The third book of the Grisha trilogy, Ruin and Rising, was released on June 17, and hopefully you’ve all gotten a chance to read it. If you haven’t, you really should.
Leigh Bardugo, author of the series, talks with EW about the conclusion of the story, and here are some highlights of that interview:
What’s the reaction to Ruin and Rising been like so far?
I didn’t know what to expect, so I sort of battened the hatches and prepared for the worst. But thus far, the response has been so gratifying—lots of tears and “You wrecked me, but I’m sorry it’s over.” I know there’s been some anger too, and that’s not surprising. There’s no ending that will make everyone happy and when you have passionate readers, I think you have to accept that they’re going to be vocal in both their enthusiasm and their frustration.Did you always know how Ruin and Rising would end? Or did it change over the course of the series?
I outline extensively, and the ending of the third book has never changed. There are hints and signposts throughout the series, and I actually worried that too much of what I planned would be given away early.What about how things end with Alina and Mal? Was that always the planned outcome?
Yes. This has always been the story of two refugees—orphans who the world views as expendable, the impact they have on the future of their country, and the cost that war exacts from them both.DreamWorks bought the movie rights to Shadow and Bone. How involved, if at all, are you with the movie process?
At this stage, I’m really just trying to stay out of the way. Publishing and film are such different worlds for writers. From my perspective (and it’s definitely an outsider’s perspective), it seems like a screenwriter creates a blueprint from which the director builds, while a novelist says, “Here’s the house.” Adaptation lies somewhere in between, and if I’m all over the plans trying to move the rooms around, things are going to get messy.What other projects are you working on next?
I just turned in the first draft of The Dregs, a new fantasy novel set in the same world as the Grisha Trilogy. It takes place not long after the events of Ruin and Rising, but in a different country and with a new cast of characters. I describe it as my “Oceans 11,Inglourious Basterds, Dirty Dozen, ragtag band of misfits attempting impossible heist” story.
You can read the full article at Shelf Life | EW.com.
