Rune and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR BOOKS 1 & 2

“There is no greater power than faith, and there will be no greater army than the one driven by it.”

Ruin and Rising is the third installment in Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone trilogy. Unlike some other series, I wouldn’t recommend skipping any of the novels here—there’s minimal recap, so jumping straight into this one might spoil key elements from the first two books.

The Darkling now rules Ravka, and the nation’s fate rests in the hands of the Sun Summoner and her ragtag group of allies.

If you’ve read my previous reviews, you’ll know I initially saw Alina's relationship with Mal, her childhood friend and disgraced army tracker, as mere infatuation on her part and fear of losing her on his. However, Bardugo deepens their bond in this book, shifting my perspective. I found myself rooting for them to be together, as each novel explores different stages of love: Lust in Alina’s connection with the Darkling, Infatuation in her relationship with the Prince, and true Love with Mal. Bardugo also sheds light on Alina’s complicated dynamic with the Darkling, revealing both fear and pride. The Darkling’s mother, burdened by guilt, eventually confides in Alina, providing crucial information about the Firebird.

The novel’s pacing, however, is a bit of a letdown. Much like the first two books, it drags in parts that feel insignificant, only to rush through critical moments. The big twist is followed quickly by a somewhat underwhelming conclusion. While I’m glad things worked out, there are aspects of Alina’s decisions I would have liked to see handled differently, even though I understand why she made the choices she did.