Ruin and Rising — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with the Netflix series, Shadow and Bone. Daring rogue Nikolai finally joins the fold in Season 2 -- covering explosive events of both Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising -- streaming now!
Enter the Grishaverse with Book Three of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom.
Soldier. Summoner. Saint. The nation’s fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.
The Darkling rules from his shadow throne while a weakened Alina Starkov recovers from their battle under the dubious protection of the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Now her hopes lie with the magic of a long-vanished ancient creature and the chance that an outlaw prince still survives.
As her allies and enemies race toward war, only Alina stands between her country and a rising tide of darkness that could destroy the world. To win this fight, she must seize a legend’s power—but claiming the firebird may be her ruin.
A New York Times Bestselling Series
A USA Today Bestseller
This title has Common Core connections.
Read all the books in the Grishaverse!
The Shadow and Bone Trilogy
(previously published as The Grisha Trilogy)
Shadow and Bone
Siege and Storm
Ruin and Rising
The Six of Crows Duology
Six of Crows
Crooked Kingdom
The King of Scars Duology
King of Scars
Rule of Wolves
The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic
The Severed Moon: A Year-Long Journal of Magic
The Lives of Saints
Demon in the Wood Graphic Novel
Praise for the Grishaverse
“A master of fantasy.” —The Huffington Post
“Utterly, extremely bewitching.” —The Guardian
“This is what fantasy is for.” —The New York Times Book Review
“[A] world that feels real enough to have its own passport stamp.” —NPR
“The darker it gets for the good guys, the better.” —Entertainment Weekly
“Sultry, sweeping and picturesque. . . . Impossible to put down.” —USA Today
“There’s a level of emotional and historical sophistication within Bardugo’s original epic fantasy that sets it apart.” —Vanity Fair
“Unlike anything I’ve ever read.” —Veronica Roth, bestselling author of Divergent
“Bardugo crafts a first-rate adventure, a poignant romance, and an intriguing mystery!” —Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series
Frequently asked questions
Is Ruin and Rising appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The book contains hand-to-hand combat, weapon use, and magic, resulting in characters being injured and killed. There are also references to torture and graphic descriptions of battles, indicating a moderate level of violence. While the book contains intense scenes involving combat and peril, there is no content that would be classified as genuinely frightening or likely to cause fear or nightmares.
Does Ruin and Rising have violence?
The book contains hand-to-hand combat, weapon use, and magic, resulting in characters being injured and killed. There are also references to torture and graphic descriptions of battles, indicating a moderate level of violence.
Does Ruin and Rising have scary content?
While the book contains intense scenes involving combat and peril, there is no content that would be classified as genuinely frightening or likely to cause fear or nightmares.
Does Ruin and Rising have religious themes?
The narrative features a group of zealots who worship the main character, Alina, as a saint, indicating the presence of religious themes. Additionally, the author has discussed the role of religion in the Grisha world, suggesting it is a significant aspect of the story.
Does Ruin and Rising have racial/cultural content?
There are no explicit themes of racism or racial dynamics that are central to the plot. Discussions about ethnicities in the worldbuilding have been criticized, but these do not constitute a clear racial theme in the narrative.
Does Ruin and Rising have profanity?
The book includes a couple of instances of mild profanity, which is noted in reviews discussing the language used throughout the narrative.
Does Ruin and Rising have climate change?
There are no themes related to climate activism, environmentalism, or climate denialism present in the book.
Does Ruin and Rising have sexual identity?
There are instances of kissing, flirting, and a brief sex scene in the book. Additionally, two minor female characters are depicted in a romantic relationship, contributing to the sexual content.
Does Ruin and Rising have gender roles?
The book features strong female characters, particularly Alina, but does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. The narrative focuses on fantasy elements and character dynamics rather than gender themes.
Does Ruin and Rising have lgbtq+ themes?
The book includes gay and lesbian characters, with some receiving significant attention in the narrative. This inclusion is confirmed by the author, Leigh Bardugo, who has stated that these characters are present in the series and get more page time in the third book.
