“The scars were a reminder of the torture he had endured at the hands of the Darkling—and the price he had paid alongside his country.”

Nikolai’s hands are covered in black scars; gloves usually hide them. The Ravkan people refer to him as the King of Scars, which reveals the significance of the book’s title. Here, Zoya explains how Nikolai received these scars and what they mean to him now.

“Tales of witches and wonderous happenings, warnings about cursed places—they were signposts to things that ordinary people didn’t understand […] But sometimes there were Grisha hiding in these places, disguising their powers, living in fear. Grisha they could help.”

Traditionally, the unknown and misunderstood is explained by magic. In a country like Fjerda where Grisha are hunted, any supernatural acts are seen as witchcraft or miracles. Nina sees these acts for what they are: Grisha using their powers. Following the tales of superstition will lead them to Grisha they can rescue.

“He’d come to recognize the bizarre phenomenon of Zoya’s beauty, the way men loved to create stories around it. They said she was cruel because she’d been harmed in the past […] Anything to soften her edges and sweeten her disposition […] Zoya’s company was like strong drink. Bracing—and best to abstain if you couldn’t handle the kick.”

Zoya’s beauty is mentioned several times throughout the story as one of her defining features. It plays a part of her past when her mother tries to marry her off at a young age, but her aunt saves her and sends her to Grisha school instead. Her beauty makes Zoya extra guarded and abrasive—as suggested by the simile of a strong drink.