Shantanu

I went into Six of Crows right after finishing Shadow & Bone trilogy and it was everything I wanted from the Grishaverse and more! The premise is clever, the writing is bold and the crew is impossible not to root for. I took my time with it but every page was worth it.

Ketterdam is gritty and full of life, the plot is tense and rewarding and the characters are written with so much detail that you can’t help but feel invested in every choice they make. Now I’m onto Crooked Kingdom because there’s no way I’m stopping here.

Crooked Kingdom was slower and longer than Six of Crows, but it was absolutely worth the ride. It’s emotional, clever, and full of moments that stuck with me. Bardugo wraps up the story beautifully, giving every character their due while keeping the stakes sky-high. I don’t usually love long books but this one was too captivating to put down! An amazing read. It was chaotic, heartfelt and one of the best duologies I’ve come across

Days at the Torunka Café was like stepping into a quiet little corner of Tokyo where time moves slower and people cross paths in delicate, unexpected ways. It follows multiple storylines happening inside the same café, and I actually liked how the book lets different characters drift in and out. Each story has its own mood and message. But because the book keeps shifting tones between the different arcs, it didn’t always feel consistent to me. Some parts were emotional and gentle, others felt slightly detached, and that made the overall experience a bit uneven.

It’s definitely a cosy read, yes. The café setting is warm and comforting and there’s this underlying theme of people carrying quiet burdens, finding connection, and stumbling into small moments of healing. If you like reflective, subtle stories, this book fits the vibe perfectly.

But personally, I didn’t find it as interesting or engaging as I expected. Maybe it’s because I enjoyed Days at the Morisaki Bookshop so much, and I was hoping for that same emotional pull here or maybe, a linear story. Torunka Café has similar gentleness, but the plot isn’t as gripping and the characters didn’t connect with me the same way. Some moments hit nicely but others felt too slow or didn’t leave much impact.

Still, I think the book does what it sets out to do - it offers a few soft stories tied together by a comforting space, perfect for a quiet reading day. If you enjoy short, calming reads with emotional themes, this one is easy to recommend. It just wasn’t one of my favourites from Yagisawa.

Overall, the book is cosy and warm but not the most memorable for me.

I’ve been continuing my little journey through the Grishaverse and finally picked up the King of Scars duology and honestly, I was very excited for this one. I’ve always loved Nikolai in the Shadow & Bone trilogy, and knowing that this series would explore his darker side had me extra curious! It feels like stepping back into a familiar world but everything is heavier now. The tone shifts a lot from the earlier books (in a good way) as you can sense how much Ravka has been through.

The story follows three main perspectives: Nikolai, Zoya, and Nina. I actually ended up enjoying all of their arcs. Nikolai remains one of my favourite characters, even though this book shows a more haunted, restrained version of him. I did miss his usual sass and charm (those little moments were the best!) but I was also fascinated by how much the Darkling’s lingering influence still affects him: physically and emotionally. Zoya’s chapters were surprisingly compelling too; she’s colder at first but her growth in this book really stood out. And Nina… well, her storyline made me emotional more times than I expected, especially with where she is in life now after Crooked Kingdom.

What I liked most was how the story balances political tension, personal trauma and that classic Grishaverse magic. It’s definitely slower compared to the Six of Crows duology but it felt right for the kind of story it wanted to tell; something more introspective, more complex. The worldbuilding is richer, the stakes feel heavier and there’s this constant sense that something big is coming (and there were some great moments too).

And yes… the ending. OH. MY. GOD. I can’t believe Bardugo did that. I just sort of sat there after the last chapter, trying to process everything. It’s bold, chaotic and absolutely sets up something massive for the next book. I’m honestly holding myself back from immediately diving into Rule of Wolves because I need a minute to breathe but also, I need answers!

Overall, King of Scars was a super interesting shift in tone and a great continuation of the Grishaverse. It’s emotional, dark, magical, and full of twists that left me wide-eyed. I liked it.