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A review by bookchainedsoul
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
3.0
This book is a very mixed bag. I loved some parts of it. I don’t think the characters are likeable (except for Nikolai) at all, which I loved. They’re powerful, haunted, thrown together individuals for the most part. In most books all of those individuals you still end up loving some how and it’s completely unrealistic. In this there were several characters I felt absolutely no connection to and some I didn’t like but valued anyway (Zoya). I found it quite refreshing in a way because it meant I cared more about the plot and overarching story rather than the fates of each character but it also meant I just love the book less because it caused me to feel very little emotion, and I feel a good book should always make you feel something.
Beyond that, I loved that this book was more faced paced and that there was a lot of plot to grapple with, however I feel like some of those plots weren’t necessarily good, just there. I don’t think the reveal of who Mal really is/what he is made any sense. I’m glad there was an explanation for his tracking ability but it still didn’t feel right. I also have no clue how he and Alina figured it out - that just felt thrown in.
I’m also torn about the ending. Part of me loves it because I think it fit quite well with the characters and the story. However, another part of me feels like it was just an easy solution that actually isn’t as good as a more complicated and possibly tragic ending would have been. I was just expecting something more, I think.
As a whole, I like the series despite it not being one of my favourites. I would recommend it to YA fantasy lovers, it is a very creative world and has some great elements, I just think it wasn’t for me and my preferences as a whole.
Beyond that, I loved that this book was more faced paced and that there was a lot of plot to grapple with, however I feel like some of those plots weren’t necessarily good, just there. I don’t think the reveal of who Mal really is/what he is made any sense. I’m glad there was an explanation for his tracking ability but it still didn’t feel right. I also have no clue how he and Alina figured it out - that just felt thrown in.
I’m also torn about the ending. Part of me loves it because I think it fit quite well with the characters and the story. However, another part of me feels like it was just an easy solution that actually isn’t as good as a more complicated and possibly tragic ending would have been. I was just expecting something more, I think.
As a whole, I like the series despite it not being one of my favourites. I would recommend it to YA fantasy lovers, it is a very creative world and has some great elements, I just think it wasn’t for me and my preferences as a whole.