Rule of wolves (king of scars book 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

such a pretty book. You can take the cover off and it leaves this incredibly beautiful book. So happy with this purchase

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!!!

Rule of Wolves tells the story of Jarl Brum and Fjerda’s invasion of Ravka, and King Nikolai’s schemes to save Ravka. Underneath that mien, however, we hear from a number of characters involved in the conflict, and their struggles to find meaning and hope. Leigh Bardugo presents their stories from 3rd person omniscient perspective, so we enter their minds hear their reactions and emotional responses to the conflict. ・Nina Zenik, from Six of Crows, tells her story of espionage from the house of Jarl Brum. She and Hanne Brum, Grisha daughter of Grisha hunter Jarl Brum, plot to save Grisha as well as the crown prince of Fjerda. ・Zoya Nazyalensky, King Nikolai’s general, fights from Nikolai’s side as she struggles internally with the guilt of being unable to save all Grisha from death. ・Mayu Kir-Kaat, a new character, was an assassin from Shu Han sent to take King Nikolai’s life, but begins to soften to the king’s mercy, eventually converting and leading the Ravkans to Shu Han to secure help for the war, but also to find her brother, Reyem, a victim/subject of the kherguud program. ・The Monk, a body newly possessed by the Darkling, trying to round up his followers to make a comeback. ・King Nikolai Lantsov himself tells the story of his struggles to fight a war while winning Zoya’s heart and staving off whispers of his illegitimacy. He is not the rightful heir to the throne, but he wins the popular support through his bravery and love for country. Nina’s chapters are by far the strongest, both in terms of the tension and her character transformation. Her chapters are full of tension: she is constantly in risk of being found, and Bardugo does a masterful job introducing obstacles, from Prince Rasmus’ guard Joran to the new Wellmother to the queen of Ravka herself. Every chapter is full of suspense, and she also offers us a glimpse of the world in which Jarl Brum grew up, the culture that bred the monster commander. Old demons emerge; she finds Matthias’ killer, but also finds the mercy to spare him, leading to a remarkable transformation, and plot twist after plot twist. Through her eyes, we also witness Hanne Brum’s growth, from a rebellious tomboy to future leader and lover. Full disclosure: I couldn’t put down the book after each Nina chapter, and couldn’t help skipping the other character viewpoints so I could read her story uninterrupted, to the end. She was that good. Leigh Bardugo’s writing of how Nina overcomes her demons, mixed with reminders from Matthias’ last words — “Save some mercy for my people.” — is simply second to none. Every time Nina brings back Matthias’ reminder at some crucial decision point, chills ran through my body. Hanne is my new favorite character for her bravery, her struggle, and her ingenuity. Mayu’s chapters on the mission to find Reyem also add depth to the world. Through her eyes, we learn about Ehri and see the Shu Han culture from a native. Unlike Fjerda and Ravka, the Shu Han have their own culture and demons, particularly under Queen Makhi’s rule. Whereas Leigh Bardugo’s masterful storytelling and character-writing came through in Nina’s chapters, Mayu’s chapters highlight the author’s worldbuilding. Shu Han’s culture reminded me of east Asian culture, with political intrigue and the notion of saving face: even when Makhi is outed, there is no trial, no upheaval, to save face and keep the surface peace. The chapters offering insight into the kherguud program also tugs at the heartstrings, as we witness the cold-blooded cost of creating human weapons, both from the soldier’s perspective, and the perspective of their creators and families. Mayu and Reyem’s kebben — twin — bond makes these chapters heartbreaking to read, but they showcase the depth of Bardugo’s world. The fictional foreign languages feel real: the Fjerdan proverbs sound like German, Ravkan names & politics resemble the Russian, and the Shu Han vocabulary feels believably Chinese. Bardugo weaves them in naturally, with definitions that never meander pedantically. It adds depth and believability to Bardugo’s Grishaverse, a testament to the research she conducted and the power of her imagination. Other than true-to-life worldbuilding and masterful storytelling, Leigh Bardugo’s other superpower is witty dialogue, and nowhere does this shine more clearly than Nikolai’s chapters. He is not your typical politician, but rather a sarcastic, witty leader who cares about his people more than the throne. His exchanges with Zoya are a gem, always bringing a smile and a retort. I didn’t like Nikolai’s chapters because of all the politics and warmongering, but Nikolai’s humor and his dialogue are always sharp and well-written. This is vintage Leigh Bardugo at her best: - Multidimensional main characters struggling to overcome their inner demons. - Witty dialogue and verbal jousting. - Masterful worldbuilding with fictional customs & languages that mirror real-world nations. - Plot twists, tension, and suspense throughout. Weaknesses of the story: 1.) The long stretches in the middle focused on politics or war. War is nasty, both in real life and fiction, and still it felt contrived throughout portions of the book. Key sub-characters suddenly die without warning. Too much writing focuses on mourning the departed and assassinated, slowing down the plot. 2.) I never felt Fjerda’s motivations, and the start to war seems rushed and sudden at the end of Heartwood. We begin to understand the culture that made Jarl Brum, but he’s still as unlikable as any stereotypical archvillain, and he has survived way too long. Joran is a deep and intricate foil, but I would have liked to hear and see more of his own transformation, perhaps from his own perspective. 3.) Finally, I found the Monk chapters to be confusing and weirdly out-of-place; the Darkling’s immortality and brainwashing often felt unnatural and contrived, almost too easy compared to the struggles our other protagonists face. In terms of their internal dialogue, I couldn’t distinguish between the Darkling, Aleksander, Yuri, and the Monk, even though they occupied one body. This story could be just as good — maybe even better — without jumping into his/their head. The Darkling’s fate at the end doesn’t feel convincing or satisfying. I don’t think he’d resign himself to that. Having said that, this was still an enjoyable read. I couldn’t put the book down going through Nina’s chapters, or even Mayu’s. I skipped Nikolai and Zoya at first, not so much an indicator of their ennui but more because Bardugo penned Nina, Hanne, Joran, Mayu, Makhi, and Ehri so masterfully. As a bonus, the story even involves old friends Kaz Brekker, Jesper Fahey, Wylan van Eck, and Inej Ghafa, from the Six of Crows. In the grand scheme, they feel more like fan-serviced cameos, but they play their role well and offer more opportunities for clever dialogue and one-liners.

Ce livre a été une pépite pour moi. Je ne regrette pas du tout de ne pas avoir attendu la traduction française, d'avoir osé lire pour la première fois un livre en VO. Mais qu'est ce qu'il en valait la peine ! Une belle conclusion au Grishaverse, avec plein de clins d'œil aux tomes précédents, de belles surprises, un bon rythme...

Definitivamente vale la pena comprar la pasta dura, llegó en excelente estado y es simplemente bellisimo, el tamaño es muy bueno y es muy resistente, ya casi estoy por terminarlo y estoy muy satisfecha con la compra