2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Rule of Wolves, the second book in the King of Scars series by Leigh Bardugo.

Pages: 592 pages

Length: 1 month (August)

Participants: SarahKat, Lorraine

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Hi Lorraine! I think I'll grab this from the library today and start next week. I'm going on vacation Monday. Not sure how much time I'll have to read but I need to take some books with me at least.

I think sometime next week will work for me. Probably more around Tuesday but that would not be too far from you.

I'm through chapter 9 on this one! I admit my focus has been off a bit so I kind of zoned out near the beginning.

(view spoiler)[Once again I'm not as interested in Nina's story as I am Nikolai and Zoya. But her story really picked up in the last one so I'm hoping it does again here. The wellmother is a Grisha though. Did not see that coming.

The shu princess once again almost getting assassinated by her own people on orders of her sister was horrible. I really hope she joins sides with Nikolai. I don't want them to get married but she needs to let everyone know how horrible her family is.

Why does the Darkling want to see Alina? Will she show up in this?? (hide spoiler)]

Through Part 1 (chapter 14ish?): (view spoiler)[The Darkling is back at somewhat full power. Like Voldemort in book 4. I'm not sure Nikolai unleashing the beast to the Fjerdans was the best move. Now they know he's not only a bastard but a demon. Of course maybe he's right and they'll be a little more careful attacking them now.

I liked their plot with the Shu queen. She shows up for what she thinks is her sister's wedding to be told her sister is back in Shu-Han hopefully telling everyone what a horrible human being the queen is for trying to kill her.

Nina's plot is still a bit dull for me but she did just find Nikolai's real dad so that will probably turn interesting soon. (hide spoiler)]

With the Readathon, I was so exhausted at the end of each day that I completely forgot my buddy read. Note to self: no buddy read the month of the readathon!
That said, I finish the book yesterday and really loved it! I will now go back to your comments.

SarahKat wrote: "I'm through chapter 9 on this one! I admit my focus has been off a bit so I kind of zoned out near the beginning.

Once again I'm not as interested in Nina's story as I am Nikolai and Zoya. But her..."

I also found the beginning a bit confusing. And we just read the previous one! Nina's is also not a favorite of mine but I like her guts!

SarahKat wrote: "Through Part 1 (chapter 14ish?): The Darkling is back at somewhat full power. Like Voldemort in book 4. I'm not sure Nikolai unleashing the beast to the Fjerdans was the best move. Now they know he..."

I have to say that even with having finish the book, I am not sure why (view spoiler)[ the Darling is back. I understand that explains certain events in the story but I am still wondering why she brought him back. I look forward to your opinion when you finish the book (hide spoiler)]

I'll probably finish this fairly quickly now that I'm back home. I hope.

I think I just finished chapter 33. (view spoiler)[I do not like the addition of "The Monk" chapters or Mayu's chapters. So basically I just care about Zoya and Nikolai and 3/5s of the book is just meh now, which is sad.

I know it needs to show us Shu Han and Fjerda so we can track all the political meanderings. It's fine. I just don't like those chapters. Nina and Hanne falling for each other was a little... quick? After Matthias. I would have preferred her just find Traskel and have an awesome wolf companion.

I did like that the grandma Shu queen took Makhi's crown away. That means Nikolai probably won't have to marry one of them. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Regarding your spoiler: (view spoiler)[Yeah I mention that in my review. He seemed so pointless and I hated his chapters. He comes into play at the end, hooking himself up to the thorn root so the Fold will go away. But yeah he was just another thing that had very little to do with the main plot. There was too much of that in this book. (hide spoiler)]