Reviews

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

v_larr's review against another edition

4.0

Honestly this review is going to be very difficult to write because I'm not quite sure what to think. Despite so many mixed feelings I've come to the conclusion that this is either a four star read or a five star. The rating may change once I figure out which one it is (I might switch between them, I already have before I even pressed on those stars).

Talking points:
-Zoya being sexy but having a stupid backstory
-Nikolai being sexy but that ending being weird bc he should just be sexy without insecurity but alas I'll let it slide
-The way that this is Beauty and the Beast but sexy
-bc it could be both ways
-Fuck Yuri all my homies hate Yuri the little piece of shit
-The inherent cringe of how bitches like the Darkling will get followers who think he was misunderstood (and the super valid rage of people like Zoya who saw his terrors first hand and had to deal with said followers)
-The stupidity of Nikolai letting Yuri hang out and how it better have been worth it
-In general why did they bring back The Darkling
-Like come on. Where's your creativity
-The Saint alternate Fold thing made no sense whatsoever
-Isaak's POV made me cringe
-Fuck politics
-Seriously they're on the verge of war and that's cringe
-Nina I love you but why are you here
-Like her story is cool and it's almost up there with her time w the Crows but it felt so out of place switching to her POV
-Sometimes I wanted to skip her chapter cause it stopped the momentum of Zoya or Nikolai's chapters
-Weak point it's not like SOC where the different perspectives added more to the overarching story it just feels like a separate story
-But also I'm heartbroken over Matthias but also Hanne.....Babe I am free Friday night are you free Friday night to go on a date Friday night when I am free
-WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH PAREM AND FJERDA AND THE PREGNANT GIRLS. WHAT IS THIS. WILL NINA'S NEW POWERS EVER BE EXPLAINED
-Kinda disappointed at how the "miracles" mysteries were revealed though bc of the Saints
-Also why are they reinventing what it means to be Grisha and what does it mean for the system? No way that'll be entirely addressed in the next book
-I need an explicit graphic Zoyalai sex scene in the next book or I will go onto ao3 and find it myself
-Jarl Brum....bitch
-Bring back the crows I sobbed at the brief mentions of them
-Ok but seriously WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH THE APPARAT THIS S T I L L HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED

Okay hey guys I came back after actual months cause I realized I never actually posted it (I wanted to write paragraphs before posting but I forgot the details cause I read this in like August so here. Have my dumb rough notes)

dijon_pijon's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

melike's review against another edition

3.0

i‘m conflicted about this. i did not like it as much as i thought i would. there are a few things things that bothered me: one, nina‘s parts did not fit into the main plot at all. i wish she would‘ve gotten her own novella instead. secondly, i felt like the story barely focused on nikolai even though this was supposed to be his book. the plot and development were mainly focused on zoya and nina, and as much as i love them, i wish we would have got more of nikolai himself. i would have loved to read more from his point of view, how he handled being king, about the trauma he has to endure and how exactly he handled the aftermath of what has happened to him. i think this was just a minor part of the story even though it should have been the main part. the last thing does not have anything to do with the story itself but the fact that i saw a huge spoiler before i read the book. the development and then the twist that resulted in the ending was PHENOMENAL and i know that i would‘ve been absolutely blown away by it if only i had not seen that damn spoiler. i enjoyed the book for the most part though. i adore this world and the characters, and the plot was great and as i said, i would’ve been mindblown if it hadn’t been for that. also, i love you nikolai lantsov.

soraydiant's review against another edition

3.5

zoya nazyalensky my beloved angel

nikolai lantsov character assassination at p 507 fr. 

kallik's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This one felt a little slow to me but I think that was only because I came off the high of Sic of Crows. All the developments were needed for the amazing next book. 

I love Nikolai so much but I wanted more of his perspective. I liked all the perspectives in this

kos_aii's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

lcasswrites's review against another edition

5.0

LOVED it! My favourite of the Grishaverse far, in main part because of the main characters. Zola, Nikolai and Nina are so strong but so interesting in their own ways. Am hanging out for book two!

aquaphase's review against another edition

5.0

If I could give this book ten stars, I gladly would. Ms. Bardugo is such a glorious world builder and this book is nothing less than a spectacular melding of the lore she’s established in previous writings. I’ll not spoil anything, but adherents to the Grishaverse way will not be dissatisfied with the intrigue and guile that are presented in this latest work. I am just saddened by the fact that I will just have to wait for the next installment of the story. No mourners, no funerals.

vale_17's review against another edition

3.0

4 estrellitas solo por Zoya y Nikolai

haleysreading's review against another edition

4.0

i wish goodreads allowed for half stars, this book deserves a 4.5. an AMAZING book just such a slow start