Spin-off Saturdays: On Saturdays, I will review a series that is a spin-off series. It is recommended that you read the original series first in order to get the most out of the spin-off series. Here is this week’s offering:
King of Scars Series is a spin-off of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy and the Six of Crows
Series: King of Scars, Grishaverse
This is a spinoff of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy and the Six of Crows
Author: Leigh Bardugo
# of Books: 2 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Young Adult, High Fantasy, Magic, Romance
Heat Rating: warm
Point of View: Third Person, Multiple
Publication Date: January 2019 – March 2021
Source & Format: Public Library—eBook
WARNING: If you have not finished the original series, this review may have spoilers!
My Expectations?
I adored Nikolai in the original Shadow and Bone Trilogy. He was one of my favourite characters so I was definitely ready to get a book dedicated solely to him. Nina was also a character I really grew to love in the Six of Crows Series (a series I enjoyed wayyy more than the Shadow and Bone Trilogy) and I couldn’t wait to see what was next in her story after a heart-wrenching conclusion in that series. So I was super excited to see what the blending of these two worlds would bring!
How Does It Compare To The Original?
–More Bigger Picture Focused–
Shadow and Bone is very much focused on Alina and how she fits into the world. Whereas I felt like the approach here was how the world fits these characters. You get a lot of POVs along the way to give that bigger picture. And while that bigger picture and how it is all interconnected isn’t super obvious at the start, by the end the weaving of it all is intricate to say the least.
–More Politics–
I love books with complicated political strategies so I enjoyed watching all that come together. I felt like the focus was more on keeping the world afloat than keeping Alina afloat like the original trilogy did.
Whereas Six of Crows was more suspenseful with the heist aspect, I think the politics of the world here kept that tone going to a certain extent.
Anything I Didn’t Like?
–Plot Dragged–
So I stopped and restarted King of Scars (#1) numerous times. Some of the time, life got in the way, other times, I got bored. I got especially bored in Rule of Wolves (#2). I felt like you could have cut out a lot of both books and made one solid book that kept the pace going.
–Nina’s Story–
I’m not sure what I wanted out of Nina in this series. She went through so much at the end of Six of Crows (it was hard to read the first few chapters here because her grief broke my heart). But a haphazard romance I didn’t even see coming because it happened with the snap of the fingers isn’t what I wanted for her. It seemed forced like it was trying to prove a point–and I’m not even sure what that point is. I’m not saying that Nina shouldn’t find love again or that I don’t like the idea of who her future partner could be; I just didn’t see how something that came across as maternal to me was romantic.
–Too Much Fan Service–
I kinda felt like things were included in here just to appease fans and it made the plot messy. So messy that it almost makes you wonder why we even bothered with the Shadow and Bone Trilogy with some of the events that happen.
And while I can appreciate the idea that not everything was perfect in the Grishaverse after Shadow and Bone Trilogy was completed (ie not a perfect utopia of a HEA), I think a different adversary would have helped to show that the world is far from being healed.
Series Rating: 3/5
King of Scars 3.5/5 | Rule of Wolves 3/5
I think diehard Grishaverse fans will soak up every page of this series as they return to this rich world. But those looking for a solid plot, consistency amongst character development might be left wanting more.
Read if You Like: the Grishaverse, multiple POV
Avoid if You: dislike long books
- Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (Shadow and Bone Trilogy #1)
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows Series #1)
- The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (The Folk of Air Series #1)
- Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas (Throne of Glass Series #1)
Synopsis for King of Scars (from Goodreads):
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.
I have only read the first book so far – I’m waiting for my friend to catch up so we can buddy read the second one – and I’m not sure how I feel about it. It’s got such a different vibe to the first series. I feel like Bardugo’s writing style has become a bit fluffy and meandering and it doesn’t suit this story. I love Nikolai though so I have to finish this for him!
I totally get what you mean! The last Bardugo novel I series I read was the Six of Crows which is grittier for sure. But there was just so much extra fluff at times that it took a long time to get into it. I’m curious what you’re thoughts will be when you finish the series!
This review offers a balanced perspective on the King of Scars series, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses, which is helpful for readers deciding whether to dive into the spin-off.
How do you think the blending of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy and the Six of Crows Series influences the overall tone and themes of the King of Scars series compared to the original series?
I always felt like the original Shadow and Bone Trilogy was intended for a young adult audience while the Six of Crow series suited a slightly older demographic. But by the time King of Scars was released, those original readers are now in that older demographic and want that more mature and deeper story and characters.