March 2021 First in a Series BOTM - King of Scars, by Leigh Bardugo

[Alaina]

Face your demons... or feed them.

The dashing young king, 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, Nikolai 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 general, 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.

**This BOTM thread will be open until April 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

[Aly]

Started today!

[Aly]

Ch 1-4 (view spoiler)[ Poor Nina, hearing Mattias' in her head and holding on to his body. I miss him so much and I wish there was a way for her to see him again.
Zoya and Nikolai are an interesting pair, but I can see they work by their snarkiness. (hide spoiler)]

[Felicia]

😱😱😱😱 I want to read this!

[Aly]

I'm only reading 4 chapters a day with my book club so I'll be slow but I like it so far!

[Felicia]

Aly wrote: "I'm only reading 4 chapters a day with my book club so I'll be slow but I like it so far!"

HAVE YOU NOT READ THIS YET?!

[Aly]

Nope first time!

[Aly]

Ch 5-8 (view spoiler)[ Awh Nina. I'm glad she let Mattias go, she needs to try to heal. I want Zoya and Nikolai together, come on you guys! (hide spoiler)]

[Felicia]

Aly wrote: "Nope first time!"

OMG! What! I had no idea! You've read all the other books in the Grishaverse though right?

[Felicia]

Chatper 1-6(view spoiler)[Man, this narrator. I can't decide if I like her or not. It might be the accents she uses. Lol. Idk.

But I'm so happy I'm reading this! I read my review for this and it just made me so much more excited! I love Nikolai so damn much! He is so smart and cunning. I can't help but love him. Zoya as well. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 7-15(view spoiler)[Oh shizzzzzz. I forgot about this weird dragon shit happening. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Felicia wrote: "Aly wrote: "Nope first time!"

OMG! What! I had no idea! You've read all the other books in the Grishaverse though right?"

I recently read Shadow and Bone for the first time. I've read Six of Crows a couple times

[Aly]

Felicia wrote: "Chatper 1-6Man, this narrator. I can't decide if I like her or not. It might be the accents she uses. Lol. Idk.

But I'm so happy I'm reading this! I read my review for this and it just made me so ..."

@ch 1-6 I love Nikolai too! He's so sweet and funny

[Felicia]

Aly wrote: "Felicia wrote: "Aly wrote: "Nope first time!"

OMG! What! I had no idea! You've read all the other books in the Grishaverse though right?"

I recently read Shadow and Bone for the first time. I've ..."

Oh good, I'm glad you read them otherwise there'd be so many spoilers. Lmao. I can't wait for this Netflix series to start next month!

[Aly]

Me too! It looks so good

[Felicia]

Aly wrote: "Me too! It looks so good"

Right! I wonder how they're going to make the show play out since they're combining all three of the Grishaverse series. I'm so curious!

[Felicia]

Chapter 16-23(view spoiler)[How in the heck did I forget basically everything that happened! Lol. I totally forgot Isaac played the role as Nikolai. My gosh. Lol.

All the three separate story lines in this book are written so well that I'm not upset when it moves from one to another. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Felicia wrote: "Aly wrote: "Me too! It looks so good"

Right! I wonder how they're going to make the show play out since they're combining all three of the Grishaverse series. I'm so curious!"

Same!

[Felicia]

Finished(view spoiler)[HOW DID I FORGET THE DARKLING CAME BACK!? How in the hell did I forget?! I loved him so much!

Also, I have no idea what I was doing at the time but the part in the book where Nina brings Matthias to his final resting place!? I know I cried my eyes out when I first read this. And I don't even remember reading it this time. Like wtf?! Lmao. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Chapter 9-12 (view spoiler)[ I had a mini freak out when Nikolai said Alina was dead, then I remembered that she let everyone think she died with the Darkling. Whew!
Seeing Mattias' wolf was sweet and sad. I hope we see him again (hide spoiler)]

[Felicia]

Aly wrote: "Chapter 9-12 I had a mini freak out when Nikolai said Alina was dead, then I remembered that she let everyone think she died with the Darkling. Whew!
Seeing Mattias' wolf was sweet and sad. I hop..."

I probably should've read the other series before jumping back into this one. Lol. I hardly remember those books.

[Aly]

It's nice reading everything in order so I'm ready for Rule of Wolves. And the tv show!

[Alaina]

Starting now!

[Jewlya]

Nervous to start this! Had to put it on hold after starting it straight after I finished crooked kingdom bc I was too sad that story was over 🤣

[Aly]

Chapter 13-20 (view spoiler)[ I'm not as interesting in Nikolai and Zoya's storyline as Nina. It's a bummer because I really like Nikolai, I just need more from him. I want into his head and for him to develop more as a character (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

I keep forgetting to update lol
Chapter 21-32 (view spoiler)[ I wonder if Nina will get with Hanna (not sure of spelling) they seem to be getting closer.
I really like Isaac and I wonder if he'll get with the princess or if she's an imposter too? (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Felicia wrote: "Chapter 16-23How in the heck did I forget basically everything that happened! Lol. I totally forgot Isaac played the role as Nikolai. My gosh. Lol.

All the three separate story lines in this book ..."

I love Isaac!

[Felicia]

Aly wrote: "Felicia wrote: "Chapter 16-23How in the heck did I forget basically everything that happened! Lol. I totally forgot Isaac played the role as Nikolai. My gosh. Lol.

All the three separate story lin..."

Right! He's so sweet! And the fact that he'd do all of that for Nikolai. So sweet.

[Aly]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Isaac died! WTF not okay. I knew that princess wasn't what she said and she killed him. I'm glad she didn't get to kill herself, she needs to be punished.
And did I hear correctly that the Darkling is alive again somehow?? What?! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Felicia wrote: "Finished(view spoiler)[HOW DID I FORGET THE DARKLING CAME BACK!? How in the hell did I forget?! I loved him so much!

Also, I have no idea what I was doing at the time but the part in the book where Nina brings M... (hide spoiler)]"

That part was so sad!

[Felicia]

Aly wrote: "Felicia wrote: "FinishedHOW DID I FORGET THE DARKLING CAME BACK!? How in the hell did I forget?! I loved him so much!

Also, I have no idea what I was doing at the time but the part in the book whe..."

And I missed it. Lmao..

[Felicia]

Aly wrote: "Finished Isaac died! WTF not okay. I knew that princess wasn't what she said and she killed him. I'm glad she didn't get to kill herself, she needs to be punished.
And did I hear correctly that t..."

DUDE! YES! I'm so excited!!!!!

[Alaina]

Alaina wrote: "Starting now!"

LMAO it's gotta be suuuuuper awkward that I said I started this on the 19th.. and yet here I am.. not reading it. Hopefully that will change today.

[Aly]

Hahaha

[Alaina]

Don't judge me Aly

[Aly]

Oh I won't. I'm still reading buddies from 2 weeks ago

[Alaina]

hahaha oh man. we will forever be behind

[Alaina]

Ch 1-5: (view spoiler)[I'm currently freaking out with this little re-read. Definitely loving it all over again. Wasn't prepared for what Nina was going through one bit but it just makes me love her more. Also Zoya - definitely lovable.

I'm just wondering how much I will remember this time around.. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 6-10: (view spoiler)[😭😭😭 the funeral 😭😭😭 I'm not okay. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 11-15: (view spoiler)[Okay, so I wasn't prepared at all for this re-read. Like what the hell is happening? Dragons? Cults? Hello Darkling! Nina is just leaving me depressed like hot damn can I get some chocolate or something? I'm also VERY suspicious will all things involving Yuri - change my mind dammit. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 16-20: (view spoiler)[Zoya is such a badass also thanks for admitting something I already knew. Completely shipping her and Nikolai together. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 6-10: [spoilers removed]"

I know, so sad!

[Alaina]

Ch 21-25: (view spoiler)[Oh Zoya. Please be careful. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 26-30: (view spoiler)[Ugh, fucking Yuri. I need Nikolai back please. Not monster version of him. Just my sweet and lovable Nikolai back.. but if the monster version wants to make a yummy treat out of Yuri... well, I approve. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 31-35: (view spoiler)[😱😱😱😱😱😱 (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Finished: (view spoiler)[When the stabbing happens.. I want to close my eyes and ears because I felt like I was being stabbed. Ah. Oh shit. This was good. I'm so glad that I dove into this and now I really need to dive into the next one first thing next month. (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

25% (view spoiler)[Really wish I remembered more from the other stories but l’m happy to be back with old characters especially Nina. Feel so bad she’s carrying around Matthias’s body-she just can’t let go. (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

50% (view spoiler)[Totally forgot Nikolai got ‘touched’ by the Darkling. How scary that he has no control over it and it just takes over. The whole Zoya trying to look out for him and get him married is pretty funny though. (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Oops forgot to post the rest 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️
75% (view spoiler)[So glad they got mixed up with Hanne, I wasn’t a fan of hers at first but I can’t blame her for being so dodgy. Feel bad for her now being left like she was at the convent (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Finished (view spoiler)[This was good, wish I remembered more of the previous books. Can’t wait to see how it all plays out, it’s so hard to hope for a HEA with this author sometimes but I’m not giving up lol (hide spoiler)]