrecting villains. But he makes quite a chilling entrance!6. Even though I think you can read Six of Crows Duology without the Shadow and Bone Trilogy but you should not read this before reading previous Grisha books.
Considering this was my most anticipated 2019 i'm disappointed. 3 stars. Idk if I'm being harsh cause of my disappointment or gracious cause of my previous attachment to characters.
Hopefully the second book is better!
ajileowens's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
nina_zenik_simp's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
nanlikesbooks14's review against another edition
4.0
The first half was kind of slow but once it picked up, I found myself devouring it. I was also not expecting to love Zoya as much as I did! 👩🏻💙⚡️
qjbrown96's review against another edition
5.0
King of scars brings back my favorite character from the Shadow and Bone trilogy, Nikolai and one of my favorite characters from Six of Crows, Nina. This book follows Nikolai returning to being King and battling his “demons”, Zoya helps Nikolai secure his throne and rebuild the Second Army, and Nina who is trying to get over the loss of her love and must fight an old enemy to release Grisha slaves.
votesforwomen's review against another edition
3.0
hi I'm sobbing. My initial review was why would Nina end up with someone who's not Matthias? Why????
and uh...I finished it and I still don't have an answer to that. I'm still angry. I'm still really, really mad.
Nikolai is great, but other stuff? No. Stop it.
and uh...I finished it and I still don't have an answer to that. I'm still angry. I'm still really, really mad.
Nikolai is great, but other stuff? No. Stop it.