Book Review – Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Ruin and Rising
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Grisha Trilogy
Published: June 17, 2014


SYNOPSIS:

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.


MY REVIEW:

This book was a perfect ending to the Grisha story. Perfect. A lot of times, you can guess the ending of a book or series, but not this one. There were surprises, both heartbreaking and wonderful, throughout the entire story and I enjoyed every minute of the nerve wracking ride. I often questioned Alina's motives and choices, her greed for power and her ability to turn away from true love, but she was the perfect imperfect heroine who made decisions not for herself, but for others. And in the end, the self-sacrifice she made ultimately led to her own happiness. I absolutely loved Nikolai's sense of humor, Mal's loyalty, and the vastly different personalities of all of the Grisha — David, Genya, Tolya, Tamar, Zoya, Adrik, Harshaw, and Nadia. The story and characters were so complex and rich. It is a fantastic addition to the fantasy genre.


SUM IT UP:

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