"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)