Ruin and Rising

When Netflix released the first season of Shadow and Bone from Leigh Bardugo, my daughter was the one who insisted I read the books first. When my daughter recommends I read a book, I take her advice, especially when this is a series she admittedly rereads as often as she can. So that is what I did.

What I discovered in Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising was a fascinating story of magic and power, oppression and heroes. The Grisha world is amazing with all the various powers alongside the fear and anger others hold towards them. At the same time, I will admit that Alina is not my favorite character, Even Mal is more charming and has a bit more personality than Alina does. I found I wanted more of the Darkling and less show more of Alina’s inner angst. While he certainly is evil, I find his backstory intriguing and his desire to see the Grisha earn a better place in society perfectly acceptable. Granted, he goes about it the wrong way, but he is only trying to make the world a better place for his people. You have to admire that. show less

Oddly enough, this book had both my favorite and least favorite moments from the entire trilogy. I thought it started extremely slow and by the time it ramped up, it coasted for a long while until it was already 70% finished. To me, the ending was extremely underwhelming. I get it. There needed to be closure so it made sense that Alina and Mal could have their happily ever after, but it still felt a bit weak in execution.
And not to be taking sides in yet another love triangle but... Alina and Mal are endgame. No question. But I'll always be #TeamNikolai.

Ruin and Rising is the third book in Leigh Bardugo's Grisha trilogy. I admit I rolled my eyes when in the first couple chapters we get another retread of Alina being weak and sick from not using her powers. Thankfully the story moves on quickly as our characters rush to save Ravka from darkness.

It's been great to watch Bardugo grow as a writer over the series and I enjoyed this final installment. The pacing issues are mostly gone and I found myself loving the side characters almost more than the main ones. The band of misfit friends Alina ends up with are a lot of fun. I'd love to read a short story just about them and their antics, especially Zoya, Genya, David and Harshaw. I also liked that we get the backstory for the Darkling and show more Morozova's experiment. Nikolai goes through quite an ordeal. It will be interesting to see how much it's changed him, and how he deals it with it all, in his upcoming series. Alina and Mal continue to be annoying, though Mal is at his most likable in this book.

I was completely surprised with that plot twist! I was not expecting Mal to be the third amplifier. There were hints along the way and it explains a lot, I really don't know why I didn't see that coming. Well played Ms. Bardugo.

The explanation we're given of Grisha magic, the Small Science, is pretty darn cool. They are manipulating matter at it's base level - atoms! For any Grisha that choose to truly master their craft, the sky's the limits on how powerful they could be and what they could accomplish. This leaves the author a lot of room to work with in the future should she choose to.

It's funny how controversial this ending was to fans. Obviously I'm in the "I enjoyed it" camp. I think I would have preferred if Mal had stayed dead. Alina making an even bigger sacrifice, both of her power and of the person she loves most, would've had more impact. That said, I did like the epilogue. It was very sweet and a nice happily ever after for them both. show less

A powerful, satisfying end to the trilogy. Alina has some difficult choices to make in this installment, and I loved watching her journey. Mal really comes into his own in this one as a leader and a warrior. I loved that the Grisha follow him and trust him, even though he’s otkazat’sya. I have read far too many fantasy books in which nonmagic characters drop out of the story because they aren’t important, or they get marginalized by the author to make room for magic characters, and I love love LOVE that Bardugo doesn’t fall into this easy trap. Mal is still very much an important character; he’s spent much of the trilogy fighting for every last scrap of respect from a more powerful magic elite, and it’s incredibly satisfying show more to see that pay off here. (Mal also has to be one of the nicest fictional characters ever—he’s got an unusual mix of strength and humility, and I love him to pieces. I don’t think I’ve cared so much about a love interest since Gilbert Blythe.) I was surprised by some of the story’s twists and turns, and I was on the edge of my seat for most of this book. I couldn’t predict where it was going; I didn’t know what would happen until it did. Parts of this story are very sad, and I love the bittersweet tone. And the ending is absolutely perfect. show less

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Alina and Mal have barely escaped from the battle with the Darkling at the Little Palace and find themselves at the mercy of The Apparat, below ground in the confines of the White Chapel. Alina has been unable to summon light since the battle. Unnerved by her ever growing flock of fervent followers, and The Apparats iron gripped control over her life, Alina feels she has merely traded one captor for another. With a show of force and some careful negotiations, her ability to summon once more under her control, Alina and her crew manage to strike a deal with the Apparat and trek out above ground in search of the third amplifier, The Firebird, the only hope of defeating the Darkling show more who rules Ravka from the throne of the King. Their journeys lead them to the lost Prince Nikolai and throughout the kingdom of Ravka in search of the amplifier, which is found in the unlikeliest of places. The group must make their final stand against the Darkling in the Fold, but who will come out victorious, and at what price?

I am so heartbroken to come to the end of this series. I enjoyed this amazingly detailed and intricate world that Bardugo has built, and come to love each and every character (yes, even The Darkling). They were each so memorable with such defined quirks and mannerisms I really felt like I knew them. The development within Alinas character alone was so layered and rich, as was her evolving and developing relationship with Mal. I even grew to love Zoya, that haughty, snobby mean girl that she is, by the end of the book. The entire plot was so well thought out, intensity building up until the final battle on the Fold. There were plenty of surprises along the way that I was not expecting which kept me on my toes and the wheels in my brain constantly turning. The ending was perfect, gut wrenching and redeeming, everything that I had hoped that it would be. I would be lying if I said I didn't shed at least one tear while reading this book. The follow up chapters after the battle on the Fold gave me closure with the entire story, it was perfect....perfect I tell you!

Leigh Bardugo has gained a fan for life, I am only upset I didn't hear about her and her amazing trilogy sooner! This is definitely a story I plan to revisit and reenter for years to come. show less

Ruin and Rising, the final installment in Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha trilogy, brings Alina Starkov’s journey to a close with stronger pacing, deeper character involvement, and an ending that leans more bittersweet than triumphant. After the slower middle book, this finale feels like a return to form, moving the story forward with more purpose and emotional weight.

The novel follows Alina as she emerges from hiding to continue the search for the final amplifier and prepare for a last confrontation with the Darkling. Along the way, alliances are tested, truths are revealed, and the stakes feel more immediate than ever. Unlike Siege and Storm, this book maintains a steadier pace, making it easier to stay engaged from beginning to end.

One of show more the biggest improvements is in the characters. They feel more present and impactful, each contributing meaningfully to the story and to Alina’s growth. The relationships, tensions, and shifting loyalties come across more naturally, helping ground the larger fantasy elements in something more personal and believable.

The ending, however, may be divisive. While it does a solid job of tying the story together and doesn’t feel like a betrayal of the characters, it may not meet every reader’s expectations. Alina’s final choice—particularly in regard to her power—can feel frustrating, as it seems to halt or even undo some of her growth. The idea that power itself is inherently negative comes through strongly, and not everyone will find that resolution satisfying.

That said, the conclusion carries a quiet emotional weight. It’s not a grand, victorious ending, but rather a reflective and bittersweet one—focused on what is lost, what is kept, and what it means to move forward. This tone gives the story a sense of realism, even within its fantastical setting, and allows readers to feel the cost of everything that came before.

Overall, Ruin and Rising is a strong and emotionally resonant conclusion to the trilogy. While not perfect, it delivers a meaningful ending that stays true to the story’s themes, even if it takes a less expected path to get there. show less

❝“Na razrusha’ya. E’ya razrushost.” I am not ruined. I am ruination.❞

I could sum up my actual emotions like this: 😭💓😭💓😭💓😭.
I came to love this series even if everybody knows I never end up liking too-hyped books (well, the Illuminae Files and the Harry Potter series are the other exceptions lol), so I already feel a little bit nostalgic at the moment. To be honest, I've started to feel like it while I was reading the ending, just sayin' 😂

Anyway, I'd like to say that I sorta liked the ending because I think that's... Just right? But at the same time I feel like it's wrong too, because this isn't how I've wanted imagined it while reading the whole trilogy.
Let's consider that last year I've accidentally show more read a ranting status update about Mal, like he betrayed somebody or something like that, so I've spent the whole time dreading the moment he could have gone bad lol and what's the result? I feel incomplete now that I know he didn't 😂
But what's messing the most with my heart is my poor baby. I feel like Nikolai deserved a lot more and I honestly hoped and shipped him hard with Alina... I even shipped him with Baghra because I loved all the teasing 😂😂😂🖤 it just breaks my heart because he deserves so much love omg JUST COME HERE AND TAKE ME AT THE GRAND PALACE, I CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY!
Last but not least, the Darkling. In this very moment I honestly feel like a rock fell right on my chest. Partially quoting Alina, I feel like there's a shadow next to my heart when I think about him. I don't know, I've always felt something like a mix between pity, empathy and sympathy. I couldn't hate him even if I'd want to force myself to do it. Honestly? I would have hugged him tight 😢 I guess it's the charm of the bad boy a kind of Florence Nightingale effect that hit me hard with Lord Voldemort, too. The feeling is just the same (even stronger at the moment), I just start to think about how they could have felt during their whole lives and.. Duh, I don't know. I'm feeling too emo right now 😂

The morale is: I'm so happy because it ended but at the same time I'm so sad for the same reason.
Dear Leigh, give me a new series about Nikolai because my whole body needs it (and my mental health too), thank you ❤️ show less