Ruin and Rising
Leigh Bardugo
Description
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.
Review
Book 3 of 3, Shadow and Bone Trilogy
Writing this a few minutes before midnight 🙃.
This was the best book out of all three. Maybe it's because I could finally see an ending but it seemed like Alina was moving with more purpose even though she was still annoying. I found the darkling to be a more pitiful character instead of the passive villain I originally thought he was. Nikolai technically got everything he ever dreamed of and I'm happy about the outcome of the war/fight though I wished Mal was ordinary till the end but I guess it was needed (for the connection 🙄). I was half rooting for Alina-Nikolai Romance but the more relaxed banter between Alina and Mal wasn't so bad. Also, now that I'm thinking about it, I probably didn't mind her with Nikolai because they kind of gave the same vibe. Also, I loved how Zoya and Genya grew as characters.
I loved the epilogue explaining how they lived out the rest of their lives and I love that the rest didn't forget about them. Surprisingly I had a fav part from this book.
No one knew his name to curse or extol, so I spoke it softly, beneath my breath.
"Aleksander", I whispered. A boy's name, given up.
Almost forgotten.
In Conclusion, it's amazing how a story gets better when the main character looses their victim complex and I kinda feel sad for Mal and Aleksander more than any other character.
Review date:22nd August, 2024
