Review of Ruin and Rising

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Personal Rating: 14+

What It's About

Ruin and Rising is the third and final book in the Shadow and Bone trilogy. After Alina nearly kills the Darkling and herself at the White Palace in Siege and Storm, she finds herself taken by the Apparat and in a severely weakened state. The light, when called upon, does not answer her; the Apparat takes her underground, where the light cannot reach her. Without her powers, Alina stays in the sickly state she was put into by the Darkling. Alina and her band of loyal friends race to find the last amplifier, the Firebird, before Kirigan does.

What I Liked

As with the other two books in the series, the magic was created very well, as was the world and politcal aspects. Bardugo based the series on a Russian foundation, and then added magic and other things, giving the book a very unique flare. The powers are used in almost every chapter, and they are used in ways I never would have thought of! Partway through the book, one of the characters who can control the wind makes an "accoustic blanket", making the group in it soundless to anyone outside of it. There are also some other anomalies, but I won't spoil it!

There was also a little bit of romance*, which started out small and then ended in a permanent relationship!

*There was a mildly inappropriate scene towards the end of the book where two characters undress and lie on top of eachother, along with a few lesbian references. Kissing other than that was minimal to none.

What I Disliked

The beginning of the book starts out very sad; the characters are stuck underground, giving the book a claustrophobic feel. If that feeling had extended at all, I might have put the book down because it made me feel so sick and sad... I don't know if that's just me, though?

Conclusion

The final book in the Shadow and Bone trilogy was epic, action packed, and very emotional at times. There was romance and hatred, death and drama, and an epic ending to the book!