Review: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

The Grisha #2

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Publication Date: June 4th, 2013

Rating: 4 Stars

Source: Purchase

Pages: 435

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Pages (from Goodreads):

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. 

I'm not 100% sure how to recap this story without it either being filled with spoilery things (I mean, maybe that doesn't matter since this book has been out for a couple years, but maybe you're slow to the party like me) or without it just being overly long winded and wordy. So the Goodreads summary will have to do! I don't really think I could do it justice either.

I still really liked Alina in this book. She has become stronger than any Grisha seems to be meant to become. She is hailed as a Saint and worshipped. Her power is changing her and she loves it and wants more and that scares her. She finds herself in some interesting new company, people who help her escape the Darkling for a second time. She finds herself in command of an army and struggles to take charge of a group who don't really seem to immediately care for her being in charge. She really doesn't seem to be as confident as she should be. I don't even know what all to say about Alina, I just really like her. I feel like I can relate to her really well. I LOVE HER!

Before I start, I am totally still team Mal. But like I found him to be a douchebag in the beginning of Shadow and Bone, I find him to be a douchebag in parts of Siege and Storm as well. He's so sweet and caring and protective in the beginning, and I can see why that changes. He doesn't really see where he fits in in Alina's immediate and ambitious plans. He is no longer a soldier and he isn't Grisha, he's just kind of along for the ride and he doesn't necessarily like the changes he sees in Alina. He kinda acts butthurt and childish, I thought, but again, I can totally see why. I feel like in the end, he at least kind of sees the error of his ways, but still, come on Mal, don't be like that.

The Darkling starts to feel more villainous to me than he did in Shadow and Bone. He has acquired a wicked new power and totally uses it for evil. He isn't really present in a lot of this book, but he is definitely not just pushed to the background.

You're introduced to several new characters in this book! Most importantly are Sturmhond, Tolya, and Tamar. I loved all of them. I loved Sturmhond's sense of humor and general outlook on life. He's so sarcastic and optimistic. Tolya and Tamar work with Sturmhond and they eventually end up as members of Alina's personal guard. They take their jobs really seriously and do a very good job and are very protective and I just really liked them too.

I don't like how this story went for Genya. Despite how Alina can't decide how to feel about her, I still really like her and I wanted better for her!! 

I feel like most of the action of this book takes place right away in the beginning and then slows down for a lot of the book. I didn't think it was bad slow, but after that epic and action packed beginning, really not a lot seemed to happen until the end. I really enjoyed the story in this book as well. This book didn't give me that lame feeling that a lot of second books in series do.

I CANNOT wait to get to Ruin and Rising to see how this series ends! I would highly recommend this series to any and all! Especially lovers of fantasy and just anyone! I'm SO glad that I finally got around to reading these, they are so amazing!