A review by chloek608
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I recommend this book if you like:
-the first 2 books of Shadow and Bone
-YA fantasy
-action packed battle scenes

This book is by far the best one of the trilogy. I found this easier to read, probably due to already learning all the new vocabulary that comes with the Grishaverse. I found this book to have the most exciting, thrilling plot and twists and turns. I am pleased to finally know the ending and what becomes of Alina and the Darkling. I cannot wait now to watch it unfold on the Netflix series. I hope they stay true to the books. 

Alina escapes the underground White Chapel and searches for the Firebird with Mal and crew. They do eventually find the bird but then Alina realises that it is not the third amplifier after all, it is actually Mal. Nikolai is turned into a bird for some of this book by the Darkling. Baghra confides in Alina that she is the daughter of Morozova and she sacrifices herself to distract the Darkling. Mal is actually a descendant of Morozova and allows/forces Alina to kill him in battle whilst in the Shadow Fold to unleash her strongest power. This actually triggers all Grisha to become Sun Summoners and Alina is left powerless. Mal is given a second chance as a normal human and he and Alina change names, marry and start an orphanage of their own. They still keep in touch with the new king and Grisha.