Reviews

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

katecollard's review against another edition

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3.0

5/10- Literally there were like 3 major scenes overall in this 400 page book and it was all pretty uneventful. However, the series was wrapped up nicely and I felt fine with the endings because I was so bored with Mal and Alina so I’m glad they got their boring ass endings to go with their boring ass personality.

lisajnsn's review against another edition

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5.0

Review to come!

sarjgbn's review against another edition

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3.0

3 out of 5 stars

i don’t know what to say, really. this book was full of surprises. it was a pretty quick read and though i wish there was more nikolai content ): but overall it was good and a decent way to wrap it all up.

marloe1991's review against another edition

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4.0


THIS is exactly how you end a series 🙌🏼

Alina is torn between what she wants, what she has, and what she needs to protect. This book so clearly displays the true desires of her heart, and how the complicated emotions are fighting against who she is and how she feels about her sun summoning power. She starts the novel held in an odd sort of prison, again fighting to be freed, her latest attack on the Darkling failed and her Grisha are diminished to a group of 12, including Mel. Mel has become a sword, discovering a unique skill in fighting and overpowering Grisha. His journey is becoming clear, his meaning to Alina goes deeper than the love between them. Still, he will fight and love Alina always, giving all of himself up for her, he thinks she is destined for greatness without him. The Darkling has his throne, he recovered and now he needs Alina to be complete. He will break her down till nothing is left but the bond between them.

Alina is a little bit annoying in the first half of this book. I was having a hard time understanding why she couldn’t have both her power and Mel, why she was so hellbent on needing a position of power, an alliance after the Darkling was defeated. When in her heart all she really wanted was to love Mel, be loved by Mel, have a normal life with Mel. She is strength though, she is scared of becoming dark but she is so empathetic and craves friendship from her Grisha followers, how she struggles and still maintains hope... it’s just strength. Mel is still flawless to me, he literally will become a sword for Alina, he’s made himself as strong as possible, teaching others how to overpower a Grisha using their power. Mel is commanding and scared of ever losing Alina, even though her doesn’t think they will ever be able to have each other the way his heart desires. He is actively removing himself from Alina’s heart will still protecting it, breaking his own in the process. The Darkling is as boring as ever, hardly there... I just don’t get the love affair the fans have with him!!

Honestly I think the ending is perfect, it’s so hard won, and it’s exactly what should be, it’s what both Alina and Mel really wanted when all things war related were stripped away.

ceracif's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

wyvernabraxos's review against another edition

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5.0

Honestly probably the best book in the trilogy. The only thing that could’ve made it better was more Nikolai

courtneyw5's review against another edition

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4.0

“I am not ruined. I am ruination.” The Grishaverse is a series I’ll never tire of rereading. Barudgo is fantastic at world-building and her books are so easy to get lost in.

mgmaliska's review against another edition

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5.0

Best book in the series.

The characters develop, the plot thickens, the action never ends, and love keeps it all moving.

And FINALLY gay characters! Albeit ever-so-slightly, the normalcy of the relationship makes me happy.

I wish we could have had more Darkling, but perhaps I'm just a sucker for the potential of a bad situation to really turn good.

I'm glad I read all three.

eusualee's review against another edition

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2.0

Honestly thought things were going to pick up after book 2, but I found the conclusion of the trilogy disappointing.

crystalm17's review against another edition

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4.0

Overall I really liked the Grisha trilogy and this book but I kind of struggled because I didn't latch onto the characters as much as I usually do so I didn't feel that so much was at stake.

Also, I felt like it ended way more nicely than it should have.