Scan barcode
A review by _lepetitlivre
King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
4.0
This book follows Nikolai, Zoya and Nina’s stories following the events of the Ravkan Civil War that takes place in the Shadow and Bone trilogy!
I really enjoyed reading from Nikolai and Zoya’s POV, it was a really interesting insight into characters that we see a lot of from Alina’s point of view in the original trilogy but to actually get into their minds was really lovely. I loved the way that we get to see more into Zoya’s past and why she is the way she is. I weeped at her story about her being betrothed to wed at 9 years old and everything that followed with her aunt being killed because of The Darkling. I always thought she was a wonderfully complex character and that there was more than met the eye but I loved actually being able to read deeper into her character.
I loved Nina so much, as always - she remains one of my all time favourite characters and oh my god the chapter where she buries Matthias? Broke my heart all over again. Ms. Bardugo WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO US?! Even though I miss Matthias and Nina together desperately I am so very excited to see where Nina’s relationship with Hanne goes, there is already so much tension with Nina discovering that Hanne is Jarl Brum’s daughter!! Very excited to see what naughty things they will get up to at the Ice Court and how they’re going to wreak havoc from within.
Nikolai is just a beautiful character, I have loved him every page and line that I have read of him and I WILL NEVER STOP. It hurt that he was struggling so much with himself and the monster inside of him but he is NIKOLAI LANSTOV nothing will stop him from saving his country.
Honorary mention of Isaak because what a guy - he died for his country, in love with the woman who killed him, wearing the face of his king. Honestly - what a man.
ALSO I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS QUOTE TO EVERYONE - “Yuri Vedenen, if you upset my wife again, I will kill you where you stand.” "Oh, David. You've never threatened to murder anyone for me before."
All in all, I’ve given this book 4 stars, I loved it and literally inhaled it reading it within 24 hours but there was something it lacked that I just can’t put my finger on yet...
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Edit: I figured out what I didn’t like. It was the pacing, it was really slow in the beginning and took about 300 pages to actually get into anything interesting plot wise.
I really enjoyed reading from Nikolai and Zoya’s POV, it was a really interesting insight into characters that we see a lot of from Alina’s point of view in the original trilogy but to actually get into their minds was really lovely. I loved the way that we get to see more into Zoya’s past and why she is the way she is. I weeped at her story about her being betrothed to wed at 9 years old and everything that followed with her aunt being killed because of The Darkling. I always thought she was a wonderfully complex character and that there was more than met the eye but I loved actually being able to read deeper into her character.
I loved Nina so much, as always - she remains one of my all time favourite characters and oh my god the chapter where she buries Matthias? Broke my heart all over again. Ms. Bardugo WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO US?! Even though I miss Matthias and Nina together desperately I am so very excited to see where Nina’s relationship with Hanne goes, there is already so much tension with Nina discovering that Hanne is Jarl Brum’s daughter!! Very excited to see what naughty things they will get up to at the Ice Court and how they’re going to wreak havoc from within.
Nikolai is just a beautiful character, I have loved him every page and line that I have read of him and I WILL NEVER STOP. It hurt that he was struggling so much with himself and the monster inside of him but he is NIKOLAI LANSTOV nothing will stop him from saving his country.
Honorary mention of Isaak because what a guy - he died for his country, in love with the woman who killed him, wearing the face of his king. Honestly - what a man.
ALSO I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS QUOTE TO EVERYONE - “Yuri Vedenen, if you upset my wife again, I will kill you where you stand.” "Oh, David. You've never threatened to murder anyone for me before."
All in all, I’ve given this book 4 stars, I loved it and literally inhaled it reading it within 24 hours but there was something it lacked that I just can’t put my finger on yet...
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Edit: I figured out what I didn’t like. It was the pacing, it was really slow in the beginning and took about 300 pages to actually get into anything interesting plot wise.