Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo
An epic finale to the Grishaverse delivered with heart and wit.
I have waited to read this book for so long because I just didn’t want the Grishaverse to come to an end, but, oh my, I loved every word on every page of this book. I don’t even know where to start, so I’ll begin by saying what a masterful storyteller Leigh Bardugo is. She weaves such a complicated, intricate tale that is so multifaceted with conflicts, themes, characters, and settings that comes to life through the style and structure.
What I love most is the changing points of view in every chapter. There are five characters that rotate around their points of view. This allows the reader to delve into the individual development of their specific storylines while piecing together the overlaps and connections among characters in different locations. One of the structural choices Bardugo makes is the frustratingly effective cliffhangers which get more and more edge of your seat the further you get in the book. I wanted to scream simply because I had to read 3 more chapters before I could get back to a particular character’s POV!
And let me just say, these characters are magical. Pure unadulterated magic. (No, really, they are Grisha!). I could write pages and pages analyzing the characters, their motivations and development, but what sets this universe apart is the care to which each character is developed. There are subtle yet important backstories for each impacting their actions and reactions to the circumstances they are faced with. As you learn more about aspects of their past, their present makes even more sense. I will say that in this book, I feel that Zoya has her claim to fame. She has the biggest developmental arc compared to the others, and I am a huge fan of Zoya and her sassy, brash disposition.
Where there is Zoya, there is Nikolai. There is such a battle of wits with these two. What I love about Nikolai is that you get just enough information and insight into a plan or a mission to think you know what is happening, only to find out later that there were pieces of it that were purposely withheld, and you're left with the feeling of “damn, he’s clever.” This is yet another one of the effective stylistic choices Bardugo makes.
“I have a surplus of bad ideas.”
Even though this book is technically book two of the King of Scars duology, Bardugo brings back ALL her Grishaverse characters from all prior six books. And when I say all, I mean all! There is a special visit to Ketterdam which is amazing, there is Nina, and Alina and Mal, and where would we be without the Darkling? It’s all so perfect and everyone fits together in their role perfectly. Of course there are characters like Hanne, Mayu, Ehri, and others that are great characters in their own right and support the progression of the plot, conflict and the other more dominant characters.
While there are about four or five side stories occurring simultaneously, the ultimate conflict revolves around the impending war that fjerda is masterminding. But what is the Darkling really after, what is Nina finding in her undercover assignment in the Ice Court, what is Princess Ehri going to discover her sister has been secretly doing in her time as queen? Dragons? Demons? Jurda Parem? Tailoring? Love? Death? Sacrifice? War? Redemption? The actions and emotions never stop.
I feel like it is a musical masterpiece. Each subplot and character is a unique instrument sounding different and beautiful on its own, but when layered with each other, the instruments create a harmonious melody you can listen to on repeat.
At the end of it all, there are just so many themes that come through on these pages.
Love means opening yourself up to happiness and grief. This is such a powerful ideal that runs among many characters. Nina has been grieving since Mattias was murdered, only to find that a lost love doesn’t mean that love can’t exist again. Zoya learns what it means to lower her defenses and risk the pain and hurt that comes with loving her friends and loving a potential significant other. Love isn’t always easy, and I respect Bardugo for showing love in so many different capacities. Love is Love is Love.
Self awareness and acceptance. If you read the book then you know what I’m referring to. But there are pieces of us all that we hide from others for a plethora of reasons. Sometimes you have to just believe in who and what you are and take the risk because it is the right thing to do. We see this in Hanne, in Nikolai, in Zoya. Nikolai questions who is for so much of the book, and through some self discovery, he is able to fully recognize who he is and what he needs and wants in life.
What it means to be a family. I’m not talking about blood family either, well at least not entirely. Where there are characters that have issues with their personal family like Nikolai and Hanna and Mayu and Ehri. There is also the bigger role that ‘found families’ play. You have the Six of Crows crew which is just as fun as always, there is Genya and Zoya. And as strange as it is to say, the Darkling seems to find his ‘family’ in his own selfish way.
There is an overwhelming amount of content here, but the dialogue is clever, witty and believable as are the characters' interactions with each other and their surroundings. The timing is expertly done; from not drawing out scenes and the slow burn romance to the revelation of critical information. I even love the downplaying of Nikolai’s clever, cunning and strategic thinking and scheming, which is masked by his sharp tongue.
“Maybe the gift of being human is that we do not give up- even when all hope is lost.”
Ok, So what did I love? Everything! This is my favorite read of 2022 to date. But most specifically, here are some things I love!
The desperate measures that the characters must take to overcome the seemingly insurmountable challenges
The cliffhanger chapter endings
The sharp and powerful dialogue
The depth and individuality of each and every character
The complex and intricately woven plot lines all leading to one united, satisfying conclusion
The cameos of characters from Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows
The representation of LGBTQ+ characters
I’m sad it’s over, and I know I will have a book hangover for a while, but I’m so glad I read it. This book has made my heart so very happy.
Where does this book sit on my bookshelf?
Is this even a question that I need to answer? It clearly is on my top, top shelf. I give it a million stars. There isn’t much left to say other than if you haven’t read the books in the Grishaverse, you must give it a try. I suppose at this point I’m going to have to look forward to season 2 of Shadow and Bone to see how all these characters continue to live different lives all while revolving around the same sun. Zoya is so much my new favorite character! Who’s with me?
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