
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
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 amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Morozova’s 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.
Review: I loved the last book . Alina and her friends are off to find the firebird to destroy the darkling. They are fighting to kill the darkling .Mal is looking for the firebird . Nikolai finds them after he saves Alina and Mal . Alina has been able to visit the darkling. Baghra is helping Alina with lessons again . I love the little boy that helps with Baghra Misha his mom was a servant and known to be dead . Genya is called in by the king and Nikolai who want to try her for attempted murder cause she poisoned the king but she explains she poisoned her skin when he touched her . The king raped her and Nikolai wants the king to step down or he will have him tried for rape . David and Genya kiss aww yay. Nikolai gave Alina his family ring he wants to marry her for her to be his queen . When Alina meets with the darkling he wants her to know his real name Aleksander . Baghra tells her about Morozova and she’s his daughter. Sergei went to the darkling he was like the spy the darkling shows up and Baghra ends up killing herself to distract and they all run . The darkling turned Nikolai turns him into some kinda monster. They are looking for the firebird but then they realize Mal is the firebird and she has to kill him . The time has come and she has to defeat him and she stabs Mal and he dies and she looses her powers but stabs the darkling and he dies . Somehow Mal comes back to live and Alina wants it be known they both died so they can live a quiet life . They end up opening a orphanage with ring Nikolai gave her . He also changes back into his human form. I loved this book the ending made me cry .
Quotes : I’ve been busy. I might have some surprises in store for the Darkling yet.”
“Please tell me you plan to dress up as a volcra and jump out of a cake.”
“Well, now you’ve ruined the surprise.”
Na razrusha’ya. I am not ruined. E’ya razrushost. I am ruination.”
“I already unleashed Baghra on Nikolai. He’s going to think I stockpile vicious old women.”
Aleksander.”
His eyes fluttered shut. “Don’t let me be alone,” he murmured. And then he was gone.”
Aleksander,” I whispered. A boy’s name, given up. Almost forgotten.”
They had an ordinary life, full of ordinary things—if love can ever be called that.”
Shadow and bone review https://christinabooklion.art.blog/2016/11/08/book-review-shadow-and-bone-leigh-bardugo/
Siege and storm https://christinabooklion.art.blog/2017/09/28/book-review-siege-and-storm-leigh-bardugo/