A review by catherine_christensen
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

5.0

Okay, maybe unpopular opinion based on other reviews, but I loved the conclusion to this series. Leigh Bardugo is one of my current favorite YA-fantasy authors, judging by Six of Crows and now this series, and I can’t wait to pick up the King of Scars series next—especially because Nikolai was 100% the best character. The second book was definitely the weakest, but the third book redeemed the series. I loved how well it tied everything together, and it had some cool twists and turns I wasn’t expecting. It’s always fun when you don’t know how it will end. It was actually kind of fun having read Six of Crows first because it references this story, but in a tricksy way that doesn’t give everything away—and even leads you astray a little.

Is the series as good as Six of Crows? No, but I did love this particular book and how it wrapped everything up. It was fun, exciting, unexpected. The world-building was also great. And when I binge read late into the night, that’s worthy of many stars.

And now I can go watch the Netflix series which I’ve been dying to watch, but I made myself read the book first because I’m one of THOSE people. Hooray!