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theravenkingx 's review for:
King of Scars
by Leigh Bardugo
This book deserve 3-3.5 stars but I am rating it 4 stars cos I am biased and also trash for Grishaverse.
When Leigh announced a Nikloai centred duology and the return of one of my favourite characters from Six of Crows - Nina Zenik, I felt a rush of excited particles, jostling in my brain like a bunch of overeager children, about to receive a free ice-cream. I waited for this book like a child would for their Christmas present. Unfortunately for me, I was oblivious to the fact that road to disappointment is often paved with high expectations.
If you haven't read Six of Crows and shadow and bone series than refrain from reading further. There might be spoilers.
King of Scars? more like king of wrong marketing!! To be honest, I didn't mind multiple POVs as much as I thought I would and the first part of the book balanced multiple POVs quite well - there was enough of everyone, but the second part really messed it up for me. Out of 36 chapter only 10 were from Nikloai's perspective. So I guess It's suffice to say that Nikloai was a side character in his own book. It felt more like Zoya's book, to be frank. And even though I liked Zoya, I didn't think it was right of her to usurp an entire Nikolai book. Isaak - a new character Leigh introduced in the second half - was an interesting addition to the plot but his POV was completely unnecessary. I understand Leigh wanted to show what was happening in the castle when Nikolai was away, but in my opnion he shouldn't have left; Story should have taken a different route where Nikolai had an intregal part to play. Everything that happened inside the fold was a big MEH! for me.
If you change the title of the book to Zoya or even Darkling the content will Immediately start making more sense.
Time for an unpopular opnion
I liked Nina's plot more than the main plot. And I don't think it's right for people to hate her because she was different in this book. There was a reason why she was so lackadaisical; I mean, it was pretty obvious she would act a little different cos she was grieving Matthias. Nina's arc had six of crows vibe; it was dark and less fantastical whereas Nikolai's arc reminded me of Shadow and Bone series - entertaining but nothing groundbreaking. I really loved the scene where Nina bade farewell to Matthias. It was raw and emotional. I loved it. It left my eyes watery.
Nina's arc was very loosely connected to the main plot, and it almost felt like I was reading two different books, simultaneously. I was expecting the two plot lines will intersect in the end, but they didn't, and we also didn't get any Nikolai-Nina banter, sadly. Nina's plot, however, was more engaging, and honestly, I would have really liked, if there were more of her and less of Zoya.
Magic system was the strongest point of Grishaverse but not anymore. The great thing about magic in this world was its realism. It had logic, scientific explanation, and limitations but this book has changed everything. And It made me wonder why The Darkling was hunting for amplifiers when all the power that he wanted was within him, and why didn't the saints help him? It would be a challenge for Leigh to fill these plot holes in the next book.
I wanted Leigh to explain the magic system not ruin it. I wanted to know how grishas came to be and how exactly does Merzost work? We know Ilya Morozova attempted Merzost but we don't know how he did it or what he did. Did he brought those animals to life, which were later sacrificed to create amplifiers for Alina? Instead of filling these plot holes from the first trilogy Leigh created even more.
Despite everything I still enjoyed the book. It was entertaining and Leigh's writing was phenomenal. There were plenty of positives like great political intrigue, loveable cast and characters and a decent plot line. Leigh extended the grisha world beautifully and gave us a glimpse of political relationships between different nations and these relationships were cleverly concocted and didn't feel out of place or something that Leigh made up specifically for this book. It integrated perfectly with our existing knowledge of Grishaverse.
If you love Grishaverse then you should read it but don't expect a six of crows experience from this book.
“The monster is me and I am the monster.”
When Leigh announced a Nikloai centred duology and the return of one of my favourite characters from Six of Crows - Nina Zenik, I felt a rush of excited particles, jostling in my brain like a bunch of overeager children, about to receive a free ice-cream. I waited for this book like a child would for their Christmas present. Unfortunately for me, I was oblivious to the fact that road to disappointment is often paved with high expectations.
If you haven't read Six of Crows and shadow and bone series than refrain from reading further. There might be spoilers.
fears are like weeds. They grow wild if left unattended.
King of Scars? more like king of wrong marketing!! To be honest, I didn't mind multiple POVs as much as I thought I would and the first part of the book balanced multiple POVs quite well - there was enough of everyone, but the second part really messed it up for me. Out of 36 chapter only 10 were from Nikloai's perspective. So I guess It's suffice to say that Nikloai was a side character in his own book. It felt more like Zoya's book, to be frank. And even though I liked Zoya, I didn't think it was right of her to usurp an entire Nikolai book. Isaak - a new character Leigh introduced in the second half - was an interesting addition to the plot but his POV was completely unnecessary. I understand Leigh wanted to show what was happening in the castle when Nikolai was away, but in my opnion he shouldn't have left; Story should have taken a different route where Nikolai had an intregal part to play. Everything that happened inside the fold was a big MEH! for me.
If you change the title of the book to Zoya or even Darkling the content will Immediately start making more sense.
No mourners, no funerals.”
Time for an unpopular opnion
I liked Nina's plot more than the main plot. And I don't think it's right for people to hate her because she was different in this book. There was a reason why she was so lackadaisical; I mean, it was pretty obvious she would act a little different cos she was grieving Matthias. Nina's arc had six of crows vibe; it was dark and less fantastical whereas Nikolai's arc reminded me of Shadow and Bone series - entertaining but nothing groundbreaking. I really loved the scene where Nina bade farewell to Matthias. It was raw and emotional. I loved it. It left my eyes watery.
Nina's arc was very loosely connected to the main plot, and it almost felt like I was reading two different books, simultaneously. I was expecting the two plot lines will intersect in the end, but they didn't, and we also didn't get any Nikolai-Nina banter, sadly. Nina's plot, however, was more engaging, and honestly, I would have really liked, if there were more of her and less of Zoya.
Fear is a phoenix. You can watch it burn a thousand times and still it will return.
Magic system was the strongest point of Grishaverse but not anymore. The great thing about magic in this world was its realism. It had logic, scientific explanation, and limitations but this book has changed everything. And It made me wonder why The Darkling was hunting for amplifiers when all the power that he wanted was within him, and why didn't the saints help him? It would be a challenge for Leigh to fill these plot holes in the next book.
I wanted Leigh to explain the magic system not ruin it. I wanted to know how grishas came to be and how exactly does Merzost work? We know Ilya Morozova attempted Merzost but we don't know how he did it or what he did. Did he brought those animals to life, which were later sacrificed to create amplifiers for Alina? Instead of filling these plot holes from the first trilogy Leigh created even more.
Despite everything I still enjoyed the book. It was entertaining and Leigh's writing was phenomenal. There were plenty of positives like great political intrigue, loveable cast and characters and a decent plot line. Leigh extended the grisha world beautifully and gave us a glimpse of political relationships between different nations and these relationships were cleverly concocted and didn't feel out of place or something that Leigh made up specifically for this book. It integrated perfectly with our existing knowledge of Grishaverse.
If you love Grishaverse then you should read it but don't expect a six of crows experience from this book.