Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

 Book Blurb:

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.

  

The Schwartz Review:

This series was definitely worth the read. The characters were extremely well developed, and I found myself getting emotional with them throughout their adventure multiple times. Being able to write characters and a plot that can make the reader feel is a skill that Bardugo has in spades!

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I grinned and followed her down the aisle of graves. At least she was predictable. 

Throughout this entire series, Alina knows who her enemy is. The dark and dangerous fold and the leader of the second army, the darkling. But Bardugo manages something that isn't easily done... She turned our villain into a tragedy that pulls on our protagonist's heartstrings, and eventually, the readers' as well. 

"I don't think so. The Darkling and I are . . . connected. We probably always will be."

Alina is trapped in a war she wants no part of, but her heart leads her and those who follow her to the very end of this book. The ending was bittersweet, slightly unexpected, and a breath of relief at the end of an anxious race toward the finale. One of my questions remained unanswered, which was a bit disappointing, but it was such a small detail that I'd still rate this a fantastic five star read.

The Unsea always felt like the end of everything. It wasn't only the dark, it was the terrible sense of isolation, as if the world had disappeared, leaving only you, the rattle of your breath, the stuttering beat of your heart.

With plenty of suiters after her heart, and none of them truly despicable, it was interesting to see how the romance played out. Her band of friends and enemies held dynamic relationships that grew immensely as the books went on, and the plot was so rich with detail that I couldn't stop reading until the very last page.

The Recommendation:

The classic good versus evil with magic, war, and a deathly sea of shadow splitting the land and dividing its people. If you enjoy Fantasy, YA, Magic, with a splash of Romance, then you'd probably enjoy this read.

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

    

Book Blurb:

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, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But 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.

  

The Schwartz Review:

I couldn't wait to dive into this book, even if I saw the ending of the previous book coming chapters ahead of time. I am thoroughly invested in Alina Starkov's story, and how the land will be saved from the Fold that has torn it apart for ages.

"Where's Mal?" I rasped, my throat still rusty.

The Darkling didn't turn, but shook his head and said, "You're predictable, at least."

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Alina's life is not her own to lead at this point and throughout this book, she struggles to maintain balance in a world that constantly throws her off her feet. A plethora of characters fill these pages, and she must decide which of them are allies and which are foes dressed as ally.

"Power is alliance," said Nikolai. "It's everyone's business." He took another sip of wine as I glared at him in disbelief. "And you should be wearing your own colors."

As I headed toward the finale of the second in this trilogy, I already mourn when this story will truly finish. I don't want to stop reading these lively characters. They're so well-rounded that I swear they're real, and their lives are so dramatic and rich with plot that I never want to stop reading about them.

Mal and I burst from the palace and careened down the marble steps. A screech of twisting metal rent the air.

Whereas I saw the ending of book one coming, I am pleased to report that I did not see the ending of book two coming. It was SHOCKING, and I immediately grabbed for the third book upon finishing. 

The Recommendation:

The classic good versus evil with magic, war, and a deathly sea of shadow splitting the land and dividing its people. If you enjoy Fantasy, YA, Magic, with a splash of Romance, then you'd probably enjoy this read.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

   

Book Blurb:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh.

Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

  

The Schwartz Review:

I must admit, I watched the first few episodes of Netflix's Shadow & Bone. As soon as I realized that it was going to be GOOD, I stopped. I wanted to read the books first, and so I waited until I could purchase them. Trust me, I was not disappointed. 

I heard a shrill wail and watched in horror as a soldier was lifted from his feet and carried into the air, kicking and struggling.

This book had plenty of action. There's danger, romance, and an epic battle with good versus evil. What's even better is that Alina is a character for which you can root. She leads a difficult life, but she perseveres. Never giving up. 

I raised my hand and rested it on his stubbly cheek, gently turning his face to mine.

There's enough mystery to keep you flipping those pages. I saw the ending coming a few chapters early, but it was still such a joy to read.

The Recommendation:

The classic good versus evil with magic, war, and a deathly sea of shadow splitting the land and dividing its people. If you enjoy Fantasy, YA, Magic, with a splash of Romance, then you'd probably enjoy this read.