Rule of Wolves (King of Scars Duology #2)

by Leigh Bardugo

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

War wages on and dark threats loom in this edge-of-your-seat final book in the King of Scars duology. After a heart-stopping read like this, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for us next in Leigh Bardugo’s masterfully enthralling Grishaverse.

Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller!

2021 Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Young Adult Fantasy!

See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with Shadow and Bone, now a Netflix original series.

The wolves are circling and a young king will face his greatest challenge in the explosive finale of the instant #1 New York Times–bestselling King of Scars Duology.

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.

An Imprint Book

Read all the books in the Grishaverse!

The Shadow and Bone Trilogy
(previously published as The Grisha Trilogy)
Shadow and Bone
Siege and Storm
Ruin and Rising

The Six of Crows Duology
Six of Crows
Crooked Kingdom

The King of Scars Duology
King of Scars
Rule of Wolves

The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic
The Severed Moon: A Year-Long Journal of Magic

Praise for the Grishaverse

“A master of fantasy.” —The Huffington Post
“Utterly, extremely bewitching.” —The Guardian
“This is what fantasy is for.” —The New York Times Book Review
“[A] world that feels real enough to have its own passport stamp.” —NPR
“The darker it gets for the good guys, the better.” —Entertainment Weekly
“Sultry, sweeping and picturesque. . . . Impossible to put down.” —USA Today
“There’s a level of emotional and historical sophistication within Bardugo’s original epic fantasy that sets it apart.” —Vanity Fair
“Unlike anything I’ve ever read.” —Veronica Roth, bestselling author of Divergent
“Bardugo crafts a first-rate adventure, a poignant romance, and an intriguing mystery!” —Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250142306
Publisher:	Imprint
Publication date:	03/30/2021
Series:	King of Scars Duology Series , #2
Pages:	608
Sales rank:	3,818
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.90(d)
Lexile:	760L (what's this?)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Leigh Bardugo is the New York Times-bestselling author of Ninth House and the creator of the Grishaverse, which spans the Shadow and Bone trilogy (now a Netflix original series), the Six of Crows duology, the King of Scars duology, The Language of Thorns, and The Lives of Saints - with more to come. Her short stories can be found in multiple anthologies, including The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. She lives in Los Angeles.

leighbardugo.com grishaverse.com

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Rule of Wolves:

2021 Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Young Adult Fantasy!

“A wild ride both fantastical and grounded in nuance.”—Kirkus Reviews

Praise for King of Scars:

"[Bardugo] touches on religion, class, family, love — all organically, all effortlessly, all cloaked in the weight of a post-war reckoning with the cost (literal and figurative) of surviving the events that shape both people and nations." —NPR

"Dark, beautifully written, and full of characters who instantly get inside of your head, the first book in this new duology is an instant classic." —PopSugar

"Why You’ll Love It: … Leigh Bardugo continues to breathe new life into her lush fantasy world, and it’s impossible to resist reading every single one.
For Fans of: Fantasy authors like Susan Dennard and Sabaa Tahir." —Paste

"A richly detailed and refreshingly diverse world inhabited by individuals who, for all their magical talents, are resonantly human." —The Washington Post

"Deadly clever political intrigue, heart-stopping adventure, memorable characters, and several understated, hinted-at romances (how will we wait?!) come together in one glorious, Slavic-folklore infused package. Bardugo's star continues to rise." —Booklist, starred review

"The sharp dialogue and lovable characters continue to enthrall and bewitch long past the final chapter. With twists and revelations cleverly dispersed up until the very last page, this novel is a must-have for any book shelf." —School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for the Grishaverse

“A master of fantasy.” — The Huffington Post
“Utterly, extremely bewitching.” —The Guardian
“The best magic universe since Harry Potter.” —Bustle
“This is what fantasy is for.” —The New York Times Book Review
“[A] world that feels real enough to have its own passport stamp.” —NPR
“The darker it gets for the good guys, the better.” —Entertainment Weekly
“Sultry, sweeping and picturesque. . . . Impossible to put down.” —USA Today
“There’s a level of emotional and historical sophistication within Bardugo’s original epic fantasy that sets it apart.” —Vanity Fair
“Unlike anything I’ve ever read.” —Veronica Roth, bestselling author of Divergent
“Bardugo crafts a first-rate adventure, a poignant romance, and an intriguing mystery!” —Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series
“This is a great choice for teenage fans of George R.R. Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien.” —RT Book Reviews

From the Publisher

02/26/2021

Gr 8 Up—Dive back into the immersive Grisha world through the eyes of the spy, the demon, and the dragon. Undercover in Fjerda, Nina struggles to show mercy to a country whose systematic racism has obliterated Grisha lives. South in Ravka, Nikolai precariously balances diplomacy with humanity as he weighs what's best for his nation. And with war on the horizon, Zoya must push past her burden of loss to become Ravka's greatest weapon in their time of need. Together, Nina, Nikolai, and Zoya must succeed or watch the country they love fall to pieces. Bardugo continues her warpath to destroy readers' emotions in this brilliantly plotted ending to the King of Scars duology. At times, this book manages to crush readers' spirits, only to turn around and deliver hope—and if not that, then vengeance. Centered around wartime, Nina, Nikolai, and Zoya each grapple with how much of a monster they are willing to become to ensure a peaceful future. Zoya's character journey shines in this novel as she learns to embrace her emotions, and thus, opens herself up for the first time in years to true human connection. Throughout, Bardugo creates moments between characters and countries to skillfully address discrimination that stems from race, gender, and power. Across the board, this is a highly inclusive read with LGBTQIA+ characters in addition to the vast Grishaverse represented. VERDICT An intense pleasure to read. Get this on your bookshelves.—Emily Walker, Lisle Lib. Dist., IL

School Library Journal

2021-02-17
Following King of Scars (2019), the world’s a powder keg of political hostilities and existential threats.

In a juggling act between viewpoint characters, readers follow far-ranging intrigues inside countries, between countries, and between individuals. King Nikolai faces imminent threats from Fjerda, rumors of his bastardy that threaten to dethrone him, complicated trade relations with both Zemeni and Kerch, and an engagement to Princess Ehri of Shu Han—despite her sister, Queen Makhi, having schemed to kill both of them. Zoya, Nikolai’s loyal general, is handed a series of nigh-impossible assignments, including some having to do with the Darkling. Meanwhile, deeply embedded Nina spies on Fjerda, working to undermine the rumors surrounding Nikolai’s parentage, uncover Fjerda’s military plans, manipulate their royals toward a more peaceful path, and secretly sway the population’s view of Grisha. And all over the world, a mysterious blight suddenly appears, destroying everything in its path. Sprinklings of recaps and lots of action help to prevent the massively intricate world from becoming overwhelming. Battles in particular shine, not just for their action, but for the questions they pose about the direction of warfare in an arms race. The multiethnic cast that includes queer characters and relationships showcases a White-passing biracial character grappling with identity and another character’s trans-coded journey. A big finish manages to tidy up almost all ends but still leaves space for more to come.

A wild ride both fantastical and grounded in nuance. (Orders of Grisha guide, map) (Fantasy. 14-adult)

Kirkus Reviews