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

by Leigh Bardugo

[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.