Call number
JF BAR
Collection
Genres
Publication
Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Description
Hunted across the True Sea and haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret.
User reviews
LibraryThing member sensitivemuse
***Spoilers ahead, you have been warned***
You’d have to read Shadow and Bone to read and understand Siege and Storm. Otherwise you’d be pretty lost as events follow up right after the first book.
The first half of the book was at a great pace and filled with lots of action, bombs, explosions,
Okay I was wrong about The Darkling. I was torn apart when he ended up being jackalope of the year and I was holding a banner of love for Alina and Mal.
Then Nikolai steps in.
Handsome, charismatic, swashbuckling, people sway to his beat Nikolai. I loved reading about him whenever he came into the picture. It’s like when your school crush comes into the classroom and you realize you’re going to share a table with him. That kind of giddiness is what Nikolai brings to the book.
I saw the chemistry with Alina and Mal in the first one, and it just falls apart here in Siege and Storm - understandably so as the dynamics have changed a lot and Alina has climbed up in the ladder of importance and Mal has suddenly fallen off the grid and is just considered a lowly guard of Alina the Sun Summoner. Which is pretty good right? You’re near the person you love and care about, you’re standing guard and you’re close by.
No. Can’t be that easy right? First Nikolai steps into the picture and is suddenly looking like a much better prospect and the drama with Alina looking for the Firebird to amplify her powers even more - the point where she becomes obsessed with it changes her personality and makes her more darker, assertive, and she’s not the girl we all once knew in the first book. I really love this personality change in her. There’s a slight whiny voice to it but she really steps up and grows exponentially as a character.
So I can see the romance aspect of the book falling apart, but at the same time you ask yourself is it really necessary? I can see the attempt at a love triangle with Mal and Nikolai with Alina in the middle but from what I see, she gets along fine with both of them, but does she really need one or the other as a love interest? I don’t see the chemistry there with either of them.
Sure, Alina still cares a lot for Mal but everything’s changed and it just seems like she doesn’t need romance..not yet anyway. Instead, the attempt at the romance is seen as two whiny people who can’t get their own way and they take it out on each other by indulging themselves on the road to self destruction. Again, that’s a very human trait and good on portraying that. The whininess though, I could do without. It caused unnecessary drama in the book, and endless of pages in the second half where the plot doesn’t seem to be moving forward or anywhere. It feels like an unnecessary filler.
The last third of the novel though did pick up the pace (did not make up for the whiny drama though) and provided a lot of the explosions and action you had in the first half. Not really featuring a cliffhanger ending, but it’s making me look forward to what I have to see in the third and final book of this series.
PS: My heart bled for Genya.
You’d have to read Shadow and Bone to read and understand Siege and Storm. Otherwise you’d be pretty lost as events follow up right after the first book.
The first half of the book was at a great pace and filled with lots of action, bombs, explosions,
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fighting, magic, all sorts of goodness you would expect for the second book to follow up for an excellent start in the first. It slows down in the second half of the book where preparations for encountering The Darkling are made and you have this whole drama with Alina and Mal going on;Okay I was wrong about The Darkling. I was torn apart when he ended up being jackalope of the year and I was holding a banner of love for Alina and Mal.
Then Nikolai steps in.
Handsome, charismatic, swashbuckling, people sway to his beat Nikolai. I loved reading about him whenever he came into the picture. It’s like when your school crush comes into the classroom and you realize you’re going to share a table with him. That kind of giddiness is what Nikolai brings to the book.
I saw the chemistry with Alina and Mal in the first one, and it just falls apart here in Siege and Storm - understandably so as the dynamics have changed a lot and Alina has climbed up in the ladder of importance and Mal has suddenly fallen off the grid and is just considered a lowly guard of Alina the Sun Summoner. Which is pretty good right? You’re near the person you love and care about, you’re standing guard and you’re close by.
No. Can’t be that easy right? First Nikolai steps into the picture and is suddenly looking like a much better prospect and the drama with Alina looking for the Firebird to amplify her powers even more - the point where she becomes obsessed with it changes her personality and makes her more darker, assertive, and she’s not the girl we all once knew in the first book. I really love this personality change in her. There’s a slight whiny voice to it but she really steps up and grows exponentially as a character.
So I can see the romance aspect of the book falling apart, but at the same time you ask yourself is it really necessary? I can see the attempt at a love triangle with Mal and Nikolai with Alina in the middle but from what I see, she gets along fine with both of them, but does she really need one or the other as a love interest? I don’t see the chemistry there with either of them.
Sure, Alina still cares a lot for Mal but everything’s changed and it just seems like she doesn’t need romance..not yet anyway. Instead, the attempt at the romance is seen as two whiny people who can’t get their own way and they take it out on each other by indulging themselves on the road to self destruction. Again, that’s a very human trait and good on portraying that. The whininess though, I could do without. It caused unnecessary drama in the book, and endless of pages in the second half where the plot doesn’t seem to be moving forward or anywhere. It feels like an unnecessary filler.
The last third of the novel though did pick up the pace (did not make up for the whiny drama though) and provided a lot of the explosions and action you had in the first half. Not really featuring a cliffhanger ending, but it’s making me look forward to what I have to see in the third and final book of this series.
PS: My heart bled for Genya.
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LibraryThing member yvonnekins
Frankly, if I weren't reading this trilogy just to get to the SoC duology, I would have DNF'ed this.
First of all, Alina is as annoying and inconsistent and boring as she is in the first book. I don't know who claimed that she gets better in books 2 and 3, but I found her more insufferable in this
Second, there's still the issue of Bardugo having not done her basic research about the Russian language and Russian culture. As much as I think it's hilarious that Grisha translates to "Greg," it's still distracting. Every time I see Grisha, my brain just reads it as Greg now. And of course still wrong are the surnames for Alina Starkov and Ilya Morozova. But Nikolai's surname is Lanstov, not Lanstova, further proving to me that this isn't a switching of gendered surnames, but just straight up ignorance.
A love pyramid now exists. Because Alina has 0 actual substance as a character, I don't see the chemistry between her and ANY of her, not one, not two, but THREE love interests. Mal is the least interesting of the three and also the one we spend most of our time reading about Alina fretting over.
That all being said, there were parts of this book I liked.
Nikolai was a great addition to the story; I just wish that Bardugo hadn't made him in love with Alina. So far, he's the only character in the series with any substance, or that feels at all real and developed.
This was feeling like a 3-star book for the most part, but I had to force myself through the romance scenes.
First of all, Alina is as annoying and inconsistent and boring as she is in the first book. I don't know who claimed that she gets better in books 2 and 3, but I found her more insufferable in this
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than I did in the first book. Second, there's still the issue of Bardugo having not done her basic research about the Russian language and Russian culture. As much as I think it's hilarious that Grisha translates to "Greg," it's still distracting. Every time I see Grisha, my brain just reads it as Greg now. And of course still wrong are the surnames for Alina Starkov and Ilya Morozova. But Nikolai's surname is Lanstov, not Lanstova, further proving to me that this isn't a switching of gendered surnames, but just straight up ignorance.
A love pyramid now exists. Because Alina has 0 actual substance as a character, I don't see the chemistry between her and ANY of her, not one, not two, but THREE love interests. Mal is the least interesting of the three and also the one we spend most of our time reading about Alina fretting over.
That all being said, there were parts of this book I liked.
Nikolai was a great addition to the story; I just wish that Bardugo hadn't made him in love with Alina. So far, he's the only character in the series with any substance, or that feels at all real and developed.
This was feeling like a 3-star book for the most part, but I had to force myself through the romance scenes.
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LibraryThing member Great_East_Road
See my review of this book, and many more, at Tales from the Great East Road.
(Spoilers for book one.)
After hiding from the world for a few months Alina and Mal are betrayed and handed over to The Darkling, who has not only survived the Shadow Fold but gained a terrifying new power. They travel as
After only just surviving an attack on the Fold, Strumhond reveals his true identity and his plans to fight against The Darkling, but he needs Alina's help. Taken back to the Little Palace, Alina struggles to juggle uniting and leading the other Grishas, play politics with the Royal Family, dealing with the public belief that she is a Saint, and keep her relationship with Mal from falling apart. When she discovers that there is a third and final mythical creature that can be used as an amplifier, Alina has to face whether her desire for this power is just her duty to defeat The Darkling, or for her own gain.
If Shadow and Bone begins the series in with a familiar fantasy story, Siege and Storm throws out these well known and used ideas, and carves out its own path in a completely unpredictable way. It's a thrilling book, full of surprising twists that work to make a brilliantly entertaining and clever read. One of the main causes of these twist is the character Strumhond, the notorious privateer who is not who everyone believes him to be. With a reputation for being charmingly clever as well as a cut-throat, he and his ship are for hire to the highest bidder - but you can never trust that you are in fact the highest bidder. Brilliantly scheming, charmingly witting, and a naturally confidant leader, Shurmhond is a new favourite character.
This book not easy on its treatment of Alina. She is struggling to fight a war and accept her responsibilities as the Sun Summoner by embracing her power whilst trying to still remain herself, despite finding that she is becoming increasingly tempted by the idea of more. She is terrified of turning into a monster, like The Darkling, but can't stop herself thinking about him, and though she denies it, she is beginning to relate to him. Alina also has to deal with the expectations of the public believing her to be a Saint, the weight of her duty to save Ravka and being "holy" slowly crushing her spirit, but not her determination. Alina is a wonderfully written character, becoming even more real in this book. Her strength is admirable and her inner conflicts make her a relatable character, and just like the plot she makes some surprising but great choices.
The only setback to Siege and Storm was the ongoing relationship drama between Alina and Mal, mainly caused by Mal's stubborn belief that Alina thinks her power makes her better than him. Whilst the reader can see through Alina's narrative that this not true, it is obvious that her power does drive a wedge between them. This gives Alina another complication with obtaining the last amplifier, as she will have to eventually choose between her power and Mal. Mal, however, comes across as fairly selfish because of this and becomes just one more person demanding something from Alina.
It's impossible to to predict where the next book, Ruin and Rising, will go, but I personally cannot wait to see what will happen. My only complaint is that the next book is sadly the last. This series is highly recommended.
4.5 stars.
(Spoilers for book one.)
After hiding from the world for a few months Alina and Mal are betrayed and handed over to The Darkling, who has not only survived the Shadow Fold but gained a terrifying new power. They travel as
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prisoners on a pirate ship across the True Sea, hunting and capturing the mythical ice dragon known as the Sea Whip, to use its scales as another amplifier. The Darkling's disturbing new plan to control both Alina and the Shadow Fold nearly comes into fruition - until the Captain, Sturmhond, steals the Sea Whip and escapes with both Alina and Mal across the Shadow Fold and back to Ravka.After only just surviving an attack on the Fold, Strumhond reveals his true identity and his plans to fight against The Darkling, but he needs Alina's help. Taken back to the Little Palace, Alina struggles to juggle uniting and leading the other Grishas, play politics with the Royal Family, dealing with the public belief that she is a Saint, and keep her relationship with Mal from falling apart. When she discovers that there is a third and final mythical creature that can be used as an amplifier, Alina has to face whether her desire for this power is just her duty to defeat The Darkling, or for her own gain.
If Shadow and Bone begins the series in with a familiar fantasy story, Siege and Storm throws out these well known and used ideas, and carves out its own path in a completely unpredictable way. It's a thrilling book, full of surprising twists that work to make a brilliantly entertaining and clever read. One of the main causes of these twist is the character Strumhond, the notorious privateer who is not who everyone believes him to be. With a reputation for being charmingly clever as well as a cut-throat, he and his ship are for hire to the highest bidder - but you can never trust that you are in fact the highest bidder. Brilliantly scheming, charmingly witting, and a naturally confidant leader, Shurmhond is a new favourite character.
This book not easy on its treatment of Alina. She is struggling to fight a war and accept her responsibilities as the Sun Summoner by embracing her power whilst trying to still remain herself, despite finding that she is becoming increasingly tempted by the idea of more. She is terrified of turning into a monster, like The Darkling, but can't stop herself thinking about him, and though she denies it, she is beginning to relate to him. Alina also has to deal with the expectations of the public believing her to be a Saint, the weight of her duty to save Ravka and being "holy" slowly crushing her spirit, but not her determination. Alina is a wonderfully written character, becoming even more real in this book. Her strength is admirable and her inner conflicts make her a relatable character, and just like the plot she makes some surprising but great choices.
The only setback to Siege and Storm was the ongoing relationship drama between Alina and Mal, mainly caused by Mal's stubborn belief that Alina thinks her power makes her better than him. Whilst the reader can see through Alina's narrative that this not true, it is obvious that her power does drive a wedge between them. This gives Alina another complication with obtaining the last amplifier, as she will have to eventually choose between her power and Mal. Mal, however, comes across as fairly selfish because of this and becomes just one more person demanding something from Alina.
It's impossible to to predict where the next book, Ruin and Rising, will go, but I personally cannot wait to see what will happen. My only complaint is that the next book is sadly the last. This series is highly recommended.
4.5 stars.
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LibraryThing member usagijihen
Holy wow. This is a very hard review to write - I have to agree with other reviewers when they say that it's hard to really write reviews for Leigh's books, because they just kind of knock the wind out of you, they're so good, yet they leave you totally incoherent with it. All I can say is if you
I think my favorite part of this book is the deeper examination of Alina's character, and how no one gets away with being black or white, but with a very wide gray range of "darkness" or "evil" (depending on the situation). I'm trying to write this review without spoilers, but it's pretty difficult. So I'll try to minimize them as best I can. Alina definitely goes through a very interesting personal character journey arc throughout the entire book, and if book one was about discovering/unblocking memories of her true identity as a Grisha, then book two is all about really understanding what her role is, and in turn, learning how to deal with that role and everything that comes with it. With the aid of new characters like Sturmhond (more on him later), and good ol' Mal, we get a very deep, dark look at what Alina's going through - a continuing push-pull of "I want power/I don't want power" as she fights with the idea of going after the other two animals that create amplifiers - the Seawhip and the Firebird. I won't spoil any further than that, but let's just say that all of the initial interactions with Sturmhond do set the rather reflective and contemplative tone for this installment of the trilogy.
There's also the world expansion - we travel outside of Ravka for the first time, both by land and sea, and we see what life in these other countries/kingdoms are like compared to that of Ravka. We also get some "this is what's happened since the end of book one" information about Ravka - what the Shadow Fold has become, and how things have really changed in terms of who has power, who's been overthrown, and who's looking to get back into their seat of power. It's soldier against soldier, Grisha against Grisha, and it's absolutely brutal. But the little we do get to see of these other lands (and of the parts that are bordering Ravka) are nothing less than stunning - especially the scenes on the sea with Sturmhond. Those were among my favorites of the novel. Absolutely breathtaking in terms of sensory imagery and language - an area I didn't think Bardugo could get any better in, but she DID.
And then there's the characters. Sturmhond is by far my favorite in this book (alongside the Darkling, of course) - another character with a double identity, and a double agenda. He's absolutely wonderful, even at the times you just want to throttle him. I don't talk too often about book boyfriends/girlfriends, but man, if I had a harem? Sturmhond and Darkling would find themselves in there faster than you could say Jack Robinson. All of the characters get a tune-up this time around, and they're all a great contrast to Alina, really showing how isolated she's become in her role as the Sun Summoner and also highlighting her struggle just to find simple human contact with another person that's not out for her power, her prestige, or anything attached to her role as a Grisha. My heart really kind of hurt for her throughout this book, especially with seeing how happy she was in the beginning, outside of Ravka with Mal.
And then of course, there's that ENDING. And we're not going into that because I'm going to need a great deal of kvas to even think about talking about it.
Final verdict? This is a stunning follow-up to book one, which was insanely awesome in its own right. Definitely one of my favorites of 2013 and a must-read for the YA high fantasy genre, I seriously can't recommend the Grisha trilogy enough - and if you haven't started yet, what's stopping you? "Siege and Storm" will be out June 4th, 2013 from Macmillan in North America, so definitely be sure to check it out when you get the chance. Also watch for a review battle between me and co-blogger Ashleigh Paige before the blog tour stop on May 31st, 2013!
(posted to goodreads, shelfari, librarything, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com)
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liked "Shadow and Bone"? You will LOVE "Siege and Storm". I know I did. The stakes are higher, your book boyfriend/girlfriend harem will grow by several characters, and there's a lot more character exploration in general. Oh, and new magical monsters. Yes, yes, yes. I need that next novella and book three NOW. Definitely up there in my top five faves of 2013, "Siege and Storm" is nothing short of breathtaking and will leave you aching for more.I think my favorite part of this book is the deeper examination of Alina's character, and how no one gets away with being black or white, but with a very wide gray range of "darkness" or "evil" (depending on the situation). I'm trying to write this review without spoilers, but it's pretty difficult. So I'll try to minimize them as best I can. Alina definitely goes through a very interesting personal character journey arc throughout the entire book, and if book one was about discovering/unblocking memories of her true identity as a Grisha, then book two is all about really understanding what her role is, and in turn, learning how to deal with that role and everything that comes with it. With the aid of new characters like Sturmhond (more on him later), and good ol' Mal, we get a very deep, dark look at what Alina's going through - a continuing push-pull of "I want power/I don't want power" as she fights with the idea of going after the other two animals that create amplifiers - the Seawhip and the Firebird. I won't spoil any further than that, but let's just say that all of the initial interactions with Sturmhond do set the rather reflective and contemplative tone for this installment of the trilogy.
There's also the world expansion - we travel outside of Ravka for the first time, both by land and sea, and we see what life in these other countries/kingdoms are like compared to that of Ravka. We also get some "this is what's happened since the end of book one" information about Ravka - what the Shadow Fold has become, and how things have really changed in terms of who has power, who's been overthrown, and who's looking to get back into their seat of power. It's soldier against soldier, Grisha against Grisha, and it's absolutely brutal. But the little we do get to see of these other lands (and of the parts that are bordering Ravka) are nothing less than stunning - especially the scenes on the sea with Sturmhond. Those were among my favorites of the novel. Absolutely breathtaking in terms of sensory imagery and language - an area I didn't think Bardugo could get any better in, but she DID.
And then there's the characters. Sturmhond is by far my favorite in this book (alongside the Darkling, of course) - another character with a double identity, and a double agenda. He's absolutely wonderful, even at the times you just want to throttle him. I don't talk too often about book boyfriends/girlfriends, but man, if I had a harem? Sturmhond and Darkling would find themselves in there faster than you could say Jack Robinson. All of the characters get a tune-up this time around, and they're all a great contrast to Alina, really showing how isolated she's become in her role as the Sun Summoner and also highlighting her struggle just to find simple human contact with another person that's not out for her power, her prestige, or anything attached to her role as a Grisha. My heart really kind of hurt for her throughout this book, especially with seeing how happy she was in the beginning, outside of Ravka with Mal.
And then of course, there's that ENDING. And we're not going into that because I'm going to need a great deal of kvas to even think about talking about it.
Final verdict? This is a stunning follow-up to book one, which was insanely awesome in its own right. Definitely one of my favorites of 2013 and a must-read for the YA high fantasy genre, I seriously can't recommend the Grisha trilogy enough - and if you haven't started yet, what's stopping you? "Siege and Storm" will be out June 4th, 2013 from Macmillan in North America, so definitely be sure to check it out when you get the chance. Also watch for a review battle between me and co-blogger Ashleigh Paige before the blog tour stop on May 31st, 2013!
(posted to goodreads, shelfari, librarything, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com)
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LibraryThing member lilibrarian
Sequel to Shadow and Bone, second in the Grisha trilogy. Mal and Alina have escaped the darkling, and are planning their lives together when they are recaptured. The Darkling has developed even more frightening powers, but they escape again, and with the help of the Ravka royal family prepare for
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their country's defense. Show Less
LibraryThing member delphica
Well dang, that was a lot better than the first book. I'm not 100% positive, and I'm too lazy to go back and check, but I think my review on the first book in this series was that I enjoyed it well enough, but wouldn't feel any burning need to seek out the sequel when it came out, but then again,
But man, this totally kicked it up, so now I'm really happy that I did read it after all. It's an adventure/fantasy set in a magical world, or at least a world where some people have special powers and now there's a whole cool war between kingdoms as a result. Our heroine is a girl who was raised in an orphanage but is suddenly thrust into all the plotting and intrigue necessary to bring down the powerfully evil dude who is trying to take over the world.
This book had tons more stuff going on, events were fast and furious, and the cast of secondary characters felt more diverse, better developed, and more interesting in general. I love (as I did in the first book) the very vaguely Russian setting, it gives the story a different feel than a lot of "vaguely medieval" fantasy books, and in this one, the author continued to add lots of rich detail about the world in a way that was very integrated with the plot so it didn't seem tacked on.
Please note I'm giving it four stars for what it IS, so four stars for teen romance books about a girl who is having magical adventures while being really preoccupied about if a boy she likes likes her back.
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might pick it up if I happened to come across it. Whatever, whether or not my review said that, that was my opinion.But man, this totally kicked it up, so now I'm really happy that I did read it after all. It's an adventure/fantasy set in a magical world, or at least a world where some people have special powers and now there's a whole cool war between kingdoms as a result. Our heroine is a girl who was raised in an orphanage but is suddenly thrust into all the plotting and intrigue necessary to bring down the powerfully evil dude who is trying to take over the world.
This book had tons more stuff going on, events were fast and furious, and the cast of secondary characters felt more diverse, better developed, and more interesting in general. I love (as I did in the first book) the very vaguely Russian setting, it gives the story a different feel than a lot of "vaguely medieval" fantasy books, and in this one, the author continued to add lots of rich detail about the world in a way that was very integrated with the plot so it didn't seem tacked on.
Please note I'm giving it four stars for what it IS, so four stars for teen romance books about a girl who is having magical adventures while being really preoccupied about if a boy she likes likes her back.
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LibraryThing member AyleeArgh
In short: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo is a game-changing sequel that has everything we loved about Shadow and Bone and MORE.
Shadow and Bone seemed to have all you could want in a novel: a wonderfully developed and beautifully picturesque world, a creative and fascinating magic system, a sort
The Darkling was one of my favourite things from Shadow and Bone, but much to my dismay, the Darkling's presence was noticeably less in Siege and Storm. But, as if Leigh Bardugo knew that her readers would feel the hurt from less Darkling, a new equally as intriguing character is introduced in the form of one very cunning privateer. How does Leigh Bardugo do it, constantly come up with swoony new characters for us to obsess over? She seems to have a never-ending capacity of new secondary characters that interest us just as much as the main players.
Alina and Mal are as incredible as ever, both alone and together. I love their banter. We get to see them grow and endure and bear new roles that test them and their love. And they make it through remarkably well. But I did get a little frustrated at the cliched romantic feud designed to add drama to their relationship. Basically, one party deserts the other right when they're at their most desperate and in need of support. And that is not any kind of love that I know of or understand. Adding complexity to relationships is fine - even welcomed - but introducing drama for petty reasons that involves abandoning your loved one when they need you... not a fan. Still, this was a relatively minor quibble.
Siege and Storm was truly a fantastic sequel, rife with action and hooks and intrigue that held me ensnared from the very opening scene to the game-changer ending. I cannot possibly express my excitement for Ruin and Rising adequately enough!
Shadow and Bone seemed to have all you could want in a novel: a wonderfully developed and beautifully picturesque world, a creative and fascinating magic system, a sort
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of boarding school setting, an awesomely relatable and fierce heroine, a slow building and fantastically swoony romance, and an enigmatic and complex villain. Siege and Storm somehow has all this and MORE. Creepy shadow monsters, ship voyages with pirates, a mythical sea beast, a fantastical flying ship, and one very calculating and smarmy prince. Yes, it really is ALL THAT.The Darkling was one of my favourite things from Shadow and Bone, but much to my dismay, the Darkling's presence was noticeably less in Siege and Storm. But, as if Leigh Bardugo knew that her readers would feel the hurt from less Darkling, a new equally as intriguing character is introduced in the form of one very cunning privateer. How does Leigh Bardugo do it, constantly come up with swoony new characters for us to obsess over? She seems to have a never-ending capacity of new secondary characters that interest us just as much as the main players.
Alina and Mal are as incredible as ever, both alone and together. I love their banter. We get to see them grow and endure and bear new roles that test them and their love. And they make it through remarkably well. But I did get a little frustrated at the cliched romantic feud designed to add drama to their relationship. Basically, one party deserts the other right when they're at their most desperate and in need of support. And that is not any kind of love that I know of or understand. Adding complexity to relationships is fine - even welcomed - but introducing drama for petty reasons that involves abandoning your loved one when they need you... not a fan. Still, this was a relatively minor quibble.
Siege and Storm was truly a fantastic sequel, rife with action and hooks and intrigue that held me ensnared from the very opening scene to the game-changer ending. I cannot possibly express my excitement for Ruin and Rising adequately enough!
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LibraryThing member ewyatt
Alina and Mal are family and best friends. This book begins as the two are on the run after escaping the Darkling at the end of book one. Their freedom doesn't last long as the Darkling desperately wants Alina's power. Using clues in a book, the two begin looking for another amplifier. When a
Full of intrigue, betrayal, romance, and action, this book which seems placed in Russia will pull readers' into its unique world.
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privateer who was taking them back with the Darkling, flips they suddenly find themselves with new alliances in the coming war and with new stresses on their relationships. Full of intrigue, betrayal, romance, and action, this book which seems placed in Russia will pull readers' into its unique world.
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LibraryThing member titania86
Alina and Mal have fled to an unfamiliar land and seek to build a new life there, away from the Darkling and Ravka. She returns to her sickly, weak state and suffers from the guilt of the deaths caused by her power. They don't stay in hiding for long and quickly have to face the Darkling along with
I read Shadow and Bone before it came out last year and was dismayed that although I got to read it early, I had to wait even longer than normal. The wait was completely worth it, I am pleased to report. All of my expectations were subverted time after time, making Siege and Storm exciting and surprising to read. I expected the beginning to have an extended time in hiding with narrow escapes, but the Darkling showed up fairly quickly to capture them. It was so outside my expectations that it was jarring. In a genre with so many conventions and stereotypes, Siege and Storm is a very welcome breath of fresh air. Most second books of trilogies simply set up for the last book and don't have a lot going on outside of that. Siege and Storm accomplished that and so much more. New and very memorable characters are introduced, my favorite being twins Tolya and Tamar. The characters we all love (or passionately hate) develop and change throughout the story.
Alina Starkov is wanted by a great many people. She's known as the Sun Summoner and Saint Alina, after rumors that she died and resurrected circulate Ravka. Very few people know her as simply Alina. Everyone wants something from her. Princes ask for her hand in marriage, not because they like her, but because of the power she wields. A growing group of people idolize her as a saint and hang their hopes and dreams on her, but know nothing about her at all. She doesn't even recognize herself at times because her hunger for more and more power is changing her. I like this new story line. She's grown a lot since she discovered her power. Now the questions are how much is too much and is she seeking it for herself or to save Ravka? I still like Alina, but I see some dumb decisions she's making, like pushing the only person who likes her for her (Mal) away for his own good.
Siege and Storm is an amazing read with crazy twists and turns, breathtaking action, and heartwrenching events. The Darkling is back with a vengeance, charming, frightening, and seemingly unbeatable. He is such a compelling yet evil character that appears and influences throughout the novel. The ending of Siege and Storm was completely shocking and I didn't see it coming. I need to know what happens next and I will be definitely preordering the final book.
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his frightening new power that was previously thought to be impossible. Alina escapes the Darkling with the help of a notorious pirate that is more than what he seems, but not before she acquires another amplifier. This new power prompts her to seek even more power and drives a wedge between her and Mal. They all return to Ravka to prepare for the coming battle with the Darkling, but only time will tell if all of their efforts will do anything against the Darkling's shadow army.I read Shadow and Bone before it came out last year and was dismayed that although I got to read it early, I had to wait even longer than normal. The wait was completely worth it, I am pleased to report. All of my expectations were subverted time after time, making Siege and Storm exciting and surprising to read. I expected the beginning to have an extended time in hiding with narrow escapes, but the Darkling showed up fairly quickly to capture them. It was so outside my expectations that it was jarring. In a genre with so many conventions and stereotypes, Siege and Storm is a very welcome breath of fresh air. Most second books of trilogies simply set up for the last book and don't have a lot going on outside of that. Siege and Storm accomplished that and so much more. New and very memorable characters are introduced, my favorite being twins Tolya and Tamar. The characters we all love (or passionately hate) develop and change throughout the story.
Alina Starkov is wanted by a great many people. She's known as the Sun Summoner and Saint Alina, after rumors that she died and resurrected circulate Ravka. Very few people know her as simply Alina. Everyone wants something from her. Princes ask for her hand in marriage, not because they like her, but because of the power she wields. A growing group of people idolize her as a saint and hang their hopes and dreams on her, but know nothing about her at all. She doesn't even recognize herself at times because her hunger for more and more power is changing her. I like this new story line. She's grown a lot since she discovered her power. Now the questions are how much is too much and is she seeking it for herself or to save Ravka? I still like Alina, but I see some dumb decisions she's making, like pushing the only person who likes her for her (Mal) away for his own good.
Siege and Storm is an amazing read with crazy twists and turns, breathtaking action, and heartwrenching events. The Darkling is back with a vengeance, charming, frightening, and seemingly unbeatable. He is such a compelling yet evil character that appears and influences throughout the novel. The ending of Siege and Storm was completely shocking and I didn't see it coming. I need to know what happens next and I will be definitely preordering the final book.
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LibraryThing member 68papyrus
Siege and Storm was absolutely AMAZING! The writing was decadent and the storyline had the right mix of action, adventure and romance. I enjoyed the first book but this book was even better than the first. The ending of the book really intrigued me and left me wondering what Alina's next move will
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be. 5 stars, a must read! Show Less
LibraryThing member ahandfulofconfetti
Upon completing Siege and Storm, I was left with a pretty serious dilemma: how does one go about reviewing a book that made her feel all the emotions, that she loved from beginning to end, that provided constant twists and turns so that the reader hardly knows what's up? That's the situation I'm
There is such amazing character development in this sequel, to the point where I really found myself understanding character motivations and the ways their lives and the situations of the stories have entwined them together. Alina, in particular, is so much stronger in this installment, really embracing her power and abilities and wanting to make up for the occurrence at the end of the first book. There are a lot of parallels drawn between her and the Darkling, and I personally found them fascinating, particularly when he so often echoes her thoughts. These parallels are part of the reason she and Mal start to grow apart, though, not only because Mal isn't keen on Alina's powers, but because her being Grisha places them on different societal levels, which come with their own mix of issues in this magical world of Ravka. There is a lot of talk of people's place in society, all of which I personally found very interesting, especially when all of these characters all have roles to play.
"There are no others like us, Alina," he whispered. "And there never will be." - 13%
The Darkling continues to be as alluring as ever, but with an added edge of darkness and danger that makes him very scary to behold. And yet, Alina continues to be drawn to him, and the phrase "like calls to like" comes up quite often. I still cannot help but want more Darkling, even when he's doing truly horrific things. It's for this reason that I was glad that - while Sturmhond is more physically present in this book than the Darkling - the Darkling is still very much a fixture in Alina's thoughts, even when he's not there in the flesh. And when he IS there? Oh, good Lord. How he manages to be sexy and evil at the same time shall forever be a mystery to me.
"So you don't trust me to resist [Sturmhond's] charms?"
"I don't even trust myself. ... I'm pretty sure the rocks and trees are getting ready to swear fealty to him." - 41%
But the showstopper of this book is definitely the dashing, egotistical privateer named Sturmhond, who has a habit of stealing every single scene he's a part of. While he isn't as magnetic as the Darkling, he had a way of making me smile and laugh every single time he opened his mouth. Some of my favorite lines came out of his mouth, and I really just liked watching his interactions with Alina. For someone who's actually quite untrustworthy, he sure has a way of putting folks at ease, which - of course - is the true mark of a con man. His conversations with Alina were the kind that made you think, even when you wanted to also smack him, and really made Alina do a lot of personal contemplation and introspection. Without him, I don't know that we would have gotten as much development from her, which would have been a real shame, because her growth was one of the strongest parts of this book.
"...But when all this is over, Alina, I wonder if you'll still want me." - 37%
One thing I was not expecting was how emotionally heart-wrenching much of this book is. The difficulties between Alina and Mal actually hurt you to read in some places, particularly since it's so obvious just how much they love each other. Even with the abundance of potential love interests, it's very clear who Alina would choose if things like power and status weren't an issue and Mal weren't suffering so badly with his current place in life. I think it's worse than most books because there is no easy fix here, which makes their struggles even harder to witness. Their relationship makes me very nervous and I fear for what Ms. Bardugo has in store for those of us who just want them to fix the cracks and make it work.
Siege and Storm is definitely a case of a second book that outshines its predecessor. Fear not, fellow readers: there is no middle-book syndrome here. The action is ratcheted up, the stakes are higher, the danger and intrigue never-ending. Alina has some very serious obstacles that she's going to have to overcome, and I, for one, shall be eagerly anticipating the final installment of this amazing trilogy. I don't know how the series can get even better, but if this book is any indication, Ruin and Rising is going to absolutely blow our minds!
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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currently facing, as I stare at the blinking cursor in my update box. How can I accurately sum up my feelings and thoughts on this absolutely amazing book? I fear that I won't adequately be able to express exactly what I'm feeling, or - perhaps even worse - simply descend into fangirl ravings. So let me say this to start, just in case things get out of hand: this was everything I could have asked for and desired in a sequel to a book I adored, and has cemented Leigh Bardugo as one of my absolute favorite authors. Make of that what you will!There is such amazing character development in this sequel, to the point where I really found myself understanding character motivations and the ways their lives and the situations of the stories have entwined them together. Alina, in particular, is so much stronger in this installment, really embracing her power and abilities and wanting to make up for the occurrence at the end of the first book. There are a lot of parallels drawn between her and the Darkling, and I personally found them fascinating, particularly when he so often echoes her thoughts. These parallels are part of the reason she and Mal start to grow apart, though, not only because Mal isn't keen on Alina's powers, but because her being Grisha places them on different societal levels, which come with their own mix of issues in this magical world of Ravka. There is a lot of talk of people's place in society, all of which I personally found very interesting, especially when all of these characters all have roles to play.
"There are no others like us, Alina," he whispered. "And there never will be." - 13%
The Darkling continues to be as alluring as ever, but with an added edge of darkness and danger that makes him very scary to behold. And yet, Alina continues to be drawn to him, and the phrase "like calls to like" comes up quite often. I still cannot help but want more Darkling, even when he's doing truly horrific things. It's for this reason that I was glad that - while Sturmhond is more physically present in this book than the Darkling - the Darkling is still very much a fixture in Alina's thoughts, even when he's not there in the flesh. And when he IS there? Oh, good Lord. How he manages to be sexy and evil at the same time shall forever be a mystery to me.
"So you don't trust me to resist [Sturmhond's] charms?"
"I don't even trust myself. ... I'm pretty sure the rocks and trees are getting ready to swear fealty to him." - 41%
But the showstopper of this book is definitely the dashing, egotistical privateer named Sturmhond, who has a habit of stealing every single scene he's a part of. While he isn't as magnetic as the Darkling, he had a way of making me smile and laugh every single time he opened his mouth. Some of my favorite lines came out of his mouth, and I really just liked watching his interactions with Alina. For someone who's actually quite untrustworthy, he sure has a way of putting folks at ease, which - of course - is the true mark of a con man. His conversations with Alina were the kind that made you think, even when you wanted to also smack him, and really made Alina do a lot of personal contemplation and introspection. Without him, I don't know that we would have gotten as much development from her, which would have been a real shame, because her growth was one of the strongest parts of this book.
"...But when all this is over, Alina, I wonder if you'll still want me." - 37%
One thing I was not expecting was how emotionally heart-wrenching much of this book is. The difficulties between Alina and Mal actually hurt you to read in some places, particularly since it's so obvious just how much they love each other. Even with the abundance of potential love interests, it's very clear who Alina would choose if things like power and status weren't an issue and Mal weren't suffering so badly with his current place in life. I think it's worse than most books because there is no easy fix here, which makes their struggles even harder to witness. Their relationship makes me very nervous and I fear for what Ms. Bardugo has in store for those of us who just want them to fix the cracks and make it work.
Siege and Storm is definitely a case of a second book that outshines its predecessor. Fear not, fellow readers: there is no middle-book syndrome here. The action is ratcheted up, the stakes are higher, the danger and intrigue never-ending. Alina has some very serious obstacles that she's going to have to overcome, and I, for one, shall be eagerly anticipating the final installment of this amazing trilogy. I don't know how the series can get even better, but if this book is any indication, Ruin and Rising is going to absolutely blow our minds!
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member lilcrickit
Alina is on the run, hoping to gain her freedom from the Darkling and all the responsibility being placed upon her as the Sun Summoner. Struggling to come to terms with what happened in the Fold, Alina harbors guilt that makes her wonder if she is like the Darkling. Desperate to hold on to what she
Alina is much stronger in this book. She's tired of running, and with the help of an unexpected savior decides to take matters into her own hands. But the cost of what she needs to do .....the further away Mal becomes and eventually the weight of it begins to wear on their relationship. The Darkling hopes that the two lovebirds will see they are too different and it will never work. He wants her to feel alone, so he can pretty on her emotions and doubt.
Okay, so this is still a game of cat and mouse. She runs, he catches her. Alina seems to have an edge about her and Mal comes off as moody. My favorite character
is Sturmhond, he's a Jack of all trades so to speak and I liked how he developed throughout the book. The writing moves slowly in the beginning but it gradually picks up. Overall, this is an okay read full of magic and mayhem.
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has with Mal, wanting to have her gift and him without this cloud circling about them. Will the pull off her power drive away the one she loves or can they survive the darkness surrounding them?Alina is much stronger in this book. She's tired of running, and with the help of an unexpected savior decides to take matters into her own hands. But the cost of what she needs to do .....the further away Mal becomes and eventually the weight of it begins to wear on their relationship. The Darkling hopes that the two lovebirds will see they are too different and it will never work. He wants her to feel alone, so he can pretty on her emotions and doubt.
Okay, so this is still a game of cat and mouse. She runs, he catches her. Alina seems to have an edge about her and Mal comes off as moody. My favorite character
is Sturmhond, he's a Jack of all trades so to speak and I liked how he developed throughout the book. The writing moves slowly in the beginning but it gradually picks up. Overall, this is an okay read full of magic and mayhem.
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LibraryThing member Y2Ash
"You know the problem with saints and heroes? They always end up dead."
- Alina Starkov
Siege and Storm takes a few weeks after the events of Shadow and Bone with Alina and Mal still on the run by going from ship to ship. It's on one these ships lead by a privateer named Strumhond that The Darkling
It looks like The Darkling might win especially when one of those nichevo'ya takes a bite out of Alina's shoulder bur Strumhond has double-crossed him. Why? Because Strumhond is Prince Nikolai Lantsov, Major of the Twenty-Seven Regiment, Soldier of the King's Army, Grand Duke of Udova. He is the youngest son of the King and Queen, refer to as "Puppy" by Genya in Shadow and Bone. Why has he taken such a risk? Because he wants to save Ravka and needs Alina's help to do so.
I liked Siege and Storm more than the first one. It had a lot more action especially the ending. All Hell Broke Loose is putting it lightly. It was a damn massacre. I could have dealt without the Mal/Alina/The Darkling triangle. It got old really fast and was in the way of the the literal blood and guts. The relationship between Mal and Alina was kind of horrible.
Alina frustrated me so much. I felt almost bi-polar to her. At times, I thought she was a strong young woman, especially at the end which gives me hope for the third book. Other times I felt she was weak and whiny, usually when Mal and The Darkling were concerned, and I wanted to throttle her. Mal, who I liked in Shadow and Bone, became almost pathetic. I get that he lost his purpose when he became a deserter but he became derailed. Isn't he the one that can always adapt?
Alina as a Sun Summoner and the sainthood that was bestowed on her was interesting. The villagers saw her as a beacon of hope. That sets up the involvement of The Apparat in all of this craziness. Nikolai was a surprisingly well written character and what his brother Vasily did towards the end was AWESOME because it set up so much. It also ended in a good cliffhanger and I'm excited about where it's going to go.
- Alina Starkov
Siege and Storm takes a few weeks after the events of Shadow and Bone with Alina and Mal still on the run by going from ship to ship. It's on one these ships lead by a privateer named Strumhond that The Darkling
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launches an assault. However, he has back-up known as the nichevo'ya: shadow creatures (think those shadow figures that dragged unsavory characters to hell in the movie Ghost). It looks like The Darkling might win especially when one of those nichevo'ya takes a bite out of Alina's shoulder bur Strumhond has double-crossed him. Why? Because Strumhond is Prince Nikolai Lantsov, Major of the Twenty-Seven Regiment, Soldier of the King's Army, Grand Duke of Udova. He is the youngest son of the King and Queen, refer to as "Puppy" by Genya in Shadow and Bone. Why has he taken such a risk? Because he wants to save Ravka and needs Alina's help to do so.
I liked Siege and Storm more than the first one. It had a lot more action especially the ending. All Hell Broke Loose is putting it lightly. It was a damn massacre. I could have dealt without the Mal/Alina/The Darkling triangle. It got old really fast and was in the way of the the literal blood and guts. The relationship between Mal and Alina was kind of horrible.
Alina frustrated me so much. I felt almost bi-polar to her. At times, I thought she was a strong young woman, especially at the end which gives me hope for the third book. Other times I felt she was weak and whiny, usually when Mal and The Darkling were concerned, and I wanted to throttle her. Mal, who I liked in Shadow and Bone, became almost pathetic. I get that he lost his purpose when he became a deserter but he became derailed. Isn't he the one that can always adapt?
Alina as a Sun Summoner and the sainthood that was bestowed on her was interesting. The villagers saw her as a beacon of hope. That sets up the involvement of The Apparat in all of this craziness. Nikolai was a surprisingly well written character and what his brother Vasily did towards the end was AWESOME because it set up so much. It also ended in a good cliffhanger and I'm excited about where it's going to go.
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LibraryThing member Y2Ash
"You know the problem with saints and heroes? They always end up dead."
- Alina Starkov
Siege and Storm takes a few weeks after the events of Shadow and Bone with Alina and Mal still on the run by going from ship to ship. It's on one these ships lead by a privateer named Strumhond that The Darkling
It looks like The Darkling might win especially when one of those nichevo'ya takes a bite out of Alina's shoulder bur Strumhond has double-crossed him. Why? Because Strumhond is Prince Nikolai Lantsov, Major of the Twenty-Seven Regiment, Soldier of the King's Army, Grand Duke of Udova. He is the youngest son of the King and Queen, refer to as "Puppy" by Genya in Shadow and Bone. Why has he taken such a risk? Because he wants to save Ravka and needs Alina's help to do so.
I liked Siege and Storm more than the first one. It had a lot more action especially the ending. All Hell Broke Loose is putting it lightly. It was a damn massacre. I could have dealt without the Mal/Alina/The Darkling triangle. It got old really fast and was in the way of the the literal blood and guts. The relationship between Mal and Alina was kind of horrible.
Alina frustrated me so much. I felt almost bi-polar to her. At times, I thought she was a strong young woman, especially at the end which gives me hope for the third book. Other times I felt she was weak and whiny, usually when Mal and The Darkling were concerned, and I wanted to throttle her. Mal, who I liked in Shadow and Bone, became almost pathetic. I get that he lost his purpose when he became a deserter but he became derailed. Isn't he the one that can always adapt?
Alina as a Sun Summoner and the sainthood that was bestowed on her was interesting. The villagers saw her as a beacon of hope. That sets up the involvement of The Apparat in all of this craziness. Nikolai was a surprisingly well written character and what his brother Vasily did towards the end was AWESOME because it set up so much. It also ended in a good cliffhanger and I'm excited about where it's going to go.
- Alina Starkov
Siege and Storm takes a few weeks after the events of Shadow and Bone with Alina and Mal still on the run by going from ship to ship. It's on one these ships lead by a privateer named Strumhond that The Darkling
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launches an assault. However, he has back-up known as the nichevo'ya: shadow creatures (think those shadow figures that dragged unsavory characters to hell in the movie Ghost). It looks like The Darkling might win especially when one of those nichevo'ya takes a bite out of Alina's shoulder bur Strumhond has double-crossed him. Why? Because Strumhond is Prince Nikolai Lantsov, Major of the Twenty-Seven Regiment, Soldier of the King's Army, Grand Duke of Udova. He is the youngest son of the King and Queen, refer to as "Puppy" by Genya in Shadow and Bone. Why has he taken such a risk? Because he wants to save Ravka and needs Alina's help to do so.
I liked Siege and Storm more than the first one. It had a lot more action especially the ending. All Hell Broke Loose is putting it lightly. It was a damn massacre. I could have dealt without the Mal/Alina/The Darkling triangle. It got old really fast and was in the way of the the literal blood and guts. The relationship between Mal and Alina was kind of horrible.
Alina frustrated me so much. I felt almost bi-polar to her. At times, I thought she was a strong young woman, especially at the end which gives me hope for the third book. Other times I felt she was weak and whiny, usually when Mal and The Darkling were concerned, and I wanted to throttle her. Mal, who I liked in Shadow and Bone, became almost pathetic. I get that he lost his purpose when he became a deserter but he became derailed. Isn't he the one that can always adapt?
Alina as a Sun Summoner and the sainthood that was bestowed on her was interesting. The villagers saw her as a beacon of hope. That sets up the involvement of The Apparat in all of this craziness. Nikolai was a surprisingly well written character and what his brother Vasily did towards the end was AWESOME because it set up so much. It also ended in a good cliffhanger and I'm excited about where it's going to go.
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LibraryThing member jacquiemak
This fell a little short of my high expectations, but was still an enjoyable and fun book. The first book contained so much intrigue, mystery, sexiness, and excitement, most of which can be attributed to the Darkling, who unfortunately was away for a large part of this book. The introduction of
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Sturmhond almost (but not quite) made up for it. His character at least added some complexity and color among plain Alina and boring Mal who both fell flatter in this book. It felt as if they became whiny, shallow, insecure teenagers, who somehow got stuck in a fantasy Russia with super powers that might save the entire world. Gripes with the characters aside, I still want to know how it ends; I still have hopes that the finale will come through with a bang! Show Less
LibraryThing member TheBookHammock
What can I say that hasn't been said in the other 5 star reviews? Not much, I promise you, so I'll share how I felt reading this book.
Awe mostly. Ms. Bardugo weaves a somewhat enchanted tale of crazy, original, wonder filled, brutal and beautiful world, in which there's a magical evil force
Can't wait for the third installment of this saga.
Awe mostly. Ms. Bardugo weaves a somewhat enchanted tale of crazy, original, wonder filled, brutal and beautiful world, in which there's a magical evil force
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threatening to destroy all the good I pursuit of power. Where lovers are battling to save that world and their love and it is all wrapped up in fascinating, extreme,y well crafted words. Can't wait for the third installment of this saga.
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LibraryThing member amandacb
Siege and Storm continues Alina and Mal’s journey away from the Darkling and towards the gathering of more amplifier(s). The Darkling has lost his magical hold over Alina – or has he? Seige and Storm is less action and more thoughtful analysis as Alina struggles to adapt to her new role as
Alina is by turns strong and reliant on others; the dichotomy becomes critically frustrating throughout the novel. However, overall Alina does triumph as a well-rounded, humanistic character with foibles like us all. What really marred the book for me was the trite and over-emphasized love story (push-and-pull) between Mal and Alina; it detracted, at times, from the overarching themes.
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Saint Alina, propelled to saint-like status by the Apparat. Alina is by turns strong and reliant on others; the dichotomy becomes critically frustrating throughout the novel. However, overall Alina does triumph as a well-rounded, humanistic character with foibles like us all. What really marred the book for me was the trite and over-emphasized love story (push-and-pull) between Mal and Alina; it detracted, at times, from the overarching themes.
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LibraryThing member melmoo15
This is the sequal to Shadow and Bone, which was amazing fantasy!!!!! This book was just as good if not better!! I felt i got to know the characters better and also explore the amazing world more than the first book! Leigh Bardugo is amazing at writting fantasy and a good plot with awesome
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characters!! I cannot wait for the 3rd and final book Ruin and Rising to come out!! Show Less
LibraryThing member Yogiboo
Very enjoyable. Great cliff hanger and can't wait for final book. I loved the ghostly Darkling sightings. In fact the pages with him in it are the best pages. I like Mal but he's becoming a cry baby. I loved the Darkling's shadow army too. Nikolai was also good fun. Great characters, great book.
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Only gripe is that the planning for the war went on for too long but still won't take a point off because I loved the ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member ahappybooker
I listened to this on audio and, while the story was amazing, I wasn't a big fan of the narration by Lauren Fortgang. For some reason, the narrator uses this whispery weird fake villain-y voice for The Darkling that just annoys the hell out of me and I spent most of the book wishing she would just
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read the story in her normal voice. Using that stupid voice makes the Darkling seem somewhat ridiculous instead of being alluring and dark and a bit scary as I felt he should have been portrayed. The poor narration takes something significant away from what is otherwise an incredible story. I hope they find a different narrator for the next book in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member ahappybooker
I listened to this on audio and, while the story was amazing, I wasn't a big fan of the narration by Lauren Fortgang. For some reason, the narrator uses this whispery weird fake villain-y voice for The Darkling that just annoys the hell out of me and I spent most of the book wishing she would just
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read the story in her normal voice. Using that stupid voice makes the Darkling seem somewhat ridiculous instead of being alluring and dark and a bit scary as I felt he should have been portrayed. The poor narration takes something significant away from what is otherwise an incredible story. I hope they find a different narrator for the next book in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member stefferoo
You might have noticed that I featured the third book of The Grisha earlier in the month in one of my Waiting on Wednesdays. It goes without saying, I continue to enjoy this series very much! Still, it's only natural for readers to compare sequels with their predecessors, and the truth is I did not
There are several reasons for this. I don't want to single this book out because this is certainly not the only time I've felt this way, but it does serve to illustrate a pattern I've been noticing with me and a lot of young adult novels lately: Book One manages to make me fall in love with the characters and impresses me with a sweet, endearing little romance, and then invariably Book Two will show up with wagonful of melodrama and teenage angst and start stirring the pot.
Thing is, I haven't stopped rooting for Alina and Mal. I still love the fact they started out as childhood friends first, and that their trials and tribulations in the first book brought them together and made them see that their relationship might be something more. But of course, YA conventions dictate that no one can be allowed to remain in love and happy. Seems to be the case especially when it comes to the middle book of a trilogy.
Now, don't get me wrong; I appreciate a bit of dramatics here and there to help spice things up. But why do they always have to stem from some form of silly misunderstanding or a simple case of miscommunication? You two are best friends, talk to each other! And a love triangle? I honestly thought we'd dodged a bullet with that when the Darkling turned out to be a nasty in the first book.
Thankfully, Sturmhond, the third wheel in question, doesn't seem like a bad sort, especially given his secret and intriguing background. Dashing, confident, and just tolerably vain, I actually thought he was a great addition to this series. That I preferred his character over Mal's at so many points in this book is a testament to how far the latter had fallen. Oh, Mal, Mal, Mal. What happened? I have very little patience for characters who drown their sorrows by getting so severely smashed that they barely remember themselves. Or who kiss other girls when they are supposed to be in love with someone else, for that matter.
Alina doesn't get away scot-free either. This book sees her going through some big changes, after she and Mal are intercepted from their escape and taken back to the heart of Ravka to gear up for their fight against the Darkling. A darker side of her emerges, and though this is a result of certain events in the story, frankly her personality change disturbed me. Her newfound status also meant that her arrival incited a lot of social posturing within the egomaniacal ranks of the Grisha, giving the court an unpleasant dynamic, one reminiscent of a hormone-fueled high school cafeteria. Slipping deeper into her role of the Sun Summoner and the savior of her country, she begins to lose sight of what's really important. This mostly means Mal, really.
While this review may sound critical, know that I really did enjoy this book. In embracing a lot of the YA conventions, it also fit my mood like a comfortable glove, much like the first book did. The story may have been a tad too focused on the drama between Alina and Mal, but it also did a couple things really well, mainly in 1) expanding the world of The Grisha and 2) ending things with a bang. If the pattern continues with this series, as the third and final book of the trilogy, Ruin and Rising should be amazing.
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think Siege and Storm was as strong as Shadow and Bone. There are several reasons for this. I don't want to single this book out because this is certainly not the only time I've felt this way, but it does serve to illustrate a pattern I've been noticing with me and a lot of young adult novels lately: Book One manages to make me fall in love with the characters and impresses me with a sweet, endearing little romance, and then invariably Book Two will show up with wagonful of melodrama and teenage angst and start stirring the pot.
Thing is, I haven't stopped rooting for Alina and Mal. I still love the fact they started out as childhood friends first, and that their trials and tribulations in the first book brought them together and made them see that their relationship might be something more. But of course, YA conventions dictate that no one can be allowed to remain in love and happy. Seems to be the case especially when it comes to the middle book of a trilogy.
Now, don't get me wrong; I appreciate a bit of dramatics here and there to help spice things up. But why do they always have to stem from some form of silly misunderstanding or a simple case of miscommunication? You two are best friends, talk to each other! And a love triangle? I honestly thought we'd dodged a bullet with that when the Darkling turned out to be a nasty in the first book.
Thankfully, Sturmhond, the third wheel in question, doesn't seem like a bad sort, especially given his secret and intriguing background. Dashing, confident, and just tolerably vain, I actually thought he was a great addition to this series. That I preferred his character over Mal's at so many points in this book is a testament to how far the latter had fallen. Oh, Mal, Mal, Mal. What happened? I have very little patience for characters who drown their sorrows by getting so severely smashed that they barely remember themselves. Or who kiss other girls when they are supposed to be in love with someone else, for that matter.
Alina doesn't get away scot-free either. This book sees her going through some big changes, after she and Mal are intercepted from their escape and taken back to the heart of Ravka to gear up for their fight against the Darkling. A darker side of her emerges, and though this is a result of certain events in the story, frankly her personality change disturbed me. Her newfound status also meant that her arrival incited a lot of social posturing within the egomaniacal ranks of the Grisha, giving the court an unpleasant dynamic, one reminiscent of a hormone-fueled high school cafeteria. Slipping deeper into her role of the Sun Summoner and the savior of her country, she begins to lose sight of what's really important. This mostly means Mal, really.
While this review may sound critical, know that I really did enjoy this book. In embracing a lot of the YA conventions, it also fit my mood like a comfortable glove, much like the first book did. The story may have been a tad too focused on the drama between Alina and Mal, but it also did a couple things really well, mainly in 1) expanding the world of The Grisha and 2) ending things with a bang. If the pattern continues with this series, as the third and final book of the trilogy, Ruin and Rising should be amazing.
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LibraryThing member TheLoopyLibrarian
Unexpected twists, high-seas adventures, military plots and uneasy alliances, complex relationships and character growth all make for a fantastic sequel in this second book of the Grisha Trilogy. The epic battles were heart-pounding, and the story is as powerful and magical as its
“I’m ambitious, Alina. I’m driven. But I hope…I hope I still know the difference between right and wrong” (p. 251).
“No matter what I said, we both knew the hard truth. We do our best. We try. And usually it makes no difference at all” (p. 334).
“There is no ordinary life for people like you and me” (p. 368).
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characters.“I’m ambitious, Alina. I’m driven. But I hope…I hope I still know the difference between right and wrong” (p. 251).
“No matter what I said, we both knew the hard truth. We do our best. We try. And usually it makes no difference at all” (p. 334).
“There is no ordinary life for people like you and me” (p. 368).
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LibraryThing member Emily_Anne
Warning: If you have not read Shadow and Bone, read the book immediately. Then come back and read this review of the second book!
Wow, this is how a good sequel should be done. Siege and Storm was an amazing addition to the Grisha Trilogy! The book had everything I loved about the first book (Shadow
While reading, I was completely sucked into the world. Bardugo has mastered the art of perfect descriptions, explanations, characters, and plots. Also, the fast paced beginning helped. We immediately jump into the action after a re-introduction to the characters and their location. And "the action" includes ships, The Darkling, battles, and A New Character!
A lot of reader have been going on about the new character, Stormhund (He has a lot of other names besides this. However, I am not going to spoil the surprises by telling you!) And now, I completely understand the excited chatter. Stormhund is funny, and surprising. I loved all his identity twists! Is he another love interest? I am not sure. I think Alina, the main character, is still into Mal, her best friend and main love interest. We will see in Ruin and Rising! I am kind of hoping that Stromhund will become a more prominent love interest. His witty comments had me smiling! I think he is a good character. Right Barugo? Please?
Mal, of course, is also a great character. He did seem a little whiny in the second half of the book. Alina is choosing to save the world over spending time with you? What a shame, you should go pout some more! (Note: It really isn't as bad as I made it sound. Mal is great, just the whole ordeal of war is changing him. However, I am still annoyed at his lack of understanding.) Also, the plots are as great as ever! Leigh Bardugo has such an amazing imagination and, as I said before, her ideas are vivid and fully formed. I cannot wait to learn more about the Darkling in the next book, as he is rarely actually seen in Siege and Storm. However, he is often mentioned and the readers never forget about his threats and the danger he imposes.
Overall, I loved Siege and Storm! I loved the characters. Alina is so realistic, and strong! And Stormhond is just so... amazing. I also forgot to mention the amazing character growth (both good and bad) and the realistic faults in all of Bardugo's characters. I felt like everyone I read about was a real person. Seriously, I could pass Alina in the grocery store and barely be fazed. Leigh's writing is that vivid! The series has, so far, been very unique and a definite favorite. Now, is anyone else dying for the hopefully epic finale, Ruin and Rising?
5/5 stars
Sorry if the review was too long! I was a bit more ramble-y than usual.
Wow, this is how a good sequel should be done. Siege and Storm was an amazing addition to the Grisha Trilogy! The book had everything I loved about the first book (Shadow
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and Bone), plus more. This series is quickly becoming one I would recommend to people searching for a refreshing trilogy.While reading, I was completely sucked into the world. Bardugo has mastered the art of perfect descriptions, explanations, characters, and plots. Also, the fast paced beginning helped. We immediately jump into the action after a re-introduction to the characters and their location. And "the action" includes ships, The Darkling, battles, and A New Character!
A lot of reader have been going on about the new character, Stormhund (He has a lot of other names besides this. However, I am not going to spoil the surprises by telling you!) And now, I completely understand the excited chatter. Stormhund is funny, and surprising. I loved all his identity twists! Is he another love interest? I am not sure. I think Alina, the main character, is still into Mal, her best friend and main love interest. We will see in Ruin and Rising! I am kind of hoping that Stromhund will become a more prominent love interest. His witty comments had me smiling! I think he is a good character. Right Barugo? Please?
Mal, of course, is also a great character. He did seem a little whiny in the second half of the book. Alina is choosing to save the world over spending time with you? What a shame, you should go pout some more! (Note: It really isn't as bad as I made it sound. Mal is great, just the whole ordeal of war is changing him. However, I am still annoyed at his lack of understanding.) Also, the plots are as great as ever! Leigh Bardugo has such an amazing imagination and, as I said before, her ideas are vivid and fully formed. I cannot wait to learn more about the Darkling in the next book, as he is rarely actually seen in Siege and Storm. However, he is often mentioned and the readers never forget about his threats and the danger he imposes.
Overall, I loved Siege and Storm! I loved the characters. Alina is so realistic, and strong! And Stormhond is just so... amazing. I also forgot to mention the amazing character growth (both good and bad) and the realistic faults in all of Bardugo's characters. I felt like everyone I read about was a real person. Seriously, I could pass Alina in the grocery store and barely be fazed. Leigh's writing is that vivid! The series has, so far, been very unique and a definite favorite. Now, is anyone else dying for the hopefully epic finale, Ruin and Rising?
5/5 stars
Sorry if the review was too long! I was a bit more ramble-y than usual.
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LibraryThing member SophieElaina
Soooo good!! The world is so intriguing and the writing is so beautiful. There were so many twists and turns that I did not see coming, this one definitely kept me on my toes. As for who I ship with Alina... I am so Nikolai trash!! But honestly I don't mind I loved all of the characters and I have
5/5 Stars
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no idea what is going to happen, and is it bad that I still love the Darkling?! :)5/5 Stars
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Awards
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Teen — 2013)