Ruin and Rising: Review

Synopsis:

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.

***

Ruin and Rising is truly a fitting name of the conclusion. Of course, it'd be a huge spoiler to explain it if you have't read Siege and Storm. I admire this story so much because it stays true to the dark elements and atmosphere, which is why I first fall in love with Shadow and Bone. It never fails to amaze me. That is saying something because there are a lot of times where there's a part, however tiny it is, will not be good enough to catch my attention. This book has me from the very start and I love every second of it.

He did not see the moment the girl ceased to bear her weakness as a burden and began to wear it as a guise.

Alina is a very different character in the book. In the previous two books we can clear see the struggles of her trying to get used to her Sun Summoner powers, fighting for balance between her power and the Darkling's power, and whether she will live up to Ravkan's expectation of her. After the ruination, though. Something about her changes. She's extremely determined to make things right, which is admirable because I'm getting a little tired of her struggles. Her cleverness is showing in this book because it seems like she knows what to do and what to say when she's under siege (again). This is quite an impressive turn.

I know things about power that you can barely guess at.

Ruin and Rising is also a huge book for the Darkling. Of course, the whole trilogy is about the struggle of light and darkness, good and wicked between the Darkling and Alina. However we get to know a lot more thing about him. His past and his own name. That's big because I'm always curious about his complexity (being so human yet so brutal at the same time), even though sometimes I resent him for being so cruel. However, I would like to dig more about his past because he's such an interesting character that his story can't just end in an ordinary place. 

We also get to see a lot of Mal and Alina in Ruin and Rising. To be honest, I have doubts between their relationship in Shadow and Bone and Siege and Storm because they have a distance that seems unbreakable. In this book though, their relationship changes and become more intimate. There are a lot of really emotional scenes between the two of them which I absolutely adore. It's like I can never get enough of the two of them being cute in the book. 

I am not ruined. I am ruination.

As for the book itself, I can't talk about it much because I can't without spilling out spoilers. However, there will be a huge unexpected turn of events that I can't even begin to imagine coming. Actually, I have absolutely no idea how the trilogy will end because everything seems so uncertain at the end of Siege and Storm. I'm extremely pleased at how things turned out in the end. And I'm sure many readers will too. It's an enthralling conclusion of a great series based on Russian folk tales.

Rating: 9.5/10

TBR #14: June 2014

Ah. June. The worst month in a year, because of those pesky exams. But then there are good books :)

1. Chasing Stars (After Eden #2) by Helen Douglas

Synopsis:

The boy Eden loves just saved her life. Now she must save his. To do so she must make a huge sacrifice. Eden can never see her friends or family again, as she travels a hundred years into the future. But the dangerous risk Ryan took to rescue Eden has been uncovered, and now Ryan faces an exile ...which will leave Eden separated from him - the one person she can't live without - and stuck in the future. She must fight to save both of them.

The mesmerising sequel to the author's wonderful debut, After Eden.

Expected Publication: June 5, 2014

2. Hexed (The Witch Hunter #1) by Michelle Krys

Synopsis:

If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid.

Expected Publication: June 10, 2014

3. The Murder Complex (The Murder Complex #1) by Lindsay Cummings

Synopsis:

An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate. For fans of Moira Young’s Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?

Action-packed, blood-soaked, and chilling, this is a dark and compelling debut novel by Lindsay Cummings.

Expected Publication: June 10, 2014

Check out my review here:

http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-murder-complex-arc-review.html

4. Wings (Black City #3) by Elizabeth Richards

Synopsis:

Following the cliffhanger ending of Phoenix, Natalie finds herself separated from Ash and unexpectedly reunited with her parents, including the father she thought was dead. But she can only think of Ash. She hasn't heard a word of him since she and Elijah were brought to the underground headquarters of the Sentry Rebellion. But she vows to find him.

Ash, meanwhile is back in Black City; it's the perfect place to hide from the Sentry government. But not for long. He won't give up on Natalie or bringing an end to the terrible reign of Purian Rose.

A pulse-racing end to an exciting series.

Expected Publication: June 12, 2014

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

Synopsis:

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.

Expected Publication: June 17, 2014

6. Dark Metropolis (Dark Metropolis #1) by Jaclyn Dolamore

Synopsis:

Cabaret meets Cassandra Clare-a haunting magical thriller set in a riveting 1930s-esque world.

Sixteen-year-old Thea Holder's mother is cursed with a spell that's driving her mad, and whenever they touch, Thea is chilled by the magic, too. With no one else to contribute, Thea must make a living for both of them in a sinister city, where danger lurks and greed rules.
Thea spends her nights waitressing at the decadent Telephone Club attending to the glitzy clientele. But when her best friend, Nan, vanishes, Thea is compelled to find her. She meets Freddy, a young, magnetic patron at the club, and he agrees to help her uncover the city's secrets-even while he hides secrets of his own.

Together, they find a whole new side of the city. Unrest is brewing behind closed doors as whispers of a gruesome magic spread. And if they're not careful, the heartless masterminds behind the growing disappearances will be after them, too.

Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, this is a chilling thriller with a touch of magic where the dead don't always seem to stay that way.

Expected Publication: June 17, 2014

Cover Reveal: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

I can't believe it's finally here! The cover for Ruin and Rising! I can't wait!

Synopsis:

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.

***

This is so different from the covers of Shadow and Bone and Siege and Storm. It has an edge of danger that the others don't have! It's very nice!

Expected Publication: June 17, 2014

Short Story Review Sunday: The Tailor

Synopsis:

New scene from Shadow and Bone told from Genya's point of view
http://www.facebook.com/GrishaTrilogy...

***

(This review contains spoilers from Shadow and Bone and Siege and Storm)

This is a new scene from Shadow and Bone, some cross with the actual scenes of the book and some do not. In this point-of-view piece about Genya, we can get some little hints about what will happen in Siege and Storm, and this short story explains why Mal has never received any of the letters written by Alina. Genya has a good heart. But she's foolish and blind. Despite my hatred, I also feel pity for her. Because she actually believes that following the Darkling is right. Even though this might not be the most interesting short story I've ever read, this is truly a must to read because it helps when reading Siege and Storm.

Rating: 7/10

Siege and Storm: Review

Synopsis:

Darkness never dies.

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.

***

Siege and Storm is just as awesome as Shadow and Bone! The book starts where Shadow and Bone has left off. Alina and Mal on the run from the Darkling, but things always don't go where they wish. But then another opportunity of defeating the Darkling and saving the country is emerging, along with the darkness and power and peril. It sounds like any sequel of the first book, only this book is far darker and more complicated then the first and I always love a dark tale.

The two main protagonists, Alina and Mal, have changed so much you nearly wouldn't recognize the two of them before Shadow and Bone. Alina, strong with her power as a Sun Summoner, is gathering forces to go up against the Darkling and his followers. At the same time she risks losing herself to the call of her Grisha power and struggling to be herself. Mal, being dragged by Alina to all the madness, is trying to pull Alina off the whole messed-up situation and not feeling fit-in constantly. I am very sad to see they have changed so much, even though I know this is necessary for the plot development.

There are also new characters introduced. My favorite characters are probably Tolya and Tamar. They're fierce, loyal, caring, and sometimes really funny. There are also mentions about the folk tale of the Too-Clever Fox, which you will have to read it in order to know about it because I feel like I'm giving too much away already.

Now I want to talk about the Darkling. (Spoiler!) He doesn't show up much in this book (End of spoiler), which is both a relief and disappointment. I hate him, like, hate him in the guts. I can admit that. But at the same time I feel really bad for him. Despite his greed and soulessness and darkness, he thinks what he's doing is right and truly believes his act of rebellion (rebellion is such an understatement, but that's the best I can come up with) is to liberate the country. Despite my hatred, I want redemption for him and see (at least a glimpse of) his good side. Mixed feelings, I guess. I hate to hate him but I also hate to love him as well. Jeez, what's wrong with me.

Back to the book. Just like Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm is short and sweet. 23 chapters are enough to pull of a story that sinks firmly into our hearts. But undeniably the plot is growing more complex and deeper. The characters have their dark sides and secrets of their own. They have to cling to the last glimpse of hope of freeing the country when everything seems so grim. Dark and intense, this is unlike any sequel I've ever read. One that will take your breath away.

Rating: 8.5/10

P.S. And now I know where the name Ruin and Rising comes from. Perfect name, especially after reading Siege and Storm.

Teaser Tuesday: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

This is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

To participate you:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random pate
3. Share two teaser sentences from somewhere on that page
4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
5. Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!
6. Share the title and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teasers!

This week I choose Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2) by Leigh Bardugo

I took a deep breath. I had to be careful. No heat. Just light. I wiped my damp palms on m coat and spread my arms. Almost before I'd formed the call, the light was rushinng toward me.

It came from every direction, from a million stars, from a sun still hidden below the horizon. It came with relentless speed and furious intent.












Add Siege and Storm in Goodreads here:

Shadow and Bone: Review

Synopsis:

The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.

Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?

The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.

But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?

Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance.

***

Oh why didn't I read it sooner? This book is awesome! No wonder it's optioned to be a movie. This book is filled with mysterious folk tales, people with unique powers and darkness all over the place. A world that is unique and creepy. Perfect combination for a legend and a battle to come into being.

The book is set in a country called Ravka, where the Shadow Fold is eating the country from the outside and people are trying to save it. Alina is their key of survival, their only hope of getting rid of the Fold. But as she trying to save the country from a seemingly inevitable darkness, she realizes that things are darker than she once thought.

Every page of the book is addicting. I cannot put the book down and have to finish it in one day. It's been a really long time since I found a series like that. The book is not long, only 356 pages. Short and sweet. No dragging, no flooding of information every single line of the book. Smooth plot yet with breath-taking plot twists. Exactly how I like books these days.

Dark, unique and utterly enthralling. This is one story you won't want to miss.

Rating: 8.5/10

Short Story Review Sunday (Monday Edition): The Witch of Duva

Synopsis:

There was a time when the woods near Duva ate girls… or so the story goes. But it’s just possible that the danger may be a little bit closer to home. This story is a companion folk tale to Leigh Bardugo’s debut novel, Shadow and Bone.

***

I haven't read Shadow and Bone yet. But I believe that Shadow and Bone is going to be awesome. The Witch of Duva is set in the same world of Shadow and Bone, according to some of the reviewers. This is really short and it actually gives nothing about what will happen in Shadow and Bone. But hey, this is a dark folk tale with creepy plot twists and the setting of the tale, winter in the woods, adds more feels of mystery for the tale. I'm completely captivated by the story and I think I will like Shadow and Bone.

Rating: 8/10