King of Scars

As General of the Second Army, Zoya is the second protagonist of King of Scars. She has her own storyline, although intertwined with Nikolai’s, that stands apart. She, too, is on a quest of self-discovery. Bardugo first describes Zoya as “too beautiful to be any ordinary person, and that meant she must be a Saint” (11). However, Zoya is not a Saint. Exhibiting the traits suggested by the tiger amplifier she wears, Zoya is strong with a will power drawn to swift action. She projects an image of stalwart stubbornness hiding her fear and insecurities behind anger and power. While some believe her “icy demeanor masks a tender spirit” (57), she is all ice. That is not to say that she doesn’t have feelings, because she does—great anger, hatred, and remorse that fuel her power—but at the same time, she can be sympathetic. Her journey helps her reach beyond those negative feelings toward forgiveness.

Before she reaches that ability to forgive, however, Zoya is motivated by fear and resentment. She feels immense guilt for loving and following the Darkling and ultimately for failing to protect her aunt and her fellow Grisha from him. The guilt haunts her, and she harbors this anguish as self-punishment, which feeds into her torturous insecurity. Therefore, whenever Zoya’s vulnerability and insecurity take over, she copes by reacting with physical violence, letting “her anger [slip] its leash, and […] the storm rise” (251). Moreover, Zoya is both Nikolai’s anchor and his weakness: She grounds him in reality, always being practical when he isn’t, but she also unintentionally draws the monster out. The monster only appears during the day when it perceives that Zoya is in danger, suggesting a deep if hidden love between her and Nikolai.

By the end, Zoya is challenged to accept the power of the dragon, representing transformation, wisdom, and hidden knowledge. Zoya is finally acknowledged for not her physical beauty but her past that empowers her: “Zoya of the lost city. Zoya of the garden. Zoya bleeding in the snow. You are strong enough to survive the fall” (464). Confronted by all of her inner demons, Zoya must make peace with herself to open the door to her full potential. Once that door opens, “Zoya would have her revenge. She would save her king” and redeem her past (465).

Nina Zenik, or Mila Jandersdat, makes a third of the narrative her own and comes in as the third protagonist. Another round character, she struggles with her own internal conflicts. Between mourning for Matthias and rescuing Grisha from Fjerda, Nina exhibits a sensitivity toward others. While Nina is sympathetic to others’ grief and suffering, however, she is quick to exact vengeance on those responsible. She is “fine one moment, then ready to snarl and snap like a wild thing” the next (49). Attributed to parem use, Nina’s altered Heartrender powers make her unstable.

Nina is eager to prove herself dependable, and she uses her resources to her advantage. Her main motivation is justice for the dead women who speak to her. The majority of her storyline centers around those women and, later, rescuing the ones still alive. Nina proudly claims, “I’ll do what I have to in order to make that possible” (380). Similar to Nikolai embracing his inner demon, Nina summons the voices inside her head: “The whispering rose in her. Fjerdan women. Fjerdan girls, crying for justice, screaming in the silence of the earth. She opened her mouth and let them speak” (457). Nina’s power proves horrific as the dead crawl in in response to her request.

Events prove Nina to be brave, reckless, clever, and generous. While her character development is not as pronounced as Nikolai’s or Zoya’s, she learns self-reliance and to trust her instincts. She lays Matthias to rest and takes Hanne under her wing, gaining an ally. Through Hanne and her connection to Jarl Brum, Nina can intercept information for Ravka. She will be a great asset for her country.

The fourth and final storyline follows Isaak Andreyev—a former soldier who served in the army under Nikolai Lantsov, a student of languages, a current palace guard and translator. Only present for the second half of King of Scars, Isaak’s chapters describe a man of amiable character. According to Genya, Isaak "didn't hesitate when we told him what was at stake" (508). Isaak was a prime candidate for Nikolai’s contingency plan because he was the correct height and spoke multiple languages. After tailoring his looks to match Nikolai’s, and voice lessons to sound like him, Isaak becomes a natural actor even though he feels uneasy about the charade. Tolya expresses as much after the king’s chamber doors are rigged with poison gas: “You must have been convincing if someone’s already trying to kill you” (331).

Isaak is not without his faults. He worries about the future. Pretending through the parties is one thing, “but that didn’t mean he was capable of governing a country or even serving as some kind of figurehead while [the Triumvirate] did the real ruling” (426). Additionally, he unwisely grows emotionally close to (the imposter) Princess Ehri when he should be guarded. This will be his downfall. His death provides a means for the others to discuss his characteristics. Nikolai is quick to "give him a hero's pension and make sure his family wants for nothing," while Tolya takes it a step further, saying, "[H]e had the heart of a king" (508). To the end, Isaak served his country loyally.