Reviews

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

stephch's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

mauricee_'s review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.5

leekleek's review against another edition

2.0

I really liked the world building here. However the characters were insufferable.

Mal is pretty toxic with his insecurities and inability to accept being less successful than Alina. The Darkling is also pretty toxic for more obvious reasons which is a shame because I originally liked him a lot. Nikolai (sp? I listened to the audio book so I can't spell anything here) was the only likeable character, and maybe Zoiya (?) too because they had some depth. So I am likely going to read King of Scars still.

The ending came so close to being amazing, but ended up being a huge disappointment.

Audiobook note: the narrator was pretty awesome and had so many distinct voices that were incredible! I loved it.

readwithkiekie's review against another edition

4.0

I have to be honest, Ruin and Rising did not leave me ruined. If anything it’s my least favourite book in the trilogy. Alina had everything too easy. The firebird just coming to her, the closest of their group alive. Everything just felt too perfect and it left me bored at parts. If it wasn’t for the ‘After’ epilogue this would have easily been a 3.5 star rating.

ninaskokoro's review against another edition

4.0

i don’t know if im at peace with the ending. thought the whole series, i loved the universe the story the characters. i loved the grishaverse. it just felt like something was always missing. i’m not sure what it was. i thought the way everything came together at the end was a little lackluster but maybe that’s the point. maybe that’s what mak and alina deserved. i know there’s a series with nikolai in it and i am SO ready

stillmonster's review against another edition

5.0

FUCK i literally cant put my thoughts into written words but WHAT THE FUCKKKKKKK

reesetotle's review against another edition

4.0

Well, that hurts. A lot.

bethd_elwell's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective fast-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

sus__xox's review against another edition

4.0

- mals re-birth was pretty predictable (it happens in movie deaths all the time when the characters don't actually die) because his death was kinda like brushed over like i didn't feel any emotion and i love mal
- also,,,,fire boys death was predictable because he was presented so innocently that of course he had to die
- fucking emotional tho - the girls™ cuddling scenes got me. and the sex scenes
- nikolais character was so fucking well developed, best character by far i love it
- epilogue was beautiful
- the bit before the drama was better than the actual drama i feel? like when we found out mal was mAl
- fucking plot twist👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼love that
- the darklings innocent thing was like what happened with sebby in tmi and i approve of that hell fucking yeah

cluelesshannah's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75