In Leigh Bardugo's 'King of Scars', Nikolai Lantsov, the charismatic king of Ravka, harbors dark magic within him as a result of his experiences in the civil war. As external threats loom and internal power struggles arise, Nikolai strives to replenish the nation's treasury, forge alliances, and maintain the Grisha Army's strength. Alongside a young monk and the legendary Grisha general Zoya Nazyalensky, he embarks on a perilous journey to discover potent magic capable of overcoming the sinister force within, all while wrestling with the secrets of his past and the difficult path of healing some scars that may never fully close.