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A review by finding_novel_land
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
5.0
Now THAT is how you finish a series.
What an emotional rollercoaster. I was so sad when it ended. I mean no more Mal and Alina. What am I going to do???? Oh wait, I know, watch the Netflix show in April. I. AM. SO. HYPED. The trailer looks amazing (even if the majority of the cast look wrong. Sorry no sorry).
Anyway, the book.
Bardugo really came into her own with this one. All the plot reveals (love a good plot reveal), the twists and turns, the banter, the ending. What an ending. I know it's controversial but I thought it was the perfect way to end the series.Neither Mal or Alina wanted the power, responsibility and positions that were thrust upon them, so to give them a get out card to go and live their lives in peace and quiet running an orphanage (my heart, love a cliche full circle moment) was just lovely.
Oh yes, I am a Mal sorta gal. I know this is a controversial topic and I'm in the minority here on Goodreads, but Mal and Alina are the right pairing. Nicholai would have never seen Alina was it not for her power. Soz kids.
But that isn't to say the plot had issues.
Some things were glossed over or not explained well enough, or were a bit too convenient.
I know Nicholai's recovery is covered in his duology so I'm not going to focus on that one, but there were others.
Like how the Darkling. Powerful and ancient being is killed by being stabbed. So anti-climactic.
Or how the Apparat was just forgotten about when convenient, or that Nicholai just happened to have a secret, huge base, because mOnEy (wealth is a cop out in books, I'm sorry).
And how there are now thousands of Sun Summoners that grasped their power a lot quicker than Alina. I'm sorry wouldn't that change the political makeup of Ravka quite substantially? Hmmmmm
Something else that has irked me throughout the series is their ages. According to a fan wiki I stumbled across in reassuring myself that I am not alone in my dislike for the Netflix casting, I discovered that Alina and Mal are supposed to be 17-18. Which means Nikolai and the rest can be no older than say 25. They are written so much more maturely than than in the books. Alina and Mal are 22/23, Nikolai a solid 27. Like on a basic relationship level ( and amplifier stuff aside ) they were way too deep about it all for a couple of teens. They haven't even lived much. They are babies. Sorry, it just surprised me and made me see the series in a whole new light.
Idk, maybe this is really a 4.5* book, but if we are going on enjoyment alone then it's a solid 5. The only reason I didn't finish it quicker is cause I didn't want it to end
What an emotional rollercoaster. I was so sad when it ended. I mean no more Mal and Alina. What am I going to do???? Oh wait, I know, watch the Netflix show in April. I. AM. SO. HYPED. The trailer looks amazing (even if the majority of the cast look wrong. Sorry no sorry).
Anyway, the book.
Bardugo really came into her own with this one. All the plot reveals (love a good plot reveal), the twists and turns, the banter, the ending. What an ending. I know it's controversial but I thought it was the perfect way to end the series.
Oh yes, I am a Mal sorta gal. I know this is a controversial topic and I'm in the minority here on Goodreads, but Mal and Alina are the right pairing. Nicholai would have never seen Alina was it not for her power. Soz kids.
But that isn't to say the plot had issues.
Some things were glossed over or not explained well enough, or were a bit too convenient.
Like how the Darkling. Powerful and ancient being is killed by being stabbed. So anti-climactic.
Or how the Apparat was just forgotten about when convenient, or that Nicholai just happened to have a secret, huge base, because mOnEy (wealth is a cop out in books, I'm sorry).
And how there are now thousands of Sun Summoners that grasped their power a lot quicker than Alina. I'm sorry wouldn't that change the political makeup of Ravka quite substantially? Hmmmmm
Something else that has irked me throughout the series is their ages. According to a fan wiki I stumbled across in reassuring myself that I am not alone in my dislike for the Netflix casting, I discovered that Alina and Mal are supposed to be 17-18. Which means Nikolai and the rest can be no older than say 25. They are written so much more maturely than than in the books. Alina and Mal are 22/23, Nikolai a solid 27. Like on a basic relationship level (
Idk, maybe this is really a 4.5* book, but if we are going on enjoyment alone then it's a solid 5. The only reason I didn't finish it quicker is cause I didn't want it to end