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A review by stephen_arvidson
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
5.0
There's plenty at stake as the Grisha Trilogy draws to a stunning close. The forces of darkness and light square off in a battle unto death for the future of Ravka. Following her near-fatal encounter with the Darkling, a weakened Alina finds herself imprisoned in the fanatical Apparat’s subterranean lair under the guise of protection. Leigh Bardugo never lets us linger in one place for long and after a daring escape, Alina, the ever-faithful Mal, and the few surviving remnants of the Grisha rebellion seek to reunite with tsarevich Nikolai and procure the final amplifier needed to combat the Darkling and undue the Shadow Fold. As Alina’s yearning for power grows so too does her fear of being corrupted by this forbidden magic. With every threat stacked against them, Alina and Mal must make tough decisions that carry devastating consequences. The road to victory is paved with deceit and death, and readers will be gasping for the finish to see if these beloved characters can find solace in each other and, ultimately, salvation.
From reticent map-maker, to Sun Summoner, to sainted linchpin in an epic battle between good and evil, Alina Starkov’s evolution is of a stronger kind, rounding out her character so she can embrace her role as a Saint and realize her inner strength. Her internally driven struggle against her growing power engenders conflict with those around her and even contends with her love for Mal, thus bringing into question the destructive nature of power. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, so sayeth Lord Acton, and Alina is reluctant to mislay her core identity even if it spells doom for Ravka. Despite his boorish behavior in the previous book, Mal redeems himself in dividends. His desire to protect Alina has never been stronger. Much like Alina, Mal is confronted by a fateful destiny, one that ineluctably places him on a trajectory that’s sure to leave readers teary-ended.
As engaging as our heroine is, it's Bardugo's cast of supporting characters and their genuine interactions with Alina that make this series a literary standout. Bardugo hews these auxiliary players so cunningly it's astounding. Alina’s motley of misfit Grisha are touchingly genuine in their squabbling repartee, flawed to be sure and all the better for it. The supremely charismatic Nikolai makes an expected return and his hidden depths prove vital to the storyline. Genya's unapologetic but sincere nature is top-notch characterization. As a result of her dealings with the Darkling, Genya is stripped of the loveliness that so largely defined her and she must accept not only her inner beauty but the consequences for her past actions and, perhaps, find redemption. Baghra, the Darkling's obstreperous mother, is a treasure to behold. Interestingly, even this ornery battle-axe isn't immune to Nikolai's charms, and it's moments like these that imbue her with a fleeting humanity—just enough to make her final sacrifice a tragically honest twist. Then there's Zoya, that raven-haired seductress who's compelling as she is fetching. Despite her animosity toward Alina, Zoya remains loyal to the Sun Summoner and her catty remarks become the needed levity to shore up Alina. And lastly, who could forget newcomer Harshaw, the redheaded pyromaniac with his trusty tabby, Oncat (that’s Kaelish for cat)?
Leigh Bardugo, who’s fast becoming a name reverently whispered among fantasy readers, delivers a show-stopping finale. Gallows humor and quippy one-liners combine to ease the tension of the plot. Even in the direst of straits, Alina maintains her characteristic snark to lighten the book's admittedly dark mood. Bardugo’s world-building skills are phenomenal, and each character is finely crafted. Her confidence and skill as both a writer and storyteller continue to mature and this beautifully realized world that she’s populated with rich, complex characters is increasingly vivid and ever more substantial in our mind's eye. Even more surprisingly, Bardugo manages to pull off a love quadrangle that feels organic and doesn’t needlessly complicate the narrative—a further testament to her writing prowess.
Upon reading Shadow and Bone, the first book in the trilogy, readers will find a number of conventional fantasy elements that may leave them questioning the worthwhileness of these books; however this impression diminishes as readers journey further into the series. The story of a lonely orphan becoming an all-powerful prophesied hero through a painstaking process of self-realization and learning is overworn by today’s literary standards. Yet, Bardugo succeeds in breathing new life into an assortment of tired, oft-used fantasy tropes. Alina's world becomes more enthralling and innovative with each chapter, revealing unexpected vistas and plot twists.
A slow burn of a novel that amasses tremendous force and intensity through heartrending observation and internal revelation, Ruin and Rising is a fitting end to a beautiful series. Leigh Bardugo masterfully weaves the threads of the previous novels into a dramatic and breathtaking tapestry. Prepare to be spellbound.
From reticent map-maker, to Sun Summoner, to sainted linchpin in an epic battle between good and evil, Alina Starkov’s evolution is of a stronger kind, rounding out her character so she can embrace her role as a Saint and realize her inner strength. Her internally driven struggle against her growing power engenders conflict with those around her and even contends with her love for Mal, thus bringing into question the destructive nature of power. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, so sayeth Lord Acton, and Alina is reluctant to mislay her core identity even if it spells doom for Ravka. Despite his boorish behavior in the previous book, Mal redeems himself in dividends. His desire to protect Alina has never been stronger. Much like Alina, Mal is confronted by a fateful destiny, one that ineluctably places him on a trajectory that’s sure to leave readers teary-ended.
As engaging as our heroine is, it's Bardugo's cast of supporting characters and their genuine interactions with Alina that make this series a literary standout. Bardugo hews these auxiliary players so cunningly it's astounding. Alina’s motley of misfit Grisha are touchingly genuine in their squabbling repartee, flawed to be sure and all the better for it. The supremely charismatic Nikolai makes an expected return and his hidden depths prove vital to the storyline. Genya's unapologetic but sincere nature is top-notch characterization. As a result of her dealings with the Darkling, Genya is stripped of the loveliness that so largely defined her and she must accept not only her inner beauty but the consequences for her past actions and, perhaps, find redemption. Baghra, the Darkling's obstreperous mother, is a treasure to behold. Interestingly, even this ornery battle-axe isn't immune to Nikolai's charms, and it's moments like these that imbue her with a fleeting humanity—just enough to make her final sacrifice a tragically honest twist. Then there's Zoya, that raven-haired seductress who's compelling as she is fetching. Despite her animosity toward Alina, Zoya remains loyal to the Sun Summoner and her catty remarks become the needed levity to shore up Alina. And lastly, who could forget newcomer Harshaw, the redheaded pyromaniac with his trusty tabby, Oncat (that’s Kaelish for cat)?
Leigh Bardugo, who’s fast becoming a name reverently whispered among fantasy readers, delivers a show-stopping finale. Gallows humor and quippy one-liners combine to ease the tension of the plot. Even in the direst of straits, Alina maintains her characteristic snark to lighten the book's admittedly dark mood. Bardugo’s world-building skills are phenomenal, and each character is finely crafted. Her confidence and skill as both a writer and storyteller continue to mature and this beautifully realized world that she’s populated with rich, complex characters is increasingly vivid and ever more substantial in our mind's eye. Even more surprisingly, Bardugo manages to pull off a love quadrangle that feels organic and doesn’t needlessly complicate the narrative—a further testament to her writing prowess.
Upon reading Shadow and Bone, the first book in the trilogy, readers will find a number of conventional fantasy elements that may leave them questioning the worthwhileness of these books; however this impression diminishes as readers journey further into the series. The story of a lonely orphan becoming an all-powerful prophesied hero through a painstaking process of self-realization and learning is overworn by today’s literary standards. Yet, Bardugo succeeds in breathing new life into an assortment of tired, oft-used fantasy tropes. Alina's world becomes more enthralling and innovative with each chapter, revealing unexpected vistas and plot twists.
A slow burn of a novel that amasses tremendous force and intensity through heartrending observation and internal revelation, Ruin and Rising is a fitting end to a beautiful series. Leigh Bardugo masterfully weaves the threads of the previous novels into a dramatic and breathtaking tapestry. Prepare to be spellbound.