40 pages • 1 hour read
Leigh BardugoRuin and Rising
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2014A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Ruin and Rising, Alina Starkov joins her allies to defeat her nemesis, the Darkling, and reclaim Ravka's throne. She traverses underground cities, reconnects with old friends, and searches for a powerful amplifier to enhance her abilities. As the climactic battle looms, she must confront tough choices and sacrifices. Themes include loyalty, power, love, and inequality. The book contains depictions of abuse.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Leigh Bardugo’s Ruin and Rising delivers a thrilling conclusion to the Grisha Trilogy with compelling character development and intense action. Readers praise its emotional depth and satisfying resolution. However, some critics note pacing issues and predictable plot twists. This epic finale balances sorrow and hope, making it a bittersweet yet fitting closure.
Who Should Read Ruin and Rising?
A reader who would enjoy Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo likely gravitates towards young adult fantasy novels with strong, complex female protagonists, intricate world-building, and themes of power and sacrifice. Comparable titles include Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas and Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.
RecommendedReading Age
14-18yearsLexile Level
HL720LBook Details
Fantasy
Action / Adventure
Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Military / War
Love / Sexuality
Relationships
Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Emotions/Behavior: Love
Relationships: Friendship