★★★★☆ Not quite wrapping up the Grishaverse

Rule of Wolves

Leigh Bardugo

Rule of Wolves is novel seven in Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse series, and the last currently extant (as of 31-May-2023). I'm going to assume that you have read the previous six novels. (If you haven't, there will be spoilers.) And you should, because they are good, and they will enhance your enjoyment of Rule of Wolves.

In fact, my first thought on beginning Rule of Wolves was "It's so much fun to be back in the Grishaverse!" I had most recently read several books that, while good, were challenging and required nontrivial effort to read. Rule of Wolves was not like that! Bardugo dives right in, and it is immediately fun. Of course, she can get away with that because we know the characters and the universe from previous books. This is not cheating -- this is making plans and being smart.

So, when we left the Grishaverse at the end of King of Scars Nikolai Lantsov had a shadow demon inside him, Zoya Nazyalensky a dragon inside her, and the Darkling had come back from death. (Honestly, I think Bardugo loves the Darkling so much that she just had to bring him back.) These were obviously issues that Bardugo had to deal with somehow.

She does, in a wide-ranging plot that takes place in Ravka, Shu Han, Fjerda (Nina Zenik having been left there at the end of King of Scars), and Ketterdam. The only major Grishaverse nation we don't see much of is Novyi Zem. (Novyi Zem has a part to play in the story, nonetheless.) My only complaint about the plot is that it wraps things up too neatly in ways that feel rather deus-ex-machina-like, although strictly speaking they are not. Bardugo does leave a few loose ends dangling, enough to serve as a hook for that eighth Grishaverse book she has promised us.

One of the most delightful things about Rule of Wolves is the banter. It is full of smart, witty characters whose conversation is a joy to eavesdrop on. For instance, here is a little snippet of conversation between Nikolai and Zoya

“Keep spewing inanities and you may see me at my worst.”

“All Saints, are you saying I haven’t seen you at your worst?”

Zoya tossed her hair. “If you had, you’d be under the covers, gibbering prayers.”

“A unique way of getting me into bed, but who am I to question your methods?”

The dialogs, especially those in which Nikolai has a part, kept me chuckling throughout.

So, this is a fun book. I don't need to convince you to read it, because if you have read the previous six books, you know you want it. And it didn't disappoint.

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