Leigh Bardugo Audiobook by Leigh Bardugo, Robin Morgan

There’s something deliciously electric about listening to a fantasy epic while the rain patters against my window and Portland’s skies turn a dramatic gray—especially when the audiobook is as immersive as Leigh Bardugo’s *King of Scars*. I curled up with this story on one such afternoon, letting Lauren Fortgang’s narration sweep me back into the Grishaverse. If you’ve ever found yourself wanting not just adventure, but an exploration of brokenness, resilience, and complicated hope in your fiction, this book might be exactly what you’re seeking.

*King of Scars* opens after Ravka’s brutal civil war, placing us squarely in the mind—and heart—of King Nikolai Lantsov. As someone who has always been drawn to characters carrying invisible wounds (aren’t we all, sometimes?), I felt immediately pulled into Nikolai’s struggle with his internal demons and outward threats to his fragile kingdom. Bardugo paints him not just as a clever ruler with signature charm but as a man haunted by trauma—a theme that resonated deeply with me after years working in education and witnessing students carry their own battles beneath bright smiles.

The emotional complexity doesn’t stop with Nikolai. Zoya Nazyalensky and Nina Zenik are both strong voices here; Nina especially provides much-needed levity and depth for fans of *Six of Crows.* The way their individual journeys intertwine with larger political machinations adds rich layers to the plot without ever feeling overwhelming or forced. Bardugo masterfully builds her world through details both magical and mundane: ancient spells, power-hungry rivals at court, secret missions across perilous landscapes.

Lauren Fortgang brings all these threads together beautifully. Her range is impressive—I could instantly tell which character was speaking even before dialogue tags made it clear. She nails Nikolai’s sardonic wit, Zoya’s steeliness tinged with vulnerability, and Nina’s heartfelt humor. There were moments during tense confrontations where I caught myself holding my breath; other times I laughed out loud at sly banter delivered perfectly in Fortgang’s nuanced tones.

What truly stands out is how *King of Scars* balances grand-scale suspense with intimate moments of self-discovery and healing. The stakes never feel abstract: every skirmish or magical disaster threatens characters we genuinely care about (and believe me—I cared). Yet for all its darkness—magical corruption eating away at souls, kingdoms teetering on collapse—the novel never loses sight of hope or love between comrades.

My only caveat? Listeners new to Bardugo might find themselves missing some context if they haven’t read previous Grishaverse entries—particularly the original trilogy or *Six of Crows.* That said, there’s enough recapping woven into dialogue that you won’t be lost; still, knowing more backstory makes certain twists hit harder emotionally.

Ultimately, *King of Scars* reminded me why I treasure audiobooks: they let stories unfurl around daily routines until reality blurs at the edges—and few worlds are built better than Bardugo’s Ravka when paired with Fortgang’s stellar performance. It left me eager for part two…as well as another rainy afternoon listen.