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King of Scars
(King of Scars Duology #1)
by
Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.
Yet with every day a dark magic with ...more
Yet with every day a dark magic with ...more
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Paperback, 514 pages
Published
January 29th 2019
by Orion Children's Books
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Janett
Will Zoya be Nikolai's love interest? With her sultry persona and Nikolai's suave, bad boy vibe...I can totally see fireworks!
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Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of King of Scars (Nikolai Duology, #1)
[softly, from under a pile of blankets] what the fuck was that ending?
I finished this book and the moment dithered in timorous silence, searing and numb. It was as though the world was suspended for an intermission, waiting until the curtain is lifted and the next act can begin. Disbelief came first, then surprise. Then the full scope of the ending struck me with a pang of deep resentment, that this extraordinary, inexplicable thing should happen.
Look, I just want it documented somewhere that th ...more
I finished this book and the moment dithered in timorous silence, searing and numb. It was as though the world was suspended for an intermission, waiting until the curtain is lifted and the next act can begin. Disbelief came first, then surprise. Then the full scope of the ending struck me with a pang of deep resentment, that this extraordinary, inexplicable thing should happen.
Look, I just want it documented somewhere that th ...more
Updated with my opinions on the End! (Spoilers are hidden within a spoiler tag)
Hello all, and meet my ghost, who is currently writing this review.
First of all, I think there will be plenty of people who are not thrilled with the end, but I am LIVING for it (and I'll list my reasons at the bottom of this review under the spoiler tag). However - I did have some issues (like the pacing), and I'll talk about them below, but overall, Queen Leigh is so freaking brilliant. I am in utter and complete sh ...more
Hello all, and meet my ghost, who is currently writing this review.
First of all, I think there will be plenty of people who are not thrilled with the end, but I am LIVING for it (and I'll list my reasons at the bottom of this review under the spoiler tag). However - I did have some issues (like the pacing), and I'll talk about them below, but overall, Queen Leigh is so freaking brilliant. I am in utter and complete sh ...more
“Most of us can hide our greatest hurts and longings. It’s how we survive each day. We pretend the pain isn’t there, that we are made of scars instead of wounds.”
Oh friends, it has been a long while since I read the concluding events in Ruin and Rising! Honestly? I probably really would have benefited from doing a reread. Yet, I will be the first to admit that I was complete Darkling trash back in the day, and I have grown a lot as a person and realized that he is someone that should ...more
He straightened the lapels of his velvet coat and winked.
“It’s not exciting if nothing can go wrong.”
I feel really disappointed that King of Scars - one of my most anticipated books of 2019 - was only a 3-star read for me.
I'm not sure if I'm being harsh or generous, honestly. It wasn't a bad book. Bardugo keeps growing as a writer and she especially shines with her dialogue. I liked the characters and relationship dynamics; I loved the funny, snarky conversations; I just felt like this boo ...more
tea got spilled
facts got spoken
we're all shook now
“Lesser animals whined and struggled when they’d been caught in a snare. The fox found a way out.”
I clambered for this book. I read the preview chapters the instant they came out and raged when my Book Depository preorder didn't arrive on the release day. (Y U do this to me every time, BD? I thought we were tight.)
Just a note: this book is not very accessible to readers new to the Grishaverse. I guarantee you’ll be confused. Six of Crows was accessible because it featured a new location and ...more
Maybe a 4.5*? I need to think about it a bit more because wow that ending.
Sep 26, 2017
✨ jamieson ✨
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2019-reads,
favourite-covers,
owned-books,
series-to-complete,
bi-mc,
fantasy,
series,
young-adult
“Nikolai had always understood that he and Ravka were the same. He just hadn’t understood how: He was not the crying child or even the drowning man. He was the forever soldier, eternally at war, unable to ever lay down his arms and heal. Maybe because he knew he and his country were the same”
MY SPOILERY DISCUSSION WHICH TALKS ABOUT THIS BOOK MORE IN DEPTH CAN BE FOUND HERE
“It was angry, hungry, full of broken animal longing. Though Nikolai might not like it, those things were all a part o...more
“Fear is a phoenix. You can watch it burn a thousand times and still it will return.”
Do you remember holding this book in your hands for the first time, trying not to ruin the glossy golden cover with your unworthy, smudgy fingers while you're shaking from anticipation?
Well, I do. Which is why it surprised me that it took me a few chapters until I started enjoying myself. But when I did, it was a glorious experience. I was captivated by the political games, the intrigues, the miracles and myster ...more
Do you remember holding this book in your hands for the first time, trying not to ruin the glossy golden cover with your unworthy, smudgy fingers while you're shaking from anticipation?
Well, I do. Which is why it surprised me that it took me a few chapters until I started enjoying myself. But when I did, it was a glorious experience. I was captivated by the political games, the intrigues, the miracles and myster ...more
The more time that passes...the more I realize that I did not and do not care about this book.
I was excited for it, for no real reason. Not only did I not finish the Grisha trilogy, I DNFed the second book (one of maybe 7 times I have ever ever done that in my whole life). I actually could not even force myself through it.
I had a passing interest in Nikolai, but that’s mostly because everyone on the internet screams about him and there are VERY few things I love more than jumping on a bandwagon. ...more
I was excited for it, for no real reason. Not only did I not finish the Grisha trilogy, I DNFed the second book (one of maybe 7 times I have ever ever done that in my whole life). I actually could not even force myself through it.
I had a passing interest in Nikolai, but that’s mostly because everyone on the internet screams about him and there are VERY few things I love more than jumping on a bandwagon. ...more
“If men were ashamed when they should be, they'd have no time for anything else.”
You guys all know that I am a total fan of this universe, but I'll be honest: I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. I really didn't love Shadow and Bone - actually, I kind of hated it - and subsequent books only disappointed me more. It was only my love for Six of Crows that kept me a fan of this world. But guys, this is a leaps-and-bounds improvement on the Grisha in terms of everything: t ...more
Okay, wait!!! That ending ..................................................................................
This book was so freaking awesome and some sad and a good bit of OMG! I do have the hardback but switched to the Audible I have as well and the narration was great!! I’m not going to go on and on as I don’t any more, I just want to say I loved it. But now I have to go back and finish the first trilogy and reread Six of Crows and this one again!
I do hope you guys enjoy this one 😊 Oh, I did ...more
This book was so freaking awesome and some sad and a good bit of OMG! I do have the hardback but switched to the Audible I have as well and the narration was great!! I’m not going to go on and on as I don’t any more, I just want to say I loved it. But now I have to go back and finish the first trilogy and reread Six of Crows and this one again!
I do hope you guys enjoy this one 😊 Oh, I did ...more
May 01, 2018
may ➹
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
4-and-a-half-star,
diverse,
my-soul-hurts,
fantasy,
rep-lgbtqiap-wlw,
hardcover,
pov-3rd,
pov-female,
young-adult,
read-2019
oh god.......it truly pains me to say that this would have been undoubtedly 5 stars if I didn’t dislike that ending so much
(4.5 stars and I am BITTER)
(4.5 stars and I am BITTER)
im sorry, the old nikolai cant come to the phone right now. why? oh, ‘cause hes dead.
I. AM. SHOOK. that glow up tho, amirite?!
nikolai lantsov. sturmhond. king of scars.
privateer and boy king.
remember who you are.
you are destined for greatness.
long live the one true king.
↠ 5 stars
I. AM. SHOOK. that glow up tho, amirite?!
nikolai lantsov. sturmhond. king of scars.
privateer and boy king.
remember who you are.
you are destined for greatness.
long live the one true king.
↠ 5 stars
By this point I am pretty sure Leigh is a Heartrender, because the pain I am feeling can not be caused by humans!
********************************************************
This review and other non-spoilery reviews can be found @The Book Prescription
“The monster is me and I am the monster.”
🌟 Oh boy, it has been 3 months since I finished this and then went into a hiatus and here I am trying to remember how people actually write reviews. This may contain spoilers for the other books but I kept it sp ...more
********************************************************
This review and other non-spoilery reviews can be found @The Book Prescription
“The monster is me and I am the monster.”
🌟 Oh boy, it has been 3 months since I finished this and then went into a hiatus and here I am trying to remember how people actually write reviews. This may contain spoilers for the other books but I kept it sp ...more
I came into this with low expectations so I was pleasantly surprised that this book turned out to be a pretty solid spin-off. The central characters (Nikolai, Zoya, Nina) are much more compelling to read compared to how they were portrayed in the previous books - that includes Nina, whose story arc is much stronger. Bardugo continues her pattern of endearing characters and sharp dialogue. My main critique is that the book feels disconnected between Nikolai and Zoya VS Nina; it reads like two sep
...more
This just came out today!!
I can't wait to find out what happens to my favorite character... but apparently I have to be a reasonable adult and finish Crooked Kingdom first :/
I can't wait to find out what happens to my favorite character... but apparently I have to be a reasonable adult and finish Crooked Kingdom first :/
"I always figured I'd die young...why not do it shoving my foot up that murderer's ass."
That ending?!???!!! 😱😱😱
Actual rating 3.75 stars
I, as so many other goodreaders, was BEYOND excited when I heard this book was coming out, I ordered it from the library as soon as I could, and my hopes were sky high.
There are 4 POVs, so I'll review based on each character.
Isaak: I can't reveal too much of Isaak's POV because spoilers. But he is a guard in Nikolai's palace, and when his chance comes to serve ...more
That ending?!???!!! 😱😱😱
Actual rating 3.75 stars
I, as so many other goodreaders, was BEYOND excited when I heard this book was coming out, I ordered it from the library as soon as I could, and my hopes were sky high.
There are 4 POVs, so I'll review based on each character.
Isaak: I can't reveal too much of Isaak's POV because spoilers. But he is a guard in Nikolai's palace, and when his chance comes to serve ...more
2 stars.
If you've been following me for a while, you would know I was excited to read King of Scars. I'll be honest, the Grishaverse has been sort of mixed for me. I liked Shadow and Bone, hated Seige and Storm, and really enjoyed Ruin and Rising (though not how it ended if you know what I'm talking about). Then I read Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom and I loved them. In my opinion, Leigh's Six of Crows series is the best one out of all of them.
So, when she announced King of Scars, I was alread ...more
If you've been following me for a while, you would know I was excited to read King of Scars. I'll be honest, the Grishaverse has been sort of mixed for me. I liked Shadow and Bone, hated Seige and Storm, and really enjoyed Ruin and Rising (though not how it ended if you know what I'm talking about). Then I read Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom and I loved them. In my opinion, Leigh's Six of Crows series is the best one out of all of them.
So, when she announced King of Scars, I was alread ...more
Oh. My. GOD.
I am also oddly conflicted in a way I never thought I’d be about this book. My star rating may change over the next few days. Right now, my heart wants to give it 4 but my brain says 3.5. So 3.75?! I have such doubts.
Review and discussion to come on my channel... obviously.
I am also oddly conflicted in a way I never thought I’d be about this book. My star rating may change over the next few days. Right now, my heart wants to give it 4 but my brain says 3.5. So 3.75?! I have such doubts.
Review and discussion to come on my channel... obviously.
Sep 26, 2017
Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy-series
Update: What. A. Beautiful. Cover!!!
I love it! <333 And I soo need this book in my shelf! XD
I just saw the trailer to this book and I want to read it NOW!!!!!
Pleaseeeee!!!! Gimme, gimme, gimme!!!! *dies*
http://ew.com/books/2017/09/26/leigh-... ...more
I love it! <333 And I soo need this book in my shelf! XD
I just saw the trailer to this book and I want to read it NOW!!!!!
Pleaseeeee!!!! Gimme, gimme, gimme!!!! *dies*
http://ew.com/books/2017/09/26/leigh-... ...more
Oh wow.
Before this book was released, I used to mark my calendar everyday for this book, but then this book came out and with it, all the 3 or 2 stars disappointing reviews, and my excitement dwindled. So I wasn't expecting to like it much, but I'm so surprised. I actually liked everything about this book, even the ending so many people were mad about. I read it during end-of-summer slump, so I did find some parts boring, hence the 4 stars. But overall this book was surprisingly good. I'm sure ...more
Before this book was released, I used to mark my calendar everyday for this book, but then this book came out and with it, all the 3 or 2 stars disappointing reviews, and my excitement dwindled. So I wasn't expecting to like it much, but I'm so surprised. I actually liked everything about this book, even the ending so many people were mad about. I read it during end-of-summer slump, so I did find some parts boring, hence the 4 stars. But overall this book was surprisingly good. I'm sure ...more
4.5
I truly cannot get enough of these characters. I went in to King of Scars thinking that Nikolai would continue to be my favourite character but boy oh boy did Zoya sweep me off my feet. Zoya is one of those incredibly well written, strong female characters that you cant help but respect and admire. Zoya and Nikolai have excellent chemistry and even better banter.
This is definitely more of a slow burn plot but i really appreciated that and enjoyed the deeper exploration of the magic system. ...more
I truly cannot get enough of these characters. I went in to King of Scars thinking that Nikolai would continue to be my favourite character but boy oh boy did Zoya sweep me off my feet. Zoya is one of those incredibly well written, strong female characters that you cant help but respect and admire. Zoya and Nikolai have excellent chemistry and even better banter.
This is definitely more of a slow burn plot but i really appreciated that and enjoyed the deeper exploration of the magic system. ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Sep 26, 2017
Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘
marked it as to-read-not-released
·
review of another edition
Twitter ✔
[image error]
I'm not saying that I'll hate you forever if you spoil me, but I'll probably hate you forever if you spoil me.
Sorry I don't make the rules ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
-------------------------
Mal, opening his vacant eyes : Isn't it awesome that -
OH, SHUT UP, FINALLY THAT'S NOT ABOUT YOUUUUUUUUUU
*throws confetti*
Note : Kaz, Nina, Zoya & literally anyone else accepted (bonus points if you're (view spoiler)
ALINA : I -
NOT YOU EITH ...more
[image error]
I'm not saying that I'll hate you forever if you spoil me, but I'll probably hate you forever if you spoil me.
Sorry I don't make the rules ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
-------------------------
Mal, opening his vacant eyes : Isn't it awesome that -
OH, SHUT UP, FINALLY THAT'S NOT ABOUT YOUUUUUUUUUU
*throws confetti*
Note : Kaz, Nina, Zoya & literally anyone else accepted (bonus points if you're (view spoiler)
ALINA : I -
NOT YOU EITH ...more
![destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1557144778p2/15335689.jpg)
Sep 26, 2017
destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries]
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
owned-physical,
owned-tbr
update april 30 2018
I'M SORRY BUT DO YOU GUYS SEE THIS FUCKING COVER?!
"Nikolai journeys to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives, in order to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him" - I already want to cry? 😭😭😭 RIP me, please make sure my headstone says "here lies Destiny, who always knew beautiful books would be the end of her"
---
I would just like to say that waiting for this series was far less painful before I continued the Grisha trilogy and met Nikolai 😭😭😭
I'M SORRY BUT DO YOU GUYS SEE THIS FUCKING COVER?!
"Nikolai journeys to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives, in order to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him" - I already want to cry? 😭😭😭 RIP me, please make sure my headstone says "here lies Destiny, who always knew beautiful books would be the end of her"
---
I would just like to say that waiting for this series was far less painful before I continued the Grisha trilogy and met Nikolai 😭😭😭
Well, all hail Nina! 😍
-------------------------------------
NIKOLAI GETTIN THE ROYALTY TREATMENT WITH THIS COVER OH ME GOODNESS! 😍😍
Also:
“All of those magical touches may not mean much to readers now, but they will when we travel back to Ravka with Nikolai — and some other familiar faces from Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows. I’m not saying who just yet, but I hope readers are as excited as I am to take the journey.”
I just peed a little.
---------------------------------------
THIS IS HAPPENING OH M ...more
-------------------------------------
NIKOLAI GETTIN THE ROYALTY TREATMENT WITH THIS COVER OH ME GOODNESS! 😍😍
Also:
“All of those magical touches may not mean much to readers now, but they will when we travel back to Ravka with Nikolai — and some other familiar faces from Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows. I’m not saying who just yet, but I hope readers are as excited as I am to take the journey.”
I just peed a little.
---------------------------------------
THIS IS HAPPENING OH M ...more
Sep 26, 2017
Katerina
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2019-reads,
fantasy
‣ Zoya Nazyalensky is my QUEEN.
(In fact she occupied the pedestral I once built for Nina. I couldn't tolerate King of Scars Nina. I hated King of Scars Nina.)
‣ Nikolai Lantsov is my BAE.
Aaand... that's all there is to know.
Before
So, it seems that Nikolai is getting his own series.
I'm not freaking out, you're freaking out
I'm totally freaking out ...more
(In fact she occupied the pedestral I once built for Nina. I couldn't tolerate King of Scars Nina. I hated King of Scars Nina.)
‣ Nikolai Lantsov is my BAE.
Aaand... that's all there is to know.
Before
So, it seems that Nikolai is getting his own series.
I'm not freaking out, you're freaking out
I'm totally freaking out ...more
nina and hana,,,,,🥵
Apr 15, 2018
karen
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
thanks-for-prezzies,
why-yes-i-ya
oooh, goodreads choice awards semifinalist for BEST YA FANTASY 2019! what will happen?
part of the bad news in ravka today is my lukewarm response to this book, which is three stars rounded up to four in a panic.
and the only things iiii cared about this january was getting my booknerdy hands on ...more
"I'd like nothing better than another opportunity to talk," said Nikolai. "But I'm afraid I have more bad news."
Genya slumped in her chair. "There's more?"
"This is Ravka," said Zoya. "There's always more."
part of the bad news in ravka today is my lukewarm response to this book, which is three stars rounded up to four in a panic.
and the only things iiii cared about this january was getting my booknerdy hands on ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Would any of you want MATTHIAS to come back to life in the next book besides me? | 3 | 32 | Aug 16, 2020 02:26PM | |
| What's the Name o...: SOLVED. YA fantasy read about 5 years ago. I only remember the beginning in which a mother and kid are cooking dinner... [s] | 4 | 37 | May 17, 2020 06:51AM | |
| YA Buddy Readers'...: King of Scars (Nikolai Duology #1) by Leigh Bardugo — Restarting May 5th 2020 | 155 | 192 | May 06, 2020 01:26AM | |
| Goodreads Librari...: Add edition | 2 | 20 | Mar 18, 2020 11:57PM | |
| Challenge Corner: King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo - Starting November 20th 2019 | 9 | 5 | Dec 07, 2019 04:37AM |
Readers also enjoyed
Leigh Bardugo is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels and the creator of the Grishaverse (coming soon to Netflix) which spans the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, the Six of Crows Duology, The Language of Thorns, and King of Scars— with more to come. Her short stories can be found in multiple anthologies, including the Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy. Her other works include Wo
...more
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