Pages: 511
Published: 29th January 2019
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Content warnings: Injury detail, misogyny
The boy king. The war hero. The prince with a demon curled inside his heart. Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. The people of Ravka don’t know what he endured in their bloody civil war and he intends to keep it that way. Yet with each day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built.
Zoya Nazyalensky has devoted her life to honing her deadly talents and rebuilding the Grisha army. Despite their magical gifts, Zoya knows the Grisha cannot survive without Ravka as a place of sanctuary—and Ravka cannot survive a weakened king. Zoya will stop at nothing to help Nikolai secure the throne, but she also has new enemies to conquer in the battle to come.
Far north, Nina Zenik wages her own kind of war against the people who would see the Grisha wiped from the earth forever. Burdened by grief and a terrifying power, Nina must face the pain of her past if she has any hope of defeating the dangers that await her on the ice.
Ravka’s king. Ravka’s general. Ravka’s spy. They will journey past the boundaries of science and superstition, of magic and faith, and risk everything to save a broken nation. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried, and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.
If you needed any evidence that the stories of the Grishaverse go from strength to strength, then this is most definitely it. This epic spin-off delivers a plot that is not only gripping and affecting at the same time, but also superbly layered and full of remarkable, intriguing possibilities that sometimes come to astonishing fruition. Add to that the reliably wonderful character development and world-building that Leigh Bardugo always manages to produce, and it is an outstanding read.
A duology starring Nikolai Lantsov was always going to be a popular choice – after all he is by many people’s reckoning the best and most thrilling character of the Shadow and Bone trilogy. Set years later when the name Alina Starkov is merely a name on a shrine, he now has to cope with a diplomatic crisis in Ravka while being inhabited by a monstrous presence, with our favourite Grisha triumvirate on hand to keep him from harm.
In contrast to the previous trilogy, it is interesting to discover Ravka at a time where it is free from external Grisha forces, with the only apparent threat coming from the other nearby kingdoms such as Shu-Han and Fjerda. Then again, it is clear early on that there is something unnatural about Nikolai; that the malevolent spirit that afflicted him before is no longer dormant.
The uppity Zoya acts as both his general and protector, and is as uncompromising as ever. A lot of the book focuses on their dynamic, which is truly bewitching, but it was also nice to spend more time with the likes of Genya and David, and the twins Tolya and Tamar. As a significant extra bonus, we also have the major sub-plot of Nina and her equally immersive mission, ensuring some continuity from the Six Of Crows duology as well.
Although this book is more closely connected to the Shadow and Bone series, the narrative is much more similar to that of Six Of Crows. For a start it is in the third person, and it begins with the perspective of one character who we never see again, before alternating between four of the main cast. They include Nikolai, Zoya, Nina, and Isaak – a Ravka palace guard who is dragged into a high-stakes charade – and all of them are unique and compelling.
Taking it as a whole, the greatest achievement here is the scale of the plot and how many strands are balanced together seamlessly. At the same time the characters gain so much depth, there is ample time and space for humour, and the Grishaverse develops a whole new extra layer. After five previous books it may have seemed hard to imagine how much more there could be to discover in this world, but then about halfway through it writes another chapter of Grisha lore when Nikolai and Zoya visit the Shadow Fold.
Nina’s mission feels quite separate from the rest of the story, but it makes for captivating reading and has severe potential consequences for Nikolai in regards to the sequel. Her infiltration of the convent provides plenty of tension for the reader, and this rises massively when we learn the full truth of the operation. Still addled with grief, Nina is often impulsive, and we see a different side to her in this one courtesy of her rather moving relationship with Hanne.
That storyline leaves you on the edge of your seat at times, and so does the one involving Isaak. It was good to see him get some backstory when he was introduced, and very quickly after getting to know him, he was easy to connect with. Isaak is thrust into an almost impossible situation and seriously, you are rooting for him, which makes the outcome all the more heartbreaking.
On the one hand Nikolai is very much the same person we know and love from books gone by, but on the other he is much changed. He is still characteristically quick-witted and full of his stately shrewdness, yet this usual bravado masks the fear he feels at being overtaken by the creature inside him. The scene is set for this right from the start, and it is worrying for the reader to comprehend the danger Nikolai could pose to himself and others.
Arguably the most surprising thing about this book is just how strongly it makes you connect with Zoya. I absolutely loved the path her character takes as for the first time, we get to see beyond her less than charming exterior. She is a kind of heroine this time around and she is given a vast amount of depth, especially after she meets Juris and the full extent of her powers are unleashed.
The double act between Nikolai and Zoya is pure gold, just like the cover. It provides several of the biggest highlights, whether Zoya is chastising Nikolai for his royal strategies or Nikolai is teasing Zoya for her clinical ruthlessness. Even in the midst of a serious plot, it is simply joyful to read. And despite the fact that Zoya is working towards securing Nikolai a betrothal, the possibility of a romance always hangs in the air, so it will be enticing to see where that leads.
Another character of major significance is Yuri, one of a group of monks who worship the Darkling and want him to be declared a saint. For the most part he appears to be brainwashed and you wonder if he is harmless or just biding his time. He comes out with a lot of rhetoric and generally comes across as misguided in his beliefs rather than evil, but it is striking how Nikolai always keeps him close. Thinking about it, Yuri might be a representation of those fans of the Shadow and Bone trilogy who found themselves cheering on the Darkling.
There are some impressive twists that occur along the way, many of which are hard to see coming and result in unexpected revelations or tragedy. The final chapters are relentless in that respect, causing you to go through a host of emotions, but then nothing at all compares to the ending. As cliffhangers go, this one is jaw-dropping and sends a shiver down your spine.
As for the settings, the most evocative was Fjerda, where Nina is posted during her storyline. As well as the convent and the factory where Grisha are plied with jurda parem, the kingdom and its customs are all subtly present in the subordinate attitude of Hanne and her fellow novitiates. It was also good to see more of the Fold and its remnants, after it was destroyed by Alina.
Overall, a fantastic read. The characters are wonderful; already established in other Grishaverse books but they receive even greater development here, all complimented by a thrilling plot and more world-building of the highest order. It is fun and light-hearted at times but so wholehearted in its storytelling, and who could possibly forget that ending? Young adult fantasy at its best.
I loved this from start to finish. A big statement I know, but it is my favourite Grishaverse book so far.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stephen Reads Books 