A diatribe, review, and philosophical digression: which is to say a review of Ruin & Rising (Previously "A Review... for which it is yet to be decided but in any case it will doubtlessly equate the most exemplary standards".)

Brief prelude. The review beneath was written directly after finishing the book which it addresses; at ten o' clock at night; so please pardon me for any corrigenda, discrepancies, or convolution. On second thought, the last one is par for the course so nevermind.

How could one dislike that ending, as many do? It was a fairy-tale ending, and they were fairy-tale-like books. It tells the story and concludes it: that of the Darkling, plus the boy and girl from Keramzin (needless to mention, the too-clever fox). They settle in an orphanage... one where they grew up. They have unhappiness but joy as well... Leigh Bardugo's writing, I will interject, is lovely in the prelude and conclusion. Quite eximious.
Half -- actually all but one, I believe, of my notes are quotations from the book with diatribes accusing Miss Bardugo of being favorable toward the monstrous villain known as the Darkling. Frankly, he was a villain--a monster--a demon, worse than those which he created. I refuse to see sympathy.  Hm. I probably feel any sympathy now that the character has gone and joined the choir!

"'Aleksander,' I whispered. A boy's name, given up. Almost forgotten." 

Piffle. For those who have not read it, that refers to the Darkling... the villain. In any case, he gave it up, he almost forgot it. For a moment of poignancy, however, Alina remembered it. He didn't redeem himself or repent either--Good gosh, I'm glad Leigh didn't try to write him doing that, recall the aforementioned irredemability--and neither did Alina forget what he did.  Leigh Bardugo handles it excellently, in spite of my diatribes against her characterization in this final book.
Maybe it is a tribute to all the tragedy.
In one way, it reminds me of Les Misérables... Only for Harshaw dying rather spontaneously and without ado: a titch like Courfeyrac. (A "Friend of the ABC", meaning a rebel in the July Revolution of 1830. Also, Marius' friend.)

A few closing notes, before I shut the laptop lid! Alina laughs at a joke by Mal (Mal-her sweetheart, general object of whatever soap-opera happens to be occurring... responsible also for the fairy-tale ending. Aw.) near the end. The first time it appears she truly laughs! I find that, again, very poignant.

Keramzin is the nexus of drama in the Grisha Trilogy, it seems... As well as the emotional catalyst for many of the characters.
Unfortunately it was a conclusion which renders the prior books rather immediately-un-re-readable, in spite of the ending. My thoughts on the ending are rather apparent, it appears to me! Essentially: it was poignant, well-done,  arguable, fairy-tale-ish--Perfectly brill.

On second thought, this entire review waxes philosophical. One may blame the ten-o'-clock hour which I wrote it.


Thanks for reading,

Anacostia Mirabow-Marignac.