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A review by princessrobotiv
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
5.0
Overall series rating: 4 stars
--
Best book of the series, bar none.
Everything was tighter: the writing, the plot, the theme, the characters. I never would have thought, after [b:Siege and Storm|14061955|Siege and Storm (Grisha Verse, #2)|Leigh Bardugo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1362166252s/14061955.jpg|19699752], that I would come out of the third book actually shipping Alina and Mal, yet here we stand today. I mean, come on:
The rest of the characters evolved into the strongest versions of themselves in this novel, too. Which is not to say that they were strong people, because some of them didn't end up being strong. It means that they came into themselves as characters. The most obvious example is Zoya, introduced as an archetypical mean-girl rival in [b:Shadow and Bone|10194157|Shadow and Bone (Grisha Verse, #1)|Leigh Bardugo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1339533695s/10194157.jpg|15093325] and grown to this dynamic, realistic person with authentic attitude and voice (one who I ended up liking quite a bit, actually).
I also felt far more understanding of the series' thematic elements than in prior installments. Alina's struggle with darkness and her own lust for power, especially in juxtaposition with The Darkling's actions, was highlighted perfectly by the penultimate sacrifice she makes in the Fold. And even before that moment, we saw her questioning again and again the purpose and morality of her actions, even in the face of what could have been presented as a righteous war:
This is critical commentary in a genre filled with glorified war stories and aimed at an audience who are most vulnerable to being conscripted into wars by their governments or their faiths. We see it way too much in real life; it's good to see that balance reflected here.
And man, I do really appreciate what was done with The Darkling.
I'm 100% villain trash, even when they're pure irredeemable monsters. I recognized the need for The Darkling to die. It seemed impossible, or at least highly difficult, to redeem him after his actions in Siege and Storm. I didn't want Alina to succumb to her "inner darkness," not in the way that he had. It would have been truly tragic if she had, though it would have made a good - but very different - story.
Still, I mourned his death. The final battle was executed well, both gripping and melancholic. Alina and Aleksander's dialogue in this scene was really well done.
And when she thinks of who tended him before his funeral pyre? Fucking kill me, oh my God. What a punch to the heart.
It's so refreshing to see the villain . . . Be the villain.
I don't know, it's just nice after an inundation of villain love stories. It's good to see the alternate ending: Where he isn't redeemed; where his power controls him; where love doesn't save the day. Where some actions can never be undone and can never truly be forgiven, but where mercy and affection still exist alongside these truths.
This series surprised me, especially this last book, and I'm glad it did! I'm geeked to start the next Bardugo series.
--
Best book of the series, bar none.
Everything was tighter: the writing, the plot, the theme, the characters. I never would have thought, after [b:Siege and Storm|14061955|Siege and Storm (Grisha Verse, #2)|Leigh Bardugo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1362166252s/14061955.jpg|19699752], that I would come out of the third book actually shipping Alina and Mal, yet here we stand today. I mean, come on:
"'You are all I've ever wanted,'" he said. "'You are the whole of my heart.'"Part of what made the inevitable romance viable was the work that was done to redeem Mal after the entirely sullen fool he made of himself in books one and two. There were moments in book two that supported the one-eighty Mal did (especially before traveling to the Little Palace), but this installment really buckled down and gave the reader a reason for Alina's love. I didn't hate it.
The rest of the characters evolved into the strongest versions of themselves in this novel, too. Which is not to say that they were strong people, because some of them didn't end up being strong. It means that they came into themselves as characters. The most obvious example is Zoya, introduced as an archetypical mean-girl rival in [b:Shadow and Bone|10194157|Shadow and Bone (Grisha Verse, #1)|Leigh Bardugo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1339533695s/10194157.jpg|15093325] and grown to this dynamic, realistic person with authentic attitude and voice (one who I ended up liking quite a bit, actually).
I also felt far more understanding of the series' thematic elements than in prior installments. Alina's struggle with darkness and her own lust for power, especially in juxtaposition with The Darkling's actions, was highlighted perfectly by the penultimate sacrifice she makes in the Fold. And even before that moment, we saw her questioning again and again the purpose and morality of her actions, even in the face of what could have been presented as a righteous war:
"I remembered the Apparat's claim: There is no power greater than faith, and there will be no greater army than one driven by it. I prayed that he was right, that I wasn't just another leader taking their loyalty and repaying them with useless, honorable deaths."
This is critical commentary in a genre filled with glorified war stories and aimed at an audience who are most vulnerable to being conscripted into wars by their governments or their faiths. We see it way too much in real life; it's good to see that balance reflected here.
And man, I do really appreciate what was done with The Darkling.
I'm 100% villain trash, even when they're pure irredeemable monsters. I recognized the need for The Darkling to die. It seemed impossible, or at least highly difficult, to redeem him after his actions in Siege and Storm. I didn't want Alina to succumb to her "inner darkness," not in the way that he had. It would have been truly tragic if she had, though it would have made a good - but very different - story.
Still, I mourned his death. The final battle was executed well, both gripping and melancholic. Alina and Aleksander's dialogue in this scene was really well done.
And when she thinks of who tended him before his funeral pyre? Fucking kill me, oh my God. What a punch to the heart.
It's so refreshing to see the villain . . . Be the villain.
I don't know, it's just nice after an inundation of villain love stories. It's good to see the alternate ending: Where he isn't redeemed; where his power controls him; where love doesn't save the day. Where some actions can never be undone and can never truly be forgiven, but where mercy and affection still exist alongside these truths.
This series surprised me, especially this last book, and I'm glad it did! I'm geeked to start the next Bardugo series.