KING OF SCARS

In this Grishaverse novel, King
Nikolai struggles to keep his kingdom afloat in a destabilized, rapidly
changing world.

Though Ravka’s civil war ended three
years ago, Ravka still faces threats both domestic—pretenders to the throne,
policies that are popular with commoners but anger nobility—and external—old
enemies like Fjerda, debts owed to Kerch. Worse, for the past 6 months Nikolai
has been struggling with an enemy inside himself: The monstrous curse thought
ended by the death of the Darkling re-emerges when he sleeps, posing a danger
to his people, crown, and soul. With traveling becoming too risky given his
secrets, Nikolai and his inner circle hatch a display of strength that will
bring the other powers to him for diplomacy, using the cover of his seeking a
queen. Meanwhile, in the months since the end of Crooked Kingdom (2016),
grieving Nina has returned to Fjerda on a mission to rescue and recruit Grisha.
Following the call of her changed abilities, she’s drawn to an area with
poisoned waters and a mysterious factory holding dark secrets. Multiple
romantic storylines among the multiethnic cast develop organically and don’t
pull the focus away from keeping up with the plots. Strategically-deployed
backstory makes already likable characters even more compelling; international
political developments (especially with Grisha experimentation) are woven seamlessly
in with the epic themes.

Will leave readers begging for the sequel.
(cast, maps) (Fantasy. 14-adult)