Siege and Storm

I am the Sun Summoner. And I'm the only chance you have.

Leigh why

This was the quintessential mild, inoffensive middle book. It slowed right down and was a character-builder start to finish, which I appreciate sequels for most of all (though it may have been a little too slow). Alina's actually turning into a fascinating character because of all her bitterness and ~inner darkness~ (my fave buzzword). I have died and was borne again by the introduction of Nikolai. BUT OH MY GOD WHY DIDN'T MAL JUST D I E

HOW DOES SHE CARE ABOUT HIM

HE'S SUCH AN ENTITLED ASSHOLE

"You know, for two people with a love eternal, you're awfully insecure." than k u nikolai i'm dying here

when he isn't being constantly bitter and suspicious of other men liking show more Alina (or alina spending time with other men, yay,) he's just treating her like garBAGE i've gone past "oh ok i see he's being purposely frustrating, he's being the Ron," and now i've set up camp in "when do u get the joseph treatment and you die in some vague throwaway scene at the end of the book. and then i skip your death and all subsequent grieving."

he sucks and is boring (and his characterization seems all over the place? maybe he's just moody...) and i want him to VANISH alina you deserve nikolai (though please don't end up with nikolai)

Regardless...slow and spare as it was, I enjoyed its easy pacing, and of course, it gathered all the little threads required throughout the book for a kick-ass, unexpected climax. It felt more comfortable in its own skin than the first book, funny and quotable and sensitive. i trust you, leigh. (now kill Mal.) show less

*fist pumps erratically*

I'm so happy with Siege and Storm. I finished it in a matter of days and was truly sad to finish the book. The story opens with Mal and Alina on the run after the events on the Fold, where she left the Darkling, many Grisha, and even a few diplomats as food Volcra. This is picking up only a little after where Shadow and Bone ended. But of course nothing can ever go well for them. /sigh

The Darkling captures both Mal and Alina (again), and that's no big spoiler. It happens within the first few chapters, and I expected it. No way they're going to get away with escaping! That would be much too easy for them. There's also a second amplifier that the Darkling wants Alina to find and use, but since that's going against show more all of the Grisha rules, Alina is adamant about saying no. Here's a side point: what I love most about Alina throughout both books is how she thinks not only of herself, but of other people and of Ravka. I wanted to applaud her a thousand times in the course of Siege and Storm just because of the decisions she made.

Anyway, while on the boat with the Darkling, looking for the second amplifier, she meets Nikolai. Nikolai is two things: charismatic, and a privateer. Are you swooning? I was swooning. He's a great character and I can't wait to get more of him in Ruin and Rising. I hate to say it but a part of me wishes that Alina would just leave Mal and find herself wrapped in Nikolai's arms.

Here's why: Mal is whiny. Mal wants all of Alina's attention all the time, even though she's the Sun Summoner and has a very important weight on her shoulders. She has to save an entire country from an incredibly powerful man--or is he really a man?--and she has to do it alone. Granted she has other Grisha, and there are people who are on her side, but she's essentially the only person strong enough to stop the Darkling. So I wanted to kick Mal a good 60% of the book for being so selfish, so juvenile. Then again, I think I hardcore ship Alina and the Darkling. I'm not even sorry about it.

There were many new characters introduced during Siege and Storm, including Tolmar and Tolya. I LOVED them.

The plot of Siege and Storm never bored me. I was constantly wanting to flip to the next page, read the next chapter ("Just one more, then I'll stop..."), and learn more about the mysteries unfolding before Alina. The climax of the story had me pulling out my hair and screaming NOOOO, and those are my favorite kinds.

Ruin and Rising won't come out until 2014. This makes me incredibly sad. At the same time I'm excited for it, and I can't wait to get my hands on it. Leigh Bardugo, you've created a wonderful world and I want you to know that I'm happy to live in it for ~400 pages!

Other books reviewed in this series:
- Shadow and Bone show less

“Weakness is a guise. Wear it when they need to know you're human, but never when you feel it.”

I think I’m just destined to fall more and more in love with this series. Siege and Storm immediately follows the fallout from Shadow and Bone, with Alina and Mal on the run and the Darkling hot on their trails. New characters are introduced, as well as new magical powers, and another chance for Alina to strengthen her abilities. There’s just so much to love and I can’t wait to see how everything ends in Ruin and Rising.

Things I Liked
All the banter between all the people! There was so much fantastically witty banter between everyone! Everyone was serving up sass and quick remarks. Some of it was flirty, some of it was biting, all show more of it was amazing. And hail to the king of sass, one of my new loves, Nikolai.

Like Shadow and Bone, there were lots of great action set pieces and full scenes that felt epic and impactful. The fights were dramatic and tension-filled, and showcased skills from our different characters. And even though parts of the end fight were confusing and muddled, it all came together and left things off with a bang.

The Darkling remains dark and delicious and I have nothing else to say except I would read an entire spinoff series about any point in his 500 years.

Alina coming into her own and embracing her power and influence over Grisha and otkazat'sya as well. I loved the war council she set up and the changes she implemented. I liked seeing her grow and acknowledge all the facets of her powers - good and bad.

I am a sucker for some great politics in fantasy stories and there was a lot of political power plays, not only with Alina trying to gather Grisha to fight for her, but with Visali and Nikolai, and the Apparat’s cult like influence on non-Girsha people who believe Alina is a saint.

Things I Didn’t Like
What’s up with Mal’s super amazing and unparalleled tracking ability. I know there’s more to it, but there’s barely been hints at it over the past 2 books and it’s starting to feel unnecessarily drawn out.

The side characters could still use some more page time. I get that this is mostly Alina’s story, but I feel like a lot of the side characters are just there and could be interchanged with any faceless person.

This series is definitely a new favorite and I am already planning a reread of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom when I finish the trilogy. Morally grey characters, political power plays, and a rich world come together to create a captivating story you don’t want to put down. show less

I love the fact that even though this was published in the early 2010s, it still seems to delve more deeply into dark themes and subtopics without romanticizing it or making it 'morally gray' to sell off an evil love interest, than most newer fantasy books that are coming out. Of course, it isn't perfect, but it's a lot better than most of the books out there.
What I like most about this book is Alina. Alina is flawed, but not in the ditsy "oops I let a highly dangerous vampire out of the cage that probably was there because he's not supposed to escape but he used to be my boyfriend even though he broke my heart when I sacrificed everything for him and he ran away with my stepsister but it's okay because he's totally not going to end up show more trying to kill me or anything". Alina makes mistakes, yes, but it's for a reason, and though in this book she starts to spiral into a power-hungry, bloodthirsty monster, she has a reason. After having the collar put on her, she could never go back to her previous life, and all she can do now is to try and fight against the Darkling, who, speaking of him, is an evil character, but unlike most fmc's in books, Alina is not running to him just because he is good-looking. Though I have no idea who Alina is going to end up with, whether it be Mal, Nikolai, or the Darkling, if she even is, the Darkling seems like a choice that she wouldn't be picking, especially after the events in the book.
Since we're on the topic of romance, it is there, but I can tell it's not what Bardugo wants us to focus on. All of the love interests are flawed in their own way (except Nikolai because he's amazing) and it's hard to tell which one she will actually end up with, and at this point I think she probably won't end up with anyone, but the tension and the angst build up so well that it actually feels nice to read about different love interests, unlike some books.
Mal is Alina's childhood friend and crush since she was young, and though Mal has done some bad things, he's still a good person. That's what I like about the characters in this book: none of them are pure evil, except for the Darkling. They are flawed, want what's best for themselves, but that's human. They aren't perfect, and that's why I'm rooting for them; that's why I want to continue reading.
The book's plot was pretty good, and again, I want to emphasize how amazing the implementation of a Russian-inspired world and culture in Ravka is. A definite must-read, and an amazing book to dive into! show less

While I liked this better than the first, it is only because all the characters besides Alina and Mal become more interesting and I love Sturmhond. Alina is all kinds of ridiculous and can hold a grudge like whoa, but I kept wishing that Mal WOULD just go away and die every time they had a fight. I don't see the attraction at all. He is a disturbingly manipulative, overbearing, and possessive meathead that can dole out the double standards...it's making me actually shout at the book. If she *has* to be with someone, why can't it be Nikolai? The Darkling and Mal only seem interested in Alina in order to control her, where Nikolai seems to just be interested. He sure is the most mature of the lot (and smart and handsome). Alas, there's no show more way Alina won't end up with Mal in the end, I'm sure, but dang it, I have to find out how it ends.

And don't get me started about how Tamar and Tolya are swiftly falling into the "Magical Negro" trope. show less

Fair warning: This review will probably contain spoilers.

4.5 Stars

Oh, where do I begin? So, the last time we saw Alina and Mal, Alina had just taken control of the stag collar and turned against the Darkling. She and Mal escaped to one of the towns bordering the True Sea, and they were making plans to get further away from Ravka.

Siege and Storm picks up pretty much where Shadow and Bone left off. Alina and Mal are on the run. They’ve crossed the True Sea, and are temporarily living in a boarding house while the work “normal” jobs in order to save for their journey further away. While in the boarding house they encounter the Darkling, and learn that he has acquired a new power. The Darkling captures Alina and Mal, and takes them show more aboard the ship of Sturmhond, a renowned privateer. I can’t say much about what happens next without giving away spoilers, so I’ll just say hijinks ensue, and Alina ends up finding herself back at the Little Palace before all is said and done.

I really appreciated this book. It moved a lot faster than I the first one, which if you can remember was one of my big hang ups from before. I also feel like something changed in the storytelling, but it was a good change. I truly had feels this go around. When I read Shadow and Bone I felt like I would just start having an emotional response, and it would be cancelled out by the drudging of the plot. That wasn’t an issue this time. I really loved Sturmhond/Nickolai. I’m hoping we will get to see more of him in Ruin and Rising, though judging by the way this book ended, that might not be the case.

Alina proved herself to me in this story, as well. In the first book, I was extremely turned off by her weakness and how naive she was. In this book, there was a lot of growth to her character, and she truly started to become a strong heroine. One thing that I didn’t care for was her constant hang up with Mal.

I don’t think it’s a secret that I wasn’t a fan of Mal in the first book. He had his moments, but overall he just didn’t do it for me. I started to warm up to him in the first half of this installment, but then...oh, then, we went back to the Little Palace. Mal is such a narcissistic, egotistical, pig-headed...UGH! I can’t stand him.

Alina is doing the best she can to save Ravka, and he’s whining because he doesn’t feel special enough. Get a freaking grip! And, while we’re at it, stop with the constant jealousy. I understand that Nikolai was testing him on this, but still...it’s obvious that Alina is completely head over heels for him. Why does he have to have a jealous fit anytime another man comes near here? Furthermore, how is he entitled to be mad at her for not telling him to stay at the Little Palace all those times, when he could have just as easily made the decision for himself? Clearly, she thought he wanted to leave, considering the fact that all he did was whine about being there. Ugh! Just ugh! I can’t stand him.

I’m really, really, really digging Nikolai, though. I hope beyond hope that he comes back in the third book, and that we get to see a romantic relationship evolve between him and Alina. I feel like they are much better suited for each other than she and Mal. Also, that part with the kiss/not kiss...feels. Feels everywhere!

I don’t think I can address this review without mentioning my feelings for the Darkling since I had such a strong reaction to him the first go around. I’m happy to say that I’ve snapped out of it. I think I wanted him to redeem himself and ride off into the sunset with Alina so badly simply because, I didn’t want her with Mal. I stand true to the last point, however, I no longer feel like there’s a need for the Darkling to redeem himself. After what he did to his mom and Genya...nothing can redeem him at this point. Plus, he now scares the poop out of me with this new power of his. There’s just nothing natural about it at all, and I feel like he’s practically soulless after the amount of times he has used it.

Overall, I gave this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I truly enjoyed myself, and I’m on pins and needles waiting to get my hands on the third book. This one ends not so much on a cliffhanger, but in a way that definitely has me begging for more, and I’m confident that it will you too. show less

Siege and Storm is the second installment in The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo and it is every bit as shocking and magnificent as its predecessor. The narration never slows down, and it becomes a whirlwind of emotions, a rollercoaster of events. Iin the rare instances when the story calms itself to let us into the thoughts of Alina, we find ourselves in a harrowing place, as she fights between what she has to do, and where she really wishes to be.

Our heroine comes to terms with her destiny, and we learn more about the Grishas and the dangers Ravka faces, through her eyes. The Darkling's presence is lingering throughout the pages, offering us some trully haunting nightly scenes. (Can you tell I am a totally fangirl for him? Because I show more am.) In my opinion, the character that draws much of the attention in the second volume is Nikolai. He is brave and sassy, and develops much better than Mal. He has many leadership qualities and stands as the protector of his land. Mal continues to be Mal, as in ''Mal is annoying to no end.''

According to my experience with trilogies, the second book tends to be the most action-packed, andSiege and Storm is no exception. The end was bombastic, and I am so eager to see the culmination of this wonderful, epic story. show less