King of Scars

King of Scars is a fantasy novel by American author Leigh Bardugo published by Imprint in 2019. It is the first in a duology, followed by Rule of Wolves,[2] and a continuation of Bardugo's Grishaverse. The story is primarily told in third person by three point of views: Nikolai Lantsov and Zoya Nazyalensky from the original trilogy in Ravka, and Nina Zenik from Six of Crows in Ketterdam.

King of Scars
AuthorLeigh Bardugo
Cover artistBillelis[1]
LanguageEnglish
SeriesKing of Scars duology
GenreFantasy
PublisherImprint
Publication date
January 29, 2019
Media typePrint
ISBN978-1250142283
Followed byRule of Wolves 

Plot

King of Ravka Nikolai Lantsov attempts to rebuild his country after the Ravkan Civil War and get it in order to fend off threats from neighboring nations Shu Han and Fjerda while dealing with the demons the Darkling infested him with. Zoya Nazyalensky, his friend, a powerful Squaller, and general of Ravka's Second Army, is desperate to help him.

They also run into the Cult of the Starless Saint, who worship and claim loyalty to the Darkling. Yuri, the leader of this cult, travels with Zoya and Nikolai while they are searching for a way to control the monster inside of Nikolai. They are trapped in a remnant of the Shadow Fold that holds some of Ravka's Saints, including Sankta Elisaveta, Sankt Juris, and Sankt Grigori. Sankta Elisaveta helps Nikolai prepare for a dangerous ritual to rid himself of the monster, while Sankt Juris works with Zoya to hone her Grisha powers. Elisaveta ends up betraying Zoya and Nikolai with Yuri's help. Juris is murdered by Elisaveta and is joined with Zoya as an amplifier. By the end of the ritual, the Darkling's spirit has entered Yuri's body.

Meanwhile, Nina Zenik is disguised as a woman named Mila Jandersdat as she, Leoni, and Adrik help Grisha flee Fjerda, where Grisha are oppressed and even hunted. Shortly after burying her lover, Matthias, Nina meets Hanne, a Grisha living in secret in Fjerda. Hanne is revealed to be the child of Jarl Brum and Ylva, a Hedjut woman. Together, Nina and her allies manage to rescue young Grisha women and children who are being drugged with parem and forced to conceive children born already addicted to the drug.

In the second half of the novel, Isaak, a member of Ravka's royal guard, is introduced. He is recruited by the Grisha at the palace to impersonate Nikolai, who has gone missing while on a mission to rid himself of the monster. Isaak struggles to hold his facade as the King of Ravka while attempting to find Nikolai a politically advantageous bride, finding interest in Princess Ehri of Shu Han. However, Princess Ehri is revealed to actually be a member of the Shu Han secret guard and fatally stabs Isaak and then herself, planning to frame Fjerda for the murders. The real Princess Ehri was disguised as a member of the secret guard. Despite witnessing this, Nikolai chooses the real Princess Ehri to be his bride.[3][4][5]

Characters
Main article: Characters of the Grishaverse
  • Nikolai Lantsov: known as handsome and charming, he is the King of Ravka[6]
  • Zoya Nazyalensky: General of the Second Army and bodyguard to Nikolai.[6] She is a Squaller and member of the Triumvirate.[7]
  • Nina Zenik: Ravkan spy and a Heartreander[7][8]
  • Genya Safin: Member of the Triumvirate, a Grisha Tailor[8]
  • Tamar Kir-Bataar: Tolya's twin, a Grisha[9]
  • Tolya Yul-Bataar: Tamar's twin, a Grisha[9]
  • David Kostyk: Member of the Triumvirate, a Grisha Durast.[8]
  • Isaak Andreyev: a Ravkan soldier who served under Nikolai during his tenure as King of Ravka. He is a close friend of Nikolai and disguises himself as the King with Genya's tailoring when Nikolai is away.[8]

Reception

King of Scars was an instant #1 New York Times Best Seller.[10]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Result Ref
2019 Goodreads Choice Awards Best Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction Nominated [11]
2020 Locus Award Best Young Adult Book Nominated [12]

References
  1. Canfield, David (30 April 2018). "Leigh Bardugo reveals cover for her hot new fantasy, King of Scars". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  2. Rankin, Seija (22 August 2020). "All the details on Leigh Bardugo's next book, the King of Scars sequel". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  3. Arreola, Cristina (30 January 2019). "The Ending Of 'King Of Scars' Is A Major Bomb — And Leigh Bardugo Likes It That Way". Bustle. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  4. Sheehan, Jason (1 February 2019). "'King Of Scars' Muses On The Monstrous". NPR. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  5. Romney, Ginny (29 January 2019). "Book review: YA queen Leigh Bardugo's 'King of Scars' a wild, magical ride". Deseret News. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  6. Sheehan, Jason (1 February 2019). "'King Of Scars' Muses On The Monstrous". NPR. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  7. Missen, Alana (8 September 2019). "'King of Scars' and Its Impact On The Grishaverse". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  8. Bardugo, Leigh (2019). King of scars (1st ed.). New York. ISBN 978-1-250-14228-3. OCLC 1082865160.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. Knight, Rosie (11 January 2021). "WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SHADOW AND BONE". Nerdist. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  10. "King of Scars". Macmillan. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  11. "Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction". Goodreads. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  12. "2020 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
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