Series: The Shadow and Bone Trilogy #3
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Released: June 17^th, 2014
Received: Own

Ruin and Rising is the third, and final novel in Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone Trilogy. However! It’s worth noting that this is not the last Grishaverse novel, as there are at least two (for the moment) other series that directly tie in. Naturally, I’m pretty ecstatic about that fact.

Alina nearly gave up everything in an attempt to finally take the Darkling out for good. It was a move that didn’t’ work out quite the way she hoped. Now, she’s weakened, her allies are dwindling, and the Darkling is still growing in power.

She must stop him. Yet the question remains, how? All of her hopes and dreams lie on the third amplifiers, the mysterious firebird. But is Alina really willing to take a third life in her quest (however unwilling) for power?

“I’m the Sun Summoner. It gets dark when I say it does.”

It should probably go without saying that I am very much behind on the times when it comes to reading this series. On the bright side, I can tell you that The Shadow and Bone trilogy holds up! I really enjoyed this whole trilogy, and am ever happier to know that the stories are far from over.

Ruin and Rising was a powerful, heartbreaking, and enthralling read. Right from the very first page, down to the last detail. I enjoyed every minute of it. Though I’ll confess that there’s an extra level of satisfaction that I found, in that some of my theories ended up being true. Gotta love it when that happens!

Honestly, there was a shocking amount to enjoy about this novel, and the series as a whole as well. I can see why people gush about it so much now! I adored Alina, her whole plot arc, and the journeys she was forced to go on.

Likewise, the secondary characters really did make the world feel so alive. How they each had their own traits, desires, and goals added complexity and believable nature of the world, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

“Beauty was your armor. Fragile stuff, all show. But what’s inside you? That’s steel. It’s brave and unbreakable. And it doesn’t need fixing.”

There’s no doubt that this was a bittersweet ending. In many ways, I don’t think Bardugo could have created a better ending, as this is the one that everyone – both fans and characters – deserved. I say that knowing full well that not everyone will be happy with the canon ship (after all, with three options, fans were always going to get let down somewhere along the way!).

Next, I’m hoping to get through the Six of Crows duology, following by King of Scars, before the next novel (Rule of Wolves) releases. Not to mention the Netflix show! I HAVE to be caught up by then!