Leigh Bardugo
⭐⭐⭐
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REVIEW for Shadow and Bone
REVIEW for Seige and Storm
Synopsis (warning: possible spoilers):
For Alina, time is running out. To destroy the Darkling, she must find the elusive firebird, and she must find it soon.
The Darkling's power is growing. And so is his connection to Alina. Can Alina escape the hold he has over her? Does she want to?
Mal is the only person Alina can rely on. But could giving in to the bond between them be the most dangerous decision of all?
Review
This trilogy was rather middle of the road, and rather fell flat. I liked the first book, thoroughly enjoyed the second book, and was left satisfied but unimpressed with this final installment. I'm going to try to do this without spoiling anything, however reviews for third and final books are rather hard to do.
I read this over a procession of one per year. I kept coming back and wanting to reenter the dark word of Rafka; I think one of the reasons that I kept going back to the series was because unlike so many YA trilogies, there was this element of risk. There were high stakes, a chess game being played out by Alina and the Darkling throughout all three books. Bardugo built something special and gripping, and I couldn't help but get entranced.
I rather admire how Bardugo built and framed Alina's character arc. She grew into a character that I came to respect, rather than like. She was rather frustrating to read from, but her decisions never once felt sudden or forced and for that I really enjoyed.
And Nikolaj! How he has stolen my heart - that's all I'm going to say about that.
That being said, I still only rated Ruin & Rising three stars. The plot was lacking and rather one track. It needed a depth that Bardugo just didn't bring to the page. I'm hoping that her Six of Crows duology will have that great characterization that I admire with the complexity of plot I desire from Bardugo.
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