Three years since the martyrdom of the Sun Summoner, the death of the Darkling and Nikolai’s accesion to the throne Ravka is in deep trouble. Because it’s Ravka, there is always something.

That trouble comes on dark wings on cold nights like the monsters of ancient fairytales. Only that monster is Nikolai’s demon, the curse of the Darkling returning after all these years. It turns out the scars were a sign that the volcra wasn’t truly expunged from Nikolai’s soul and despite chains and sleeping serums, he is escaping more and more often. The kingdom cannot stand if the public finds out their ruler is a monster, not with rumors of his bastard lineage rumbling among ranks, with threats from the Shu and the Fjerd on both borders, with the rumblings of a Darkling cult, they cannot know he is cursed. Nikolai cannot lose his humanity.

But as these literal demons are only known to his inner circle, he still has to make an effort to do normal kingly duties like investigating the new “miracles” sprouting around Ravka and what tehir soure may be. As well as deal with the growing Darkling cult and its overeager young leader, Yuri, a former priestguard who is truly devoted to the cause and has an amazing ability to twist every action the Darkling took as something for the greater good.

It is in the latter’s care that they head back to the Fold to see the Darkling cult and a possible cure for Nikolai’s demon. Nikolai, Yuri and Zoya end up trapped in the world between. The world where the Saint Elizabeta, Jurdis and Grigori have resided since the Darkling created the Fold, immortal yet invisible. But they offer hope that if Nikolai survives the trial of the thornwood, he may be able to expel the Darkling’s curse. Or he may die in the effort.

There time in the Fold allows for Nikolai to wreastle with his demons. Yes there is the literal one, but there’s also the metaphorical demons. All the insecurities and flaws he harbors in his heart that he is not a worthy ruler. He fears that he will always be Nikolai Nothing, that he is just like the other weak men of the Lavstok line, selfishly ruling for the love and validation of the people under the guise of helping others.

Meanwhile Zoya has her own contradicting struggles. Jurdis chooses to train her, a battle of wills as well as powers as he goads and taunts her reliance on her amplifier and teaches her about the olden ways Grisha utilized their gifts. A clever way of introducing lore without too much expoition. Jurdis is arrogant and aggressive which means Zoya is meeting her match in battle for once but also constantly infruriated as he pokes at her own fears. Her fears of being weak (thanks to a deliciously angsty backstory) conflict with her fears of ambition, the same ambition that drew her to worshipping the Darkling as a teenager because she thought it would offer her protection and power from being helpless again. I love that not only it shows the Darkling through another point of view but also gives meaning to Zoya’s vehemenace against the new cult.

And then there’s the wonderful added tension of not only sef-reflection, but potential of feelings that are cropping up between Nikolai and Zoya.

All I can say is three words: I knew it!

Okay, I actually didn’t know it. I had wanted it simply because I really enjoyed those two characters by the end of Ruin and Rising, and I thought maybe there is some forshadowing there as YA is wont to do in its endings by pairing the spares. On the other hand, maybe I was wrong and the jokes of Zoya becoming queen were simply jokes on her self-satisfied arrogance.

But I was right! I’m so happy about that! Like I said I felt they would work well together and Bardugo shows that in full force here. These two individuals who have heavy armor, portraying competance, confidence and unruffled composure in the face of many threats. Both rarely let others see beyond that mask. Hell, they rarely drop that mask in front of each other.

But they also both want some sort of love that they both feel will be unattainable because their devotion to Ravka and its needs come first. So they keep ignoring their feelings, not getting even close to admitting it to themselves much less each other.

I don’t know what it says about me but I found the scene where Nikolai tells Zoya to shoot him if the demon comes out permenantly, and Zoya agrees with him offering to load the gun. . . so powerful and made me love their love them more.

For some reason, I’m very annoyed with YA books where in a choice between the world and sacrificing their other half, the main couple is constantly dithering about trying to do both and crying over the potential loss. A ridiculous annoyance since I would probably be just as desperate if I was in their position.

But when I read, I’m a bigger picture person and I’d rather have one of the couple sacrificed for the sake of the greater good. So seeing the two unequivocally agree to sacrifice themself for their country makes me want them to survive all the more. Maybe it’s some sort of contrary psychological thing. Maybe I just respect their steel personalities and their priorities as people. Either way, Nikolai/Zoya are competing with Kaz/Inej as top couple for me.

There’s a third POV that I haven’t been mentioning and that is Nina Zelik. yep, she has returned in an entire;y solo venture after her time with the Crows. She amde it to Ravka safely but soon took up a mission to infiltrate Fjerd and help Grisha refugees escape there. It gives her something to do and also a chance for her to bury Mattias and find closure once and for all.

But it’s not as easy as that because her new powers point her to a mystery afoot in the small nunnery she’s in. One that points to the Fjerds doing worse experiments on missing women and girls. She also befriends a secretly rebellious girl, Hanne who disguises herself as a soldier by day and who is also a Heartrender. It’s a chance for Nina to do good while reeling more inside information but it’s also clear that Nina’s feelings for Hanne go beyond just gals being pals.

To be fair it’s been three years in-universe for Nina to mourn while I only finished Crooked Kingdom the other day so maybe I just need more time to adjust but I’m not ready for Nina to fall for Hanne. Especially as it occured right after she buried Mattias’ body. It felt a bit convenient.

To be fair, Nina hasn’t quite realized her feelings but she’s probably going to get there by the next book. Not that there is anything wrong with Hanne as a character. I like what she represents as a challenge for Nina to help another Grisha accept herself after a lifetime of viewing Grisha and herself to an extent as an abomination and open her to how cruel and wrong that prejudice is. It’s almost a continuation of Mattias’ wish for Nina to see the good in his people and help change their minds. I just wish there was a bit more mention of Nina’s grief, it just doesn’t go away after burial.

But also Nina’s probably repressing it as she’s busy trying to figure out the mystery of the factory, the poisoned river and the dead calling out to her for justice because yes, Nina can see dead people now. Well, she can hear dead people but I had to make that joke.

While it’s a bit disconnected from the Nikolai/Zpya plotline, I choose to think of it as her showing how other countries are reacting to Ravka as it tries to find a foothold as a new power and the aftermath of jurda parem’s introduction into this world. It’s all part of a grand political stage that Bardugo is playing in.

Which brings me to the third plot-line introduces in the second half of the book as the remaining Triumvente and the twins engage palace guard Izak to stand in for Nikolai while he’s missing indefinately. Nikolai’s job? To woo Princess Ehi of the Shu Empire so they could create an alliance against Fjerd and Ravka gets the weaponry/money it needs. But in classic fashion, Izak’s deception lends itself to real feelings for the princess and he struggles with his newfound love for a girl he can never have and duty to the king/country he loves. I can’t say more about that but woo, it’s dramatic and twisting.

Also I swear there was a reference to Beauty and the Beast with Izak and Princess Ehi enjoying the grey stuff, it’s delicious. Was that intentional? Or am I just seeing Disney lyrics that aren’t there.

An amazing addition to the wider Grishaverse, perfect for those who like action, introspection and courtly battles of wills, confidence, and intrigue. Quite possibly my favorite thus far.