Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Published June 17th 2014 by Henry Holt and Co.

454 Pages

Goodreads Summary: 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.

Review: This was another book that I read two months ago and have been struggling to write a review on.  This was the final book of the Grisha trilogy and I was really sad to see it end.  I loved this book so much that I finished it the same day I started it.  I literally could not put it down.  It was tough in the beginning to see Alina so worn down and kept down by the Apparat.  When she finally made it out of those caves I was so relieved.  Her ever changing relationship with Mal was interesting to see become strong once more.  There were so, so many feels in this book which were amplified (no pun intended) by the fact that this was the final book in the trilogy.  Although part of me was still rooting for The Darkling to change his ways and end up with Alina, I am happy with the way the book ended.  And although the story of these characters is over, I’m glad to be able to revisit the Grishaverse in Six of Crows.  There were so many times when I could barely sit still while I was reading this because the action was so intense.  Such a great ending to a great series.

5 Stars

Grisha Mini Excerpt and Short Story Reviews

The Tailor by Leigh Bardugo

18 Pages

This was basically a short little excerpt from Shadow and Bone told from Genya’s POV.  I thought it was great insight into Genya and her personality.  She wasn’t one of my favorite characters but it did provide some good insight on why certain things happened to her and Alina.  If you’re a fan of the Grisha trilogy I definitely recommend that you read this quick little excerpt.

The Demon in the Wood by Leigh Bardugo

67 Pages

This bonus story was all about the Darkling before he became the Darkling.  Rewind many years before Shadow and Bone to a time when the Darkling was just a boy, traveling with his mother from one group of Grisha to the next.  It was a little heartbreaking to see him begin to trust someone only to have them take advantage of him.  This story gives pretty major insight into the Darkling and why he became evil.  Any fan of the Grisha trilogy would enjoy this story, especially if you have a soft spot for the Darkling like I do.

Autumn Book Tag

Hey guys!  I saw Ashley do this fun post and I had to do it since Autumn is my favorite season.

What is your favorite thing about Autumn?
I have so many favorite things when it comes to Autumn since it is my favorite season. Those things include the leaves changing, the crisp fall days, Halloween, Thanksgiving, pumpkins, fall apples, etc. Pretty much everything that has to do with fall, I love!
What book reminds you of your school days?
Hmm that’s a good question. I guess I don’t really have one in particular. I read a lot when I was growing up between books for school and books for fun. But in 4th grade, our class did a read-along of Save Queen of Sheba and I have loved that book ever since.

What book cover reminds you of Autumn?

What is your favorite horror or Halloween story?
The first book I remember reading that really gave me the creeps was The Bone Collector by Jeffrey Deaver. I remember reading it late at night and being scared to turn off the lights to go to bed.

What is your favorite horror or Halloween film?
One of my all-time favorite horror movies is Scream. I’ve lost track of how many times I have watched that movie and all of the sequels. My all-time favorite Halloween movie is without a doubt, Hocus Pocus! It isn’t Halloween without a screening of my favorite witches.

What Fall book release are you most looking forward to?
Definitely Winter by Marissa Meyer! I never thought I would have liked The Lunar Chronicles because Cinder is a cyborg and I wasn’t really into that. But I picked it up on a whim once at Target and devoured it as well as Scarlet and Cress. Each book has gotten progressively better so I can’t wait to see what happens in Winter!

What Autumn movie release are you most anticipating?
I think it’s safe to say that any book lover is looking forward to my most anticipated fall movie release…. Mockingjay Part 2… Are you really surprised?

What are three books you plan to read this Autumn?
I have three new releases that I am dying to get to that I have recently acquired. I am not going include the two pre-orders that haven’t been released yet.
 

And there you have it!  I tag anyone who loves Autumn!

Blog Redesign!

Hey everyone!  Happy Friday!  As you can probably see, I have done a little redesign on the blog.  I was getting tired of the theme I had before.  So I’ve spent the last few weeks wanting to change up my theme, clean things up a bit.  I found a theme that I really like, made a new header graphic and took away some widgets that were cluttering up the sidebar.  I am very happy with how the redesign turned out.  And it’s not so different that you won’t be able to find any features you used before the change.  So take a look around my new design!

In other news, I got my awesome Six of Crows swag in the mail today for pre-ordering the book.  It is awesome!  Here are two photos I posted to Instagram of it since the poster is double sided.  (Link to my Instagram in the sidebar)

In addition to the poster, it came with a signed book plate.  I can’t wait to get these items flattened out!  I haven’t read Six of Crows yet but I’m so excited to read it.  I’m not happy with my current reads so I might just have to pick it up this weekend.

What are you reading this Friday night?

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag!

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag!

I saw this book tag on Analee @ Book Snacks and really wanted to join in on the tag fun.  It was a great way to look back over everything I have read in 2015.

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2015.

Well, I really don’t think that I can pick just one so my top reads from this year so far include:

I didn’t want to include any of the amazing sequels I have read this year because they are a part of the next question.

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2015.

Again, I can’t just choose one for this!  I’ve read a lot of great sequels this year.  Some of which I liked even better than the books that came before it.

3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to.

There are easily a ton to choose from for this but I’ll have to go with An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir.  I’ve had this on my shelf for a couple of months but haven’t gotten around to it yet.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.

Again… how am I supposed to only choose one?!?!  At the moment I’m really dying to get on with the Throne of Glass series.  I pre-ordered Queen of Shadows which is on it’s way to me now!  But I also still have to read Heir of Fire (which I also pre-ordered the paperback and is on its way with QoS).  I am also really looking forward to getting The Wheel of Time Companion which is to be released Nov. 3^rd.

5. Biggest disappointment.

Easily this would have to be Magonia.  I couldn’t even bear to even read more than a couple of chapters because the main character’s POV was so grating.

6. Biggest surprise.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh.  I was pretty sure that I would like this one but I wasn’t prepared for how much I LOVED it!  I loved the two main characters and the storyline.  I can’t wait to read the sequel!

7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you).

Definitely going to have to go with 3 on this one.  Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo and Rainbow Rowell.  I’ve now read 3 from SJM (Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight and A Court of Thorns and Roses) and loved each and every one of them.  Tomorrow I’ll be receiving Heir of Fire and Queen of Shadows so I can’t wait to get back to Celaena, Chaol and Dorian!  I have read the first two books of the Grisha trilogy by LB and recently got Ruin and Rising to finish off the trilogy.  I can’t wait to read it!  I’m also really looking forward to Six of Crows!  And RR totally wowed me with Eleanor and Park.  Then I read Fangirl and while I didn’t like it as much as E&P I still really really liked it.  I have Landline at home waiting to be read and hopefully soon I can get Attachments as well.

8. Newest Fictional crush.

A rather recent development was that I found myself starting to crush on Kyon Ensin from the Kricket series by Amy A. Bartol.  She really knows how to make a girl crush on the bad guy because I also have a thing for Brennus from her Premonition series as well!

9. Newest favorite character.

Totally Celaena Sardothian.  She is such a badass but she also has a softer side.  And she loves to read… so what more could you ask for.

10. Book that made you cry.

You know, I don’t really find that I cry during a book.  When it comes to movies, if something gets super sappy or sad or someone is crying… I’m gone.  Get me a tissue.  But for some reason in books, I don’t really tear up much.  The closest I probably came to that was maybe in Voyager by Diana Gabaldon.

11. Book that made you happy.

Definitely going to go with Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli.  This books was literally the cutest thing ever and I often found myself laughing out loud.  This was definitely a feel good book. 

12. Favorite book to film adaptation you saw this year.

I wasn’t exactly happy with the Insurgent adaptation.  It was kind of disappointing.  I think I’ll have to go with The Longest Ride (based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks).  I really loved the storyline to this one and it seemed to follow the book pretty closely.  Plus Scott Eastwood is totally hot J

13. Favorite review you’ve written this year.

Hmm.  That is a good question.  I always feel like I blunder through book reviews so I don’t really have a favorite.

14. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received).

I’m going to have to go with The Exile by Diana Gabaldon.  It is a graphic novel of Outlander from Murtagh’s POV and I loved it!  So beautiful J

15. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

I need to read 8 more books to meet my Goodreads goal for the year.  Since it is only the end of August, I have plenty of time to meet that goal.  I really hope to make more of a dent in my 2015 TBR Pile Challenge though.  I’ve been neglecting it.  I also have so many books that I want to reread.  So I’m trying to decide still what I want to do.  But for right now the plan is to finish the book I am currently reading.  Then start Heir of Fire and move onto Queen of Shadows.  Then after that I will probably go to Ruin and Rising.  Anything after that is fair game!  We’ll see what happens!

I tag EVERYONE!  Go do this tag!  Now! 🙂