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A review by deannab
King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
!!!! Spoilers throughout the review !!!!!
I didn’t like the switch off from the story surrounding Nikolai to Nina’s. They felt too disconnected and I can see how it might fit into the next book but it seemed like it could be its own book. I like Nina’s story but it doesn’t carry the same weight that the plot around Nikolai (& company) does. So, I found myself just skimming through her sections to get back to the others. Also, I felt like Hanne's character came off as very sheltered and needed her handheld along the way. I just don't have patience for it because there is a precedence of the Grishaverse characters to be from harder backgrounds and experience the impact of war-torn nations. Maybe if she had been introduced from her POV I would feel differently. However, we just get that she doesn't want to live up to Fjerdian expectations but does nothing to really change that until Nina needs her. Another aspect I do not like is the ending. It felt like nothing was accomplished because Nikolai still has the demon thing, some random saints are dead, Isaak is dead (presumably), and the Darkling is back. I felt so unsatisfied after closing the book. I hate that the Darkling is back because it undoes all of Alina's sacrifices in the Shadow and Bone series. There could have been a new big bad developed since there were 500 pages to work with. On to some things I enjoyed. I love Zoya and I'm glad to see more of her character's point of view. Her and Nikolai's relationship developing is lovely. I enjoyed Isaak's character but it felt unnecessary to perma-kill him. We spent a good bit of the book in his pov learning his desires and knowing he'll never get them is just a lame end. Also, an attempted assassination would have moved the plot along just as much as his death. Overall, I was entertained but would not read this again, and is my least favorite book in the Grishaverse thus far.
I didn’t like the switch off from the story surrounding Nikolai to Nina’s. They felt too disconnected and I can see how it might fit into the next book but it seemed like it could be its own book. I like Nina’s story but it doesn’t carry the same weight that the plot around Nikolai (& company) does. So, I found myself just skimming through her sections to get back to the others. Also, I felt like Hanne's character came off as very sheltered and needed her handheld along the way. I just don't have patience for it because there is a precedence of the Grishaverse characters to be from harder backgrounds and experience the impact of war-torn nations. Maybe if she had been introduced from her POV I would feel differently. However, we just get that she doesn't want to live up to Fjerdian expectations but does nothing to really change that until Nina needs her. Another aspect I do not like is the ending. It felt like nothing was accomplished because Nikolai still has the demon thing, some random saints are dead, Isaak is dead (presumably), and the Darkling is back. I felt so unsatisfied after closing the book. I hate that the Darkling is back because it undoes all of Alina's sacrifices in the Shadow and Bone series. There could have been a new big bad developed since there were 500 pages to work with. On to some things I enjoyed. I love Zoya and I'm glad to see more of her character's point of view. Her and Nikolai's relationship developing is lovely. I enjoyed Isaak's character but it felt unnecessary to perma-kill him. We spent a good bit of the book in his pov learning his desires and knowing he'll never get them is just a lame end. Also, an attempted assassination would have moved the plot along just as much as his death. Overall, I was entertained but would not read this again, and is my least favorite book in the Grishaverse thus far.