Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo, 422 pages

"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."

Great close to a great series. I've now read quite a few of Bardugo's books, and her world building and story telling is superb. I've come to love Nikolai and maybe even Zoya. Maybe. Many highs and lows to this story that will keep you reading. I'm sad it's over.

Siege and storm by Leigh Bardugo

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo, 432 pages

"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."

Great continuation of this trilogy. This second book had all the adventure, with some great new characters. The dichotomy of Alina's powers growing and where that makes Mal fit in is a great story thread. Can't wait to pick up the last book in the trilogy, though that means it will be over.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo ; narrated by Lauren Fortgang

"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."

Great start to a series I'm looking forward to finishing. Great story line with twists and turns that make you want to keep reading. I'd read stories in this universe before so I was familiar with the magic, but I still think it's an original magical world. I listened to this on audiobook, and the narrator, Lauren Fortgang, did a good job with the various voices. Not a lot of variations in her voice like with some narrators, but she did a good enough job that I wanted to keep listening. 

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo - 536 pages

"Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives.

Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties.

A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets - a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world."

Solid second book in this duology. I think it could even be open to more stories with these characters. Fun story with lots of twists and turns, great action, and characters that you love, but also kinda don't. I'm looking forward to reading a different series in by this author set in the "Grisha-verse."

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo  546 pages

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets - a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo - 480 pages
Book 1 in a new series

Six young people have been tasked with pulling off the greatest heist of all time.  In this world (previously established in Bardugo's wonderful Grisha Trilogy) there are people born with the ability to manipulate their environments through an affinity for certain elements called Grisha.  There is a new drug hitting the black market that takes these powers to a whole new level that could spell terror for anyone not a Grisha plus the Grisha themselves develop a horrible addiction after the first dose.

The six teens have the mission of seizing the scientist behind the drug from the supposedly impregnable Winter Court.  A friend described this book well as Oceans 11 with kids and a sprinkling of super powers.  The characters fit the stock categories you'd expect for a heist plot but Bardugo makes them so fully formed and alive in this world that the reader can't help but root for them.  I'm looking forward to the next book in this new series.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo  480 pages

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price - and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy, Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone.

A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction - if they don't kill each other first.