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A review by carlyxdeexx
King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
4.0
I’ll start by saying Bardugo spoiled us all with SIX OF CROWS and CROOKED KINGDOM, so now every other book I read of hers is measured by those two, which means they have near impossible standards to meet.
I liked a lot of things about KING OF SCARS. Nikolai is so damn appealing. Zoya is ferocious and imposing. It’s delightful to see Nina again as a central character. The Grishaverse is as compelling and well-woven as ever. The dialogue is excellent. And as always, I was hooked on this book—it was tough to put down. It may or may not have motivated me to finally take a much-needed trip to the laundromat to wash and dry my comforter, well, that and the fact that I could sit and finish this book in a sitting as well as the perfect weather. Still, quite a feat.
There were also things about the book that just didn’t put it in the five-star category for me, and mostly that had to do with plot elements and organization. It was a bit erratic jumping between the two different narratives occurring at once. I’m usually unopposed to this if the narratives clearly connect or come together down the line or correspond in some way to each other, and it seems like that’s Bardugo’s intent with book two, but I couldn’t help craving a bit more direct connection in this book. There were some deep lore things introduced that underwhelmed me a bit. Nikolai is almost too perfect? His affliction feels like his only flaw, and though it certainly makes things difficult, its challenge to him doesn’t feel as genuine as say, Nina’s struggles with loss and change, or as Zoya’s turmoil about her past.
I honestly think Bardugo is at her best when her characters are solving complex puzzles and putting together plans, or rather, heists. We get a taste of that magic here, but not enough for me. Shoutout to Isaak, I liked him.
I liked a lot of things about KING OF SCARS. Nikolai is so damn appealing. Zoya is ferocious and imposing. It’s delightful to see Nina again as a central character. The Grishaverse is as compelling and well-woven as ever. The dialogue is excellent. And as always, I was hooked on this book—it was tough to put down. It may or may not have motivated me to finally take a much-needed trip to the laundromat to wash and dry my comforter, well, that and the fact that I could sit and finish this book in a sitting as well as the perfect weather. Still, quite a feat.
There were also things about the book that just didn’t put it in the five-star category for me, and mostly that had to do with plot elements and organization. It was a bit erratic jumping between the two different narratives occurring at once. I’m usually unopposed to this if the narratives clearly connect or come together down the line or correspond in some way to each other, and it seems like that’s Bardugo’s intent with book two, but I couldn’t help craving a bit more direct connection in this book. There were some deep lore things introduced that underwhelmed me a bit. Nikolai is almost too perfect? His affliction feels like his only flaw, and though it certainly makes things difficult, its challenge to him doesn’t feel as genuine as say, Nina’s struggles with loss and change, or as Zoya’s turmoil about her past.
I honestly think Bardugo is at her best when her characters are solving complex puzzles and putting together plans, or rather, heists. We get a taste of that magic here, but not enough for me. Shoutout to Isaak, I liked him.