Pages: 579
Published: 30th March 2021
Genre: Fantasy
Content warnings: Injury detail
The wolves are circling. And Ravka’s time is running out.
The Demon King. As Fjerda’s massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm—and even the monster within—to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young king’s gift for the impossible.
The Stormwitch. Zoya Nazyalensky has lost too much to war. She saw her mentor die and her worst enemy resurrected, and she refuses to bury another friend. Now duty demands she embrace her powers to become the weapon her country needs. No matter the cost.
The Queen of Mourning. Deep undercover, Nina Zenik risks discovery and death as she wages war on Fjerda from inside its capital. But her desire for revenge may cost her country its chance at freedom and Nina the chance to heal her grieving heart.
King. General. Spy. Together they must find a way to forge a future in the darkness. Or watch a nation fall.
This is a colossus of a book which pushes the boat out to expand the Grishaverse wider than ever and reach epic new heights, with the grand scale of it all matched only by the author’s ambition. The plot strands are countless as the action bounces between various protagonists and explores many intense relationships along the way, and while it is not quite the showstopper of its predecessor King Of Scars, it is another phenomenal read that achieves lots of great things in its near 600-page length.
Indeed, alongside its many story arcs, the sheer amount of detail that goes into the continued world building and character development makes it hard to know where to begin. There is an urgency about everything, with constant high stakes even if the pacing – especially in the opening third of the book – is occasionally a little slow. What forever makes up for that is how much you care for the main characters after following most of them across multiple series.
After the dramatic ending to King Of Scars, the start of this one is perhaps surprisingly low-key. It takes a while for the stakes to build, at least for the likes of Nikolai and Zoya, as the impact of the cliffhanger is felt more in ripples than waves. In fact, a lot of the attention here is focused on the fragile diplomatic situation in Ravka, with threats of open warfare and Nikolai’s frankly half-hearted attempts to secure a marriage that would unite the kingdoms.
Much more interesting early on is Nina’s ongoing undercover mission in Fjerda and increasingly close connection she shares with Hanne. It is here where the plot is at its most tense and the writing is arguably its strongest, as Leigh Bardugo again demonstrates her ability to create something so authentic and come up with the right words or the perfect piece of dialogue at just the right moment.
Nina’s role in this duology is fascinating and the fact her true identity could be discovered by those she is infiltrating gives you that air of trepidation throughout. The sense of protectiveness she has has towards Hanne is wonderful and they are two strong yet highly emotional characters, which makes them so affecting to read. As the world seems to close in on both of them, they are drawn even closer together – in fact to a greater extent than what I would ever have expected.
At least with Nikolai and Zoya, all the signs are there. Nikolai is somewhat world-weary in this book and you can perhaps understand why due to the troubles he has faced and with Ravka under attack. However, he is not as fun to read as in some of the previous books and lacks his usual spark of electricity, instead threatening to become a caricature of himself with some tired wisecracks that just do not hit the mark like they used to.
With that in mind, it is just as well Zoya is there alongside him. She completes her extraordinary and superbly realised transition from the entitled and stuck-up person we saw in the Shadow And Bone trilogy to someone who you are truly rooting for. She is still fierce and formidable, not to mention endlessly uncompromising, but we see many different sides to her here. Her backstory is developed more, and there are times where we feel every ounce of the self-doubt she hides so well.
Things in Ravka are precarious, and you are acutely reminded of that fact when it is hit by sudden attacks. These happen once or twice during the book and immediately send the pace of the plot into overdrive. Not everyone survives either, with one death in particular proving rather shocking and sad, even more so because you are not in the least bit prepared for it.
Of course, following the events of King Of Scars the perspective that everyone is looking forward to is that of the Monk. It is fair to say that misguided preacher Yuri is no longer the same person as our returning villain sets about raising an army of sorts. While there are some very thought-provoking moments here and there, this aspect of the story disappoints as it becomes clear that the cliffhanger at the end of the first book was done little more than for effect and it does not lead to anything like the fireworks that were promised.
The other main plot strand follows Mayu, who emerges towards the end of the previous book and becomes a central protagonist here. Her storyline really emphasises the fragility of the relations between Ravka and the other kingdoms and is told in a skilful way that while rooted in fantasy, could easily compare to some real world issues. There are lots of fantastic ideas here too, plus the tension which comes with Queen Makhi’s ferocity and unpredictability.
Then again, although the many strands and storylines are all thoroughly compelling and eventually come together quite neatly as a whole towards the end, they also serve as the book’s main weakness. As it alternates between each perspective, the relatively long chapters and the complexity of the plot means that one a cliffhanger takes place in one storyline, you are often kept waiting to find out what happens next.
Along with the leading cast, there are some very notable cameos. It is a shock to see Alina Starkov turn up along with Mal part way into the story, and to be honest she does not need to be there – her appearance adds very little to proceedings. At least Kaz, Jesper, and Wylan have something to do, and their little side quest with Nikolai and Zoya proves one of the most enjoyable moments.
Of course, everything is building towards a major battle in the final act and the action is thrilling to read, with Zoya reaching unprecedented heights. The most dramatic parts are saved for Nina and Hanne though with what is in fairness, an obvious red herring but there are mixed feelings for how their storyline is resolved. It is slightly unsatisfying in truth, with a hint of it coming across like fanfiction.
Throughout the Grishaverse novels the world building has been exceptional and if one doubted that there was any more of it discover, then they would be proved wrong. The author’s grasp of every aspect of her universe is stunning, as we gain further knowledge of its inner workings; the politics; the cultures of each kingdom. The richness of the detail is there beneath all the character development and it drives the plot forward, it is quite something.
Overall, this is meticulously plotted and thought out second part to a monster duology. The plot is gigantic and there is so much to digest at all times, and although certain parts might not hit the right notes as much as others, the ambition and scale of this book deserve vast amounts of praise. If nothing else, the characters and their boundless depth alone makes it worth reading, and our connection to them ensures we are totally along for the ride.
I did not love this one as much as King Of Scars, but it was still an excellent read. An absolute marathon at nearly 600 pages, and it delivers in so many ways.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stephen Reads Books 