Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo (review)SPOILERS

[Emmers00]

How do I even start with this book. Since I read it last summer the feelings are not as violent as they were at first but i can honestly say it still hurts. The storyIt’s a classic adventures/quest with a large company of friends, its really slow until about page 79 when they leave the white cathedral. Its a mix of really stressful, sad and funny situations.

Mal I loved Mal so so so much. MALINA MY OTP 5-EVER. No joke. SO many people don’t like Mal because he’s “boring” next to the mysterious, seductive Darkling, and the lovable, mischievous Nikolai. Seriously people if you’re looking for an abusive relationship with a creeper read twilight, and Nikolai is adorable he’s one of my favorite characters but he’s not for Alina you know? The scar on Alina’s palm came from a broken cup that she accidentally drove into her hand when she was young at the sight of Mal coming home, she would make herself bleed and not even feel the pain for him. He thinks he doesn’t deserve Alina because he’s too boring, too average ots’katzya. “You were meant for more than me, and I’ll die fighting to give it to you. But please don’t ask me to pretend it’s easy.” *swoons* *dies* Mal believes that he will never be with Alina thinking that he gets a tattoo that means “I am become a blade” I can’t find the page but he explains that even though he is not like Alina he will become a weapon to fight for her safety, even if that's all he is to her. Also they just love being with each other there are several very well written parts of the book of them just being friendly and flirty I like that throughout the series he remains what can make Alina joyful.

Alina-"The girl I'd once been would have believed him. The girl I'd become wasn't in the mood."- page 68 Alina grows a lot in this series, while keeping with the traditional dark russian vibe of the story, Alina changes from insecure orphan to a strong woman. She bravely learns to not only not be afraid of the darkling but to not listen to his threats.

Nikolai-Who can resist? that is all.

The Darkling-Through the book and his prequel we learn more about him, I think Leigh Bardugo did a fantastic job at creating a villain that not only was intriguing, seductive, and evil but also heartbreakingly tragic. SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS "He was ancient, I knew that. But in this moment he was just a boy-brilliant, blessed with too much power, burdened by eternity." (view spoiler)[When the Darkling died, I honestly sobbed. (hide spoiler)] I was drawn to him in the first two books like all seductive villains are, that's how evil works, it comes like a prince. But I also throughout the books loved Mal so much for being what a healthy relationship should be, and reminding the readers that the darkling is in fact not good. but in this sentence, I cried so hard. Bardugo made a frightening and exciting story about a monster chasing a girl to achingly tragic story, of a boy who was too smart, too lonely, too oppressed to be kind. The Darkling and Alina should have been star crossed lovers, she is his light and he is her darkness, but Bardugo reiterates the plot that was expressed in a different part of the story; that it is choice not fate that brings people together. And maybe if the Darkling learned how to love, or if ALina hadn't had Mal they would've been together. (view spoiler)[Bardugo weaves a fitting and dark end to a brilliant boy who only ever wanted someone who could love and understand him, and somewhere safe for his people and through his cruelty he never reached it. (hide spoiler)]

Overall Bardugo wrote a stunning and touching story with adventure, danger, romance and death. And prose that was realistic, while also shining like light. 10/10

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[gali]

Duplicated topic

Ruin and Rising