Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Rule of Wolves

Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

49 reviews

ladygetslit's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

There's a lot I could say about this book that wouldn't make sense if you haven't read the rest of the Grishaverse, so I'm going to keep this review short and simple.

The King of Scars duology is about confronting our darkness, our demons. Every major character has to come to terms with the worst parts of themselves, but at some point that darkness is actually what saves them and others they care about.

Nikolai is terrified of everyone discovering that (a) he's a bastard aka not a "true" king and (b) he's got this whole demon thing inside him. What he discovers is that he has to make himself vulnerable, allow everyone to see his dark side, in order to save everyone he cares about and protect his country.

This is such a powerful metaphor for something I've been thinking about a lot lately: sometimes the scariest, most broken parts of us are exactly what people need to see to come to terms with their own messy parts.

I docked this book half a star because I'm honestly a little dissatisfied with the ending.

Bardugo spent three books really building up the villainous nature of the Darkling, and I honestly didn't want him to come back at all, but I definitely didn't want him to get a redemption arc.

Overall, this duology was such a satisfying end to the world that started with Shadow and Bone. I truly hope Bardugo eventually revisits this world in the future!

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emilywemily6's review against another edition

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adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I enjoyed this book, I enjoyed this world! But the story was a little convoluted and had lots of moving parts, and my love for Nikolai waned throughout this book (not for any particular thing he did or didn’t do, but I lost my connection with him because of everything else going on). I loved the twists and turns at the end of the book because I really didn’t know how it would work out, and I like that the ending is open-ended for another duology/trilogy in the Grishaverse in the future. This book was definitely a culmination of the books that are already out and you see glimpses of characters (good and bad) from the other books in this book.

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justinekorson's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Is... is there going to be another book after this. The ending made me think so but It's been a few year since this novel was published.

Either way, I was very surprised by the contents. The way Zoya became Queen was not in the way I suspected. I was also under the impression I think from a tiktok that Zoya had given up her grisha powers to be with Nikolai. I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT WASN'T THE CASE AND SHE'S NOT JUST MERELY HUMAN. I was so pissed when I found that out but I'm glad it's not what actually happened in the story.

It was also SO FUN to see the Crows in this novel that I nearly cried every time one of them was on page. I really do think the Six of Crows Duology is Leigh's best work.

I still HATE how the Darkling was brought back for these novels and how Zoya, at the end, wanted to find a way to release him from his prison like... come on girl, forgive and forget NOT FORGIVE AND RELEASE HIM. After everything that mans has done, he didn't deserve even the tiniest bit of redemption he received from willingly going into the thornwood. He literally said he regretted none of his actions... I agree that Yuri the priest does need a bit of saving but... the Darkling does not.

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abitbetterbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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shalladin's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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alyssadavis's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Nikolai had promised to do better, to build something new. But in the end, all his inventions and diplomacy had come down to this: a brawl in the dirt.

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