Review: I was pleasantly surprised by “King of Scars!” Though it doesn’t top “Six of Crows,” it came pretty darn close. 

 

I had a wonderful time reading from the perspectives of Nikolai and Zoya, characters who were introduced, but never fully explored in the “Shadow and Bone” trilogy. Bardugo did a great job making their voices distinctive from past characters and it was extremely entertaining to to see the ways in which Nikolai’s witty banter clashed with Zoya’s sharp tongue. 

 

In addition, I enjoyed learning more about Zoya and Nikolai’s backstories and how they fit into the world of the grishaverse. In particular, I really enjoyed Zoya’s development and how Bardugo carefully revealed her past, which provided insight into her prickly demeanor. 

 

The incorporation of Nina’s perspective helped to tie in the world of “Six of Crows” which I enjoyed. Bardugo’s writing captured her loss really well and it resonated with me. 

 

Another element I appreciated was the presence of diverse characters. It was great to see characters with dis/abilities (like Adrik) serve as powerful grisha, characters of color (like Zoya) share their point of view, and characters (like Hanne) communicate to readers that is it is okay to question your gender. 

 

All in all, I found “King of Scars” to be a great read! The subtle romance sprinkled throughout and descriptive action sequences kept me engaged. The cliffhanger that brought the book to a close definitely makes me eager to start book 2!