Ms. Hen reviews Ruin and Rising

 

Ruin and Rising

Leigh Bardugo

Square Fish

2014

Ms. Hen bought this trilogy together. She reviewed the two other books recently, and this is the last one. 

This novel continues the story of Alina Starkov and Mal, while they continue to attempt to destroy the fold. We start with Alina and her group underground with the Apparat, but they escape to try to find the Firebird, the third amplifier, which will make Alina's strength even greater. Alina, Mal, Zoya and the others end up with Nikolai at his hideout in a mountaintop that he calls the Spinning Wheel. Things don't go according to plan, as usual. The Darkling surprises them, and things take a turn for the worse.

The beginning and ending of all of these novels is a type of fairy tale about a girl and a boy that are not named, but are Alina and Mal, which Ms. Hen thinks are charming. She wonders if there will be a book of fairy tales about these novels. She especially liked the ending tale in this novel, but she will not give it away.

RUIN AND RISING reminded Ms. Hen of THE WIZARD OF OZ more than the other books, possibly because the characters were on a journey throughout the story, and they were all unique, quirky characters.

The books are very different from the TV series, but Ms. Hen can appreciate both of them. She loves a good adventure, with magic, and romance and intrigue, and she gets all of those here and more.