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You can sell anything to me that involves slavic folklore or is inspired by it, and I wouldn't be able to contain my excitement. Thus why I couldn't wait to lay my hands on this book, and dive into a world that is ruled by blood magic, has saints (and them being wicked!), and is described as the perfect book for "The Darkling" fans. But this book has been a total let-down. I wish I could say I enjoyed one aspect of the story, but if I truly try to think of one, it's probably chapter 1-3 and then it stops right theeeeere.
Don't take me wrong, I can see why this book can be loved, and I truly can see the potential for this story. But this felt more like a rough idea, a not developed concept, a love letter to characters like The Darkling but forgetting to introduce the character properly. Many times I happened to stop in the middle of a page and ask myself what editor would let this happen as many many many times I just stood there, confused and bored.
The characters were flat. I couldn't feel for them, or understand them. They seemed to have one trait, and if another trait or habit was convienant for that part of the story, then they would gain it and lose it again. Just like that. You can't make a guy an alcoholic, but then again, he seems to be dealing pretty well with his trauma? I was not able to understand where all of that was coming from, and it was written from his POV. Nadya's devotion to her gods, and then her breaking some rules was predictable, but whatever she was feeling about it, just felt like utter nonsense... because it simply made NO sense. As of the villain... If that should be a love letter to the Darkling, then I ask myself if whoever has promoted this book has truly read the Grishaverse? Because it's a shame to even COMPARE these two.
Anyways, I don't feel good to only talk about negative aspects, and I did decide to rate this book two stars, but simply because I could see the POTENTIAL! I could see why it might appeal to other people. The more I think of this book, the more I lean towards 1 star-rating, but since those are reserved for DNF's, I will keep it like this.
You can sell anything to me that involves slavic folklore or is inspired by it, and I wouldn't be able to contain my excitement. Thus why I couldn't wait to lay my hands on this book, and dive into a world that is ruled by blood magic, has saints (and them being wicked!), and is described as the perfect book for "The Darkling" fans. But this book has been a total let-down. I wish I could say I enjoyed one aspect of the story, but if I truly try to think of one, it's probably chapter 1-3 and then it stops right theeeeere.
Don't take me wrong, I can see why this book can be loved, and I truly can see the potential for this story. But this felt more like a rough idea, a not developed concept, a love letter to characters like The Darkling but forgetting to introduce the character properly. Many times I happened to stop in the middle of a page and ask myself what editor would let this happen as many many many times I just stood there, confused and bored.
The characters were flat. I couldn't feel for them, or understand them. They seemed to have one trait, and if another trait or habit was convienant for that part of the story, then they would gain it and lose it again. Just like that. You can't make a guy an alcoholic, but then again, he seems to be dealing pretty well with his trauma? I was not able to understand where all of that was coming from, and it was written from his POV. Nadya's devotion to her gods, and then her breaking some rules was predictable, but whatever she was feeling about it, just felt like utter nonsense... because it simply made NO sense. As of the villain... If that should be a love letter to the Darkling, then I ask myself if whoever has promoted this book has truly read the Grishaverse? Because it's a shame to even COMPARE these two.
Anyways, I don't feel good to only talk about negative aspects, and I did decide to rate this book two stars, but simply because I could see the POTENTIAL! I could see why it might appeal to other people. The more I think of this book, the more I lean towards 1 star-rating, but since those are reserved for DNF's, I will keep it like this.
Watch our #BookTalkWithWifey chat here https://www.instagram.com/tv/By9tmjqgvFW/
I have come to love this story so so much, of course I eagerly kept reading the third installement. After the shocking events at the end of The Winner's Crime, I knew I couldn't trust myself anymore and I knew that my heart could be just as easily shuttered again. It was the beginning that really nagged at me, I felt so much pain and confusion, wanted to scream at the book, scream at everyone who interrupted me reading.
Only to finish this rather unsatisfied. With this books, it's hard to say a lot about the story without spoilering it. But all I can say is while I did enjoy this book, and think it did a great job as a conclusion, I felt some parts felt odd. While book two richly told the policital side of war, this one focuses on war itself. On the battle, on strategies, on fighting. For the first time, we don't only see intrigues and cunning plans, but really how soldiers are executing their orders. What could go wrong, and what decisions have to be made. No matter the cost. This was a very interesting aspect since after all the games we were witnesses of it gave us a fresh new look on many things. And again, I felt that Marie Rutkoski's writing improved yet another time. Especially the way she used the change of POVs in times of fast actions blew my mind. We kept seeing the same event from different eyes. I loved it, and felt a own kind of adrenaline pumping through my veins when I was reading.
However, I had my problems with this read. To explain myself further, I will have to go into more details which I have labelled as spoilers.
I have come to love this story so so much, of course I eagerly kept reading the third installement. After the shocking events at the end of The Winner's Crime, I knew I couldn't trust myself anymore and I knew that my heart could be just as easily shuttered again. It was the beginning that really nagged at me, I felt so much pain and confusion, wanted to scream at the book, scream at everyone who interrupted me reading.
Only to finish this rather unsatisfied. With this books, it's hard to say a lot about the story without spoilering it. But all I can say is while I did enjoy this book, and think it did a great job as a conclusion, I felt some parts felt odd. While book two richly told the policital side of war, this one focuses on war itself. On the battle, on strategies, on fighting. For the first time, we don't only see intrigues and cunning plans, but really how soldiers are executing their orders. What could go wrong, and what decisions have to be made. No matter the cost. This was a very interesting aspect since after all the games we were witnesses of it gave us a fresh new look on many things. And again, I felt that Marie Rutkoski's writing improved yet another time. Especially the way she used the change of POVs in times of fast actions blew my mind. We kept seeing the same event from different eyes. I loved it, and felt a own kind of adrenaline pumping through my veins when I was reading.
However, I had my problems with this read. To explain myself further, I will have to go into more details which I have labelled as spoilers.
Spoiler
My biggest problem was the memory loss of Kestrel. My heart was throbbing when Arin went for her; it felt like someone ripped it out of my body only to hold it next to my ear so I could hear each thump-thump while I turned the page; one after another. When the realization hit that Kestrel, in fact, has no memory of Arin when he rescued her, I felt my heart put slowly back to place only to shadder in bits and pieces. Watching them interact, seeing the distrust Kestrel's, feeling how non-existent the tension between these two was, turned me at some point desperate. I hoped that she would gain back her memories, I hoped the tension between these two would return in a way we've seen before, and it would fill us up even more. But it just lacked of it? Until the very end of the book, Kestrel couldn't gain everything back of her memory. However, that wasn't the problem since she remembered enough - enough to not question her feelings for Arin, enough to know what has been done to her, enough to be in some way herself again. And while we should have gotten exactly that feeling, I did not. Kestrel felt off-character, even as she was regaining her memory and back at cunning and strategics. Arin's character felt more broken than ever due to that, and he didn't really recover, either. And I still kept rooting for them, hoping for moments that would tear my heart apart. But they never came. As sweet and slow-burn their romance was, it did not fit their dynamic from the previous books, and I couldn't see myself satisfied with the ending.
Watch our #BookTalkWithWifey chat here https://www.instagram.com/tv/By9tmjqgvFW/
After the suprising turn of the Winner's Curse, I couldn't wait a second picking this one up. I needed to know how the story would continue, I needed to know where Kestrel's and Arin's path would lead and if it would cross again. I devoured this read faster than the first book, because Marie Rutkoski definitely increased the risk of this game many levels higher.
We meet Arin in Herran, trying to figure out what this new lifestyle means for him and his people. While Kestrel is at court, trying to understand the games of the emperor, and pleasing him as the fiancée of his son's. As we watch both of them walking a new, own path in their lives, more questions seem to surpass the surface. More people have joined the game of power. Sooner than we can think we see the two interact with each other again, only to feel the tension between them grow, and grow, and grow.
The stakes are higher in this book than they have ever been before. The emperor play a game of his own, Kestrel still fights between two sides, not being able to understand what her heart wants - the love for her father, or that one for Arin. Arin himself enters the game as well, which could lead him to winning just as easily as to failure.
All of what is happening kept me on my toes, and what I loved was Rutkoski's way of telling it. While the first novel's writing was good, she did an amazing job in this one. The way the POV chapters switched, the way she put out the plots of everyone, only to make us believe one thing while another was happening - it was a joy to read. A book I definitely couldn't put down.
I have loved the sequel more than the first book, and this has been probably one of the best sequels I've read, too. I put Kestrel and Arin even closer to my heart, and came to love many more characters, while my hatred for others grew, too. I can only recommend everyone to pick up this series!!!!
After the suprising turn of the Winner's Curse, I couldn't wait a second picking this one up. I needed to know how the story would continue, I needed to know where Kestrel's and Arin's path would lead and if it would cross again. I devoured this read faster than the first book, because Marie Rutkoski definitely increased the risk of this game many levels higher.
We meet Arin in Herran, trying to figure out what this new lifestyle means for him and his people. While Kestrel is at court, trying to understand the games of the emperor, and pleasing him as the fiancée of his son's. As we watch both of them walking a new, own path in their lives, more questions seem to surpass the surface. More people have joined the game of power. Sooner than we can think we see the two interact with each other again, only to feel the tension between them grow, and grow, and grow.
The stakes are higher in this book than they have ever been before. The emperor play a game of his own, Kestrel still fights between two sides, not being able to understand what her heart wants - the love for her father, or that one for Arin. Arin himself enters the game as well, which could lead him to winning just as easily as to failure.
All of what is happening kept me on my toes, and what I loved was Rutkoski's way of telling it. While the first novel's writing was good, she did an amazing job in this one. The way the POV chapters switched, the way she put out the plots of everyone, only to make us believe one thing while another was happening - it was a joy to read. A book I definitely couldn't put down.
I have loved the sequel more than the first book, and this has been probably one of the best sequels I've read, too. I put Kestrel and Arin even closer to my heart, and came to love many more characters, while my hatred for others grew, too. I can only recommend everyone to pick up this series!!!!
Watch our #BookTalkWithWifey chat here https://www.instagram.com/tv/By9tmjqgvFW/
This story was definitely not what I had expected when I picked up the book. Based on recommendations, I went blindly in when I decided it's time to read it. I clearly had no idea, have not read the blurb, just trusted friends telling me to read it. So everything took me quite by suprise.
While I was confused in the very beginning on how fast scenes and the POV were changing, I did realize how essential that was for the story to unfold. We meet Kestrel, the protagonist of the books, in a surrounding that makes it clear: she is anything but the woman her society wants her to be. Which makes us immediately like her, a lot. The story gets fast to the plot points we need, and soon we meet Arin. And while we find out about his intentions pretty soon, there is just something about the way these two characters interact with each other that makes you know that there will be a hell lot of pain involved.
As we keep reading, we get to learn a lot about the history of Valorian and Herran, as well of their different cultures and characteristic traits (or stereotypes and clichés). Arin and Kestrel's conversation and scenes not only point out how different both Valorian and Herran are, but how impossible it is for them to accept the other. It is interesting to watch them get comfortable with each other, as much as the situation allows it, while knowing that there is going to be a turning point. Which came sooner than anticipated.
I was not expecting for the story to take a climate point that fast. Which made me check the page number (which I usually never to) only to realize we barely reached the half of the book. So how will it be going on? One turns the pages, and turns them, and turns them, only to see that the story has taken a whole different pace to tell the continuing events. We experience several climax, until the very last one that makes us close the book with our mouth shaped in a big "O".
When I started reading the first few chapters I was doubting I would like the book. As I mentioned before, chapters ended too fast, there were too many quick changes in the scenes, and the plot seemed to be faster than my mind processing everything. But reaching the end, it all made sense. We needed that fast plot because this story promises more than the rise and fall of a mistreated ethnicity. This story will tell more than about two people having found a comfortable place in their counterpart. And I don't know if I'll be ready to actually see what's coming next. One thing is for sure, I enjoyed not having read the blurb and thus not being prepared for anything. So I won't even dare to read the blurb of the next book. I will jump right into the story, probably binge-read the whole series.
Marie Rutkoski has created a great world where two differenct cultures clash together, where justice and injustice can be seen cleary, while the border of those seems so blurry. She brought characters to us that not only convince us by simply being who they are, but by their actions, thoughts, and feelings. And I'm not only talking about the two main characters, but all we encounter throughout the story.
I am definitely giving this book 4.8 stars, which is hard to put it like that in Goodreads, so I'll stick to the 4 stars.
Also, I'd like to point out how much this book had similiar but still unique and different elements like The Captive Prince trilogy. Maybe it was just the obvious that made me come to this comparison, maybe it is because I rarely get to read a story with such strong politics in it. However, I do think that everyone who has loved The Captive Prince could enjoy this story as well (Keep in mind that The Winner's Curse is YA, not NA!), and that everyone who enjoyed this might enjoy The Captive Prince trilogy. Again, please keep in mind that it's NA and has explicit content.
This story was definitely not what I had expected when I picked up the book. Based on recommendations, I went blindly in when I decided it's time to read it. I clearly had no idea, have not read the blurb, just trusted friends telling me to read it. So everything took me quite by suprise.
While I was confused in the very beginning on how fast scenes and the POV were changing, I did realize how essential that was for the story to unfold. We meet Kestrel, the protagonist of the books, in a surrounding that makes it clear: she is anything but the woman her society wants her to be. Which makes us immediately like her, a lot. The story gets fast to the plot points we need, and soon we meet Arin. And while we find out about his intentions pretty soon, there is just something about the way these two characters interact with each other that makes you know that there will be a hell lot of pain involved.
As we keep reading, we get to learn a lot about the history of Valorian and Herran, as well of their different cultures and characteristic traits (or stereotypes and clichés). Arin and Kestrel's conversation and scenes not only point out how different both Valorian and Herran are, but how impossible it is for them to accept the other. It is interesting to watch them get comfortable with each other, as much as the situation allows it, while knowing that there is going to be a turning point. Which came sooner than anticipated.
I was not expecting for the story to take a climate point that fast. Which made me check the page number (which I usually never to) only to realize we barely reached the half of the book. So how will it be going on? One turns the pages, and turns them, and turns them, only to see that the story has taken a whole different pace to tell the continuing events. We experience several climax, until the very last one that makes us close the book with our mouth shaped in a big "O".
When I started reading the first few chapters I was doubting I would like the book. As I mentioned before, chapters ended too fast, there were too many quick changes in the scenes, and the plot seemed to be faster than my mind processing everything. But reaching the end, it all made sense. We needed that fast plot because this story promises more than the rise and fall of a mistreated ethnicity. This story will tell more than about two people having found a comfortable place in their counterpart. And I don't know if I'll be ready to actually see what's coming next. One thing is for sure, I enjoyed not having read the blurb and thus not being prepared for anything. So I won't even dare to read the blurb of the next book. I will jump right into the story, probably binge-read the whole series.
Marie Rutkoski has created a great world where two differenct cultures clash together, where justice and injustice can be seen cleary, while the border of those seems so blurry. She brought characters to us that not only convince us by simply being who they are, but by their actions, thoughts, and feelings. And I'm not only talking about the two main characters, but all we encounter throughout the story.
I am definitely giving this book 4.8 stars, which is hard to put it like that in Goodreads, so I'll stick to the 4 stars.
Also, I'd like to point out how much this book had similiar but still unique and different elements like The Captive Prince trilogy. Maybe it was just the obvious that made me come to this comparison, maybe it is because I rarely get to read a story with such strong politics in it. However, I do think that everyone who has loved The Captive Prince could enjoy this story as well (Keep in mind that The Winner's Curse is YA, not NA!), and that everyone who enjoyed this might enjoy The Captive Prince trilogy. Again, please keep in mind that it's NA and has explicit content.
This book was our very first #BookTalkWithWifey pick! Come and watch us discuss this new additon to the GrishaVerse https://www.instagram.com/tv/BusssUinm05/
Any review to give this book (or the GrishaVerse in general) justice needs to itself to be the length of a novel. That's why I won't even start to pretend that I can put into words what Leigh Bardugo has created and brought to life: the GrishaVerse and everything that comes with it.
King Of Scars was one of my most anticipated releases of 2019, and I had to start it as soon as I got it in my hands. Nikolai was one of my favorite characters in the Grisha Trilogy, his cameo during the Six of Crows duology filled me with joy, and after what Bardugo already has accomplished to create with the Shadow And Bone and Six Of Crows books, I knew this would set another perspective to the world.
Magic, politics, religion, culture - all things Bardugo has proven to be a master when creating the GrishaVerse. And while we had a glimpse of this or that when reading the previous series, this book combined all aspects in one. So naturally, it felt good to be home again. After so many stories, characters, heartbreaks, we mgiht think we are ready, we might think we know it all. But we don't. I truly enjoyed this books so much and believe it's a great start for a series though I can't imagine how everything should be wrapped up in one more book. This needs more than just two books.
I loved the new take it had on Grisha magic and history; how it has opened a new door, so that after we thought we knew it all we can only be again the novices trying to understand this ficitional world with its complicated history of saints.
What suprised me most was that not Nikolai, but Zoya was the screen-stealer for me. This being Nikolai's book and me already being a huge fan of his, I never expected to enjoy someone else's chapters almost more. And never would I guessed those chapters would belong to Zoya. I couldn't care less for her in the Grisha trilogy, but she grew on me in this book, and if you ever hear someone screaming Zoya slaaaaays. Zoya is Queeeeeen, bet it is me. Generally, seeing all the characters again was great, it made coming home easier than I thought; though I had a moment or two where I felt it's either them or me who is awkward. Like when you have already moved out from home several years ago, and then you show up at a family part. Everything is so familiar, but then little things feel so forced. That's how I sometimes felt about David, Genya, and the twins.
The biggest disappointment was Nina's storyline, and the very reason why this book is not a full five star read. I was excited to see one of the dregs as a lead in this book; I was excited when I knew it's going to be Nina Zenik. The Nina Zenik. But we didn't got that. Not at all. Her storyline was seperated from the rest. On a different mission, we follow Nina and watch her mourn. While the first part of her story was rather emotional, and at the same time dragging; it was the second part that ruined it all. Nina felt so off character, I rarely recognized her as the waffles-loving-girl full of self-confidence from Ketterdam. And while I can accept many excusions, like "you know what she lost", "you know what happened to her", "you know what she's been through", etc.; I can not accept her behavior at all.
.
While we got to see a lot of old characters, we also meet new ones; and I clearly gave my heart for one in particular. I can't say much, but that cinnamon-roll character was one I like to remember, while I keep forgetting or ranting about the other ones that got introduced.
So, reaching the end of the review means I will also talk about the end of the book. Clearly, I won't say a thing. But I knew it, or at least I hoped for that ending. It made sense after the build-up throughout the story, and now I can't wait to see how this will continue in the sequel. But honestly, I've got no idea how Leigh Bardugo will wrap up this in just one. more. book.
.
I had a Book Talk with my Wifey about this book on our Bookstagram! My instagram handle is @drawingandreading, and you can check out our live chat, which we'll upload on IGTV there. And we had lots to say, because with this book and Bardugo's GrishaVerse, there is always a lot to say.
Any review to give this book (or the GrishaVerse in general) justice needs to itself to be the length of a novel. That's why I won't even start to pretend that I can put into words what Leigh Bardugo has created and brought to life: the GrishaVerse and everything that comes with it.
King Of Scars was one of my most anticipated releases of 2019, and I had to start it as soon as I got it in my hands. Nikolai was one of my favorite characters in the Grisha Trilogy, his cameo during the Six of Crows duology filled me with joy, and after what Bardugo already has accomplished to create with the Shadow And Bone and Six Of Crows books, I knew this would set another perspective to the world.
Magic, politics, religion, culture - all things Bardugo has proven to be a master when creating the GrishaVerse. And while we had a glimpse of this or that when reading the previous series, this book combined all aspects in one. So naturally, it felt good to be home again. After so many stories, characters, heartbreaks, we mgiht think we are ready, we might think we know it all. But we don't. I truly enjoyed this books so much and believe it's a great start for a series though I can't imagine how everything should be wrapped up in one more book. This needs more than just two books.
I loved the new take it had on Grisha magic and history; how it has opened a new door, so that after we thought we knew it all we can only be again the novices trying to understand this ficitional world with its complicated history of saints.
What suprised me most was that not Nikolai, but Zoya was the screen-stealer for me. This being Nikolai's book and me already being a huge fan of his, I never expected to enjoy someone else's chapters almost more. And never would I guessed those chapters would belong to Zoya. I couldn't care less for her in the Grisha trilogy, but she grew on me in this book, and if you ever hear someone screaming Zoya slaaaaays. Zoya is Queeeeeen, bet it is me. Generally, seeing all the characters again was great, it made coming home easier than I thought; though I had a moment or two where I felt it's either them or me who is awkward. Like when you have already moved out from home several years ago, and then you show up at a family part. Everything is so familiar, but then little things feel so forced. That's how I sometimes felt about David, Genya, and the twins.
The biggest disappointment was Nina's storyline, and the very reason why this book is not a full five star read. I was excited to see one of the dregs as a lead in this book; I was excited when I knew it's going to be Nina Zenik. The Nina Zenik. But we didn't got that. Not at all. Her storyline was seperated from the rest. On a different mission, we follow Nina and watch her mourn
Spoiler
MatthiasSpoiler
This needs to be explained. What bothered me the most was that Nina wasn't able to say her good-bye to Matthias, but as soon as she did after being basically forced to, her focus shifted to her new love interest. I really wanted a new romance for Nina, but not done like this. I keep shipping her and Trassel.While we got to see a lot of old characters, we also meet new ones; and I clearly gave my heart for one in particular. I can't say much, but that cinnamon-roll character was one I like to remember, while I keep forgetting or ranting about the other ones that got introduced.
So, reaching the end of the review means I will also talk about the end of the book. Clearly, I won't say a thing. But I knew it, or at least I hoped for that ending. It made sense after the build-up throughout the story, and now I can't wait to see how this will continue in the sequel. But honestly, I've got no idea how Leigh Bardugo will wrap up this in just one. more. book.
Spoiler
GUYS WHO DIED AS WELL WHEN THE DARKLING CAME BACK!!!! He surely was THE favorite character of mine in the Grisha trilogy, and while I am SO happy to see him back, I can't understand how this will go one. Because the only counterpart I see for him is Alina, so will this mean that she'll return as well? And how will this all change Nikolai's struggle with the monster inside him?I had a Book Talk with my Wifey about this book on our Bookstagram! My instagram handle is @drawingandreading, and you can check out our live chat, which we'll upload on IGTV there. And we had lots to say, because with this book and Bardugo's GrishaVerse, there is always a lot to say.
