Waiting on Wednesday: Ruin & Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

Ruin and Rising
The Grisha #3

by Leigh Bardugo

Coming June , 2014

Henry Holt & Co

Summary:

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.

Why I want it:

REASONS. Mostly, those reasons are alternately Sturmhond and the Darkling because I love me a roguish pirate and a bad (like, very bad) boy. But really, I need this because of the magical and utterly addictive world Leigh has created. I'm hooked!

Why I think you should want it:

If you've ever read Shadow & Bone and Siege and Storm, I shouldn't have to convince you to read this book. You're already there. If, however, you haven't read this series...WHAT THE HECK IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?! The world of Ravka is one of the best fantasy worlds I've ever read, ya or not. Leigh's writing is technically proficient, yes, but somehow also contains the very essence of magic and fantasy and love and lust and hope and despair. Her words are living creatures, and they breathe that life the characters and the world. Everything is bold and full of adventure, but that doesn't mean there's not learning and growth. Alina is a relatively weak protagonist at the beginning. It is only by embracing her power that she begins to shine (literally, she shines). The boys are some of the funniest and sexiest, whether they're your childhood best friend/army tracker prodigy, a dashing and daring pirate, a naughty prince, or an evil magician with a death count and morals that honestly might rival Voldemort. Oh, yeah. Because even the bad guy in the Grisha trilogy is sexy like a fox. Even if you're not a fantasy fan, this is a good one to read. And if you are interested in reading it at some point, now is a really good time to get it because you can still probably find copies available at your library of the first two, and you should be able to put your name on the hold list for R&R! Also, there's a readalong going on over at Goodreads with Q&As with Leigh!

That's my pick for WoW this week. What do you think? Share your picks and your links in the comments!