Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
Original Publication Year: 2014
Genre(s): YA, Fantasy
Series: The Grisha #3 – Book
2 Review, Book
1 Review
Awards: None
Format: Audio (from Audible.com)
Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
Ending a trilogy has got to
be hard for a writer, especially if it’s a beloved trilogy. You have to wrap up or at least address in
some way all the loose threads and bring the characters to an emotionally
appropriate close. I was worried after
Siege and Storm, but Ruin and Rising really delivers and keeps things
interesting to the very last page.
NOTE: SPOILERS for the first two
books are inevitable. Beware!
Synopsis: At the end of Siege and Storm, the Darkling
had taken the heart of Ravka by surprise and left everyone fleeing for their
lives in all directions. Mal and Alina
are held captive by a creepy religious guy who is using Alina’s status as a
Saint amongst the common people to garner support for himself. Alina and her small band remaining Grisha finally negotiate their release, and try to figure out how to take on the might of the
Darkling. The odds against them are
astronomical and in the middle of their struggles Alina and Mal make the most
disturbing discovery of all.
There are a ton of emotional and
political maneuverings in this book and fortunately, because Alina and Mal have
matured a bit with their experiences, it comes across as less angsty for
angst’s sake. Alina is still drawn to
the Darkling but sadly he is not in the book any more than in book two. We do find out his whole back story and why
he is the way he is.
Since Alina gained her power as a
Sun Summoner, she has struggled with an unseemly desire for more power. While she still struggles in this book, I
think she also becomes more adept at suppressing her desires while at the same time
embracing her role as leader a little more
naturally. The ending is also perfect in
light of this over-riding theme.
And the ending? It could have gone either way and I think I
could have been happy with it. It wraps
things up well and no thread is left waving in the wind.
FINAL VERDICT: A really satisfying final installment in the
Grisha Series which was highly readable and a well done YA fantasy. 4 out of 5 stars.
So what's your verdict? Would you have preferred a happy or sad ending?
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