Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Review: Ruin and Rising (The Grisha #3) by Leigh Bardugo


Published: June 17, 2014 by Henry Holt and Co.
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Format: ebook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads Summary

The capital has fallen.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

"Please tell me you plan to dress up as a volcra and jump out of a cake."


Blinding Light


The best part of this one by far was the beginning. I loved seeing Nikolai take charge and the rescue missions by him are always a blast to read. Truly, I wish this series was about him as he is an amazing character but unfortunately he's not in this story much.

I enjoyed learning more about the Darkling's past and the history of this world. I thought getting more information about the amplifiers was a great touch to the story.

Again, the side characters are always fun to read about. There is a large group of very different people that all add their own quirks to the story.

Darkness Reigns



So this one was good in the beginning, progressively got boring, and then just flat made me angry. There are so many amazing powers in this story, and the heroine has this huge power that could've had such astonishing potential, and she hardly ever uses it. I am just astounded by how much her power is 'talked' up and then she barely delivers.

Back to our heroine, she makes some incredibly outrageous choices in this one. In the first one she was lacking in self esteem, in the second one she actually wanted to die in parts, and in this one she is greedy and self-serving. Yes, everyone has faults, but this is supposed to be the mobad heroine that the whole world is rallying behind and frankly she doesn't deserve the support. The way everything was 'resolved' just leaves me shaking my head. I cannot fathom the choices that were made. It was all very unbelievable to me.

Bound Together


The romance I enjoyed in this one until a crazy choice by Alina. Then I'm just trying to figure out how on earth Mal can stand to be around her.


Pyres Burning in the Distance



The series as a whole started out good and slowly got worse. I was expecting much more out of the story because the concept is so wonderful. The powers that the characters have could truly have gone somewhere fantastic. This one was a let down. The side characters are great and definitely carry the story.



Excerpts

"It's good to see you, Oretsev." The smile Mal returned was genuine.
"You too. Thanks for the rescue."
"Everyone needs a hobby."
"I thought yours was preening."
"Two hobbies."

"You must not do this, girl. You must not trifle with this kind of power. This is what created the Fold. Only misery can come of it."

"Nikolai's a born leader. He knows how to fight. Knows how to politic. But he doesn't know what it is to live without hope. He's never been nothing. Not like you or Genya. Not like me."
"He's a good man," I protested.
"And he'll be a good king. But he needs you to be a great one."

No comments:

Post a Comment

I love comments and read every one of them! Since they are an award in themselves, this is an award-free blog. Thank you though for the consideration!