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A review by valpyre
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
a perfectly fine but honestly underwhelming finale to this series. i will say that there were a few moments that actually got me emotional, like baghra's sacrifice . and as has been my experience throughout the entire series, mal and alina's on-off again romance did nothing for me, and i found the connection between alina and the darkling much more compelling (even tho the darkling did some real fucked shit in this one lol)
i did really enjoy most of the surrounding cast in this book -- i liked the way they never really felt like an afterthought to the plot or in big action-y moments.
however, i began putting together the "big twist"i.e. Mal being the third amplifier sometime around siege and storm, so that reveal didn't do much for me. after finishing the series, i realised that the whole thing had a very fairytale-like feel to it, especially with the Before/After bits in each installment and that just wasn't my vibe to be honest.
still, it was a fine experience to read through the trilogy and i liked much of the worldbuilding, which is often my dealbreaker in other fantasy settings.
i did really enjoy most of the surrounding cast in this book -- i liked the way they never really felt like an afterthought to the plot or in big action-y moments.
however, i began putting together the "big twist"
still, it was a fine experience to read through the trilogy and i liked much of the worldbuilding, which is often my dealbreaker in other fantasy settings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gore
Moderate: Violence