A review by kate_arts
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

I think I liked the first half of this book more than the other books in this trilogy. I think there were a lot of nuances to the heavy themes of the book and emotions of the characters. I particularly felt like this book was good at describing the brutality of war which hit differently in the current world we live in (genocide in Gaza). I think Alina’s sense of loss and hatred towards the people that put her in the position she is in was very tangible in this way.
I didn’t particularly like that Mal was the firebird. It felt slightly like a cop out in this situation. I also didn’t like that Alina lost her powers because she used all of moritzova’s amplifiers. I wish she had agency in this decision.
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