Rule of Wolves (King of Scars Duology, 2)

This is a review I’ve been waiting a long time to write. I preordered this book and got it on launch day, but haven’t gotten to reading it until now. And boy have I missed Leigh Bardugo’s writing.This is the sequel to King of Scars, which followes king Nikolai, Zoya and Nina on their journey to basically save their country Ravka.As usual, Leigh Bardugo has a way with weaving multiple characters into a story in a compelling and interesting way. The plot is perhaps not anything groundbreaking and new, but it’s a solid story that leads our characters from one point to the other. But the brilliant thing about this book is its characters. They are well developed and lovable, and we get a few bonus appearances from old favorites.The main romance in this book is one of the best I’ve read in a long time. It’s done well and for the first time in a long time I actually wanted and hoped that things would work out for the couple in question. I’m not going to spoil anything, so I won’t give away what I thought of the end result, but nevertheless, the journey towards the end was very well written.I’m happy to see that the author has made an effort to diversify and be more inclusive. And there’s representation of LGBTQIA+ in this book. Especially where one of the characters seems to be trans, or at least Hanne expresses that she’s uncomfortable with her femininity and seems to identify as male. I adore Hanne as a character, and I really wish we’d gotten to know her a little better. This whole thing feels a little shallow, as if her gender identity was an afterthought that wasn’t fully developed. There were just the tiniest of hints to what the character was feeling, and by the end everything felt a little flat. In turn, it made Nina seem a little blind to what Hanne was going through, and I don’t think it felt quite right.I would have loved more time developing their relationship and the trust between them. I think it all felt a bit rushed, and the ending too fell a bit flat for me because of how underdeveloped it was.And there would have been room to develop the important stuff, because the book is, in I guess true Bargudo style, a big jampacked with everything and a little more. This book is attempting to pack a lot in a small box. A lot of the things in the book isn’t necessary, and it bogs down the reading experience and makes it hard to keep track and to focus. At the same time, a lot of things that seem important are just glazed over, like Nina and Hannes relationship.There was this whole side quest with a random character that didn’t have anything to do with anything really, and then the Darklings few chapters and his journey, well, that didn’t do much either. The highlight of the story is as always Nikolai and Zoya. They are great. And unlike King of Scars, this time Nina’s chapters actually seemed relevant to the story that was being told.So, what can I say. It’s a great book, a lot happens, it’s interesting, the plot works, but there’s a lot of unnecessary stuff here, and a lot of scenes that feel like they are just put in there for please fans with a glimpse of old favorites. Like a whole plotline where Nikolai travels to Ketterdam to meet Kaz and do a heist. All these little spin-offs feel rushed and flat instead of immersive and interesting.I think Leigh wanted a little too much with this book, which with all that’s in here could (and should?) have been several separate stories instead.I’m still giving this book five stars because it’s great and I love Nikolai and for the most part I found the ending satisfying.

Maybe the gift of being human is that we do not give up- even when all hope is lost.How do I start this review? Of course warning you, this review is full of spoilers from the Grishaverse, Shadow and Bone, Six of Crows and King of Scars.So, where are our beloved heroes at the beginning of Rule of Wolves? Remember what happened at the end of King of Scars? Well, we are there. A wedding needs to happen, some alliances must be completed, a war is coming and someone has returned home. Ravka is facing one of the most difficult moments, Fjerda wants war, and puts another King on the throne and, Nikolai is trying to save all of them, with the help of a hell of crew, Zoya, Genya, David, Tolya and Tamar. In the meantime, Nina is in the Ice Court trying to spy on one of the most dangerous drüskelle.So, some faces from the past are back in action. New plots with some friends with love for gambling, war strategies, experiments and intrigues are the perfect recipe for the doom of Ravka, the Lantsov dynasty and for one of my favorite characters ever, Nikolai, the King of Scars, half man, half monster and full of love for science and with an special talent for chaos.I've been waiting to read this book since 2019, when I read King of Scars, so I had quite expectations after reading that masterpiece, and did Rule of Wolves fill them? The answer is more complex than just saying yes or no. On one hand we have the whole plot of the war, the claim for the throne of Ravka and the ice court intrigue. On the other hand, we have the starless one. So, I will try to talk about these two storylines avoiding spoilers.First, Nikolai and Zoya’s story was amazing. I loved it, it was full of action and the battle scenes were epic. Zoya is a powerful and strong General and Nikolai is a King who is ready to give his life for his country. He is the monster and the monster is him, this never felt so real until this book. Everything was awesome, almost perfect. But c’mon Leigh, have you enjoyed your tea with Satan after writing chapter 20?. The only thing I can say about this was why? Are you happy now when my dark heart is broken? Maybe yes, and I get it, war means horrors, pain and suffering, and you did an incredible job writing about that.But there were two things that I particularly didn’t enjoy as much as Nikolai’s storyline. First, the starless one, I wanted more of him, more of the villain I met, more darkness and less existential crisis, I wanted to see the world burn in chaos made by the one and only *spoiler*, so I think this part of the story needed more. Deserved better? Definitely yes, which brings me to the next thing that I didn't enjoy as much as the rest of the book; the last two chapters, I was happy and angry, and lowkey a little disappointed. I don’t like open endings, I wanted a close, especially when this is officially the last book of the Grishaverse. But secretly I’m praying to the saints for another book about the Crows. Last line of the book gives me hope and light. In other happy moments, I love Nina, she is amazing and deserves the world, waffles for the rest of her life, she needs happiness, love and to be free to be herself.This review is longer than I expected, so in conclusion, this book is very good, epic, full of action and with a very interesting character development, but I really wanted more about some little secondary plots. This is everything in the grishaverse for now, but I’ll be one of the happiest readers if Leigh Bardugo writes more about this world.4.5 of five because I love Nikolai and Zoya :D

Great condition with perfect packing. Daughter loves the series and was so happy to add it to her library.

What can I say? I loved this duology, and I'm so sad I've finished the second book, and I'm going to miss all of its characters. I've fallen in love with Zoya, Nina, Nikolai, Hanne, and I'm a bit bereft of their company now!I wouldn't advise diving in, but would say you should start with the first book of the first trilogy, Shadow And Bone.Ravka, Fjerda, and the other nations in this world are very real places to me, something I've only experienced as fully as this with Westeros. There's history, there's depth, there's politics. But it's always driven by character, by the story of individuals, and their plots, heartaches, and triumphs.The first trilogy lacks a certain depth, I'll admit, but when taken as a whole...?Go and get lost in the Grishaverse.

This was a unexpectedly emotional ending to the king of scars series a two part story set in the Grishaverse a Russian inspired fantasy world. Redemption and forgiveness were the themes and the story delivered. Long term fans, and it should go without saying this isn’t the place for newbies to start, will find much toadore character arcs come to completion and a satisfying ending is given even as the future is set up.Fan favourite characters return even if there is the trade Mark bardugo bitter sweetness going on as not every character meets a happy fate or how not every villain is brought to justice.I couldn’t help but feel that the story is coming to a Crossroads even as further adventures are set up . Confident, well written and assured this was a fantastic highlight in the Grishaverse the fun and action was there as always but there was perhaps even more heart then normal, so rather then spoil I will just heartily recommend happy reading.

The opening pages sets the scene of a spell binding and captivating story, with Makhi’s mother, who on her death bed and with the power of appointing the next queen, chooses her younger daughter, Princess Ehri, ahead of Makhi; the eldest. With a challenge, from Makhi, that she should rule, the queen replies“… and yet no lesson has ever taught you kindness. No tutor has ever taught you mercy. You have a heart hungry for fear and I do not know why”With the mothers’ words falling on deaf ears, Makhi becomes Queen with Ehri living captive in a world with little friends and in fear of a sister who wants her dead. However, the main story is about the inevitable battle between Fjerda and Shu Han, as the story switches between the worlds of a King, a General and a Spy.The Demon King – Nokolai Lantsov who must fight against Fjerda and the demon inside him.The Stormwitch – Zoya Nazyalensky – the General who commands the second army and has been building a powerful force behind the king. However, with her mentor dead and her worst enemy resurrected, Zoya must win this final battle as she fights against her heart and the love she cannot have.The Spy – Nina Zenik and the Queen of mourning, in a separate storyline wages war against Fjerda from inside its capital.All the threads come together in an epic story packed with political intrigue, fascinating world building, dangerous power struggles and dark magic. With a few romances thrown in for that extra bit of sweetness.Review and Comments - The Characterisation is superb with the King, a General and a Spy making up the core cast, although there is no shortage of equally likeable and interesting characters. Yet, it was Nikolai’s humour that got me on this one, for instance when someone pointed out that his idea was a bad one. His response made me chuckle. “I have a surplus of bad ideas," said Nikolai. "I have to spend them somewhere.”Another story set in Grishaverse and another book that highlights what a talent Leigh Bardugo is in this genre. I am really impressed with how Bardugo has tied all her books and mini series' together by some common thread, even though some of the characters and storylines are different.The Rule of Wolves possesses all the same intrigue, thrill and scheming I get from crime thrillers, but with heaps of imagination that transports you to a different world. A place that provides total escapism in parts, gentle reminders of what is important in life through the dialogue and with the customary message of hope through darker times.Magical, absorbing, tormenting, and compulsive – what more could you ask for!!!

Leigh Bardugo is a buy on sight author for me. Her Grishaverse is complex and multi-stranded with characters crossing over into each others' stories. The Grisha have powers. They are heartrenders, fabrikators, squallers etc. This is the second book to feature King Nikolai Lantsov of Ravka and his general, Zoya Nazyalensky, a Grisha squaller. Each has their own story, but they intertwine. Both have problems, though Nikolai seems to have conquered the demon living inside him to the extent he can let it out and use it as required – though he doesn't want to be seen as the demon king, so he's careful only to use it when the situation is extreme. The second major thread is Nina, the Grisha Ravkan spy in Fjerda, living dangerously in the household of Jarl Brum, leader of the Druskelle – troops whose sole purpose is to root out the Grisha. Brum is desperate for Fjerda to declare full scale war on Ravka, and intends to use the war to depose the Crown Prince and take over. Nina has to spy for Ravka while at the same time protecting herself, and Jarl Brum's daughter who is also, secretly, Grisha. There's an initial threat from the Shu after a planned royal wedding goes wrong. Ravka can't afford to fight wars on two fronts. Wily Nikolai manages to counter that threat but he's not sure how he can beat Fjerda when Ravka is almost bankrupt and Fjerda seems to have unlimited resources. There's a satisfactory ending and right at the end a link to Kaz Brekker (my favourite Bardugo character) who featured in the Six of Crows duology and had a small part to play in this book. It very much looks like there will be another Brekker book which has me (metaphorically) jumping for joy!

Of all the names mentioned in thanks at the end of the book whichever one was the proofreader did a rubbish job because the amount of typos in this book is rediculous. I stopped reporting them after a time because there were just too many. I dont know if it is just in the e-book version or even only in the kindle version but I am seriously disappointed with paying £9.99 for this book. None of her other books have been like this and none of the other books cost me this much!Story is good though as always.