Title- Ruin and Rising
Rating– 5/5- best of the trilogy
Genre- YA fantasy
Trope- The chosen one. Morally gray characters
Similar Books/Comps– Red Queen
My emotions- the second half had me gasping
Characters–
I loved Alina and Mal’s relationship. It was the best part of the story despite this being more dystopian than romance.
Plot/Blurb-
The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.
Now the nation’s fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.
Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.
Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova’s amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling’s secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction – and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for. Ruin and Rising is the thrilling final installment in Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy.
Best part-
Page 306- What the WHAT!?! Did not see that coming and it made this novel soooo much better!
What I’d change-
In the first half, I kept thinking WHY does she need to be queen? I’m being told the Darkling is super evil & the King is useless, but I haven’t been shown enough evidence of why the people need a drastic change for her to be queen. Do the people of the country hate the King? Why? Is the Darkling threatening all the citizens? He doesn’t seem to be. He has the creepy shadow figures but he’s not going after cities and destroying them all, right? So … what exactly is she fighting to change?
Comments-
I love her sass with the Apparat.
Page 157- Trigger warning
Page 203- I’m excited! Raising the stakes!
Page 221- I don’t believe the “obsession”- it’s told but not shown in desperation
It seems like the Firebird has been in the background for too long of a time without them doing something about it.
Page 243- oouch that was rough. I’m really hoping everything with Nikolai gets fixed. Fingers crossed.
Page 366- This feels like it’ll be epic!
Page 377- I can’t even. Make it stop
Page 383- Fantastic scene. Perfect in so many ways.
Page 386- Praise the Saints!
Page 417- Highly satisfied with the resolution. This finale was better than the first two combined. Definitely worth it!
Pacing- slower beginning, fast second half.
Cassie Swindon 