Title: Ruin & Rising (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy #3)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Rating: ★★★★★
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Release Date: June 17, 2014
“Maybe love was superstition, a prayer we said to keep the truth of loneliness at bay. I tilted my head back. The stars looked like they were close together, when really they were millions of miles apart. In the end, maybe love just meant longing for something impossibly bright and forever out of reach.”
Things I Liked
Alina is such a great protagonist. She really grew on me through the series. In the beginning she was much more of a stereotypical female character, but we see her embrace all sides of herself and grow as a person. She’s her dealing with what’s expected of her, who she feels like she’s meant to be, and the pull that she has to the Darkling. I feel like she ended up in the right spot for herself.
Nikolai’s entrance to the story was truly amazing – I laughed out loud and had the biggest smile on my face. He also deals with some angsty and traumatizing stuff that will make for excellent reading in King of Scars!
Baghra is the best no bullshit teacher ever. I loved learning more of her family history and seeing her train with Alina Again.
Things I Didn’t Like
The story felt kinda short? I don’t know if it’s just because I wanted more because I love it so much, or it genuinely could have used a few more character moments between the action and plot ones.
The Apparat is stupid and I hate him. What a waste of page time, I wish his part was smaller because I almost always hate the religious fanatical characters and he was no different.
Ruin and Rising was such a satisfying conclusion. The story felt right and that it always a great feeling. This series is really about fighting your inner demons as much as it is about fighting a greater threat. We see Alina through it all and find so many amazing characters along the way. This is definitely as series I will keep coming back too and I can’t wait to see the world again next year.
Life of a Literary Nerd 