A review by creolelitbelle
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

My favorite aspect of this trilogy's ending is how when the tide turns for the worse, solutions are not magically found sitting around every corner. Alina and her allies have to work hard and struggle to survive to the battle and never expect the fighting and odds to fall in their favors. I love the realism of that, even if the story is full of fantasy. Parts of the ending feel underwhelming, but certain characters who took convincing for me to root for are beloved for me by the end. The battle's conclusion may fit the world-building, but I'm much more satisfied with the epilogue. Grishaverse lore is optimal in this book, and I look forward to learning more of it from other stories and books. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings