Ruin and Rising: Book 3 (Shadow and Bone Trilogy, #3) (Grishaverse, #3)

by Leigh Bardugo

SHADOW AND BONE. SIEGE AND STORM. Now Alina's story reaches its incredible conclusion in RUIN AND RISING. The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne. Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as Alina begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction - but claiming it could cost Alina the very future she is fighting for.

• ISBN10: 1780621167
• ISBN13: 9781780621166
• Publish Date: 19 June 2014 (first published 17 June 2014)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 5 February 2016
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Hachette Children's Group
• Imprint: Indigo (an Imprint of Orion Children's)
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[ibeforem]

As this final book opens, the stakes in the fight between Light and Dark are higher than ever. The Darkling has taken over, and Alina, Mal, and Nikolai are on the run. Hiding deep underground under the protection of the Apparat and his followers, Alina knows she must heal and get stronger before she can take on the Darkling again, except there is one big problem. Her powers have been greatly diminished, and getting back to the surface and exposing herself once again seems to be the only solution.

There is a lot that happens in this book, but I thought everything wrapped up in a satisfying way. This was a much stronger trilogy than I expected it to be, and I would definitely read something by Bardugo in the future.

My expectations were very low, I did not like the first two books, so I did not expect to like this one. I don’t hate it, but I cannot understand how people actually believe that this is a good story. It has so many tropes, I hated the resurrection trope the most, just why? It was really unnecessary to let Mal live, he was dead, he was supposed to stay dead. I did not mind it when the powerful man (I already forgot his name, sorry!) resurrected his daughter because he actually seemed capable of it. He did a lot of very questionable experiments and he was very powerful.

Let me start by stating what I liked about this book:
- The plot twist that Baghra and the Darkling are descendants of that powerful man
- Baghra’s backstory
- Nikolai (even though his character deserved a better storyline than this nonsense, but hey there is another book about him so that’s okay)

I wish I had liked more, but I just couldn’t bring myself to care. Alina kept making dumb decisions, being self centered, and highly annoying. The betrayal of Sergei did not feel as bad because who cares about Sergei?! Also, the betrayal of David and the twins in the previous books was so much worse than this, and it was repetitive. Every book has a betrayal at this point.

I hated that Mal was the third amplifier, because it did not make any sense. Yes, it was a great plot device, but it also felt ridiculous. Also, after killing Mal, the Darkling was too easily killable. And then we just rushed to an ending where Nikolai is cured and everything is perfect... I personally don’t like books like that.

[thepunktheory]

Full review on my blog!
So, the second installment was a bit flawed but I was still excited to find out how Alina story would end.
While, so far, I had been at peace with Mal although I was aware many people out there hated him, I am beginning to see their point. I bothers me that he can't seem to accept Alina for what she is but only wants her if she is the way he wants her to be. Actually, Alina had spent her whole life making herself smaller just to be with this guy. That's why I hate the love story part of just about every YA novel! Honestly, Alina would be better off on her own without any guy on her back, even though Ruin and Rising gives her three options of eligible bachelors.
Although the story was overall rather thrilling and exciting, the plotholes became more apparent as we move towards the end. It felt like Bardugo desperately wanted to have this kind of conclusions, so she would make it happen whether it makes sense or not. There is some sketchy stuff going on and I am not entirely convinced.
Nevertheless, I couldn't put this book down. Despite all the polt holes or issues I have with Alina's character development, it was still a thrilling ride and I needed to know how it would end. I don't love the ending we got but I guess I can live with it.
Ruin and Rising is a decent book. There are some flaws but it's an enjoyable read. Bardugo's writing is amazing to go through and I like the world she created. It's just that somehow I had expected a little more from here. I know she has it in her to up the game a notch.

[tweetybugshouse]

went and looked over the reviews before starting mine and I see a lot of disappointment with how the series ended. I don’t agree I think the final twist really made the story unexpected. If the series had ended with the firebird being the amplifier like we been strung along to think then we would have missed out some truly heartbreaking scenes. This story really stands out as a treasure to me as we have two orphans who been told they are nothing and not unique at all. By the time we get to the final book, they are all that stands between the darkness of the darkling and utter destruction. For a story to really stand out your characters need to be unique and they should change from book to book. For a bit, I was unsure what the king of scars was going to be about other than Nikolai but I wasn’t sure how since he changed so much in this book from a human to one corrupted by this dark magic from the Darkling. By the end I do so I am excited in a few weeks to pick that one up from the library. Their lots of to love in this story and the ending worked for me for others not so much. You just have to pick this one up and give it a go for yourself.

[alisoninbookland]

Overall impression of the series:

The series was just okay for me. Not terrible but also not amazing. I don't get the Mal hate. I also don't get the Darkling love.

[Emma (SCR)]

This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews After the last book, I was so eager to carry on with the story but I also didn't want it to end so I wanted to drag this last book out for as long as possible.

Alina is in hiding again but things are different. She's not alone and there's something wrong with her powers. Again she is both frustrating and badass in this book. She is not a natural leader. All she's wanted her whole life is to be loved but now the fate of Ravka lies in her hands and she's not sure she's the one for the job

Mal is so much less annoying in this book. It's like he's finally realised that there's a lot more on the line than just his feelings. He realises there are people that need saving and just gets on with doing his bit.

While this may be the last book in the trilogy don't think that Leigh will go easy on you. Oh no, this book will swallow you whole, rip you up and spit you back out. You will never be the same again when you read this book. Leigh broke my heart when she did what she does to Nikolai. Literally ripped it into teeny tiny pieces so that it will never, ever be whole again.

This series not only got into my heart but also under my skin. It's one of those series that once you start you realise why everyone is always talking about it. While I was immensely sad to be at the end I was very excited to start the Six of Crows duology and I am counting down the days until King of Scars is released and I can be back in this world.

[alindstadtcorbeax]

Star Rating : 4.5 stars, only .5 loss for the lack of a satisfying ending for one very amazing character, one Nikolai Lantsov.

SPOILER ALERT REGARDING THIS LITTLE BLURB!!! D O N T read unless finished with King of Scars!

{ Feb. 7th, 2018
After reading KoS

Uhmmm, so, when I said, at the end of my review below, “Also, the way the darkling’s story wound up in the end... I think was genius and perfection & the only way it SHOULD have ended up. It was like tying the ribbon on a neatly wrapped & sealed package (like, you know... filled with tons of chaos and evil and stuff but whatever— it’s wrapped. Not our problem anymore).” }

Welp, guys. I may have been wrong.
That is all.

😂😂😂


May 29th, 2018
Original review:

Trying not to include spoilers here? Hard to care about spoilers when my heart is in pieces on the floor- but hey.

Well. This is the first book in the series where I truly felt sure of an ending one second, and was completely dumbfounded the next, because nothing felt truly RIGHT. This story took me on some wonderful twists and turns; it was a pleasure, for once, to not be able to use context clues to figure out the exact ending. The book changed direction more times than I’ve said I love Nikolai Lantsov which is A LOT - let me tell YOU. Every way for it to end that I could came up with while reading did not quite... work. I honestly could not figure out what was up, what was down, and how this thing was going to end without me being outraged by some outrageous factor.

BUT it did end up without me being outraged. In fact, I thought the ending was almost perfect. In the end, it mostly all felt right/ the way things worked out. An elegant, emotion filled ending. Bardugo is a damn master.

I think that the reason that Nikolai didn’t get his story written to a satisfying conclusion is because honestly nothing already within the story would’ve done his tale justice. It would’ve taken a whole new book basically to give him the ending he deserved (and he will be getting not one, but TWO; *SQUEEEEEEEE*).

Can I pull a blues clues and jump on into that novel when it’s released? Please? Imma get working on the science & magic of physically inserting yourself into novels immediately. So worth it.

This last novel was written so well. So emotional, I was a mess all throughout this book- we’re talking tears caused by probably every kind of emotion that exists. I mean seriously, the pages all throughout that are tear stained and soggy will attest to this ;-).
And the last pages of this book are stained with my tears FOREVER, my GOD! They look like I spilled water on them & then dried, haha. Good thing this will stay on my bookshelf for all time, available for me to reread and re-fall-in-love with forever.

And character building? Holy freakin moly. MAL TURN AROUND ALERT. Seemed a bit sudden but either way- I ACTUALLY LIKE MAL NOW. I may even have fallen in love with his character before the end. Still a bit too broody & a tad too whiny, but what’s a tracker who’s hopeless in love to do? ;-)

I cannot help but long for this emptiness in my heart for Nikolai to be filled as soon as possible. Mmk? I am fulfilled by every character’s closures but his, because he DIDN’T HAVE proper closure. Ugh. How have people lived this long without knowing there would be a duology for him without being left longing & feeling so much emptiness in your heart (plus possibly a tad bit of rage?) HOW?!?

Also, the way the forever emo kid/ darkling’s story wound up in the end... I think it was genius and perfection & the only way it SHOULD have ended up. It was like tying the ribbon on a neatly wrapped & sealed package (filled with tons of chaos and evil but whatever— it’s wrapped. Not our problem).

Loved Alina’s, Mal’s, all their Grisha friends, etc endings. Somehow so perfect.

Anyway; The Grisha Trilogy has officially claimed a piece of my heart forever. And ever. And ever.

And no offense to any emo kids out there ;-) I’m the first to admit= me. Lol

Fin.

[bumblingbookworm]

This review was originally posted on The Bumbling Bookworm

I'm so glad I read this straight after reading Siege and Storm, rather than waiting 3 years like I did after reading Shadow and Bone!  I was on a roll and it was so great to stay in the Grishaverse, it's such an intriguing place to be.  I love this world and I'm so glad that there are more books for me to read in the Grishaverse! I can't say too much about the plot of this without spoiling books 1 and 2 for you, so I won't touch on that except to say that it kept me interested the whole way through.

As with book 2, there were some pacing issues with this one - a lot happens in the beginning and at the end, but it's rather slow in the middle.  Despite that, I still couldn't put it down and I just needed to know what happened next.  It took me a while to understand certain parts of the plot towards the end, and even now I'm not sure I fully understand but it was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy - 4 stars
Check out the rest of my review here!

"It was stupid. It was dangerous. But Ana Kuya used to tell me that hope was tricky like water. Somehow it always found a way in." (Alina Starkov)

I can't believe I'm saying this after giving Siege and Storm two stars, but I really like Ruin and Rising. If this is the direction that Six of Crows is going to go in, I'm thrilled!

Alina's an extremely compelling character. In Shadow and Bone, I wasn't drawn to Alina's character, but in Ruin and Rising Alina starts to come into her own. Great character development! She's a typical hero, but she's also extremely flawed. She has a need to do the right thing, but she's also bitter, jaded, battles with her instinctive greed for power and will do anything and everything to save Ravka and the people that she loves. She's a oh-so-powerful and untouchable 'Saint', but she's also very real and human.

In Ruin and Rising I fell in love with the secondary characters. I love reading about a group of misfits, who don't really know or like each other, coming together to save the world while forming bonds of friendship and loyalty. Zoya, a spunky bad-ass, Harshaw, a kind-of crazy pyromaniac, Nadia, Adrik and the twins all add comedic elements, warmth and camaraderie to Ruin and Rising. Genya also comes into her own and starts accepting what she has become and I was so happy for her when David gave his proclamation of love speech. We also learn so many things about Baghra in Ruin and Rising. Baghra is one of my favourite types of characters. She's a stubborn, sarcastic and cynical no-nonsense women who bust everybody's chops.

Then there's the love square. In Ruin and Rising, I grew to like Mal. After all that's happened between him and Alina in the previous books, he begins to accept her for who she is and what she's becoming. My favourite character in the whole trilogy, Prince Nikolai - whose charm, sassiness and cleverness continues to impress me - experiences his own form of torture and darkness at the hands of The Darkling, who has become one of the most complex antagonists I've ever read about. He's ruthless, cruel and dangerous, but just like Alina, there's something that makes him human and sympathetic. The scene where The Darkling dies is extremely sad because that's where we see his utter loneliness and his brilliance.

From the start of the series, I knew who Alina was going to end up with and in Ruin and Rising I wasn't surprised. Who Alina ends up suits and contrasts her personality and I understand why she loves that person. I always knew it was going to be Mal. They've been through a lot together and they've always stood by each other. I also never thought of The Darkling as a love interest. To me, he's always been an antagonist. And, while I love Nikolai, there isn't much chemistry between him and Alina.

One's love for Ruin and Rising will depend on how one feels about Alina's destiny and her love interests. To me, the ending makes sense. It ordinary and lovely!

"I am not ruined. I am ruination." (Genya Safin)

It's been too long since I've read the first two books so I cannot remember anything. I have no idea who's meant to be in love with who, I forgot what the character relationships were, I have no idea how to feel because I can't remember the backstory.

So I've decided to put this series down. This is the reason why you should read a series close together!