King of Scars

King of Scars is a collection of transformative tales. Bardugo illustrates how self-acceptance especially can be life changing; broken characters with identity issues provide the perfect avenue for exploring self-acceptance. Nikolai physically fights his identity and fears he is more monster than man. Zoya struggles internally with her past and worries she isn’t strong enough. Hanne combats cultural expectations and wonders if she must always hide.

Nikolai spends the majority of his storyline worrying about the monster inside him. He will do anything to protect Ravka. When attempting to break free from the monster, Nikolai realizes they are not as separate as he thought. Once he accepts his identity, he is free to save Ravka. Likewise, Zoya dwells on the past when she failed to protect those she loved. She was young and naïve, but that doesn’t matter to her, and she lives with her guilt and resentment every day. Juris persuasively tells her, “Stop punishing yourself for being someone with a heart. You cannot protect yourself from suffering. To live is to grieve” (464). After forgiving herself and accepting Juris’s sacrifice, Zoya transforms, unleashing unlimited power. Hanne, while a minor character, goes through her own self-acceptance transformation. Nina observes that “she had a wild, generous streak that could bloom into something magical if it was only allowed to flourish” (417).