King of Scars is a book about a young king named Nikolai Lantsov, who is struggling to conceal a dark secret: he has an uncontrollable ability to turn into a winged monster every night. On top of this, he has to work to save a country that is still recovering after almost being torn apart from a major civil war.
I found King of Scars to be a great read. There was a nice combination of elements I enjoy in most books: fantasy, action, and humor. I really liked how the author used Nikolai’s literal demon problem to represent people struggling with their own inner demons. It gave a nice feeling of reassurance that those people were not alone. Another thing I liked about this story was Nikolai’s character. Despite being a king, he didn’t have the stereotypical traits of one. He wasn’t selfish, snobby, or annoyingly stuck-up. He was actually very down-to-earth, funny, and kind-hearted. His likeable character made the book more enjoyable. I recommend this book to people who enjoy a humorous fantasy story. I would also recommend reading the Grishaverse series by the same author, in order for King of Scars to make more sense.
Review written by Victoria, Grade 9