Ruin and Rising

it was aight ig. all in all this trilogy was extremely boring with so much nothing happening in the middle of the book. this couldve easily been a duology or even just one book with all of the bullshit edited out
besides all the nothing i can barely comment one, i fucking HATE resurrection and that bs happens and it just immediately takes me out of the entire book its just so cheap, why kill the chara if youre just going to bring them back? either kill them or dont but dont give me this res shite
in conclusion: everything after this is better laymao
music listened to : Hidden Villege from Twilight Princess
time taken to read: 5:05:03

Out of the books in this trilogy, I liked this one the most.

As always, Leigh Bardugo's writing was flowing beautifully and was so easy to read - I'd sit down and read a 100 pages without even noticing.
The story had a very good pacing, such that even if not much was happening, it didn't feel so. Some very good emotional moments. And a few good twists.
The main characters were way more likeable and the friendships depicted were warming my heart.
The conclusion of the story was quite satisfying and set up the following series nicely.

Now for the things I didn't like - some things, particularly relating to the small science and merzost, were not properly explained and seemed rather convenient.
I didn't get how and why Iliya Morozova managed to make sure a bunch of random people would get sun summoner's powers. I understand that he liked otkazat'sya, but why would that make him want to turn them into summoners then? And how would he have known that there would be a need for such? There wasn't even a Fold at the time. Not to mention that in no way explained Alina's power.And even if the point was to ensure that if someone got too greedy with their power, it would be taken away from them and dispensed among normal people, why would you do that? You don't know if these people want the damn thing, and you don't know if they wouldn't become greedy as well. It just felt rather random.Additionally, the way Alina lost her power was a bit disappointing. I wish she would've rather given it up than just having it taken away from her. This would've given her agency and would've made her mourning its loss more tangible.

Overall, although it wasn't a perfect book, I'm quite satisfied and rather nicely surprised by it, and this series in general.

Wow, THIS is how to end a series. I loved this! Love the characters, and it was interesting reading the Q&A at the end. You really can tell that the arc of the series was planned from the start. Everything felt intentional, she beautifully resisted pleasing the reader in a way that I wouldn't really have wanted to be pleased, and the end felt so SETTLING. Not due to plot, per se, but completion. Loved these characters in all their complexity.

Worthy ending of a great series

I kept putting off finishing this series, partially because I read a spoiler in the Crows duology (or so I thought) and partially because I didn't want it to end.
There is again set backs, fights, and fear. But most importantly the story emphasises friendship and what even a ragtag team can accomplish if the put their differences aside and focus on their shared ideals and goals.
Bardugo also doesn't shy away from including the ugly sides of war concerning the people fighting in it, both physical and mentally.

I could be writing essays about the last book, and oh gods above, if saints are real, I'll pray to them and tell them this is the best book. I get some plot twists of the book, but sometimes I couldn't believe what I was reading and I just stared at the pages with nothing to say. Now, ended, and I just feel empty. (if you know what I mean, you're not alone)

A lot was told, I recommend everyone the trilogy, and the third book is the best thing about it. Listen to music while you read if you can, it'll make it more amazing.

The tears will not stop streaming. But time for Six of Crows, hopefully.

Rtc

“Ruin and Rising” marks the culmination of Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy, a series that has sparked debates among its readers and viewers of the corresponding Netflix series. This final installment does show noticeable improvements in Bardugo's writing style, with a clearer, more engaging narrative that partly remedies the pacing issues which marred its predecessors. Despite this, the improvements might not be enough to satisfy all.

For those who have seen the Netflix adaptation, delving into this book—or the series as a whole—may feel redundant. The show effectively captures the essence and major events of the trilogy, positioning viewers well for the sequel duology, “Six of Crows,” which shifts its focus to new characters and settings. Notably, Kaz Brekker, a central figure in the sequel, is barely a whisper in the books, relegated to a mere mention in an author's note, yet he stands out in the show. This stark contrast in character treatment highlights a missed opportunity in the books to establish connections that are evidently significant in the Grishaverse.

Given the comprehensive and arguably superior handling of the story and character arcs in the television adaptation, reading “Ruin and Rising” might seem like an unnecessary endeavor. The series, while having its moments, doesn't seem to add substantial depth or insights beyond what is already explored on screen. For those looking to dive deeper into the Grishaverse, starting with the show and then moving directly to “Six of Crows” might be a more rewarding path.

Overall, while “Ruin and Rising” does improve in some aspects, it ultimately does not stand out enough to warrant a recommendation over the more succinct and engaging television portrayal. Those new to Leigh Bardugo's world might find the screen version a better gateway.

3.75/5 ⭐
Meh. It was my 2nd favorite out of the trilogy after Shadow and Bone obviously. I didn't really ship Alina with any of the love interests for different reasons. The Darkling I shouldn't even have to explain why I don't ship. Mal just wasn't giving for some reason. He only liked her when she didn't have powers. He was only satisfied when she didn't have them. I liked Nikolai but not with Alina. I can't really explain why I don't ship but I just don't ok? Anyway, I didn't really care for the ending. There are also too many characters on the journey thing. Like why are we bringing a whole cat on this hunt? Either I'm dumb or the whole having to kill Mal as the amplifier didn't make sense. Like why doesn't she just touch him when she needs power? Am I stupid? I also didn't care for any of the character deaths. She killed off the characters I cared the least about. Like don't be shy, kill off someone important.

I loved this so muuuuuuuuuch

4 for the amazing character building (Nikolai *cough The Darkling *cough), but the ending (-_-)

I know I'm supposed to be at ease with this, but...

Aleksander

El principio fue un poco lento pero luego iba cogiendo un poco de carrerilla según pasaban los capítulos. Es verdad, que la batalla final se me hizo un poco apresurada y poco épica. Pero el final y el epílogo me gustó bastante la verdad. Me parece un buen final para Alina y Mal.

Best out of the trilogy imo

3.5 stars ⭐️ the end was kinda disappointing tbh

I went into Ruin and Rising genuinely worried about whether or not I would enjoy it, as Siege and Storm was a lackluster sequel that didn't have much to add to the series, so in my mind, it was up in the air whether this was going to end up being worth my time, or a massive dissapointment that I'd walk away sour from. I'm thankful to say that this book was very good, allaying my worries in the first few chapters.

The book starts soon after the ending of the previous one, with Alina having lost her powers after the confrontation with the Darkling, hiding in the caves the Apparat called the White Chapel. She's beginning to feel isolated from the people around her, as the Apparat is controlling her every move.
She's wrestling with feelings of inadequacy after her failures leading the second army, and fears that maybe she'll fail Ravka in the long term. This, coupled with the continued weird feelings she has for the men in her life plague her, and she falls into a depressed state.

Very quickly, she gets broken free of the Apparat's Clutches, and regains her powers, and then proceeds to put together a small strike force to hunt for the third of Morozova's amplifiers, all the while contending with her feelings for Mal, Nikolai, and for some reason, still the Darkling.

This all happens within 3 chapters, and sets the pace for the entire book. Whereas the previous book was content to wallow in the act of doing sweet fuck all, this book doesn't slow down for a second, and I fucking love that about it. It is breakneck to put it lightly. This is probably going to be something that turns people off of the book, as I know there's a large portion of readers who only really connect with books whose plots have room to breathe, though personally I'm flexible with the pace of the books I read.

The characters have a much stronger showing in this book. For the most part, the constant stroppiness has fucked off, and we actually get characters whose reactions to situations makes sense, which is a welcome change from the last book. Communication issues aren't really a thing here anymore, instead characters get their shit together and hash problems out, then solve them. This is likely due to the fact that Bardugo realized that she only had so much space in this book, and a lot of ground to cover, but regardless, I was so glad to see this change.

Nikolai is a character that I specifically want to mention, as he was stellar in this book. He was alright in S&S, but he really gets the chance to come into his own here, with my favourite scene in the trilogy belonging to him, where he dresses down his father. Every scene he was in, he stole, and I love him for that.

I was much more sold on the romance aspect of the book, as Leigh gives it room to breathe and develop more naturally than in the prior books, where it was a spur of the moment thing, a symptom of the character's impulsivity, whereas in this book, it's well reasoned and explained why the character's that end up together do.

However, there is one exception to this, and funny enough, this is my only major gripe with the book. For the entirety of the last book, and for most of this one, Alina keeps positing the idea that the Darkling can be saved. Real “I can fix him” energy. And it's fucking annoying. This man has been evil incarnate for the majority of the series, having almost no redeeming moments after the mask off moment in book 1, and I'm meant to believe he's worth saving?

This is just the continuation of the shitey love quadrangle from the last book, but even more insane considering the fact that he maimed one of Alina's best friends, scarring her for life, and taking one of her eyes. Anyone who can still consider this man salvageable has been hitting the hooch a bit too hard, because fucking hell. This is, in my opinion, an example of themes taking precedent over the story presented by the text. Alina's love for the Darkling is a representation for her desire for power, and the intoxication that she's felt since becoming the Sun Summoner. But it just doesn't line up with what we've been shown. I understand that she's a victim of abuse by his hand, but it's just really difficult to believe that after everything he's done, she can see past those things, and even consider any form of romance.

If it was just a thing of her contemplating whether or not he deserved to die, that would be different, but she explicitly thinks about the prospect of returning to him at one point, as if it's a fucking question. All that being said, it didn't take away from the book enough for me to dislike it, it just took away from it whenever the idea was being thrown around.

Something that demands praise however, is the plot twists. So far, this series has had almost nothing in the way of good twists, but goddamn did this one pull a good one out it's arse for the last installment. IYKYK, but I was positively floored by it. Couldn't have asked for a more well thought out twist.

I was very happy with how the book ended, and though I predicted certain elements, I didn't expect others. Overall, I found it to be a fairly peaceful ending, which I found really resonant with the overall themes of the story.

All in all, I think you should read this series, and I for one, will be continuing on to Six of Crows very soon, and likely straight into King of Scars afterwards. I had a fantastic time with this book, 4/5 stars.

Okay but why were the best parts the cat and the child? Best boy Misha and best girl Oncat 💖
But what the fuck, this is probably the first time I've felt the finale in a series was the best of the series. Interesting and tense from start to finish. Loved the character progression. My only gripe was that the climax felt really short and not much more dramatic or climactic than other similar scenes in the book. It was just really good.

Hace tiempo quería leer esta trilogía (ya leí la duologia de Six of crows y me encantó), pero siempre leía comentarios negativos sobre que era bastante aburrida o lo peor dentro del Grishaverse (aún siendo “lo principal” o lo que te adentra a este mundo). Agradezco no haber hecho caso a esos comentarios porque la trilogía me gustó mucho. Se me hace SUPER interesante y atrapante todo este mundo grisha.

Disfruté de esta tercera y última parte de la trilogía Grisha, pero sin duda me quedo con las partes anteriores (Sombra y Hueso y Asedio y Tormenta). El lenguaje sencillo junto con los capítulos medio cortos hizo que este libro (y los dos anteriores) se lean en muy poco tiempo. Eso es algo de agradecer, porque lo que es la historia en sí y el argumento que seguía no me ha parecido muy adictivo. Sin embargo si me resultó entretenido y fascinante.

Conocía la existencia de los libros pero hasta que se confirmó la adaptación me decidí finalmente a darles una oportunidad, como ya dije antes, primero leí soc en base a la cantidad de comentarios y videos que había visto en cuánto al orden de lectura (También porque soc me llamaba mas la atención). Quería poder adentrarme en este mundo y entender la fascinación que producía en tanta gente, ahora estoy orgullosa de haber cumplido eso y además sentirme parte

Depois de um ótimo início com Shadow and Bone e um fantástico meio com Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising finaliza a trilogia de forma igualmente excelente.
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Mais uma vez, a Leigh Bardugo pegou na fórmula dos livros anteriores e atirou ao vento, fazendo uma nova fórmula para os eventos do terceiro livro. É inesperado, é cheio de reviravoltas, é cheio de fraternidade e inimizade, é cheio de lealdade e traição, é cheio de tudo um pouco e mais alguma coisinha. Culiminando num final que eu achei mais do que adequado após tudo o aconteceu nesta trilogia.
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Se houve cenas que eu achei um bocadinho pirosas? Sim. Se houve cenas que eu teria feito, ou gostaria que tivessem sido feitas, de outra forma? Sim. Mas se no final tudo isso contribuiu para reviravoltas imprevisíveis e momentos especiais? Também sim.
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Quando comecei esta trilogia, não esperava gostar tanto dela. Não é perfeita. Mas para mim, foi a perfeita para me lembrar do quão boa a fantasia jovem adulta consegue ser, que ainda há universos fantásticos por criar, e o quão bom é este género de literatura - que, nos últimos anos, coloquei em segundo plano e em que tive algum azar.
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First and maybe last review I will ever do.
Because this is YA one character had, just had to revive. Oh and the character anti development. We've basically ended up exactly where we left off but with more money and friends. Yes friends, this is what saves this book, and the writing. I would also say that Alina does as well cause unlike the majority I actually liked her character.

I might be feeling particularly tender at the moment, but the ending of this story struck me. Everything about it, in fact. People waving the banners of Ravka as they celebrate the destruction of the Fold. Mal and Alina's little life in the epilogue. And their grief - of their losses, but also of who they were up to that point. Of living on while something is gone within them, but still finding meaning in their future.

I guess it shouldn't be surprising that I feel this way, as this is a tender book. Which is quite something for a 420 page final installment in a fantasy adventure trilogy. There's battles and action sequences, of course, but they're largely tedious and uninteresting. There's a lot of travelling from one location to the next that made it difficult for me to stay focused. But the meat of the story is between Alina and Mal, as well as their friends (in some ways I feel like this was a precursor to the motley crew of Six of Crows, not as well developed or established, but a prototype nonetheless). There's also a smidge of something spiritual - Bardugo goes into some really fascinating gray areas with her magic system, which I thought was really impressive and creative.

Bardugo's writing is a lot richer here as well. Far more than Shadow and Bone, and especially Siege and Storm, this is an atmospheric, immersive book that takes time to notice the people in the background - the servants, the soldiers, children and commoners. She does a lot more to build a more intricate tapestry of Ravka - from its religious zealots, to its street peddlers. These asides detailing the places they pass through and people they encounter does a little bit to show Alina's change in priorities, though in some ways I felt like it was just padding out the page count. The conclusion - from the reveal about the amplifiers, to the final confrontation with the Darkling - I think was all very well done and well-earned.

This is a hard book to rate. Past the midpoint, it became too tedious to read for me to rate it more than three stars, but the ending is good. It's too bad this series came to be at the height of YA trilogy madness, because three books seems just really cumbersome for this story, and it makes sense that both follow-up stories in this world are duologies. I'm glad that Alina got her happy ending though - maybe not a fairytale one, and not even the “good for her” ending that I found myself craving at the end of the second book, but one that is real and meaningful. I've been thinking a lot about what it takes to be happy in a painful world, and I think Bardugo nailed it here.

A partner who loves you, work that involves helping and raising people up, and a rich benefactor. I think that pretty much sums it up.

4.5 ⭐

The best one of the three books!

It's been a while since I've been this enthusiast with a book. Purely amazing.

3.5
I have so many personal disagreements on how some things went down in this finale, but overall i enjoyed the trilogy to some extent.
I have to say, though, The Darkling is one of the best villains out there. If nothing impressed me in this trilogy, the villain certainly did.

Leigh was like, “You know what this book needs? A cat.” And you know what? She was right. Oncat appeared out of nowhere, but she was unproblematic and unbothered the whole way through. She gives best character energy (am I just saying that because she's a cat? Next question). Harshaw is also underrated and deserved to be explored more as a character. Ok now that I've gotten the severely underappreciated aspects of the book out of the way...

I found the beginning part of the book slow to read because of all the intermittent explanations to catch the readers up with the past books (something common and unavoidable with book series), but it picked up soon after. The worldbuilding was great and engaging as always. I thought the ending, specifically the fight, was a little rushed.

This book solved what I originally thought was just bad character writing: Mal was just miraculously the best hunter in Ravka, and it was just a stroke of luck that he knew Alina and was there when she needed a hunter for the amplifiers. There's an explanation for it, yay!

I listened to the Shadow and Bone soundtrack while reading and it made the book so much more intense. Especially the end of the book. (I haven't seen the show yet. I started this trilogy before it was even announced but I'm a slowpoke loll, love the soundtrack though!) But yeah I recommend reading the ending with the soundtrack if music doesn't distract you or slow down your reading.

I can't wait to finally find out what Six of Crows is all about!!


SPOILERS BELOW

I didn't realise how young all the characters are?? They're all apparently around 19 (Alina, Mal, Zoya, Genya, David). I imagined them to be in their mid 20's? Literally a bunch of teenagers took down the man terrorizing Ravka for hundreds of years. That also means Genya was underage when the king repeatedly assaulted her. Disgusting.

I'm renouncing Mal's title as best tracker in Ravka and taking his place because HOW DID HE NOT REALISE WHERE THE FIREBIRD WAS? Firefalls. Firebird. It was so obvious Mal. Get your act together.

I really enjoyed the found family feeling when the group was at the campfire, and Alina took a look around at the group chatting amongst themselves and finally let herself care for them. It was so beautiful and vulnerable and those were some of my favourite chapters.

Gosh that ending was so sweet :,) I mean I never really loved Mal and he pissed me off in siege and storm. But now that I know he was practically just a teenager, it explains a lot and I can forgive how annoying he was. In the end, Alina and Mal are kind of meant for each other. I don't understand how Mal came back to life though? But I'll look past that just because the whole “young mysterious couple start an orphanage together” cyclical storyline is just too darn cute. Sure it could be seen as “too perfect” but I don't care, I like happy endings >:(

I don't feel any sympathy for the Darkling. He's an interesting character but he's also a manipulative homicidal power-hungry asshole. He let Genya be repeatedly raped by the king, and manipulated her into staying for the sake of keeping his spy in place, so that really shows what type of a twisted person he is. I'm kind of concerned by the amount of Darklina shippers, and I think they need to do a little self reflection. He wouldn't spare Alina a second glance if she didn't have power. He's a crusty 400 year old man emotionally manipulating a 17 year old child. He was written when Leigh was in an abusive relationship. Sure, I can see the appeal with the whole dark/light, yin yang trope. I can appreciate the aesthetic. But come on. It's like the Darkling is somehow managing to manipulate readers through the pages. Just because he apparently looks young and beautiful doesn't make him any less of a crusty dusty wrinkly evil old man on the inside. I did really enjoy learning about the family's past though.

Other random thoughts:
- Alina never got to use her cool slicey mountain trick :(
- Mal and the Darkling are related so... Alina definitely has a type
- Mal and Misha's father and son dynamic was adorable
- Tamar and Nadia <3 Genya and David <3 I want what they have
- Nikolai? Why did I cry nearly every time he appeared in the second half of the book?? That man has a chokehold on me
- page 32 “I think you should let me make you a redhead” “Not in this lifetime, Genya” AND THEN SHE DID AT THE END because she's living a different life now ahhhhh

Ok that was really long and rambly but I needed to get my thoughts down. Time to finally read Six of Crows!!!