RUIN AND RISING BY LEIGH BARDUGO

[@snowcherryleopard]

Out of all of Alina's love interests I like Nikolai the best. I felt like they had potential together and could have grown feelings for each other over time. Alina's scenes with Nikolai when he got turned into the creature made me very emotional.

[@Lilabeela1998]

thats true, although i mostly wanted alina to be with mal cuz like childhood best friends in love and all that jazz, i low-key really was sad when she didn't want to rule with him and i was kinda un satisfying. I just finished reading it a few hours ago and i feel so empty now 😢. Hopefully the bonus features can hold me off till i get another

[@sm92127]

Me too, I think the darkling was.... definitely complicated and their relationship would be toxic, and I didn't like Mal at all

[@SaxophoneAsh]

I need more Nikolai. I love him too much

[@ender4344]

You got King of Scars now :D

[@multifandom_comfort_charac6894]

We got King of Scars now. :):):)

[@arcadiastyles3459]

I was and always will be a lover of the Darkling, maybe not as a romantic partner for Alina, but I dont think he deserved to die. his death was so heartbreaking and he never got a chance at redemption, I wish he would've lost his power instead of Alina

[@ender4344]

There were parts when i thought that there would be a redemtion arc in the other book and i was still hoping for it here.

[@ender4344]

if both Alina and the Darkling lost their powers, then the Darkling wouldve had a chance at redemption. That was what i was hoping for tbh They wouldve been good friends if they had a shot at it

[@abookishworld1]

Same ! The Darkling was my favourite character in the entire trilogy , but I kind if mentally prepared myself for his death, because I cried for two days, thinking that Mal died. And he didn't even die . Though, I agree the Darkling should have been given a chance to redeem himself

[@socialistgirlboss7515]

SPOILER I honestly loved the Darkling so much. He was so misunderstood like in the end, he just wanted to not be alone, he wanted someone like him. Throughout his life, he was considered an abomination. Like come on guys, HIS MOTHER DIED. HIS death made me so upset. When he just said "Don't let me be alone." I cried like a baby.

[@i.s.3217]

Linta Rasheed I completely agree. He felt as if he didn't belong and was the only one of his kind. I completely lost it when he finally spoke, "don't let me be alone." :c

[@masha1683]

IKR. I know he did so many horrible things, but I was always rooting for him and I just wished he would be redeemed and become a good guy and end up with Alina. To me it seemed like they belonged together. They were two halves of a whole, balancing each other. It reminds me of the way I ship Rey and Kylo Ren lol

[@sm92127]

@@i.s.3217 I.....kind of agree, like the Darkling did SO many horrible things but he was such a complicated character and he was definitely a good villian but I think his death was well written and it needed to happen

[@ender4344]

His last words are haunting me. HE DID NOT DESERVE TO DIEEEEEEEE. He and Alina both shouldve lost their powers and had a shot at redemption and then a normal life maybe

[@michellexbeauty9832]

didnt his mother die bc of him LMAO

[@morganblanch6164]

I really wanted Alina to be with The Darkling. Wouldn't it have been so cool if Alina had pulled an Anakan Skywalker and went to the dark side? Okay, that would have never happened, but it's still preferable to her being with Mal. I hate that guy. Pumped for Six of Crows!!!

[@Rebecca-qj1uk]

Morgan Blanch I totally agree. I would've rather the book end tragically where she became and evil and Dark and Alina ruled over the fold. And then Leigh could made a really cool with a 1000 years later where someone over throws Alina.

[@mullermuller2599]

The darkling remember me at anakin skywalker so much i wish alina turned in light side

[@ender4344]

I dont want them to be together romantically because what he did to Alina would get in the way but yeah. Maybe lol

[@Kamila-eb9pz]

I personally think that Alina and the Darkling are kinda alike, I mean Alina abandoned 50 people on the skiff to save Mal, that was selfish. She's not that different compared to the Darkling

[@asraa3589]

"Someone to mourn me" "speak my name once more" "Don't let me be alone." I cried when Aleksander, the darkling died. He just doesn't want to be alone. He loved Ravka . And he also want to be loved by Ravka.

[@JustEssayIt]

SPOILER ALERT FOR THIS COMMENT I know right? Nobody likes Mal! It just didn't feel right, because it was like Alina going back to what she knew, what was safe, what has always been there. Like she never went through everything that happened in the book. It just seemed a bit implausible that after all that, it'd just be like "and they lived happily ever after".

[@Myr642]

SPOILERS AHEAD!!! Agh I HATE Mal, he only ever wanted Alina when she needed him. As soon as she leaves the post is when he has feelings for her, when she's trying to deal with a frigin war and they can't spend as much time together he gets all butt hurt, and there's even more then that! Mal got on my nerves from the middle of the fist book and my hatred grew from there. I was happy when he died for that short while.

[@addictivegamer102]

+Myranda Barton I agree! I just finished the trilogy and was so annoyed at Mal's immaturity. Mal was all "wahh pay attention to me, I don't care that Ravka is in the middle of a war, I want to be loved wahh!!" Lol I wanted her to either take the throne with Nikolai or do her own thing. But ugh Alina and Mal returned back to Keramzin orphanage. -_- I still loved this book though.

[@GalacticHeroOfTime]

I definitely agree with you. I hated Mal so much! Too bad he couldn't just stay dead. Him coming back to life was so freakin cheesy!

[@diva2infinity_xo17]

BUT THEY ENDED UP HAPPY AT THE END TOGETHER soo😌😝 #MALINA and #byegirl

[@Myr642]

Diva2infinity_xo sure, only after she didn't have her power anymore so Mal could finally feel like her world revolved around only him :)

[@Lilabeela1998]

Myranda Barton DAMN

[@leaninglights]

*SPOILERS AHEAD* Totally agree about Nikolai! i wanted more closure. I actually shipped Nik & Alina. It kind of caught me off guard and then when they didn't end up together, which I wasn't expecting anyway, I was somehow disappointed. TOtally agree about the Darkling too... I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and it never did for me. I was never rooting for him. Eh, that's just me though! Excited to read Six of Crows!!! :D Great review

[@ruuuuuskimychica]

+leaninglights I expected The Darkling to be more dark. *Spoilers* Wanting to expand the Fold and rule the land just didn't do it for me. After reading some other stories in which the foe is unbelievably horrific, the Darkling was more like a whimper than a roar.

[@areaguilar9549]

leaninglights TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOUUU

[@starzaaa]

*SPOILERS AHEAD* One of the things that broke my heart and not many people talk about was that Alina lost her powers. I literally felt so sad for her. I never expected that to happen. Like, that it would be permanent you know?. And you actually see years later that it did affect her and is still grieving very deeply. I don't know, they like, ripped a part of her from her soul. I just thought that was very sad. :(

[@darcysimp331]

starza96 she ended up exactly where she started and it truly breaks my heart

[@masha1683]

I know >.< The scene where she plays with the beam of light in the window in the epilogue ugh... I feel so bad for her.

[@ender4344]

Yeah... :(

[@siham3394]

"-because nobody likes Mal." Yes. This is completely true.

[@Marie45610]

Leigh needs to write a book or a short story about Nikolai.

[@jilltomlinson654]

Yes!!!

[@ninacbk1836]

+Marie She will. I asked that when I met her :)

[@Marie45610]

***** I figured it was, considering it's one of his names. I was thinking something more like his time as Privateer. :)

[@diana-qf5dw]

+Marie yes! He was such an interesting character and I was so disappointed when we didn't delve deeper into his character in R&R :(

[@carok9140]

she will! it comes out 2019 I think

[@fieke.]

ha! I shiped Malina right from the beginning, never stopped shipping them.. I really don't understand why people don't like Mal, he's just Alina's best friend and they become lovers. Anyways, I'm happy with the ending X-D

[@coreyd5418]

+Fieke de kiefte Same here.

[@lisa.hennessey19]

Fieke de kiefte thank you!!! I loved Mal too!! he was willing to do anything for her. he admitted he always liked her and he was scared of ruining their friendship which is very common to happen!! it's how my fiancé and I are and were - best friends for 10 years and now we've been dating for 11 years!! so I loved him and that he was willing to let her go to be who she could become and that he was willing to be essentially a nothing so she could shine. she would never have gotten to where she was without him and people seem to not remember that. and while I love Nikolai, he didn't love her and wanted to marry her for her powers. yes they were friends, but they both deserve better. Malina was always end game for me so I'm very happy with the ending! he deserved her after everything he did for her!

[@rashmiprashant555]

Me too

[@muazamunir8210]

Same here!

[@chelsea_1395]

Emily D YAY I found people who love Mal. I just truly loved Mal. ❤️😊

[@jessical3151]

Loved your review, thank you so much. I love Nikolai as well - his humor and sarcasm!! I was secretly rooting for Alina and Nikolai, and was very dissapointed with his ending - I need closure as well! I think I enjoyed the character growth probably the most in these books and still gave it 5 stars because I loved the overall experience.

[@Rebecca-qj1uk]

SPOOOIIILLLEEERRRRSSSS OKAY, I have to rant. I couldn't stand Mal from the beginning, oh my gosh. Like, i wanted her to be with nickolaie so bad. Like, the author fricken dangles Nickalaie and Alina being together, but you know it won't happen. I rather her be with Darkling then mal. He's just so bland and so boring and just whyyyyy

[@ender4344]

Yeahh ikrrrrr!!!! Mal is so annoying. She was better off alone, or with Nikolai or even with the Darkling!!!

[@darcysimp331]

The ending truly just broke my heart. The fact that Alina goes through all this shit but ends up where she started at the beginning of the series, powerless, yanked my heart out and blitsed it up. The way the Darkling goes was hard too. He was my fav and was a truly complex character. The way he loved Ravka and wanted for there to be a place truly welcoming for the Grisha seemed overshadowed by practically all but Alina. In the end, he died in such a mortal way; just as Aleksander with a dream for a better world for his people.

[@ender4344]

Yeah :(

[@coreyd5418]

So the Mal/Alina shippers were in the minority? I finished the trilogy a little bit ago and shipped Mal and Alina together from the beginning. I guess I'm not super devoted to the Mal/Alina ship, but it just seemed like there was no other way for it to go. I don't like the Darkling/Alina. The Darkling's actions were just WAY too bad for me to ship him with anyone. *Spoilers* After what he did to Genya and then his own mother, he was past any redemption beyond a heroic sacrifice for me. As for Alina and Nikolai, well, I loved Nikolai, but I felt that the two were better off as friends than together. I felt like if they got together it would ruin what they had together.

[@sarbanibhattacharjee1707]

Thank u so much!!!! I am such a strong alina and mal shipper.... Although it didn't matter to me but... It did!!!

[@muazamunir8210]

Same here

[@mullermuller2599]

I hate that the darkling died but the dead scene was so well written that tears came up from my eyes

[@TheJDSeibel]

YES thank you! The lack of closure for Nikolai was something that bugged! Overall did like the series and liked the way it ended. :)

[@mooviedude141]

Gotta disagree man,I thought each book in the trilogy got worse. Book 1 was incredible and hooked me in,absolutely wonderful fantasy novel. Book 2 was solid but really dragged in the middle. Book 3 dragged at the beginning,had a solid middle but really let me down at the end with some poor story turns.

[@ambia0720]

I really liked Mal throughout this series and I thought it was obvious that him and Alina were meant to be together. There was no other possible ship for me besides Mal and Alina, as much as I like Nikolai, I knew he was just destined to be her friend.

[@taylorheston7390]

Ambience I totally agree!!!

[@delrose7026]

Me too

[@TaylorRaeBooks]

SPOILERS AHEAD Okay so the only thing I didn't understand is WHY SHE FELT SHE HAD TO KILL MAL. WHY COULDNT HE JUST HOLD ON TO HER WRIST AND THEN SHED HAVE THE POWER. IT HAD WORKED BEFORE. COME ON.

[@taylorheston7390]

I just finished it this morning! I actually like Mal simply because I felt that was how the story was going. SPOILER each before and after was about Alina and Mal, the underlying story was ultimately about them. But I did swoon for the Darkling and Nickolai, I just didn't see them as end game.

[@emmxoxk]

Am I the only darklina shipper? Probs😅

[@__ishaax__a4029]

Yes

[@areaguilar9549]

Me too

[@zahirareads4538]

no you're not ! i was rooting for him :)

[@masha1683]

Emily Jeanine no! I ship them a lot, I just wish the Darkling did not become so evil and that he became a good guy or semi-good guy in the end but he just died... I wanted Alina to rule as equals with him. I didn’t want him to keep doing horrible things because that would make it less likely for Alina to be able to forgive him. At least Alina still kinda mourned his death. I also ship her with Nikolai, but not so much Mal

[@elonaackerman4163]

Not at all. They were made for each other despite Alexander issues

[@erinnichols531]

Watching this after King of Scars has been released has me yelling, "just you wait, Nikolai's time is coming!"

[@folklorevermore13]

Nikolina for the win!

[@maddiejones5298]

about the closure with nikolai thing, leigh has said that she really wants to write a book about him sometime after six of crows is done! Im so excited!

[@l.k.4303]

SPOILER I liked the Darkling in the beginning ( first book) and in the end when he was kinda redeemed, but I am a Mal fan. I love him in S&B but in S&S, he seemed out of character, so to speak, not being around Alina much and being quiet. I was happy they ended up together, but I wish that the Darkling maybe was fully redeemed? Idk, but I thought the ending was sweet, but I sort of want Alina to have her powers and Malina to stay with the Grisha and their friends somehow. The ending felt TOO MUNDANE for Mal and Alina, because that are so important. But, like I said, the end was sweet with Keramzin and Zoya delivering the Kefta with the note. Btw, I LIKED Zoya, I found he kind of relatable in being a female character who is sassy and takes charge! ( I also look like her and act like her sometimes, so I am biased 😁) If anyone has any recommendations of books with female leads like Zoya, please tell me by commenting on this comment! Idk what to read, TOTALLY stumped. Oh, AND I wish Alina had her powers as well as Mal with his tracking. ITS WHO THEY ARE!!! I would be fine with the amplifiers breaking and other people being sun summoners, but at least give my girl her powers!!!

[@kabask.1063]

Right when I paused it he said the Darklings death......AHHHHHHH WHY

[@danielatj2000]

Series I have never heard of.... Glad you finished the series !!! Congratulations!!!

[@CluelessStacey]

I almost fell asleep, but your energy woke me up. HOW DARE YOU

[@andresramirezmorgan3200]

I never really liked Nikolai, so I guess I´m one of the few that actually loved Mal as endgame in this final book Anyway great review! Greetings from Costa Rica!

[@alicehe1633]

I was so upset that Alina didn't end up with Nikolai :( I never really liked Mal

[@shirin2909]

SPOILERS I feel like Alina and Darkling would’ve been perfect. Opposites attract 😂 but the Darkling was so misunderstood. His whole life circulated around this trauma and fundamental belief his mother put in him, that he is alone and eternity. He just wanted to not be alone and Alina allowed that. Also, if you’ve read the short story at the end you see that he wanted to make things better for the Grisha, which he kinda did with the Second Army. But then greed happened blah blah 😒. But anyways, I feel like if he was understood and got closure he might’ve changed. The Darkling’s death was so anticlimactic too. I feel like he shouldn’t have died in the first place. He didn’t get his redemption and he pretty much died alone. he opens up to Alina but she would just lose his trust by betraying, which I understand cuz it’s a war, but that must’ve taken some sort of toll on the Darkling. I think he shouldn’t have died and have a different ending where maybe he lost his powers. Maybe both Alina and the Darkling lost theirs powers, making it their sacrifice for the worlds balance. That would’ve been a more satisfying ending in my opinion. About Mal... I liked him in the first book and thought he was a pretty cool dude but then it changed. In the first book he was his own person but in the second I didn’t like how Bardugo made him into a guard. It was definitely a downgrade. Also Mal’s attitude was annoying. In general he was annoying in the first, second, and first half of the third books. Near the end of Ruin and Rising he had some character change but was still kinda eh. When he found out he was a third amplifier he got back with Alina and I was just like come on...now you’re gonna be with her because your a good and useful ‘soldier’. He couldn’t just stop being petty before because he wasn’t useful or failure. He should’ve been a bit more independent and his own character and not Alina’s gaurd. Anyways I’m super excited for the Netflix show coming out!!!

[@ender4344]

I wholeheartedly agree with this comment

[@ReadingMissFroggy]

I did not like Mal or the Darkling. If it were up to me Alina would be single since she does not deserve Nikolai in my opinion xD

[@serenity8910]

(SPOILER!) If the Darkling ended up becoming good, that would have been really cliche!

[@jessethereader]

+elepop would it be though??

[@imano5295]

+elepop Agree!

[@diana-qf5dw]

+elepop it would have been a cliché, but in my opinion it would have been one of those good clichés. Like the type that you actually like to see.

[@meahrbenicxox]

Yes! even his mother said hes beyond redemption xD

[@franzmarquez7589]

+elepop crap u i haven't read all the books yet

[@hedvigteilmann7099]

Alina losing her powers was just a big no from me. Her powers were the core of who she was. I think it would have been better if the amplifiers broke because she said herself that her powers weren’t much without them. I don’t think her and Nikolai should have ended up together 1) they are better as friends 2) he was all about planning the next move and presenting himself to others which Alina didn’t want, Alina wanted stability and realness 3) nikolai needs to get with zoya. It would have been interesting if the darkling lost his powers because that would really have ruined him. Overall I think the whole creating new sun summoners wasn’t the best route and Alina should have kept her powers.

[@DaniellaBooks]

In my opinion I think the Nikolai thing should've happened at the very very end of Siege and Storm. 1) it would added more shock factor to the ending of that book 2) he would've had more time to recover and grow throughout the third book or possibly have a redeeming moment to bring his character back. I felt like the place where that thing happened in the third book just seemed kinda random, ya know? x

[@lev924]

We wouldn't have had that satisfying Genya confrontation with the King tho :(

[@ender4344]

@@lev924 oh yeah. Okay, i now like they way the Nikolai thing happened

[@n0adri]

My biggest gripe with this ending was how Alina regressed. She went through so much growth during this trilogy and was really starting to shine as a leader of some sort ( the Apparat even says that she turned out to be more 'queen' than he'd expected) and then she just.... fizzled out. It was really annoying. It was always stressed how the Grisha world was ravaged by war and injustice, it was even shown how strongly Alina and Mal were affected by growing up as orphans, and she had the power and influence to at least attempt to change that but she just chose an ordinary life. Also, no one goes through so much growth and trauma would be so able to fit back into their previous life, anyway. Doesn't seem plausible, psychologically.

[@shannonscott4356]

I LOVE MAL

[@zadykelli3743]

Ohh yay I'm so happy that you finally finished this series and we got to hear your thoughts! I was wondering, have you read the mini-stories/folktales yet? They were very good

[@verdicious222]

Wow from u talking about this trilogy I really wanna read them great video Jessie😃😃

[@ruch9595]

You are so spot on , on this Trilogy. I think i am going to trust your opinion more :-)

[@Lilabeela1998]

Ruch cant tell if thats a compliment or a roast 😂

[@clelialacarriere7841]

Am I the only one who love Mal ???❤️❤️❤️

[@Yokie05]

"Darkling would've ended up on the good side" This ain't Disney

[@ender4344]

Saints, i still wish he did tho

[@ShelleensCreativityRoom]

Love this series!!!

[@candymoneer1680]

I disagree with most of your opinions. Most people are saying that the ending was basically Alina returning to the start as if nothing happened and I feel like the point of this trilogy is that it was never supposed to happen. That kind of power was never supposed to exist and Alina does feel the loss of her abilities but she understands that she doesn't have to be all powerful to make a big difference. "I don't have to be grisha to wield grisha steel." And the thing with Mal. Yes, I didn't like him for many parts of this book and I was hoping she'd either end up with someone else or no one at all but a lot of people are missing on his remarkable character development. Going from wanting to abandon ravka and being salty about Alina fulfilling her role to literally giving his life for ravka and for Alina and for everyone he cared about.

[@penelopeabreu4083]

Why do so many people hate Mal? He and Nikolai were my favorite characters??? I also really liked Alina with Mal is this not a popular opinion? I am confusion big oof

[@jalenh5840]

i heard that he was going to talk about spoilers but i wasnt ready for the 1st one im only on chapter 8

[@98volleyballqueen]

I love Mallll

[@caithurlee166]

1. I don’t like, Mal. I truly don’t. This has never really happened with me, I usually like the endgame, but I just don’t like Mal, which sucks because that aspect really kept me from falling in love with this series. 2. Nikolai deserved a better ending. I wish that he was introduced in the first book, turned into the creature in the second, and in the third kind of getting over that and developing more as character and letting us get to know him better. He deserved a better story. 3. The Darkling’s death was anticlimactic to me and way sadder than Mal’s temporary death, which I think says something. I wanted redemption for the Darkling, I wanted something more than for him to just die. AGH, I’m maddd... I read this series mostly because I had already bought it and felt I should read it before I read Six of Crows or else Id never get it it because I’ve heard Six of Crows is much better. So, I’m super ready to dive into that story.

[@ender4344]

YEAH IKRR

[@caithurlee166]

@@ender4344 King of Scars is where it’s at!! 2 and 3 are handled.

[@ender4344]

Cait Hurlee I've just started it. And Nikolai is amazing lol

[@denissemargaritaelizondoes6789]

Agree with everything you said. And I also dislike Mal. Six of Crows is way better in the character aspect, the plot is a bit more simple but it works great ;) Great video. Greetings from Mexico :D

[@kconfess4281]

I think he should have stayed dead to move the plot forward,not because I hated him or anything. It just would have been more believable. Alina didn’t really go well with anyone in my opinion. Despite the darkling’s sexiness he was unredeemable and mal was a bit drab. That leaves Nikolai but I have no idea where that would go. Honestly, his ending was very abrupt. He went through a lot of shit, but we never saw how far that went. For example, in Sarah J Mass’s Queen of Shadows Dorian got possessed and stuff, yet we saw her delve into his mind and what he felt. I think we needed some more closure overall. Leigh Bardugo is still one of my top 3 favourite authors.

[@meredithm.7127]

Everything you said, 100%. I did NOT expect the Darkling to die. I kept waiting for him to redeem himself, since everyone LOVES him, and nope! :\ Also, I don't like Mal that much either. I REALLY wanted more closure for Nikolai and I really shipped him and Alina, sigh :\ Someone said they heard a rumor he's going to get his own spin-off, though...? Not sure if it's legit, but fingers crossed!!!

[@ender4344]

Yeah Also, Nikolai's story: King of Scars duology! :D

[@heeyitszey]

I accidentally stayed a little more than I should have and I'm screaming beacuse that spoiler!!

[@OliviaSmith-ig5bl]

SPOILERS!!! I love the darkling I think his character is so deep and real but I do not like Alina and the Darkling together. He’s put her through too many awful things that I think she wouldn’t be able to get over. I think the Mal thing was a bit over done but I’m glade they ended up together. I would’ve been even more mad if Mal and Alina ended up together and she was ruling the little palace cause Mal never wanted that. I never really read these books for the romance side of things because it just was never anything special

[@silverreads1783]

Oh nice. Ive never heard of these!

[@GymnasticChickz]

I absolutely hated mal as a character. I just found him so boring and bland and he really had no purpose in the story but I LOVE Nikolai and I also wish we could've gotten more closure with him. Also, can't wait to hear your thoughts on six of crows! I'm reading rn and will hopefully be finished by the time your review goes up

[@pisces-yd5hz]

Does alina get her powers back in this book?

[@sagetucker5558]

i was so mad when she ended up with Mal. me: NOOOOOO she could have been solo!

[@danielatj2000]

I am intrigued...

[@amyjogreen]

Bardugo has a Nikolai book in mind so he couldn't be super wrapped up. She isn't 100% doing it, but she has a plan.

[@elmy-books2010]

Oh no. I cannot un-hear what was heard. I was just about to leave when Jesse said spoilers and then BAM I got spoiled. Why did I do this to myself. Ughhhhhhhh *tries to erase said spoiler* *ends up crying in corner*

[@diananava9078]

have you read clockwork prince yet???? If you have please do a book talk.

[@hollybrielle1491]

Whelp. The good news is that Leigh Bardugo has said that she doesn't think she's done with Nikolai yet, and wants to write a proper love story for him. Hopefully she really goes through with that. In the meantime..... I'll just keep waiting impatiently like I do for all the books I want in my hands when they aren't out yet xD

[@elivenya-theautisticbookwy9638]

It's interesting that the end was suprising for you. I read the first book and it was ok for me. Some cliches but still full of oportunities and the setting the russian flair was a nice diversion. Then i read the second book and i was completely disapointed. The world splits up into black and white and all hope for a suprise was gone. For me it was clear that the thrid book endet in that way. And i hated it for being so predictable. Sorry for my poor english and kind regards from germany.

[@niabrown7150]

REMEMBER JESSE NOVEMBER 3rd PLEEEEEEEEASE

[@camilasummers]

Please tell me I'm not the only one that loves the Darkling 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ I didn't want to fall for him, but I just couldn't help it 🖤🖤

[@jaderussian18]

Hi Jesse!!! Can you ever do a meet up in Florida? I really want to meet you! ;)

[@kinderalrashdi8092]

FUUUUUUCK I WAS WHEN YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE GETTING TO THE SPOILER SECTION I WAS ABOUT TO CLOSE THE VIDEO BUT MY MOM TALKED TO ME SO I GIT DISTRICTED AND I HEART A HUGE SPOILER NO NO NO NO NO I STILL HAVE NOT STARTED THE SERIES ugggghhhhh

[@kinderalrashdi8092]

Oh wow there's a lot of typos

[@epilogue8827]

There should be a series only about Nikolai and his adventures as You-Know-Who :P

[@lisa.hennessey19]

I loved Mal! he was willing to do anything for her. he admitted he always liked her and he was scared of ruining their friendship which is very common to happen!! it's how my fiancé and I are and were - best friends for 10 years and now we've been dating for 11 years!! so I loved him and that he was willing to let her go to be who she could become and that he was willing to be essentially a nothing so she could shine. she would never have gotten to where she was without him and people seem to not remember that. and while I love Nikolai, he didn't love her and wanted to marry her for her powers. yes they were friends, but they both deserve better. Malina was always end game for me so I'm very happy with the ending! he deserved her after everything he did for her!

[@LatinLector]

I loved this series!! I'm apparently one of the only people that was ok with Mal. Oh well. Lol.

[@karli5176]

SPOILER OMG I WANTEDDD ALINAA WITH NIKOLAI OFNGKDJG

[@lavieenrose0824]

Do the waltz🕺🏻💃🏻

[@AstreaMartinez]

The ending made me angry and broke my effing heart.

[@b.o4788]

I like Mal as a character but as a love interest, not so much. I'd prefer him over the darkling forever. I don't see Alina with anyone.

[@MC-ps3ul]

I actually liked the ending and I don’t mind Mal I think I actually like him haha

[@ninacbk1836]

Leigh Bardugo is gonna write a short story on Nikolai soon!

[@livingamongpages]

Are you a mind reader too? Because I thought the same thing about this last book :O

[@danielatj2000]

New book...

[@itsymeg7008]

I'm on Siege and Storm right now but here I am. Haha

[@danielatj2000]

ohhhhh

[@jessethereader]

+Daniela Torres OHHHH

[@danielatj2000]

+jessethereader Congratulations on finishing the trilogy !!! It sounds interesting.

[@vanshgoel9587]

See Jesse..i like you..you are motivated,funny and enthusiastic but..why the hell haven't you read A Song Of Ice And Fire Series..come on they are the best fantasy fiction books ever..please please read them..

[@Vanditha-th8oc]

there is a duology for nikolai😉

[@gorouwatas7282]

I like Mal. 😅

[@adrihappy1983]

Well.. I did like Mal a lot. There.

[@samanthablaw6717]

I can’t wait to read this but I CAN’T BECAUSE LIBRARIES ARE CLOSED AND THE NIGHTMARES ARE COMING TRUE!!!

[@oswald3845]

Am I the only one who didn’t mind Mal?

[@DefineMorena]

Everyone's reaction to their sunken ships have me on the floor laughing xD I'm glad I don't ship xD

[@Sired2Klaus]

I literally just got bacm from buying Ruin and Rising. Then I look on my subscriptions to see this video Lol #suspicious

[@catarina204]

I also don't like Mal, not even in the first book!

[@leledeed90]

I am still confused how Nikolai changed his face if he wasn’t grisha? And Alina never talked bout how Mal kinda cheated on her with zoya. I also don’t like zoya. Like I get she’s meant to be the mean nasty girl but honestly some of the things she said to the others while in depressing and sad times she was SO FRICKEN RUDE to EVERYONE. And everyone played it as funny and “oh that’s that zoya for u” NO, she’s a horrible person. She was so horrible! Mal, Boi OMG I CANT. The last bit of the last book I kinda respected him But then remembered how e is so vanilla and simple. I never got the feels for him. He was so annoying when she was trying to help save the world and he would not stop COMPLAINING ABOUT HER POWERS, AND HOW BOREDDDDD HE IS. LIKE IM SORRY BUT SHES TRYING TO SAVE LIVES, PLAN A WAR, NO ONE LIKES IT BUDDY BUT ITS WHAT HAS TO BE DONE, Boi IDIOT SHUT UP. “Buhuh but..but... I want the normal Alina boo back 😢” BOI PEOPLE CHANGE SHE IS THE WAY SHE IS NOW, GET OVER IT. Like I just can’t. The ending just didn’t satisfy me, she just went back to her old life, no powers, a new person and life, just the way Mal wanted it. Like I would have been QUEEN BRO. Or even stayed with my friends. Nope, everything she worked for she threw Away. Also how the FRICK DID MAL LIVE. What what WHAT. How did they bring him back to life?? NIKOLAI IS A BABE HOW DARE SHE TURN HIM DOWN. How did she not get with him. I mean she can have the Mal I’ll take nik😏 Mal and Alinas relationship is probably one of the worst relationship I have ever read. I don’t get how she wrote these other characters so good but Mal was done so bad. I don’t get it. It was SO BAD. It hurts my brainnnnn. I love the series so much. But the relationship just made no sense. Good things is I loved the pace of the books. A lot of people complained that it was to fast. But I love the plot moving faster. I hate just diddly daddeling shiz and draw out chapters. I was never ever bored once! I loved it SOOO MUCHH Darkling is also “chef kiss” Favorite characters: Darkling Nikolia Maybe Alina ehhhh idkkkkk

[@ilsenleon2378]

*SPOILERS* Yea I kinda like Mal and some things he does is kinda ehh but I just feel for him as a character. I know a lot of people don't like him but I do. I wish Nikolai had more of a closure though. They were just like "Alright so you're king! Ok bye back to Alina and Mal". Like I wish we had an extra chapter where we visit Nikolai in the palace and see what he's like. I do like the Darkling but I'm not obsessed with him. Like I liked him in the first book and I see how he's complex, but I don't get why everyone just suddenly ships Alina and The Darkling. It doesn't make sense. Ok rant over sorry I just finished this book like two years later after you posted this video

[@danielatj2000]

Ohhh Spoliers!!! Bye !!!

[@BookParadise]

I'm the same way, see an interesting book. Write it down and STOP vid if spoilers and watch after I read it:)

[@danielatj2000]

+BookParadise Yup

[@danielatj2000]

+BookParadise😊😊😊

[@treebark7]

U guys need stop judging Leigh.

[@j0diekinsey543]

i liked mal at first and then he just got annoying

[@erin4823]

I don't understand all this hate for Mal in the comments! Am I the only one who actually likes him? He was the only one who loved Alina for her, not just her powers. That's why when **SPOILER** her powers left her, he was the one she ended up with. Mal was loyal, devoted and loving and reminded me of a more soldier-like version of Peeta Mellark (which could possibly be why I loved him so much). I loved Nikolai and the Darkling as characters, but Alina never loved either of them, and neither of them loved her the way Mal did. All this hate towards Mal from the fandom is an injustice to his character.

[@yuktamuniraj154]

Darkling and Nikolai wanted Alina for her powers( I love Nikolai he is only if my favourite character.. and I respect he didn't force her in the end and loved her even after that) but Mal was everything for her. I know people started disliking him after Siege and storm... I feel it's basic human nature, to see someone Change drastically whom you have known your entire like and behave that way... but in the end he accepted her for who she was.. that's what really matters.

[@SoyLuisHerrera]

le di le di