Say it Like I read it: Review of RUIN AND RISING (TheGrisha #3) by Leigh Bardugo

(Blurb from Goodreads.com)

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.

The way I read it ~

Where do I even begin?

You'd think the answer to that is the first chapter but noooooooo Miss Leigh Bardugohad to go and punch me in the nose with that ending. What happens when you get sucker punched in the nose? Yes, you cry. You cry like a big baby....

I was like....

But cry I did.

So since I began with the ending which is just, just...

I'll backtrack:

Mal & Alina. The sweetest 'not realizing you were meant for each other till the eve of the massacre at the very end love you, need you, can't imagine life without you but I must live with not ever having you' story ever told. It was so sweet and the tender moments between them really touched my heart (even though I was rooting for the other guy). Mal redeemed himself in this last book. I must admit I was on the fence about whether I liked him or not for most of the first two books. I won't admit to wanting to reach in and throttle him.....

But in the end I loved him lots and lots. He sort of morphed from the arrogant, self centered tool who couldn't see what was right in front of him into the damaged second fiddle who couldn't stand a little competition from the other guy and then into the tortured soul who finally saw what was right in front of him and would sacrifice his love for something greater.

I enjoyed the progression of this book. Compared to the second, it read a lot faster. The action was spaced out nicely, giving ample time for breathers, respite from chase, tender moments and other moments of anguish, guilt, humour, despair, heartache etc.

Alina was much stronger in this one, even though she was physically weaker. Her mind had been resolved to the fact that she was destined for something extraordinarily tragic and there was a good chance she would watch all she loved die. She didn't annoy me as much in this book probably because of that fact. She had much more grit. And she had that same smart wit and sarcastic nature as throughout the first two books. She and Mal played well off each other. And the lightness of their banter made me forget that they were possibly doomed. Just as in the other books I clearly felt that pull Alina had towards the need for more power. It drove her determination and despite the odds and confusion and all the secrets that were finally revealed in this last book, I think she handled it well. She didn't morph into this miraculous bad-ass chick. Her true strength came in her realizing that she was in love with her best friend and she would do what she must to change his fate.

Enter the other guy...

Who knew so much bad could be so good?.....

I kept waiting for the Darkling to redeem his awful nature and swoop in to ravish and seduce the heroine till she stuttered and fell in a sloppy, messy, wanting heap of womanly swoons. Okay, so I was the one who stuttered and fell in a sloppy, messy, wanting heap but nevertheless, I wanted him to be good! But he was soooo bad. And I loved him in spite of it.

The sexual tension between him and Alina was riveting and I liked how she stood up to him instead of cowering. She was the one that goaded and teased and tempted this round and I was shouting "Hell yeah!" for all my neighbors to hear. You learned of the Darkling's past in this book. You got to see and maybe understand his nature, his passion, his complete and utter wickedness a little better. I say maybe because some of it may leave you reeling. I mean, how could you love a guy who says he'll kill all you love and leave you broken?

I hoped for redemption but alas it was not to be the Darkling's. Another thing you learned was his real name. *clears throat* Ladies? Prepare and behold the name that will decimate all sexy names for all Ravkan eternity....

I could tell you...

But, ummmm... yeah

The support characters aided well this time, as before. Tamar & Tolya, Genya & David, Bhagra, even Zoya and yes, Nikolai. You had to love him. You wanted to slap him with every other word that came out his mouth but you laughed at his jokes, applauded in ingenuity and you absolutely adored his romantic side, which often preceded a sarcastic comment which would make you want to slap him. There was a certain part. I mean, Leigh Bardugo How could you? That particular part made me break down in tears of conflicting emotions...

I'm not gonna spoil it.

Let this be your guide...