A review by eguare
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I read the Shadow & Bone trilogy after reading the Six of Crows duology, and I'm sad to report that I found the plot, writing, and characters of the follow-up duology to be much more compelling than the Shadow & Bone trilogy. I found the magic system's rules confusing and not particularly well explained, and after reading SoC, the main character and main villain felt much more YA trope-y than original creations. That said, some of my favorite characters of the Grishaverse originate in this trilogy, and the complex political tapestry that Bardugo has woven begins here.
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