Ruin and Rising (The Grisha #3) by Leigh Bardugo

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): 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. 

Book Review:
*Le sigh* I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. Really, truly.
What I was expecting: A fast-paced final journey in the Russian-like setting I've grown accustomed to. A solid connection to the characters, particularly, the two main characters Alina and Mal.
What I got: A whirlwind, action-packed story. However, the pace was so fast, I had a difficult time keeping up with what was actually happening. Also, I had a hard time understanding some of the language. I think it was because it had been so long since I read the previous book (which I remember loving). The biggest misgiving was the disconnection between the reader (me) and the characters, particularly Alina and Mal. The constant "we need to put our own desires aside for the greater good" grated on my nerves for some reason. I felt like Alina wanted her cake and the ability to eat it too. I felt like for such an epic ending to this story, more sacrifices should have been made. But that is just my humble opinion.

Cover Art Commentary:
I love the colors of this cover. I also really enjoy the design, especially the fire bird.

Rating:

Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

Book Review:
*sighs* I was so. looking. forward. to this book. So what happened? The pacing was a bit off...Like there wasn't a cohesiveness to the story as a whole. Despite the large amount of action in the first third of the book, it just didn't hold my interest. I honestly didn't become super interested until the last third of the book. I felt disconnected from both Alina and Mal. There just wasn't much engaging to me as a reader. I mean I understand that they have history, but really what else was keeping them together? So what did I enjoy? Learning more about the world that Bardugo created, new characters, the Darkling (who is as evil as ever), and the time spent at Little Palace. Despite some let-downs, I still plan on picking up the next book in the series. If you've read this, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Favorite Quote:
“I took a breath. "Your highness-" 
"Nikolai," he corrected. "But I've also been known to answer to 'sweetheart' or 'handsome'.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
I love LOVE this cover! Can we just take a moment and be grateful that this series did not get the mid-series switcharoo? These covers are just too awesome for words!

Rating:

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): Alina Starkov doesn’t expect much from life. Orphaned by the Border Wars, the one thing she could rely on was her best friend and fellow refugee, Mal. And lately not even that seems certain. Drafted into the army of their war-torn homeland, they’re sent on a dangerous mission into the Fold, a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh.

When their convoy is attacked, all seems lost until Alina reveals a dormant power that not even she knew existed. Ripped from everything she knows, she is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. He believes she is the answer the people have been waiting for: the one person with the power to destroy the Fold.

Book Trailer:


Book Review:
There are so many things that I want to say about this book. It's difficult to fan girl squee through the whole review. I'll try to behave, but please pardon my squee moments. So, I wasn't quite sure as to what to expect when I started this book. All I really knew is that the setting was loosely based of of a Russian fairy tale. The world building in this story is amazing. The end. I mean, the characters are fantastic for sure, but the setting of the entire story is simply awesome. So back to the characters. I love Alina and Mal. Just realistic, flawed peeps who I want to get to know. The Darkling was the absolute most fantastic villain for this story. I want to know more about him. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was part of a series, and not a stand-alone book. Please excuse me while I squee uncontrollably for a moment. *cough* Ok, so, bottom line? Read this story. It will take you to fictional places you've only ever thought you could dream of. Ok, maybe that's a bit too far, but it is a really good read. I promise you at the very least will have a difficult time setting the book down once you pick it up.

Favorite Quote:

“They are orphans again, with no true home but each other and whatever life they can make together on the other side of the sea.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
I just adore this cover. It sets itself apart from other YA covers. The colors are rich and gorgeous. You just KNOW that a good story lies between those covers!

Rating: