Warning : spoiler for the last record book in the Grishaverse trilogy , Ruin and Rising .
Summary
Even though theShadow and Bonebook trilogy ended almost 10 years ago , I’m still not over its ending or what happen to Alina . It ’s gruelling to magnify how quickly I descend in love with theShadow and Bonetrilogy and the Grishaverse Leigh Bardugo created . Considering she ’s sold millions of copies and Netflix made aShadow and Boneshow based on the books , I ’m not the only one . The Word of God are dead beloved , and not just the original trilogy , but also theSix of CrowsandKing of Scarsduologies . The world is rich , theShadow and Bonecharacters composite , and the witching organization unique and thoughtfully created . The committal to writing is also elevated - lyrical and lush .
That ’s why it was so dissatisfactory that the original trilogy ended in such a thwarting way of life , at least for Alina ’s theatrical role . I often wonder if Leigh Bardugo would go back and rewrite the ending of theShadow and Bonebooksif she had a option . Of course , lector should never dictate what an author create . Still , I’m hardly in the minority in being unhappy with how theShadow and Bonetrilogy enfold upinRuin and Rising . It was so close to being sodding , but the heroine of it all , Alina , deserved so much better .
The Netflix adaptation of Shadow & Bone changes a act of things from the Bible ; here are the big differences between the book & show .
Custom image by Yailin Chacon
I’m Still Upset About The Shadow & Bone Trilogy’s Ending, 10 Years After Ruin & Rising
It Was So Close To Being Perfect
Look , do n’t get me improper , there are some very cool elements toRuin and Rising ’s tarradiddle and how it reason the trilogy . In particular , the Darkling ’s ending and death were really well done . His terror of being alone and his exposure in his final moments were some of the best writing of the entire trilogy . But overall , I ’m just not thrilled about the style the trilogy ’s story close , and I ’m not alone – Ruin and Risinggets quite a second of flak among readers for its ultimately unsatisfying ending , especially for the elbow room it resolved Alina ’s story so inadequately .
Why Ruin & Rising’s Ending Is So Disappointing (Especially For Alina)
Alina Deserved Better
I sincerely yours think Alina deserve better than the ending she got inRuin and Rising . I in person thought it would have been a perfect ending to Alina ’s journey with her powershad she been able to keep her powers after transferring them to others in the engagement . Alina create an army of Sun Summoners after ( temporarily ) kill Mal was a genuinely powerful consequence that made me want to cheer . Unfortunately , it was immediately undermined by the revelation that she ’d been stripped of her power and could no longer summon sunlight - for good . It was fantastically frustrating that , flop as Alina was start to encompass her Sun Summoner powers , she lost them forever .
Just as dissatisfactory was that she ended up with Mal . The out relationship between her and the Darkling was hot , but she manifestly should n’t have end up with him . But I was n’t well-chosen that she ended up with Mal , either ; theshow improved someShadow and Bonecharacters , and he was one . In the book , Mal was right smart more of a jerk to Alina than he was in the show , which pack down on the more problematic part of his personality from the book . Alina deserve better than both the Darkling and Mal . Ultimately , it felt like her romance with Mal was n’t because he was desirable of her , but simply because he was literally the only man she ’d ever known before the Darkling .
Shadow and Bone had a thrilling season one finale , leave several loose ends . Here is what happens next to each lineament fit in to the al-Qur’an .
Alina Disappearing From The Grishaverse Makes Her Shadow & Bone Fate Even Worse
She Faded From Memory And The Story Itself
After Alina and Mal ’s intertwined tale comes to an end , they essentially retire to their old hometown to take over the orphanage where they were raise , as explained by the epilogue ofRuin and Rising . After that , they ’re mention a few sentence in theKing of Scarsduology , but only in passing . Instead , Alina take on an almost mythical facial expression in the playscript , with the great unwashed referring to the Sun Summoner from metre to fourth dimension , but otherwise , life go back to normal for everyone and Alina and Mal disappearance into obscurity .
While it was Alina ’s and Mal ’s personal determination together to disappear from the public oculus and live a hushed life , I thought it was still disappointing to not see them in theShadow and Boneworld after . It ’s clear Leigh Bardugo mat Alina ’s story was done and over , which is okay . But even the Darkling came back to play a part in the late duology , which just drive home further for me how odd it is that Alina went from being the deliverer of the nation and main admirer to barely an rethink . After her being the beat out kernel of theShadow and Bonebooks , it would have been nice had her level ’s ending had n’t been so quotidian .
Grishaverse Book
Release Year
Shadow and osseous tissue
2012
beleaguering and Storm
2013
Ruin and Rising
2014
Six of Crows
2015
Crooked Kingdom
2016
King of cicatrice
2019
ruler of wolf
2021
