Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.
Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.
At first I was not quite convinced—the book starts rather boring. Lots of politics and travel without much happening and without too many explanations. Then it finally picks up pace and I really enjoyed being back in the Grishaverse again. I am really glad that there were no real cliffhangers at the end. Just the one very interesting premise for the second book.
This book was probably going to get a five star rating up to the ending. I think it's possible that I might re-evaluate the rating if I read the next book, and it redeems this ending.
Until the ending it's a good read that follows some of the author's more interesting characters in situations that feel fresh.
My thoughts on the ending are hidden in the spoilers:
Two things were wrong with the ending, the death of Isaak and the return of the Darkling.
The lesser issue was the death of Isaak. His death is essentially meaningless except to remind the reader that it's a dangerous world. His death has little impact on the remaining characters, since they barely knew him. With the return of Nikolai, the need for him to be a focus character is gone, so killing him off actually makes the author's job easier. If he lives, …
This book was probably going to get a five star rating up to the ending. I think it's possible that I might re-evaluate the rating if I read the next book, and it redeems this ending.
Until the ending it's a good read that follows some of the author's more interesting characters in situations that feel fresh.
My thoughts on the ending are hidden in the spoilers:
Two things were wrong with the ending, the death of Isaak and the return of the Darkling.
The lesser issue was the death of Isaak. His death is essentially meaningless except to remind the reader that it's a dangerous world. His death has little impact on the remaining characters, since they barely knew him. With the return of Nikolai, the need for him to be a focus character is gone, so killing him off actually makes the author's job easier. If he lives, then the author has to come up with how else to phase him out of the spotlight, or come up with reasons to keep him in the spotlight. Killing him feels lazy.
If this had been it, I probably wouldn't have lowered my rating. It's definitely the second thing that was a bigger disappointment. Bringing back the Darkling is a mistake. There's already more than enough threats in play to make it unnecessary to add more. The defeat of the Darkling was the entire point of the original trilogy. Bringing him back undoes that victory.
Edit: Having now finished the Rule of Wolves, I still think bringing back the Darkling was a mistake, but at least it didn't become the focus of the next book. Raising my rating of this book to 4 stars to reflect that.
whenever nikolai breathed, i died. that's his power.
honestly can't thank leigh enough for gifting us with a nikolai and zoya book. two very iconic and sexy people with strong characteristics. love them to death.
4.5
( But the last part of the book was so so good and the END fjfjdbsj )
Reread July 2019 : 4.25
SPOILERS for the Grisha trilogy and the Six of Crows duology
Little disclaimer, I skipped most of Nina's chapters because I didnt find the will to read her part of the story again, that is part of why my rating is not higher.
I really love this world and these characters, and reading KoS after the Grisha trilogy was great for my memory lol^^
The second half of the book is definitely faster in pace than the first, and the book in general is full of politics and builds the world and the characters very well I think (its Leigh Bardugo after all duh).
Nikolaï honey, I just want to wrap him into a blanket to give the boy a rest, but NO he is the king …
4.5
( But the last part of the book was so so good and the END fjfjdbsj )
Reread July 2019 : 4.25
SPOILERS for the Grisha trilogy and the Six of Crows duology
Little disclaimer, I skipped most of Nina's chapters because I didnt find the will to read her part of the story again, that is part of why my rating is not higher.
I really love this world and these characters, and reading KoS after the Grisha trilogy was great for my memory lol^^
The second half of the book is definitely faster in pace than the first, and the book in general is full of politics and builds the world and the characters very well I think (its Leigh Bardugo after all duh).
Nikolaï honey, I just want to wrap him into a blanket to give the boy a rest, but NO he is the king of Ravka and he fights for it you go boy!!
And Zoya.. commander of the army and of my heart, she's about to kick some more asses after what happened in KoS AND IM EXCITED FOR IT
The gang of Grisha are a cute family and handling well Ravka, with Genya, David, Tamar, Tolya, Nadia etc, and one more person.. if you read this book you know who this is and im still screaming, whatever Leigh decide to do with him I trust her lol.
Isaak is baby boy, and the Shu princess and assassin are really interesting I don't know what will happen with them.. The Saints, Gregori, Elizaveta and Juris were a good idea, especially Juris and how he taught Zoya about the essence of the grisha, a sort of "retour aux sources".
Now im waiting for one more Saint to return.. ALINA MY SUN QUEEN
