In this second book in the King of Scars duology (King of Scars, rev. 7/19, part of Bardugo's sprawling Grishaverse), King Nikolai is fighting to brace his small Ravkan kingdom against impending invasion by the Fjerdans, a superstitious people who fear the Grisha for their magical powers and either execute or enslave them as dangerous automatons in their army. Meanwhile, Nikolai's spy and friend Nina is working undercover in the household of a powerful Fjerdan witchhunter -- and falling in love with the witchhunter's daughter. Nikolai, with his seemingly unrequited feelings for his ultra-competent general Zoya, is a thoroughly likable protagonist, the more so when he engineers a climactic solution that will surprise and delight readers in its novelty and rightness. Plotting on a sweeping geo-magical-political canvas, Bardugo manages to hold each element's tension while constantly switching between story lines: new technology and old magic; tricksters, imposters, and ruses that pay off; romance; and desperate bids to save beloved family members -- all of which keep the action moving and reader interest high. Anita L. Burkam July/August 2021 p.105(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.