A review by noellesimonson
King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
3.0
I have…. thoughts.
I’m very disappointed that this book is only worthy of three stars. I was expecting to enjoy it as much as or more than Six of Crows and I was very wrong. The POVs are three of my favorite characters from the Grishaverse so one would assume that I would automatically love it. Unfortunately, the plot of this book was so uninteresting that it took me six days to read something I could’ve finished in one sitting.
It started strong but I felt myself pulling away from the story more and more with each chapter. Bringing The Darkling back is lazy and a disservice to Alina’s sacrifice. He was a boring, predictable villain in Shadow & Bone and “resurrecting” him isn’t going to make him more compelling. His story was complete and it should’ve been left at that. Although, I did enjoy learning about the Saints and their eternal purgatorial dungeon. Their storyline helped keep me invested.
MATTHIAS DESERVED MORE. I will say that again and again until I die. He deserved more than to be buried and then almost immediately forgotten. He deserved more than to be cast off as soon as Nina was remotely attracted to someone else. Was it really necessary for her to have another love interest? Why is that beneficial to the plot in any way? I don’t mind Hanne as a character but I definitely mind the way their relationship is developing.
On the other side of that, Nikolai and Zoya need to hurry up and make out already. My patience is wearing thin.
I’m very disappointed that this book is only worthy of three stars. I was expecting to enjoy it as much as or more than Six of Crows and I was very wrong. The POVs are three of my favorite characters from the Grishaverse so one would assume that I would automatically love it. Unfortunately, the plot of this book was so uninteresting that it took me six days to read something I could’ve finished in one sitting.
It started strong but I felt myself pulling away from the story more and more with each chapter. Bringing The Darkling back is lazy and a disservice to Alina’s sacrifice. He was a boring, predictable villain in Shadow & Bone and “resurrecting” him isn’t going to make him more compelling. His story was complete and it should’ve been left at that. Although, I did enjoy learning about the Saints and their eternal purgatorial dungeon. Their storyline helped keep me invested.
MATTHIAS DESERVED MORE. I will say that again and again until I die. He deserved more than to be buried and then almost immediately forgotten. He deserved more than to be cast off as soon as Nina was remotely attracted to someone else. Was it really necessary for her to have another love interest? Why is that beneficial to the plot in any way? I don’t mind Hanne as a character but I definitely mind the way their relationship is developing.
On the other side of that, Nikolai and Zoya need to hurry up and make out already. My patience is wearing thin.