A review by lennie_reads
Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing sad 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

5.0

So after the ending of KoS, we have 2 extra POVs in this book. I won't tell you who because spoilers but I definitely appreciated one more than the other! 

In this book Ravka and Fjerda are at war. Nina is deep undercover in Fjerda, Nikolai & the monster are still joined but they've come to more an amicable arrangement and Zoya is trying to master her new powers. 

This book is heavy, and definitely slow at some points but it's worth sticking with. 

I also think that by the time you get to RoW (after reading all the other GrishaVerse books), you know not to immediately believe everything you read. Especially when it comes to Kaz and Nikolai; Leigh uses a Lot of similar plot devices and, well at least for me, I could always assume there was an alternative / back up plan. 

We do have romance in this book, as well as tragedy (if you know, you know 😭) and there are a lot of different threads weaving together at the same time. 

There is also discussions about race & heritage, as well as confirmation of a trans character and an aro/ace character. 

And we get to see the Crows and Mal & Alina in this book 😍 

I also really enjoyed seeing more of Shu Han; the characters, the governing, the Khergud etc. 

A lot of issues are resolved in this book but not all of them and Leigh has left a few storylines open for the new third Crows book. 

It's hard to review this book without giving away spoilers but if you enjoy the GrishaVerse and were annoyed by the ending of KoS, you should hopefully enjoy this!

There is Trans rep, pan / bi rep, lesbian rep, POC rep, aro/ace rep, mixed race rep and more

CW: reanimated corpses, addiction, death, grief, murder, body horror, torture, medical trauma, confinement, chronic illness, dead children

Expand filter menu Content Warnings