King of Scars Duology (Grishaverse)

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Books:

Book 1: King of Scars

Book 2: Rule of Wolves

Genre: Fantasy

Format: Digital Books (purchase)

Read: June 2022

Story Synopsis: In King of Scars, we follow the story of Nikolai Lantsov, the Ravkan King who is barely keeping his country afloat following the events of Ruin and Rising. With his Grisha General, Zoya, Nikolai manages the politics, perceptions, and people with easy grace while he’s simultaneously filled with inner turmoil. While Nikolai and Zoya handle Ravka, Nina Zenik, is in Fjerda working to help Grisha escape the persecution of Fjerdan witch-hunters. In her efforts, Nina discovers jurda parem is still being trafficked and used as a weapon against Grisha.

Rule of Wolves continues Nina’s story in Fjerda and her attempts to infiltrate the highest ranks of the Fjerdan monarchy to spy for her Ravkan king and protect Grisha. Meanwhile, Nikolai, Zoya, and a radicalized monk who desires Sainthood for the Darkling must work together to keep Ravka from entering an unnecessary war with Fjerda, Shu-Han, and Kerch. When an enemy rises, Nikolai and Zoya find themselves staving off a physical border war and a war within each of them between good and evil.

Likes: These two books are my favorites of the Grishaverse so far. I love how Bardugo weaves moments from the Shadow and Bone series and Six of Crows into this duology. We have some character crossover, but each character’s story and arc is its own masterpiece. Rule of Wolves was written during the lockdown in 2020, and it’s definitely written like an end to the Grishaverse. But, in true Bardugo fashion, it may only be “goodbye for now.”

I AM DESPERATE FOR MORE GRISHAVERSE!

Rating: 5/5 Stars for both books

Affiliate Link To Purchase: King of Scars | Rule of Wolves