Blog Tour: Ruin and Rising

Welcome to the Ruin and Rising Blog Tour!

I’ve previously had the opportunity to review the first two books in the Grisha trilogy—Shadow and Bone and Siege and Storm—and truly enjoyed them both. Sadly, the publisher decided not to release ARCs of the final book in the trilogy—Ruin and Rising—and even though I’ve wailed and gnashed my teeth and thrown a tantrum not unlike the one Veruca Salt throws in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory … I’ve still not read the book.

That doesn’t mean I’d pass up the opportunity to host a stop on the book’s blog tour, however!

Here’s the official word:

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.

Because Ruin and Rising focuses on Alina’s competing roles as Soldier, Summoner and Saint, Leigh Bardugo commissioned a fan artist to create three specially designed posters, one to represent each role. We're featuring the one that depicts Alina's soldier side:

Says Leigh: Alina and Mal were drafted at age 16, traveled to Poliznaya, and trained there to join the First Army. This is where Alina's moderate talent for drawing and her limited physical strength would have been discovered, and she would have been assigned to the Cartographers. I love the wintery feel of the panel that Irene created. I feel like it alludes not only to Alina's journey, but to Mal's time on the northern border—hunting the stag and truly separated from Alina for the first time—as well.

Gorgeous, right? Want to win your own poster and a copy of Ruin and Rising? In the comments, let us know which part of Alina you connect with more—Solider, Summoner or Saint—and why. A winner will be randomly chosen June 17. Per the publisher: U.S./Canada only, please.

Check out the rest of the stops on the Ruin and Rising blog tour:

Saturday, June 7: Novel Sounds
Sunday, June 8: Dark Readers (UK readers: You can win the same poster we’re giving away at this stop!)
Monday, June 9: The Midnight Garden
Tuesday, June 10: Forever Young Adult—You are here!
Wednesday, June 11: Sister Spooky
Thursday, June 12: Bewitched Bookworms
Friday, June 13: Jess Hearts Books
Saturday, June 14: Mundie Moms
Sunday, June 15: Winged Reviews
Monday, June 16: Cuddlebuggery
Tuesday, June 17: Mac Teen Books

And be sure to connect with Leigh and the Grisha trilogy:

- Learn more about Shadow and Bone and Siege and Storm.
- Like Shadow and Bone on Facebook.
- Join in the convo on social media with #RuinAndRising.
- Add Ruin and Rising to your to-read list on Goodreads.
- Visit Leigh Bardugo’s website, follow her on Twitter and follow her on Tumblr.

And, as a reminder, Ruin and Rising will be available June 17.