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A review by clarissa_lily
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
4.0
4⭐ (maybe 4.5)
Ruin and Rising picks up right where Siege and Storm leaves off and we're pulled into Alina's recovery after her last run-in with the Darkling. From here, the gang begin their search for the last amplifier in earnest prepare for their final face-off with the Darkling and his army.
Throughout the story, we learn crucial parts of characters' backgrounds and bit by bit the full picture of Alina, Mal, and the Darkling's stories. I thoroughly enjoyed how Bardugo played with this, dropping hints that only the most astute reader would pick up on, leading to a grand reveal to clarify our guesses and suspicions.
My only snag with this iteration of the trilogy is how everything very neatly comes together.
Personally, I'd have preferred some of the threads to be left alone ready to be picked up in a subsequent novel or series and, being as vague as possible, the end of Mal's storyline was unsatisfying and far too cliché.
Overall, Ruin and Rising is captivating and full of surprises. It serves as a fantastic end to a rich and interesting series despite some of the issues I find with it due to personal preference.
Ruin and Rising picks up right where Siege and Storm leaves off and we're pulled into Alina's recovery after her last run-in with the Darkling. From here, the gang begin their search for the last amplifier in earnest prepare for their final face-off with the Darkling and his army.
Throughout the story, we learn crucial parts of characters' backgrounds and bit by bit the full picture of Alina, Mal, and the Darkling's stories. I thoroughly enjoyed how Bardugo played with this, dropping hints that only the most astute reader would pick up on, leading to a grand reveal to clarify our guesses and suspicions.
My only snag with this iteration of the trilogy is how everything very neatly comes together.
Personally, I'd have preferred some of the threads to be left alone ready to be picked up in a subsequent novel or series and, being as vague as possible, the end of Mal's storyline was unsatisfying and far too cliché.
Overall, Ruin and Rising is captivating and full of surprises. It serves as a fantastic end to a rich and interesting series despite some of the issues I find with it due to personal preference.