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Thursday, July 2, 2015

BOOK REVIEW : RUIN AND RISING BY LEIGH BARDUGO!

Hi Readers! I'm back again with another review!

As I've said over my last post, Siege and Storm Book Review, I have already finished the third book, Ruin and Rising and here's my full review of it! 

Please do put in mind that this is the third book in the Grisha trilogy so it will in any way possible contain SPOILERS for the first and second book.

Let's begin!



Details:

Title: Ruin and Rising (The Grisha #3)

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Number of Pages: 422

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Published on: June 17, 2014

Format: Hardcover

Price: $21.59 (BD), $18.99 (Amazon), Php 899.00 (NBS) & Php 855 (FB)
*Prices may change due to different sales/offers.

Purchase the book at:
*I am NOT getting any profit for endorsing these sites.



Synopsis:

"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."


About the Author:


 Leigh Bardugo is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Grisha Trilogy: Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising. She was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University, and has worked in advertising, journalism, and most recently, makeup and special effects. These days, she’s lives and writes in Hollywood where she can occasionally be heard singing with her band. Her new book, Six of Crows, arrives fall 2015. 




Reach the author at:




Review/Rating:

This book, this trilogy is one of the best books I have ever read! My hands are completely down, all of my thumbs are up for Ms. Leigh Bardugo for creating such beautiful trilogy! As I want to express my full and whole love for the book (and probably the whole trilogy. Lol) I will divide this section into two. The first part will contain my non spoiler review and rating, and the second part will contain my spoilery review (and a lot of feels, a bunch of emotions, etc. Lol).

First part:

  • On the Beginning:The beginning was great! Shortly, offering a new kind of world in Alina's perspective, the beginning added a new interest in the story. The beginning also lived up my expectations on how the book will introduce the events after Siege and Storm. The writing also gave good details regarding how things work after the capital has fallen, how the characters are adapting to it, and a lot more considering that the beginning didn't exactly happen after the events in the second book. I love how Leigh was consistent in providing a great beginning to all of her books that made me want to read her works.
  • On the Characters: I love how the characters are in this book. A lot of change has happened to the characters since the attack of the Darkling caused by that lame and annoying Vasily. I am amazed on how Alina's developed in this book. Though, I wouldn't say I completely liked how Alina changed in this book. She did improve and embrace her power, yes, but I can't seem to find the old Alina now until the ending happened. I continuously like how Alina tells us the events in the book. Mal, on the other hand is annoying during the first half of the book. He was different then. He was so so different. He became ignorant at some point. He became the person I don't want him to be. (I ship Mal and Alina you know!) He kept on going away from Alina which made me hate him, but I understand him you know. The Darkling was and I think will forever be surprising well not forever. I love him as a villain. The Apparat, I hate him. I love Alina's sort of crew. Zoya, Genya and David!, Harshaw and Oncat!, and a lot of them. I'm amazed at how Leigh can make such characters! I will talk about the character more, on the second part of the review!
  • On the Story: I love this story! It fills up my expectations about a little more to be full. I love how Leigh was able to make the flow of the story great and at the same time providing all of the necessary elements in the book. I love how the story went on this book. It started on a very boring but detailed part and then boom! powers show up, magic happens, things reveal! and then the fun part begins. I love it how Bardugo can be able to do those things without a rush. The story went on and until another boom! followed by another and another and a big boom! followed by another and another until the story never stopped being interesting! Then revelations reveal about Morozova and all of that. And then Mal's revelation. Mal. I can't. It's so great!
  • On the Ending: THE ENDING GAVE ME FREAKING GOOSE BUMPS! IT GOT ALL OF THE SANE IN ME AND IT WAS MARVELOUSLY AMAZING AND SHOCKING! but of course, every story has its flaws. and the only way I can think of telling you clearly my thoughts is through the second part/ spoiler part below!
Reading with Luigi gives Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo:


4.7/5 Books!
This book is amazing! Highly recommended! 


Second Part/Spoiler Part:
  • On the Beginning: The beginning was so detailed! I hate the Apparat! Trapping Alina underground just to be able to be Sankta Alina is so unfair! I loved how the story started and resumed the story from the second book. I love how Leigh was able to describe the underground with the Apparat, she (Leigh) made it as terrible and terrifying as it is to Alina herself. I love the events that took place in the beginning! I love how Mal, Zoya, Tolya, Tamar, and the rest planned a sort-of "traitor" show that made them closer to Alina. and when all of that happened, Alina suddenly regained her powers. To be honest I'm not surprised that Alina got her powers back (how else would the story go?) but what it took and happened before it was brought back was amazing! And as her powers went back, I loved how Alina was able to discover new things about her power, the time when she was able to go to the Darkling just as he would do to hers. It really shows how Alina developed. I love every bit of the beginning. It wasn't too slow as on Shadow and Bone, but it wasn't too fast either. Two thumbs up!
  • On the Character and the Story: The story is so so good! Honestly, it's not as action packed and as intense as the second book but it's very good! I love how they traveled to go on land. And I also love how Alina glowed when they were on land! I really really admire Alina's character development. What she's been through and all her experiences has helped her a lot. I feel quite upset on how Mal acted during the first part of the book. Two thumbs down for Mal during those times, his completely dragging himself away from Alina and treating her as Sankta Alina. When they were about to be attacked by others, Nikolai yet again saves the day! Nikolai, is one of my most favorites characters ever! Honestly, if he's not too scripted or well mannered, I would prefer her for Alina than Mal. (Sorry not sorry, LOL.) After Nikolai saved them by the Pelican (I think) they went on a sort-of castle and that was spectacular! I loved how Nikolai, after all the things that happened, remained the funny, politician thinking guy we all loved. Baghra is a character to miss. Even though she's annoying and such, I still want to hear things about her. After that, things went a little intense, ey? The scene where Alina, Genya and all stood up against the king and proved that label is not an exception with your mistakes. And Genya, oh my ruination is so freakin' bad ass. I love her character even more! I love how she proved that she is not ruined, she is ruination. Oh, and David! He grew a lot in this book, doesn't he? His feelings for Genya developed as well. Not really the biggest fan of David but for Genya, I like him. Harshaw and Oncat are the cutest characters ever! Then when things seems to be good, the Darkling rises again. Remember how I hated Vasily during the last book? Well, I hate Sergei even more. After all what Alina has done for him, he still was able to give their location! Annoying characters aside, the Darkling was yet again surprising but what surprised me most is Baghra. Baghra doesn't use her powers that much, but then she was able to somehow control the nichove'ya. Baghra's sacrifice really sent chills through my spine, her teachings and will stayed in Alina. And Nikolai! Nikolai! Nikolai! I can not. Escaping from the Darkling, they went on and on. Until divided into two groups. Mal, Alina and a few went towards what they believed then the third amplifier, the Firebird. Oh, and Zoya. Zoya, I'm surprised is a very effective character. She gave me little laughs as reading the story with her. Skipping the whole journey, when they found the Firebird, more chills went through me. The Firebird is not the third amplifier, Mal is. Like what? Freakin what? That's mind blowing. A very goo job to Ms. Leigh for repeatedly blowing my mind. Mal is the third amplifier! The final line in Morozova. The power Morozova had was used to his daughter instead of the Firebird. That freaked me out.
  • On the Ending: THE ENDING WILL GIVE YOU GOOSE BUMPS. Every word in the last 50 pages or less was heart wrenching. What happened to Alina after killing Mal, the third amplifier, is nasty. Just thinking of the fact that Alina will kill Mal is already heart breaking. The Darkling being killed, I don't know if I'm happy because Darkness ended within him and the last line in Morozova's line is dead, or sad because Aleksander. Aleksander feels you know! But yeah, all thumbs up to Leigh for mixing up my feelings! What happened to Sankta Alina is quite relieving you know, that the idea of Sankta Alina is washed away as the Darkling fades away. The last part where Alina's forces attacks the Darkling's is very unpredictable. In fact, the whole book was unpredictable! Besides the fact that I haven't been spoiled at any of the books, the books were and will forever be great for me. Though, as you may notice I rated Shadow and Bone 4/5, Siege and Storm 4.9/5, and Ruin and Rising 4.7/5. And the whole problem why I rated the book lower than the previous book, is because of the ending. Yes, the ending was great, but I expected something different, maybe even something greater. I was visualizing intense action packed scenes, character conclusions, unexpected twists, a more unique ending and all. Leigh did give us a great ending but it was an "ideal" ending, you know what I'm saying? It's like a perfect ending where the villain die and the protagonist and the love of her life ended up together, simply happy. That was the problem for me. I don't like perfect endings, perfect makes things boring at some point. It's not necessarily perfect, but ideal. It's like a fairy tale and that. I do hope you get my point. I also find the ending too quick and short. Details was flying around, I can't seem to understand a few. I think a 30 page ending is not enough. Everything fits in too place besides some problems I had with the ending. That after though, It's so heart breaking. It's like reading your life off. You know you'll never read from Alina again (but hopefully from Nikolai and Genya which Ms. leigh may do!) soon or even forever.


Favorite Quotes:

"'Na razrusha'ya. E'ya razrushost.' I am not ruined. I am ruination." page 162 
"We might be happy in time. People fell in love every day. Genya and David. Tamar and Nadia. But were they happy? Would they stay that way? Maybe love was superstition, a prayer we said to keep the truth of loneliness at bay. I tilted my head back. The stars looked like they were close together, when they were millions of miles apart. In the end, maybe love was just meant for longing for something impossibly bright and forever out of reach." page 233-234
"I'm the Sun Summoner. It gets dark when I say it does." page 264 
"It was stupid. It was dangerous. But Ana Kuya used to tell me that hope was tricky like water. Somehow it always found a way in." page 330
"'Aleksander,' I whispered. A boy's name, given up. Almost forgotten." page 411 
"You will always be one of us." page 417


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See the feels?

So that's it for today's post! I'm very sorry if this took too long to be posted, my original full draft got half deleted and I need to fill that up again during school days which is like the hardest days of life. So yeah, I know you understand! I also didn't post my friends' reviews because a.) I have very few amount of friends whom have read the book, b.) itheir busy because it's a school/work season, and c.) I did a very long review!

Too many posts will be up soon! My Event Recap for #LeighBardugoinPH Signing tour will be up soon! As well, as some posts.

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