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Smiling Shelves

Ruin and Rising [Thoughts]

10/8/2015

4 Comments

 
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I usually wait a few days before writing a review of a book. I like to let the dust settle, allow my initial reactions to form themselves into coherent thoughts. But I couldn’t wait that long with this book. It’s been no more than half an hour since I finished reading, but I had to get my feelings out somehow! So the following thoughts may be slightly less than coherent.

Ruin and Rising is the third book of a YA trilogy. I’m not a huge reader of YA novels, mostly because of the angst and drama they usually include. Also because I am sick of the whole dystopian thing. It’s been done. And if you don’t have anything new to add to it, then let’s just leave it alone for awhile. But Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha series isn’t really dystopian. It stands apart from a lot of YA out there, mostly because of its Russian-flavored setting. It’s refreshing and different, and gives you a whole new realm of culture and history to explore.

The plot is full of twists I never saw coming. I love it when I think a book is predictable, and then it makes all of my expectations crumble into dust. There are quite a few characters to keep track of, but they are all unique and full of personality. Bardugo includes just the right amount of comic relief, usually in the dialogue between her characters. And the comic relief seems to come naturally from the characters and their interactions, instead of feeling forced into the story. Since this is the third book in a trilogy, a lot is expected of it. And Bardugo most certainly delivers.
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When I read the last page of Ruin and Rising, my overwhelming feeling was a desire to start back at book one and read the entire series through again. I reread books I like fairly often, but there are very few series I can think of that have produced such a desire in me. Harry Potter, of course. The Chronicles of Narnia. The Anne of Green Gables books. All of the series, in other words, that I would classify as some of my favorite reads of all time. Now I’m not sure I’m quite willing to add the Grisha series to that category. But I can say with certainty that I will be rereading this series in the future. Maybe even more than once.

Find it on:​ Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Better World Books
4 Comments
niki link
10/8/2015 08:11:05 am

love your book blog. I have you on my side bar now. not sure if you post blogs, but if you do, can you reciprocate?

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
10/11/2015 05:12:48 pm

Thanks, Niki! I'm glad you enjoy what I post. As of right now, I don't have a list of blogs I follow on my sidebar, but that's something I'd like to do in the future! :)

Reply
Christine @Buckling Bookshelves link
10/11/2015 01:38:46 pm

I love when the conclusion to a series doesn't disappoint -- I have all three and haven't read them yet -- I think I need to remedy that soon!

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
10/11/2015 05:13:53 pm

You should definitely read them soon! Especially now that you know all three books in the trilogy are solid, good reads! ;)

Reply



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    My name is Julie, and I own a lot of books. As in, they are stacked on the floor because I've run out of room on the shelves. And those shelves? There are so many books on them that they smile -- not sag; smile. This blog will cover book reviews and all manner of other bookish things.

    You can contact me at julie@smilingshelves.com.

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