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King of Scars (The Nikolai Duology) Reading Order.

Quick Answer

Read Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows first, then King of Scars (2019): it continues both.

The complete reading order for the King of Scars (The Nikolai Duology) series by Leigh Bardugo. Below you'll find the authoritative guide on how to read the books in order, including publication dates and chronological timeline placements.

Where to start

Read Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows first, then King of Scars (2019): it continues both.

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Reading Order2 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

King of Scars

Pub: 2019

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.

2

Rule of Wolves

Pub: 2021

Plot details hidden until you finish "King of Scars".

Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller!Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Young Adult Fantasy!See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with the Netflix series, Shadow and Bone -- Season 2 streaming now!Discover what comes next for the daring rogue Nikolai in the riveting sequel to King of Scars from #1 bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo.The Demon King. As Fjerda’s massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm—and even the monster within—to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young king’s gift for the impossible.The Stormwitch. Zoya Nazyalensky has lost too much to war. She saw her mentor die and her worst enemy resurrected, and she refuses to bury another friend. Now duty demands she embrace her powers to become the weapon her country needs. No matter the cost.The Queen of Mourning. Deep undercover, Nina Zenik risks discovery and death as she wages war on Fjerda from inside its capital. But her desire for revenge may cost her country its chance at freedom and Nina the chance to heal her grieving heart.King. General. Spy. Together they must find a way to forge a future in the darkness. Or watch a nation fall.Read all the books in the Grishaverse!The Shadow and Bone Trilogy(previously published as The Grisha Trilogy)Shadow and BoneSiege and StormRuin and RisingThe Six of Crows DuologySix of CrowsCrooked KingdomThe King of Scars DuologyKing of ScarsRule of WolvesThe Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous MagicThe Severed Moon: A Year-Long Journal of MagicThe Lives of SaintsDemon in the Wood Graphic NovelPraise for the Grishaverse“A master of fantasy.” —The Huffington Post“Utterly, extremely bewitching.” —The Guardian“This is what fantasy is for.” —The New York Times Book Review“A world that feels real enough to have its own passport stamp.” —NPR“The darker it gets for the good guys, the better.” —Entertainment Weekly“Sultry, sweeping and picturesque. . . . Impossible to put down.” —USA Today“There’s a level of emotional and historical sophistication within Bardugo’s original epic fantasy that sets it apart.” —Vanity Fair“Unlike anything I’ve ever read.” —Veronica Roth, bestselling author of Divergent“Bardugo crafts a first-rate adventure, a poignant romance, and an intriguing mystery!” —Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series

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Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read King of Scars (The Nikolai Duology) in?

Read Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows first, then King of Scars (2019): it continues both.

How many books are in King of Scars (The Nikolai Duology)?

2 main books, published 2019–2021.

Can I read King of Scars (The Nikolai Duology) out of order?

It's best not to. The books build on each other, so reading out of order spoils earlier twists.