A review by horizonous
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

Well.. overall I'm not that invested in any of the characters or the story, so I don't have strong feelings about this series. All I can say is, I had fun reading the first book, Shadow and Bone, and then it went downhill.

The second one, Siege and Storm, was pretty much pointless because it basically ends how it starts, but I thought maybe that's just second-book-syndrome, but no.. Ruin and Rising was even worse. A lot of people criticize the pacing and maybe they are right, but I was just glad we weren't waiting around anymore for something to happen like in the previous book. So, that was fine with me. The problem is, what was happening wasn't great and the most irritating thing to me is, I now have more questions than answers, but I don't even care enough to write down all of my issues with it.

In the end I don't hate myself for reading this trilogy, so.. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I mean, the only reason I picked it up in the first place was the upcoming adaptation, which I learned yesterday, is apparently based on Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows? I guess, that means I know what I am going to read next?? At least I think that's better perceived than the conclusion to this series?? Maybe??? I don't know.. but here's the thing: I actually like the world and the magic system, so my hope is to get a more satisfying plot and - most importantly - good characters out of the Six of Crows and maybe even the King of Scars duologies. We'll see..

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