THE LOWDOWN:
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.
FIRST IMPRESSION:
The monster’s name was Izumrud, the great worm, and there were those who claimed he had made the tunnels that ran beneath Ravka. Sick with appetite, he ate up slit and gravel, burrowing deeper and deeper into the earth, searching for something to satisfy his hunger, until he’d gone too far and lost himself in the dark. It was just a story, but in the White Cathedral, people were careful not to stray too far from the passages the curled around the main caverns.
—Paperback ARC edition
SNAPSHOT:
Told from Alina Starkov’s first person point of view, it’s time for the Sun Summoner’s tale to come to an end as she must save Ravka from The Darkling. As with past installments, Alina is intelligent, strong, and filled with hope. Throughout this final episode, her powers and her physical strength grow–and her ability to trust herself does as well.
Secondary characters like Mal, Alina’s love interest, continue to be well-developed–however with such a large cast, it may give some readers pause trying to recall who someone was, especially those who had smaller parts in the story.
Overall a well-paced conclusion. Alina is clearly conflicted throughout the entire novel, and that adds to the tension. The end, while it gives closure, may not be satisfying to long-time fans. Readers will be eager for the next incredible, detailed world that author Leigh Bardugo may conjure up. Equally, side stories in Alina’s world would be a welcomed addition.
Appropriate for ages 14+. Some underage alcohol use, sexual situations, sexual assault, violence, gore, murder frequent intense situations, and emotionally intense situations.
Deals with what it deals with war, chosen family, identity, faith, responsibility, love, friendship, and body image.
GET IT ON YOUR SHELF:
If you…
- Love a good war story
- Are a fan of magical universes
- Enjoyed the other Grisha stories
- Have ever felt different from everyone around you
THE ESSENTIALS:
YA Fantasy
Hardcover & Ebook, 417 pages
Published June 17, 2014 by Henry Holt and Co. (ISBN 080509461X)
http://us.macmillan.com/ruinandrising/LeighBardugo
(Review copy provided by Molly Brouillette at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.)