word of advice : Spoilers for the Six of Crows and King of Scars duologies .
Summary
When I found out Nina Zenik would have her own point of view in Leigh Bardugo’sKing of Scarsseries , I was worked up , but the world of her storyline was incredibly dissatisfactory . After writing theShadow and Bonebook seriesand theSix of Crowsduology , beloved young adult source Leigh Bardugo released another pair of books set in the Grishaverse : King of ScarsandRule of Wolves . These books follow Nikolai Lantsov as he quite literally face his inner ogre with the help of Zoya Nazyalensky . Meanwhile , Nina took on a new Grisha missionary work , post - Six of Crows .
I bang what Bardugo did with Nikolai and Zoya in theKing of Scarsduology . Like in her previous novel , Bardugo offered owing worldbuilding , humor , and persona relationship . I never thought I would be so invested in the charming king of Ravka and his cold and calculated general . However , Nikolai and Zoya were only half of the duology . The other half rest on the shoulders of Nina , who was one of my favourite members ofKaz Brekker’sSix of Crowscrew . Her floor occupy a completely unlike bit , though , and I ca n’t say all of it was good .
The best quotes from Leigh Bardugo ’s Six of Crows duology highlight the characters ' intelligence operation , resilience , and skill as they take back Ketterdam .
Custom Image by Yailin Chacon
The King Of Scars Books Don’t Give Nina Enough Time To Mourn Matthias
Nina Got Over Matthias Too Quickly
Although I really anticipate Nina ’s return inKing of Scars , I have a go at it her plot line would be sorry . The last time readers see Nina , she had just witnessed the death of her lover , Matthias . OfSix of Crows’many unequaled romances , Nina and Matthias were one of the most interesting couple . While Matthias was taught to hate Grisha as aDruskelle Grisha hunter , Nina ’s life had always been about upholding and appreciating Grisha thaumaturgy . Because the two should never have worked together , their enemies - to - lovers romance was all the better . However , I could n’t help but notice and be annoyed howKing of Scarsdropped this patch .
Every Grishaverse Book
Shadow and Bone
“Six of Crows” by Leigh Bardugo is a duology set in a fantasy world where a group of six outcasts and criminals undertake a dangerous heist. Led by the cunning Kaz Brekker, they navigate betrayal, secrets, and dark magic to achieve their mission. The series takes place in the author’s wider “Grishaverse."
Alina , Mal & the Darkling
Siege and Storm
Ruin and uprise
Six of Crows
Kaz , Inej , Jesper , Nina , Matthias , & Wylan
Crooked Kingdom
King of Scars
Nikolai & Zoya , Nina
convention of Wolves
Although the first third ofKing of Scarssaw Nina mourning Matthias and utter to him in her psyche , this period of grieving did n’t last as long as I anticipated . In fact , once Nina found a office to bury Matthias , his memory seemed to ebb awayto a significant degree . While I understood that Nina had a mission to run out , it was still jarring to see Matthias so quickly discarded . After drop two whole playscript search their Romance language , his demise seemed like something to move on from rather than a core objet d’art of Nina ’s story . I had to marvel : what was the point ?
Nina’s Love Story Feels Rushed In The King Of Scars Duology
Nina & Hanne Didn’t Have The Same Development
What was even worse than Nina easily getting over Matthias ' death was the fact that she also move on romantically . While behave as a Ravkan spy in Fjerda , Nina form a shackle with Jarl Brum ’s daughter , Hanne . At first , their human relationship seemed to be purely professional , yet before I know it , sparks were flying between the character . Although I like Hanne as a quality , and I desire Nina to be glad , it was hard to take root for Nina and Hanne as a couple . Matthias aside , it did n’t facilitate that their family relationship felt unrealistically fast .
compare to the slow - sunburn , enemies - to - lovers love affair that Nina had with Matthias , her bond with Hanne felt somewhat random and sudden .
While Nina and Matthias enjoyed several flashbacks document their travelling across Fjerda together long beforeSix of Crows , Nina and Hanne did n’t have that sort of history . lecturer see Hanne at the same time that Nina did . Therefore , compared to the boring - burn , enemies - to - lovers love affair that Nina had with Matthias , her bond with Hanne felt somewhat random and sudden . The timing plainly did n’t seem right . Perhaps if the pair were give way more time , I would have bought into it more . However , with only two book to build their human relationship after Nina ’s first great love , Nina and Hanne simply did n’t make sense to me .
Nina & Hanne’s Ending Has Some Glaring Issues (Despite The Positive Representation)
Nina & Hanne Couldn’t Be Themselves
The worst part of Nina and Hanne ’s family relationship was their finish . At the end ofRule of Wolves , Hanne tailor themself to look like Prince Rasmus after unintentionally kill him . By forget their female organic structure , Hanne was able to marry Nina , and the two ruled Fjerda together . However , Hanne could never be Hanne again , and Nina had to stay made-to-order as Mila . In this way , Hanne and Nina could only be together by inhabiting other identities . This was not only a dissatisfactory conclusion for me , but it also darkened what was to begin with portrayed as a overconfident representation .
Though I was n’t the biggest fan of Nina and Hanne ’s romance , I could respect the representation that it provided . Nina has always represented plus - size consistence positiveness , and her androgyny was able to shine through via her relationship with Hanne in a way that it could n’t when she was with Matthias . moreover , Hanne herself was a character that ostensibly represented transgender or non - binary individuals , a type of internal representation Bardugo had yet to add to the Grishaverse . Yet , having Hanne and Nina ’s story cease without them being able to be their true self hurt the theatrical , in my opinion .
Continuing Nina’s Story In Another Six Of Crows Book Would Have Been Better
Nina Didn’t Need To Be In King Of Scars
alas , I palpate thatNina ’s story brought down the calibre ofKing of ScarsandRule of Wolves . Her plot merely was n’t as interesting as that of Nikolai and Zoya . Plus , it suffered from some serious problems pertain tempo . However , I did n’t conceive that Nina ’s story should have been junk all . Instead , I thought it would have worked intimately in a thirdSix of Crowsbook . Nina ’s novel tale could have been well cushioned by her past , and therefore , her future would n’t have mat so sudden and strange . Alongside the Crows , everything could have been firm from a narrative standpoint .
The independent draw of having Nina ’s story tell in a hypotheticalthirdSix of Crowsbookrather thanKing of Scarsis that Matthias could not have been forget so easily . With perspectives from the other Crows , Matthias ' memory board would have remain more dominant throughout . In this way , Nina ’s new love affair would n’t have felt like such a betrayal . Furthermore , readers were already intimate with Nina ’s perspective appearing alongside those of the Crows . This sense of familiarity might have saved Nina’sKing of Scarsstory . However , I and other reader were left with a disappointing and unexpected plot instead .
TheKing of Scarsduology is definitely still deserving the read for Grishaverse lovers , but they should keep their hopes abject for the regaining of Nina Zenik . Though we still examine Nina ’s sassy , charming side , her story plainly did n’t feel the same as inSix of Crows . While Hanne and Nina were an interesting coupling , there simply was n’t enough time to give them the story they truly deserved .
“Six of Crows” by Leigh Bardugo is a duology set in a fantasy world where a group of six outcasts and criminals undertake a dangerous heist. Led by the cunning Kaz Brekker, they navigate betrayal, secrets, and dark magic to achieve their mission. The series takes place in the author’s wider “Grishaverse."
" Six of Crows " by Leigh Bardugo is a duology typeset in a illusion world where a grouping of six outcast and felon undertake a dangerous holdup . Led by the cunning Kaz Brekker , they navigate betrayal , secret , and glowering magic to achieve their mission . The series takes place in the author ’s wider " Grishaverse . "
