King of Scars (King of Scars Duology Book #1 of 2) [B1399]

2021 PB. A LOCUS AWARD FINALIST. See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with the Netflix series, Shadow and Bone. In this YA Fantasy novel, you will discover what comes next for daring rogue Nikolai in the Grishaverse world.

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.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "This book is nothing short of phenomenal-an utterly immersive experience from start to finish. The story gripped me in ways I can hardly put into words, brimming with excitement and tension that kept me turning the pages late into the night. The characters are brilliantly crafted; I fell in love with their complexities and can't wait to see where their journeys lead."; "I had some trouble getting hooked on the first half, but when all the action started, I was truly immersed. I was so happy to meet my beloved characters again and see them face new challenges. Sh*t is hitting the fan!"; "Another great book, building on and following Shadow and Bones. Took me a bit to recall all the backstories as it had been a while, but picked up especially in the second half. Not as strong as the Six of Crows and Shadow and Bones, but I will definitely move on to the next in the series, as still superior fantasy."