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The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from the throne, and Ravka’s outlaw prince has disappeared, leaving only rumors that he is still alive.
Everyone is looking to Alina now — a broken Sun Summoner who failed to kill the Darkling — and the shattered remnants of her Grisha army. But what can a few Grisha do against the Darkling and his shadow army?
Alina still isn’t strong enough to face the Darkling’s power. And the only hope that she will ever be lies in leaving the ancient tunnels of the White Cathedral, escaping the Apparat’s control, abandoning the zealots who worship her as a saint, and finding the firebird. But as she and Mal follow the clues to find the firebird, they begin to discover a past that will forever change the bond they share and the power she wields. In the end, claiming the last of Morozova’s amplifiers could cost Alina the only future she ever wanted to fight for.
As I read the final words of Ruin and Rising and closed the book, I found myself confused on my thoughts over the Shadow and Bone Trilogy. I wished the plot had been a little more complex. At the same time, it was a satisfying conclusion, and I couldn’t have imagined the trilogy ending any other way.
Leigh Bardugo is a master storyteller when it comes to writing characters, their struggles and emotions. I love how Alina had to actively fight to remain human. She refused to become like the Darkling despite the pull of her powers and the dark future that seemed inevitable. She still grieved for those she cared about, and fought even when she was exhausted and had lost all hope for herself. Because of this, I found her to be a heroine I could respect and root for.
In the end, Ruin and Rising is an enjoyable and powerful story that explores the cost of sacrifice. It shows how the choices we make and the paths we follow — be they light or dark — shape who we are and define who we will become.
Rated: Moderate. There are occasional uses of mild language and several uses of moderate language sprinkled throughout the book. The action is a little more intense than in the previous books, though still not too gory. A same-sex couple embrace and kiss. The topic arises of a girl being sexually abused in the past, but doesn’t go into too much detail. Two characters are discovered in bed together. There is also a sex scene; the in-act description is vague and brief.
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