Ruin and Rising

Gr 9 Up—In the culmination of Bordugo's trilogy, Alina is fighting the Darkling and searching for the Firebird with a small group of supporters who are tortured and tested every step of the way. This series offers an escape from reality into a world of magic powers, grief, romance, and adventure. Alina Starkov has lost her parents, almost loses her friends, and is put through unspeakable torture and suffering, but she continues her quest in spite of all she endures. Lauren Fortgang narrates the series and does an excellent job of distinguishing each character with different accents and personalities; the listener always knows who is speaking. The book does not have much introductory description to the different characters, and listeners would benefit from following the series from the start. The many twists and turns in the plot can be hard to follow if the audiobook is listened to in short spurts. The ideal solution would be to take a long car trip and settle in for at least two hours at a time.—Ellen Frank, Flushing High School Library, NY