Rule of Wolves - Leigh Bardugo

9/10, no lasting effect or huge wow factor for the last star, but still perfect.

The final book in the Grishaverse (for now), we see the conclusion of Nikolai, Zoya, and Nina's stories, which we dove in to in King of Scars. The main plot of this book is Ravka facing the threat of war. We see Nina undercover, facing feelings that could ruin her mission, Nikolai balancing his thoughts of Zoya with his duties for his kingdom as well as the demon inside, and Zoya facing her past to grow stronger towards the future.

Told as a fantasy romance, this story is the absolute perfect mix of swoon-worthy moments, epic battles, and the innerworkings of kingdoms. We explore lands and characters that have had little contribution to the Grishaverse so far, as well as uncharted territory where Zoya and Nikolai are concerned.

The romance almost killed me. All Grishaverse books focus on fantasy, with hints of romance, as does this one. However, I think anymore of Nikolai's witty heartfelt "jokes" and I would have been old news. I also loved the added sneak into the Crows' current lives. Their contribution to the story was too small, but it made me so happy to see them again. I do wish we had gotten a conclusion for Trassel, I need to know what happened to him.

This is a 9/10 story for me, it didn't have the lasting effect, or wow-factor that gives my ratings the last star, but it was perfect, and I need more Grishaverse and Nikolai Lantsov in my life ASAP.