King of Scars

In this first book of the King of Scars duology, set in Leigh Bardugo's popular Grishaverse, King Nikolai Lantsov faces immense pressure to rebuild his war-torn nation, Ravka. He must forge alliances and defend against encroaching enemies, all while battling a growing dark magic that threatens to consume him from within. The story also follows Nina Zenik, a spy helping Grisha refugees in a hostile neighboring country. This young adult fantasy explores themes of leadership, identity, the cost of war, and overcoming internal struggles, making it suitable for mature readers aged 12-18 who enjoy complex world-building and political intrigue.

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, the young king 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 Squaller, 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.