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miilk's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.25
dorkula's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
3.0
mollyyhansson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
daphx00's review against another edition
5.0
Even though my ship sank, I need more stars to award this book.
baileypeoples225's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
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? It's complicated
3.75
cover_2_covered's review against another edition
5.0
Favourite Quote- "We put on our best clothes and die like heroes." -Nikolai
RUIN AND RISING is the final book of the SHADOW AND BONE trilogy.
In this book, the author ties up the loose ends of the plot lines which stretches from the first two books perfectly; but also makes way to new plots and stories.
The character development is remarkable as Alina takes on the burdens that come with the faith that has grown centering her powers while also befriending those who she didn't get along well with in the previous books and finding new ones along the way.
Another rather special incident in this book is when the series villain, who is known as The Darkling throughout the series finally reveals his true name to Alina- in hopes that she will remember the boy he once was, the boy who even he'd forgotten.
The ending is the definition of bittersweet making you debate whether or not you are satisfied with said ending or want an alternate one.
All in all, the Shadow and Bone trilogy is a must read for anyone who loves fantasy and science for the #grishaverse is founded on those two pillars.
#alinastarkov #thedarkling #shadowandbone #sunsummoner #grishaverse #nikolailantsov #zoyanazyalensky #tamarandtolya #davidandgenya #oncat #ravka #doubleeagle
RUIN AND RISING is the final book of the SHADOW AND BONE trilogy.
In this book, the author ties up the loose ends of the plot lines which stretches from the first two books perfectly; but also makes way to new plots and stories.
The character development is remarkable as Alina takes on the burdens that come with the faith that has grown centering her powers while also befriending those who she didn't get along well with in the previous books and finding new ones along the way.
Another rather special incident in this book is when the series villain, who is known as The Darkling throughout the series finally reveals his true name to Alina- in hopes that she will remember the boy he once was, the boy who even he'd forgotten.
The ending is the definition of bittersweet making you debate whether or not you are satisfied with said ending or want an alternate one.
All in all, the Shadow and Bone trilogy is a must read for anyone who loves fantasy and science for the #grishaverse is founded on those two pillars.
#alinastarkov #thedarkling #shadowandbone #sunsummoner #grishaverse #nikolailantsov #zoyanazyalensky #tamarandtolya #davidandgenya #oncat #ravka #doubleeagle
kiwchi's review against another edition
5.0
by far her best book in the trilogy. I love the grishaverse characters with my entire heart, and I know they’ll stay with me:)) I loved the ending so so much!!!!! The boy will never, ever be forgotten. So glad i have two more books (king of scars) to binge!!!
starrydreamer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
cassidyserhienko's review against another edition
3.0
“I am not ruined. I am ruination.”
And so ends the Grishaverse trilogy.
I’m quite satisfied with how everything was resolved, but I’m honestly a little underwhelmed by how we got there. I think that the entire series had really great potential and had all of the right ingredients to be great, but it was just never quite able to get there. As you can maybe tell by my rating, I still really enjoyed the series but still just feel a little…. So for the sake of my sanity and coherence, let’s break it down.
Of course we’re going to start with the Darkling. Now just to clarify, when I read the books I was not into the Darkling as a romantic interest for Alina - the only reason I think the Darkling is hot is because Ben Barnes is hot, and hot people doing sketchy things is hot. I’ve accepted this, I revel in it. And I think that Book Darkling has the potential to be a lot more interesting than he really is. He has the backstory, the moral quandary, etc etc to be a really great morally grey character. But since that’s never truly delved into he’s almost just a cut and dry villain. This is one of the many areas where I think the show does a better job of bringing a sort of maturity to the story. The Darkling is supposed to love Ravka and want a better future for the Grisha, but because he’s barely on the page we only see the immediate threat that he poses to Alina, and the terrible things that he does to hold onto power.
As for Mal, I really don’t get why everyone hates him so much. The critique of Mal is that he wants Alina to be normal and he resents her power. I think that’s true, particularly in Siege and Storm, but not in a bad way necessarily. I think that he’s grappling with the fact that her power is what keeps them from being together and he’s losing this girl who he’s known and loved in one way or another for his entire life. And I think that’s a struggle for him but he is entirely willing to let her go to meet that destiny - and help her to reach it in any way that he can. But while doing that, he’s also grieving what seems like a loss. Ultimately it is a loss because not only is she going to have to become a queen, a saint, whatever, but she’s going to have this ancient life that he can’t possibly be a part of. He’s actually quite selfless when it comes to Alina and Alina’s power.
MY issue with Mal is that he’s just kind of boring. Again, I think that he as a character and their relationship would have seemed better if these books had been written later- like if Bardugo had a little more practice like she does for SoC. Because as much time as Mal and Alina are in the same place, they really don’t have that much page time together because they’re struggling so much to talk about their issues and deal with the fact that this thing is keeping them apart. As a result, they don’t really have any apparent chemistry and we’re told more than shown how much they care for each other.
When it comes to Alina, I was just a little bored by her character as well. She had no distinct personality and no discernable love/connection to Ravka that made the stakes feel high. It sometimes felt like she was going through the motions of being the Chosen One instead of actually being invested in the outcome of the war. She never really confronted her power or the enticement of getting more that would inevitably have led to corruption. And considering this was pretty much the main theme of the book, that was a bit of a let-down. I think that Jessie Mei Lin and the writers of the show did a fabulous job of breathing a little more life into the character.
As for the plotting of the third book, it was just a little discombobulated. Bardugo’s actual writing is good, but nothing really happened until about halfway through and the main climax of the book only lasted about four pages. It was a lot of build up for not much pay off. There were so many characters and plotlines that were underused or not utilized at all. Yes, I am talking primarily about David and Genya.
Nothing about this book or the series as a whole was bad, and I think that the series has good bones, but Bardugo maybe didn’t have the skill to really wield her talent like she does in SoC and KoS (according to other people, I haven’t read it yet). She’s clearly a great writer and the world that she built in this book is awesome, but I’m definitely anticipating liking Six of Crows a lot more.
And so ends the Grishaverse trilogy.
I’m quite satisfied with how everything was resolved, but I’m honestly a little underwhelmed by how we got there. I think that the entire series had really great potential and had all of the right ingredients to be great, but it was just never quite able to get there. As you can maybe tell by my rating, I still really enjoyed the series but still just feel a little…. So for the sake of my sanity and coherence, let’s break it down.
Of course we’re going to start with the Darkling. Now just to clarify, when I read the books I was not into the Darkling as a romantic interest for Alina - the only reason I think the Darkling is hot is because Ben Barnes is hot, and hot people doing sketchy things is hot. I’ve accepted this, I revel in it. And I think that Book Darkling has the potential to be a lot more interesting than he really is. He has the backstory, the moral quandary, etc etc to be a really great morally grey character. But since that’s never truly delved into he’s almost just a cut and dry villain. This is one of the many areas where I think the show does a better job of bringing a sort of maturity to the story. The Darkling is supposed to love Ravka and want a better future for the Grisha, but because he’s barely on the page we only see the immediate threat that he poses to Alina, and the terrible things that he does to hold onto power.
As for Mal, I really don’t get why everyone hates him so much. The critique of Mal is that he wants Alina to be normal and he resents her power. I think that’s true, particularly in Siege and Storm, but not in a bad way necessarily. I think that he’s grappling with the fact that her power is what keeps them from being together and he’s losing this girl who he’s known and loved in one way or another for his entire life. And I think that’s a struggle for him but he is entirely willing to let her go to meet that destiny - and help her to reach it in any way that he can. But while doing that, he’s also grieving what seems like a loss. Ultimately it is a loss because not only is she going to have to become a queen, a saint, whatever, but she’s going to have this ancient life that he can’t possibly be a part of. He’s actually quite selfless when it comes to Alina and Alina’s power.
MY issue with Mal is that he’s just kind of boring. Again, I think that he as a character and their relationship would have seemed better if these books had been written later- like if Bardugo had a little more practice like she does for SoC. Because as much time as Mal and Alina are in the same place, they really don’t have that much page time together because they’re struggling so much to talk about their issues and deal with the fact that this thing is keeping them apart. As a result, they don’t really have any apparent chemistry and we’re told more than shown how much they care for each other.
When it comes to Alina, I was just a little bored by her character as well. She had no distinct personality and no discernable love/connection to Ravka that made the stakes feel high. It sometimes felt like she was going through the motions of being the Chosen One instead of actually being invested in the outcome of the war. She never really confronted her power or the enticement of getting more that would inevitably have led to corruption. And considering this was pretty much the main theme of the book, that was a bit of a let-down. I think that Jessie Mei Lin and the writers of the show did a fabulous job of breathing a little more life into the character.
As for the plotting of the third book, it was just a little discombobulated. Bardugo’s actual writing is good, but nothing really happened until about halfway through and the main climax of the book only lasted about four pages. It was a lot of build up for not much pay off. There were so many characters and plotlines that were underused or not utilized at all. Yes, I am talking primarily about David and Genya.
Nothing about this book or the series as a whole was bad, and I think that the series has good bones, but Bardugo maybe didn’t have the skill to really wield her talent like she does in SoC and KoS (according to other people, I haven’t read it yet). She’s clearly a great writer and the world that she built in this book is awesome, but I’m definitely anticipating liking Six of Crows a lot more.