Quick Thoughts: Rule of Wolves (King of Scars #2) by Leigh Bardugo

*This review contains spoilers.

 Rule of Wolves

(King of Scars #2)

by Leigh Bardugo

March 30, 2021

608 pages

Goodreads Summary:

The Demon King. As Fjerda's massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm—and even the monster within—to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young king's gift for the impossible.

The Stormwitch. Zoya Nazyalensky has lost too much to war. She saw her mentor die and her worst enemy resurrected, and she refuses to bury another friend. Now duty demands she embrace her powers to become the weapon her country needs. No matter the cost.

The Queen of Mourning. Deep undercover, Nina Zenik risks discovery and death as she wages war on Fjerda from inside its capital. But her desire for revenge may cost her country its chance at freedom and Nina the chance to heal her grieving heart.

King. General. Spy. Together they must find a way to forge a future in the darkness. Or watch a nation fall.

The wolves are circling and a young king will face his greatest challenge in the explosive finale of the instant #1 New York Times-bestselling King of Scars Duology.

Review

Rule of Wolves may very well be the last Grishaverse book and while I'm very sad, I'm also quite happy with where the story ended. Surprises or not, each storyline wrapped up and gave closure.

What I Liked:

- interesting twisty politics

- Nikolai's mad but also genius plans

- Grisha teamwork!

- learning of Zoya's origin

- heartaches made the characters stronger

- watching the Shu and Fjerdan being outplayed

- the twins kebben bond

- Nikolai's unwavering loyalty to Ravka

- Zoya kicking butts

- Zoyalai <3:

   - the obvious longing they kept hidden from each other

   - precious stolen alone moments

   - swoony confessions

- watching Nina put on her acts

- Hanne finding herself

- the guest appearance of literally everyone important in the Grishaverse (Alina, Mal, Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Wylan, etc.)

The Not So Much:

- the Darkling's return seemed pointless to the RoW storyline, more of an opener for SoC3

- I feel uncertain of Nina and Hanne's ending since they'll be living not as themselves on the outside...

"Maybe the gift of being human is that we do not give up- even when all hope is lost." (p.165)

"When you'd followed someone, believed in someone, you didn't want to think you'd been a fool." (p. 205)

"Grief was the shadow love left when it was gone." (p.281)