Siege and Storm
by Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Grisha #2
Published: 04 June 2013
Henry Holt and Co., Hardcover, 432 pages
Source: Library
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WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR SHADOW AND BONE.
Darkness never dies.
Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.
Rating: ★★★★★
I was so afraid that Siege and Storm would be one of those books with the much feared second-book syndrome, especially as I progressed towards the middle of the book. I personally felt that there was quite a bit of fillers, but I suppose it was necessary to help progress the story and to build up the intensity of it.
For those of you who intend to read it, fear not! This book is totally worth your time, especially with the amazing beginning and EPIC ending. And the FEELS! Oh gosh. My heart was ripped out and stuffed back into my chest so many times, and I couldn’t agree more with Alina at some parts!
*spoiler alert* Before I dive into the part which kicked my FEELS into overdrive, only highlight the following paragraph if you want to know what happened!
The part which got me all emotional (i.e. wanting to whip out a few knives and slash around wildly) was when Mal was sparring in the stables, and when he won the round and Zoya went up to him and kissed him. AND HE KISSED BACK. Leigh Bardugo did an excellent job of making me feel how Alina felt right then, especially the part about wanting to punch Mal in the ribs and worsening his injuries, yet wanting to get him to a Healer at the same time. And the epic ending, where Alina looked like she was offering herself up to the Devil himself, the Darkling! It was terrible, falling apart on the inside.
Also, it’s amazing how Alina grows so much, yet I didn’t really notice the changes until Mal pointed it out along the way. It’s rather scary, though, how a person can change so much and it being so subtle at the same time.
Oh, yes. Sturmhond is so annoyingly attractive, and it just makes loving/hating him so difficult. What’s more, he’s actually really intelligent. I always have to pause to take in how much meaning his words actually have when I want to wring his neck.
I thoroughly enjoyed how Leigh Bardugo was able to incorporate humour into the story all while keeping the tone consistent. I’ve read books which have humour coming in random and short bursts, which is pretty odd. Not in the case of Siege and Storm, though. Mal and Alina were able to make me smile through the way the interacted (they have such natural chemistry!), even in public. I probably looked crazy smiling at words on a book, but who cares when you’re reading a good one?
Ruin and Rising is sitting right in front of me, so I’ll be off reading that! And, as I quote Adel: “My survival is not guaranteed.”
A Page of Heaven 