I'm so glad I continued with this series. This is possibly the best one in the trilogy. I really enjoyed the first, was disappointed by the second, and then it took me forever to pick up the third. But, bugger me, what a book.

Setting
Set in Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse. I've come to love this world and regard it in much the way I do Middle-Earth and Westeros, like it's a real world that begs to be explored. I would absolutely adore Leigh to write more books in this world. I feel like she hasn't even scratched the surface of what she can do and where she can go with this remarkable universe she's created. The world (fictional or otherwise) is her lobster.

Characters
I'd like to say a big congratulation to the author for making me care about every character. Between the last two books, I struggled to connect to any of them. The only two I really liked were Nikolai and the Darkling. (Yes, I like the Darkling. No I won't apologise. The Darkling is fucking amazing)

I had always found Alina whiny, a bit bratty, often reckless. She wasn't a particularly good decision maker. And as for Mal, well, I simply didn't care either way about Mal.
Somehow Leigh Bardugo has utterly changed my opinion on everyone

Alina was strong, brave, resourceful, willing to explore all options, sacrifice her own wants and wishes based on what is best for Ravka. She was likeable, she really was. Sensible and rational. (Love me a rational heroine)

Mal also redeemed himself. He was less the moody, brooding, confrontational love interest that always puts his foot in it. He was completely reasonable. He knew what was at stake and what was expected of him and he was more than ready to deliver.
Both he and Alina better reflected the depth of their situation, acting like strong, resilient adults rather than love-struck hormonal teenagers who care more about their libido than the fate of an entire country.

I also cared and worried about their entire crew, Genya, David, Zoya (what a girl), Harshaw and Oncat, Tolya, Tamar, Nadia. Even as minor characters, they just really felt like they'd come together for not only the main characters, but the story as well. Perfectly developed.

As for Nikolai and the Darkling, I still love their guts, and that will never change.
Nikolai seriously needs his own spin-off series; preferably involving Nina from the Six of Crows duology. (please)

Plot
The fantasy version of Russia, here called Ravka is once again a war torn country as the Darkling seeks to gain control. The only one powerful enough to stop him is Alina. Alliances have been scattered and enemies are everywhere. Nikolai has been forced to flee the palace a strike back at the Darkling in secrecy however he can. Alina is hidden away deep underground, surrounded by devote followers while she recovers from her previous skirmish with the Darkling.

She wasn't strong enough to beat him then, and she knows the only way she can is with the final amplifier, the Firebird. When her strength is recovered, she goes on a journey across Ravka in search of this legendary bird that can give her the power to defeat the Darkling. But when she discovers the truth behind the mysterious and ancient work of Morozova, she'll wish she hadn't.

The plot is pretty fast-paced. The beginning bit in the White Cathedral dragged a little for me, but only because I was desperate to see some Nikolai and Darkling (swoon), but despite that, I was utterly sucked into this story and I'm feeling pretty deflated it's over now.

Writing Style
The writing feels like a step up. Not as good as the writing in Six of Crows, but that is superior writing and it's hard to compare anything to that. And as Leigh wrote the Grisha trilogy before Six of Crows, it's understandable.

Leigh Bardugo is a damn good story teller. It's engaging, it's exciting and it's so easy to get lost in the flow of her words. Descriptions are immersive and expertly placed, so the story never feels silted up with prose, but you can still visualise every location with beautiful clarity.
Job well done.

Final Impression
Really enjoyed this, and the ending was a surprise to me. Having read the Six of Crows duology before reading Ruin and Rising, I believed I had spoiled this ending for myself, but had fully accepted how I thought it would end. So when it didn't end the way I thought, I was shocked and thrilled.

A perfect ending that's left me feeling oddly both satisfied and hungry for more.
We really, really, really need more Grisha books. Please keep 'em coming, Leigh.