February First in a Series BOTM - King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

[Felicia]

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 within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.

[Felicia]

SO EFFING EXCITED TO READ THIS BOOK! :D

[Jenn]

Chapter 7: (view spoiler)[ Surprisingly I'm liking Zoya in this. Her no shit attitude is exactly what Nikolai needs. And speaking of Nikolai, poor guy. Whatever the Darkling did to him has him turning into some flying monster at night. As if he didn't have enough trouble. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapter 12: (view spoiler)[I'm not really feeling the Nina chapters. They tend to drag me out of the story which is sad because I was finally starting to like her during my rereads of the SoC series. But the shit going on with Nikolai and him becoming the monster. Who's ready for the Darkling to return because I feel we're heading that way. (hide spoiler)]

[Felicia]

I want to read your spoiler tags so bad! Lmao.

[Jenn]

lol when are you planning to read this one?

[Felicia]

I've been planning on it since I bought it. Lmfao. But I'm so scared to read it!

[Jenn]

That seems to be the consensus hahaha

[Jenn]

Chapter 22: (view spoiler)[ Soo grisha women are being forced to breed under parem? That's rather dark. Still not really liking Nina povs but they're getting more interesting. Meanwhile Nikolai is trapped in the fold with dead saints who I don't really trust (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ Sadly I didn't love it as much as I wanted to. But I totally called the Darkling coming back and that at least one of the "saints" would betray them (hide spoiler)]

[Morgan]

Ummmm... can we just talk about how AMAZINGGGGG this book was?!?! Ugh! I love Leigh Bardugo so much and I'm glad she made a new spin-off of the Grisha Verse.

[Morgan]

My thoughts:

(view spoiler)[I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm really disappointed that the Darkling came back instead of Alina, but the Sun Summoner returning wouldn't be quite as dark and brooding as the storyline seemed to be setup. I LOVED Alina, so I'm hoping beyond hope that somehow, some way, we will see her return.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know a deeper side of the other characters, especially Zoya and Nina. Throughout the book, I felt like I had a love/hate relationship with Nina. At times, I found her incredibly weak and her overall character development to be a little boring, but towards the end, I think she finally came into herself.

Zoya never lapsed in her morals and values, continuing to fight for Nikolai and the kingdom of Ravka at all costs. Her passion and dedication was truly admirable, but I wish there was far more romance between Nikolai and Zoya. I understand the concept of building up the romance through flirtation and seduction, but it didn't feel like there was nearly enough to make their (inevitable) love story as exciting and riveting as Nikolai and the Sun Summoner's attraction.

Overall, I thought it was a great read and I can't wait for the next book! :D (hide spoiler)]

[Ella]

Chapter 15:
(view spoiler)[ I'm finally in loving this book! Since I just finished Crooked Kingdom, I honestly wanted this to be another Crows book so desperately and it isn't but that's an unfair expectation of this book. I am so nervous about where they could be and I can't wait to see where Nina's narrative goes. I cried so hard during Matthias' burial even though he and Nina weren't really my favorite in Crows. (hide spoiler)]

[Ella]

Chapter 19:
(view spoiler)[ "She wished she had Inej's gift for spywork or Kaz's gift for scheming , but she only seemed to have Jesper's gift for bad decisions." Lol! I love all these references to the other books!

Ahh, this factory is so creepy! Nina you need to do something please! (hide spoiler)]

[Ella]

Chapter 24:
(view spoiler)[ " 'Compliment her. express your admiration for Shu culture. You might consider reciting-'
'Oh for saints' sake, Tolya, that's the last thing he should do it.' Tamar knelt in front of Isaak. 'Just listen to her. Ask her questions. Women don't want to be seduced. They want to be seen and listened to. You can't do either of those things if you're thinking of strategies of how to win her over- or reciting the Fourth Epic of Kregi' "

I love Isaak but I defintely don't envy him of what he has to do. I want to be with Nikolai not be him. :P (hide spoiler)]

[Ella]

Ending:
(view spoiler)[ AHHHHH! This is not what I want to happen at all! I never liked the Darkling in the Grisha Trilogy so I am not excited for him to be back. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

SO PUMPED TO REAAD THSI!

[Damselflies]

Started
4% (view spoiler)[Very interesting start ! And I think the bridge might be Nina's work ??? (hide spoiler)]

[Agne]

25% (view spoiler)[wow. I knew Nikolai wan't himself. After what happened to him, but turning into a monster at night... damn. Is there a way to fix him?
I feel like there is some tension between Zoya and Nikolai. Maybe there is some truth in all the talks? I think there might be some feeling... (hide spoiler)]
50% (view spoiler)[ Poor Nina. So sad for her. So sad Matthias is gone.
Hm. I hope Nikolai will find some answers on his trip... he has to.
That Yuri guy is...hmm...intense.But I guess now he is a part of the plan. He believes Nikolai was blessed with the drakness... But it is a blessing, or is it really somehow a part of Darkling left in him?
Some weird shit is happeneing all over. Like Wellspring? What is wrong with it? Why it kills like a poison? Hm. Nina is the best person for the job, I mean her "connection" with a dead might help. (hide spoiler)]
75% (view spoiler)[ wth is those things in the Fold? Who created them? Was it something left after Darklings death? Geez. That's insane.
WTF? The Saints are alive??????? That something I didin't see coming, like ever.
yeahhhh, Isaak might pull it of....but I don't know. No one can be as charming as Nikolai. But he is as close as anyone can hope for.
And of course the answer is to "burn" Nikolai and hope he will survive.
What are they doing in that factory? Birthing childer already addcited to parem? Or is this way they are stonger grisha babies? Crazy much?..
Zoya. wow. Can she really do that. I mean, it looks like she is wayyyy more powerful that she ever thought.
Hmmm...is Leoni the girl Jespers mom saved and died herself doing it? :/ (hide spoiler)]
100% (view spoiler)[I knew it. I knew it's Darkling. I just knew it.
Damnnnnnn. I loved it!!!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Damselflies]

25% (view spoiler)[My heart, my poor heart, the Nina/Matthias continuation is breaking my heart. And I want Zoya and Nikolai together + I feel like Zoya is maybe nobility ? Like the glimpse of her past we gotten, the ships with unknown flag that are painted on her wall and such hmm... (hide spoiler)]
26%(view spoiler)[omfg don't tell me the Darkling is still somewhere in Nikolai, hiding, using him has a body or so (hide spoiler)]
28%(view spoiler)[I'm not crying, there's just something in my eye >.> I think Nina/Matthias is my OTP for this grishaverse and I doubt that will ever change (hide spoiler)]
29%(view spoiler)[ok no, I had to admit I have 2 OTP's in the grishaverse, Genya/David, gosh <3 (I swear if she kills 1 of them also I'm going to start a petition) (hide spoiler)]
32% (view spoiler)[I want 1 of these wolves to be Trassel, Matthias his wolf (hide spoiler)]

[Felicia]

Kos

Chapter 1-8(view spoiler)[I JUST CRIED! Fuck you Leigh!

Also. I can’t believe Nikolai! I am so intrigued by the demon in him! Is it somehow the darkling in some way?! 😱😱 (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9-14(view spoiler)[OMG! What’s happening! It’s about to go down. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15-29(view spoiler)[Okay. This stuff that’s going on with Nikolai and Zoya is pretty interesting. I hope he doesn’t die!

Also, issac is being a dummy. (hide spoiler)]

Finished(view spoiler)[I called tf out of the demon being the Darkling in my first spoiler. I'm a fucking boss.

And I am just. UGH! I loved this. (hide spoiler)]

[Damselflies]

50%(view spoiler)[Did Zoya just accidentally threw them in a different dimension ? :') (hide spoiler)]
52%(view spoiler)[omfg, the Saints actually freaking exist and are like literally alive, like in some kind of different dimension or so ??? (hide spoiler)]
61% - continuing this in BR since I wont be able to finish this book during this month :')

[Dr. Andy]

Ch. 5 (view spoiler)[ Woah, Nikolai turns into an actual monster?? OKay wasn't expecting that at all, but I'm definitely intrigued. And Zoya is a fucking queen, I love her already. Nina is breaking my heart with her grief. Low key hoping Nina an Zoya will become a thing too. (hide spoiler)]

Ch.15 (view spoiler)[ I do not trust Yuri or the other priests for a hot second. I feel like they all have their own games and are about to betray Nikolai for their own good the second they can. I am loving Nina's chapters. Her grief feels so realistic, but it's overwhelmingly depressing (hide spoiler)]

Ch 28 (view spoiler)[ Well this stuff with the fold has made everything like 100x more interesting!! THis is probably my favorite of the grisha world. I'm enjoying seeing Zoya and Nikolai grow closer, but they still feel like friends more than lovers. But I am totally invested in Zoya as queen. Can Nina really trust Hanne? I love their lessons together, but I'm not sure if Hanne is too brainwashed by Fjerdan society. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ HOLY SHIT THAT ENDING WITH NINA AT THE FACTORY WAS AMAZING!! SHES TAKING DOWN BRUM FROM THE INSIDE AND I CANNOT WAIT. Also, wasn't expecting Yuri to become the Darkling reincarnated. not sure how I feel about Nikolai marrying princess Eirie after everything her guard and Isaak went through and poor Isaak! Why did he have to die!? (hide spoiler)]