Ruin and Rising

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!!!