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baknata's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Reading this book had me so stressed out, I always felt like something bad was going to happen. The thing is so many bad things kept happening. (Major spoilers ahead, beware) This book wrapped up the story fairly well and I felt like it wrapped up all the loose ends. I was disappointed with the ending though. Firstly, I was never a fan of Mal, which I'll expand on later, but I felt like his sacrifice was cheapened by the fact that he came back from the dead. Like I was on board with him dying, even though that scene had me bawling. I think it would've been a good ending to his story and fit the established character. I also think it would have juxtaposed the usual trope of women being sacrificed for their male love interest well. Instead, Mal basically came out of it without much sacrifice (save for his tracking skills but he still was good enough so hardly a loss) and Alina lost all her power. I know Leigh probably didn't intend for it to be this way, but for me it just felt like the only reason Alina lost her power was so she could end up with Mal. Not to mention, for me it felt like it negated all her development and her growth as a Grisha to just be like "okay your normal now". I would've liked to see her find a place as a Grisha without having to save the world. Even if she did end up running the orphanage w Mal, her still having her powers would've been nice because then we would know it was her choice to do that instead of her just finding something she could do without her power. Other than Alina and Mal's endings, I liked the way the characters' arcs were completed. I liked Genya getting a leadership position, especially with David. I really ended up liking Zoya. The way her character developed in this book was really cool. I felt bad for Nikolai since he didn't really have a happy ending, but I imagine it got better from where the book ended. I didn't like how Harshaw ended up dead and it was brought up so nonchalantly. We didn't know about it until later and it took me so off guard. Most of the other deaths were at least talked about, and I liked Harshaw so it was shocking to hear of his death just thrown in the middle of a sentence.
Overall, this was a fantastic series and I look forward to delving into the rest of the Grishaverse. It'll take me some time to recover from the end of this book, but ignoring the pain it was highly enjoyable!
Overall, this was a fantastic series and I look forward to delving into the rest of the Grishaverse. It'll take me some time to recover from the end of this book, but ignoring the pain it was highly enjoyable!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Sexual content
mybookishdelights's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
[Second Read - 2021 - 4 stars]
Heat Level: Mediumnon-graphic sex scene
There was a lot that I didn't remember from this one. Like almost all of it. I rememberthe Darkling dying , but almost none of the specifics to that whole scene. I'm not sure if that's an insult to the book or to my memory.
So it was good, but not amazing. I enjoyed the writing well enough to keep on reading, but the plot felt a bit all over the place and there were something that didn't seem necessary.The whole events that happened to Nikolai felt pointless. Maybe it was set up for his own duology later, but when this book came out and even when I read it, that hadn't happened yet.
I can't really think about anything else to say. I was more on board with Mal and Alina this go round. I guess that's it.
CAWPILE Score: 7.14 = 4 stars
Characters: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Writing: 8
Plot: 6
Intrigue: 8
Logic: 7
Enjoyment: 7
*********************************
[First Read - 2017 - 4 stars]
I really liked this final book. It's the ending I predicted in regards to the romance, but I was hoping it would be something different. :( The ending of the story itself was interesting and had a surprising twist that, honestly, I didn't understand at first. I had to read it several times to get a good idea of what happened. I still love this world and this series.
Challenges:
2017 Goodreads Challenge
2017 MMD Reading for Growth - Three books by the same author (3/3)
Heat Level: Medium
There was a lot that I didn't remember from this one. Like almost all of it. I remember
So it was good, but not amazing. I enjoyed the writing well enough to keep on reading, but the plot felt a bit all over the place and there were something that didn't seem necessary.
I can't really think about anything else to say. I was more on board with Mal and Alina this go round. I guess that's it.
CAWPILE Score: 7.14 = 4 stars
Characters: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Writing: 8
Plot: 6
Intrigue: 8
Logic: 7
Enjoyment: 7
*********************************
[First Read - 2017 - 4 stars]
I really liked this final book. It's the ending I predicted in regards to the romance, but I was hoping it would be something different. :( The ending of the story itself was interesting and had a surprising twist that, honestly, I didn't understand at first. I had to read it several times to get a good idea of what happened. I still love this world and this series.
Challenges:
2017 Goodreads Challenge
2017 MMD Reading for Growth - Three books by the same author (3/3)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Minor: Sexual content
rorikae's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
'Ruin and Rising' is a disappointing final chapter in the Grisha trilogy.
My favorite aspects of this trilogy has been the worldbuilding, particularly the magic system and mythology. Where I felt the other installments did a good job of fleshing out the world as we learned more about the Grisha's power and the mythology of Ravka, a lot of that felt dashed in this last book. Certain explanations just didn't quite make sense and the ending felt wrapped up in an undeserved bow. So much hinges around Mal, despite him being the most frustrating and least interesting character in the series. I also think that the pacing in this book was off. The first half of the book felt on pace with the other installments, steady progress as we moved toward the big battle at the end. Then the second half of the book felt too fast while also feeling like too little happened. This is a book that suffers because of its focus on the love story instead of the plot.
Though I'm happy to have read the series and to get the base understanding for the rest of the Grishaverse, the end does really bring down the whole. I am glad that this is widely regarded as the worst series because I do really like the world and can't wait to see it explored more in Six of Crows and King of Scars. As Nikolai was one of my favorite characters in this series, I am very excited that he gets his own duology.
My favorite aspects of this trilogy has been the worldbuilding, particularly the magic system and mythology. Where I felt the other installments did a good job of fleshing out the world as we learned more about the Grisha's power and the mythology of Ravka, a lot of that felt dashed in this last book. Certain explanations just didn't quite make sense and the ending felt wrapped up in an undeserved bow. So much hinges around Mal, despite him being the most frustrating and least interesting character in the series. I also think that the pacing in this book was off. The first half of the book felt on pace with the other installments, steady progress as we moved toward the big battle at the end. Then the second half of the book felt too fast while also feeling like too little happened. This is a book that suffers because of its focus on the love story instead of the plot.
Though I'm happy to have read the series and to get the base understanding for the rest of the Grishaverse, the end does really bring down the whole. I am glad that this is widely regarded as the worst series because I do really like the world and can't wait to see it explored more in Six of Crows and King of Scars. As Nikolai was one of my favorite characters in this series, I am very excited that he gets his own duology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Body shaming
victorianrogue's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Body shaming, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Torture
aviery's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, and Torture
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual content
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