A review by foxyreadings
King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

3.0

To be honest, I don't really know what to think of this book. It wasn't bad, I genuinely had a good time reading it. But it wasn't what I was expecting at all. I was expecting lots of Nikolai's wits, plots, and action filled with Grisha magic, and what I got was a very slow-paced book focusing a lot on the characters' past.

And it's not much about Nikolai actually. That probably was my biggest disappointment. I loved this character in Shadow and Bone trilogy, so witty and fun, and I was so looking forward to a whole duology with him as main character. But King of Scars isn't Nikolai's story, no matter what the blurb let you think. Sure he's there and plays a significant part, but he shares the main stage with two other characters, Zoya (from Shadow and Bone too), and Nina (from Six of Crows). Actually the character that made the biggest impression on me in King of Scars is Zoya. She has a strong personality, she's very clever, and the stories about her past revealed here give a better understanding of her actions in Shadow and Bone.
It was good to see Nikolai again, but I found him different. He was a lot darker and a lot less fun than when we got to know him as privateer Sturmhond in Shadow and Bone. That's probably because of his demon inside, but still, I was quite disappointed.

The story alternates points of view between Nikolai, Zoya, Nina, and Isaak (new character, a young soldier who impersonates Nikolai at the court while the king is away battling his demon. I liked him a lot). While Nikolai's, Zoya's and Isaak's chapters narrate the same plot, Nina's chapters however focus on a different side plot as she's on a mission in Fjerda to save Grisha girls there. Honestly I didn't care too much about this side story, it didn't seem much related to the main one, and also I didn't have many feelings for Nina, but it might be because I am not familiar with her. She's not properly introduced because you're supposed to know her from Six of Crows (and I only read book one, which I barely have any recollection of). So here's a warning: make sure you have read the entire Grishaverse before starting with King of Scars!

The ending was interesting though, and I'm curious about the second book.