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

by Leigh Bardugo

*The Grishaverse will be coming to Netflix soon with Shadow and Bone, an original series!*

Enter the Grishaverse with book three of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy by number one New York Times-bestselling author Leigh Bardugo. Perfect for fans of Laini Taylor and Sarah J. Maas.

Now with a stunning new cover and exclusive bonus material: The Demon in the Wood (a Darkling prequel story) and a Q&A with Leigh Bardugo.

Soldier. Summoner. Saint.The nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

The Darkling rules from his shadow throne while a weakened Alina Starkov recovers from their battle under the dubious protection of the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Now her hopes lie with the magic of a long-vanished ancient creature and the chance that an outlaw prince still survives.

As her allies and enemies race toward war, only Alina stands between her country and a rising tide of darkness that could destroy the world. To win this fight, she must seize a legend's power - but claiming the firebird may be her ruin.


Read all the books in the Grishaverse!

The Shadow and Bone Trilogy
(previously published as The Grisha Trilogy)
Shadow and Bone
Siege and Storm
Ruin and Rising

The Six of Crows Duology
Six of Crows
Crooked Kingdom

The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic

• ISBN10: 0805097120
• ISBN13: 9780805097122
• Publish Date: 17 June 2014
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Henry Holt & Company
• Format: eBook
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

I liked the first book well enough, but really liked the sequel, so I was hoping for an epic finale in Ruin and Rising. Unfortunately, I was left underwhelmed. Everything was just too easy, convenient, and predictable. Qualities that are always annoying, but almost unforgivable in a series finale. At the opening, Alina and her allies are at the White Cathedral, but the Apparat makes sure to keep them separated. Alina is mopey and weak without her powers, but this would make for a very boring book, so soon enough there's a fight, break out, and powers are restored. The group heads out to finally track down the Firebird, so that Alina has a hope of defeating the Darkling.

Aside from Alina's powers immediately being restored, Ruin and Rising does suffer from a lot of convenient events in the face of horrible things. For as much as the characters go through, not much actually happens, which had me bored most of the time. Then something exciting would happen, and I would worry how it was going to pan out, but then it would be fixed, getting back on the boring track. On top of that, most of the book is one giant foreshadowing, so as soon as one twist was revealed, I knew exactly how the book would end! This should not happen! I don't want to spoil anything, but one particular Grisha power is discussed at length, which makes it quite obvious what's to come. I would have rather it be mentioned in passing, and then be surprised! Not beaten over the head with it.

I really don't have anything to say about Ruin and Rising. It was an okay ending to a pretty good series. The final battle wasn't exciting or epic at all. It just kind of happened. Twists weren't really twists. But the epilogue was really cute, even if I guessed that that would happen, too.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[shannonmiz]

There's two things about this book that I believe to be true:
1. I can't adequately say anything about it without spoiling things.
2. From other reviews I've read, and just my own feelings, this book will completely polarize people, so what I feel may not matter to you at all. You might agree, or you might think I am a complete ass.

So, this is going to be a kind-of-review. Basically, I am going to talk about all the feels, without telling you any actual details. Because nobody wants to be that guy. Incidentally, I somehow missed the leaked spoiler (thank goodness!), but seriously, why would someone do that?! Just no. Please and thank you.

The online buildup for this book's release was epic. Seriously, so epic, that I started to read the series. And, as we all know, series ending books are always so scary. You're literally a mess, curled up in the fetal position, no matter if it ends well, or terribly. I was seriously terrified to read this (and yes, excited too) because I just didn't want to handle disappointment. I stayed so far away from any mention of it anywhere, so I had no idea what to even expect. Were people loving it? Hating it? (Turns out, both, but we'll get to that.) I was way too anxious, considering this was a book.

I will admit, the book did start off a bit slow. But when it took off, it took off. I just couldn't put it down, I was so immersed in the gorgeously written fantasy world that Leigh Bardugo created. I simply don't understand how something so unbelievable can feel so real. I thought the plot was perfect, and moved along well, with twists I never saw coming, and just enough down time for me to think I could catch my breath, only to be happily proven wrong.

The transformations the characters underwent were just phenomenal as well. The journey that not only Alina, but all of Ravka takes certainly changes them all, but it is so well played out that it just feels so complete. The end was, for me, perfect. I cried, I smiled, and I felt a sense of peace. I felt like Leigh wrapped up the series in just a perfect way, and also in a way that is satisfying, even if you didn't particularly like the exact chain of events. I just loved it, and I can't say anything else because I refuse to even hint at anything that could even remotely seem spoilery.

[ladygrey]

Yeah, you read that right - 5 stars after a first reading. It was going to be four but then I realized that would just match the previous two books and it's better than them. And Ruin and Rising is really probably going to be 5 stars on reread. So I might as well just skip to that part. It helps that I reread Shadow and Bone and Siege and Storm right before this so I was already deep in the world.

I don't normally reread leading up to a series end. I did it with these because I love this series, and now especially this novel, so much I don't know that I have words to do it justice. It is sparsely written; not because Leigh Bardugo doesn't give you enough story but because she's precise with the information you need. The setting, the magic, the characters - you get into it without a lot of fluff or rambling. Which means the books move quickly and so much happens and yet you still get to spend time with the characters and fall for them.

And Ruin and Rising... takes those characters deeper; makes them more complex and therefore more interesting. And then it expresses it so powerfully. I bought the hardback of this for the Darkling prequel story at the back and found myself wishing that I had it on kindle so I could highlight every line I loved. About a quarter way through it occurred to me that it was my book and not a library copy and I could underline whatever I wanted. But by then I'd missed so many great lines I figure I'll do it when I reread it. And I'll underline so much all over the place. Half of Nikolai's lines and most of Mal's and that moment with Genya and...

I love these characters. Nikolai is spectacular, but I have loved Mal since Shadow and Bone. And as much as I hated what happened in Siege and Storm  it was exactly what would have happened. For Mal most of all - but also for all the characters - Ruin and Rising gives them conflict between what they want and what they choose. I loved that those were two completely different things. I loved the struggle between those polarities and the questions and the wanting and accepting the pain that came from walking away. There's this beautiful ruthlessness to the characters in this story, maybe in part as a result of the influence of Russian culture on this world. They do what has to be done and they don't whine about. They argue and they fight but there is no room for pity or hollow apologies. There is such strength in so many of them from what they endure and what they choose and I love it.

And Bardugo doesn't just make them endure - she twists the knife, makes it personal and horrifying and so much better than what you'd expect. But somehow that only makes me admire them more and like them more, even the ones I thought I'd never like.

The mythology plays out like a masterpiece. When everything falls into place you can see the threads from the first two books - how Bardugo must have known exactly what she was doing or must be gifted with an incredible storytelling instinct for them to fall together. This world unravels in stories and becomes deeper and richer as it becomes clearer. And there's history in this, a culture with rituals and oaths and symbols that give things meaning and resonance.

I am become a blade

The characters and the world and the beauty of the writing along with the efficiency of the pace - nothing is perfect but there is hardly a false step in this entire series. I am blown away by how well done it is and admire Bardugo so much for writing this so incredibly well. Even with the very end, she did not disappoint. She shocked me a little, but in its own way it has the perfect, the only possible, happy end.

REREAD: There isnt much I dislike about this book but in the beggininng an entire page of Alina doubting her Grisha is just stupid. Every now and then she’s a bit of a pathetic heroine and this is one such moment. Also, I’m always a little thrown that she introduces brand new Grisha we've never met or heard of but she acknowledges that their almost strangers but not until like chapter three so it’s still a bit odd for me every time. There’s a bit too much exposition here and there for me when I want it to get to the action. But ince it dies, it’s poignant and well crafted.  

[Annie Jackson]

I am become a blade

[littleread1]

ALL THE STARS!!!

I can't ... the narration ... the story ... THE FUCKING FEELS MAN.

I haven't wanted to cry so hard from a book in I don't know how long. HOLY SHIT.

HOLY.

SHIT.

I don't think I have the proper words to explain this book; this series. If you are on the fence, just read it. If you think you won't like it, give it a shot. If you stumble across this "review" then buy this book. I don't know what else to tell you expect once you read this, I am here for you. Seriously, email me, message me, hell, I'd even give out my phone number so we can discuss this story.

*holds all of you in my arms*

Breathtaking. Absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. I am incredibly sad to see this journey end, but also know that it was an incredibly wonderful journey to take.
Full review to come.

[jnikkir]

Can I give this book a thousand stars? So perfect. So. Perfect.

[Amber]

This review was originally posted on Books of Amber

My final rating is something like 1.5.

I’m FINALLY getting around to reviewing this book! I know, I know, I read it months ago when it was first released. What was holding me back, you ask? Well, my dears, it was the fucktacular way the series ended. I can’t remember the last time I was so disappointed by such a highly anticipated book. I’m going to be spoiling people because I’m not sure I can review this book without explaining exactly why I hated it.

Okay so Alina ended up with Mal. I’m not sure you understand my deep, deep hatred for that guy, so let me break it down for you. Mal is one of the most vile characters I have ever come across, and I have read about a lot of horrible people. This wasn’t an instance where I could laugh about his idiocy and stan him anyway (unlike Hush, Hush, which I liked for reasons that I can’t explain) because he was just such a cock. In the first book he was bearable, if a little too entitled, and then in Siege and Storm he turned into the great arsehole the world has ever seen. And Alina ends up with him because apparently the universe hates me.

Alina’s character progression that I was loving in the first two books swiftly turned into complete regression. She was on her way to becoming a ruler, a queen, and empress, etc. etc., and then at the end of this book she throws it all away to be with her ~One True Love~ and go back to her little village that she HATED during her childhood because apparently now that she has her love, her saviour, all is well and she can handle anything. I’m just so glad that Mal was able to let her do this, guys. Give up her powers and truly become herself again and face her childhood head on *wipes away tears* BECAUSE SHE COULDN’T DO IT HERSELF COULD SHE?!

So, Alina, who was an almost-warrioring badass who stood up to her oppressors and helped the helpless, is saved by a guy and gives up everything to be with him. I feel cheated. And it doesn’t help that we didn’t even get to see any of this post-war stuff. There was a bloody epilogue and that was it. THAT WAS IT. AFTER ALL WE HAD BEEN THROUGH.

Sturmhond was the best character in this book, and quite possibly the only saving grace. If there was a saving grace, which there wasn’t. I love his snark and his storyline in Ruin and Rising was the greatest thing because he went from being a pirate to a prince to a creature to a king. I totally thought that, after his transformation, that Alina was going to realise her feelings for him because she was so bloody upset. Alas. She did not. That storyline also went nowhere because we didn’t get to see anything of Nikolai after he turned back into a human. WHY. Why do something like that if you’re only going to mention the impact a couple of times?!

Overall I thought that Ruin and Rising was an epically crap book, and incredibly disappointing considering the previous two books in the series were pretty great. Everything in Ruin and Rising fell back to Mal, from the Darkling’s background, his relatives, Alina, the firebird… it was all Mal because he’s the centre of this fucking universe. No, thank you, I do not accept this.

That was a satifying ending, but not mindblowing. Pretty expected but nonetheless enjoyful. I think my main problem since the start of this reread its that Alina is not a protagonist I rely to or care about. Her arc in the series is pretty dull and imho not well developted.
I think the emotional baggage this book brings is what made me give it a 4 stars.