Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Pages: 448pgs
The Story
Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.
Darkness never dies.
Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.
The Review
In the past I have read my fair share of fantasy books that have impressed me immensely, but I have to say Leigh Bardugo's debut from last year, Shadow and Bone, was and still is one of my favourite books coming from 2012 and I could go on and on about just how amazing it was. But yet again, she still continues to amaze me with her much anticipated sequel, SIEGE AND STORM, and she definitely blew me away on some plenty epic proportions if I do say so myself.
SIEGE AND STORM can be described in only two words: original and unique. Really . . . I can't form any other words than that because it's just too hard to describe just how amazing this book really is and even though this particular sequel may not have beaten my love of the first book, but it still doesn't mean it wasn't any good because it was yet again . . . incredible. Leigh Bardugo does more than continue a fantasy storyline, she does it with beautiful and delicate writing techniques, and she makes sure the reader is with her from the very beginning which she certainly got me there on that part and boy I love her for it. I just can't get enough of this particular story. It's just so . . . rich and detailed.
While I loved the storyline and pretty much everything else in it, but personally the only thing that bought my 5 star down to a 4 1/2 star book rating was the characters themselves, which I felt just didn't seem as strong nor as standout-ish as in the previous book, Shadow and Bone. Still, I love each and everyone of them. Alina, for one, was still such an amazing and strong-willed character that we cannot help but love and I actually appreciated how Leigh Bardugo brought out a much darker side to Alina's character, especially since Alina herself is surrounded by so much darkness that constantly affects her immensely in this particular sequel. It was something that I was just so interested in seeing.
Mal, on the other hand, he was the character I was most disappointed in (sorry dude because I loved you in book one). While it is hard to measure yourself up to this powerful being like Alina and the actual power growing inside of her, but Mal was a bit of a downer in this sequel and I understand why he was acting in this certain way (even though it annoyed me a bit). After all, he is only human and Alina, this person who is slowly changing because of her new-found darkness and powers, is this whole other being entirely. Still, I was missing my old Mal being well . . . not so much as a downer for Alina. And as for the Darkling, as much as I wanted to hate him in this book and all the chaos is was creating around the world, I was still totally in love with him even though he didn't get much of a part in this sequel which is unfortunate for the Darkling fans. So let's hope and keep our fingers (and toes) crossed that he gets more page time in the third and final book of the series next year. I love me some more hotty Darkling please, Ms. Bardugo.
Mal, on the other hand, he was the character I was most disappointed in (sorry dude because I loved you in book one). While it is hard to measure yourself up to this powerful being like Alina and the actual power growing inside of her, but Mal was a bit of a downer in this sequel and I understand why he was acting in this certain way (even though it annoyed me a bit). After all, he is only human and Alina, this person who is slowly changing because of her new-found darkness and powers, is this whole other being entirely. Still, I was missing my old Mal being well . . . not so much as a downer for Alina. And as for the Darkling, as much as I wanted to hate him in this book and all the chaos is was creating around the world, I was still totally in love with him even though he didn't get much of a part in this sequel which is unfortunate for the Darkling fans. So let's hope and keep our fingers (and toes) crossed that he gets more page time in the third and final book of the series next year. I love me some more hotty Darkling please, Ms. Bardugo.
Overall, SIEGE AND STORM does not disappoint its readers and I can't wait to find out more in the last installment next year. I just can't wait until we find out what lies in the end for Alina's final journey and of her other foes and friends . . . which I'm sure is going to be really dark, dangerous, and epic on so many high levels.
The Rating
4 1/2 / 5 stars
I'm glad you're enjoying this series so much, Erin! It's been on my wish list for a while now.
ReplyDeleteCat @ Addicted 2 Heroines
It's a fantastic series. Would highly recommend it to everyone.
Deletegreat you enjoying reading it..... i haven't even read book 1 yet.....
ReplyDeleteAparajita @Le' Grande Codex
You must read them soon! Such a great series.
DeleteErin I can't *believe* you didn't even mention Sturmhond who was pretty much my fave part of this book!! I DO love this series a lot though, one of my fave YA fantasies for sure
ReplyDeleteCait
I know, I know. I totally forgot about him. Haha. My bad. But yes, he is quite brilliant.
DeleteI'm a little worried about this Mal being annoying bit, I will not lie, but I NEED to read this sequel ASAP. It worries me dearly that I still haven't read it after I've had it in my collection for at least a month now. I always do this to myself, me and series have such a curious relationship xP
ReplyDelete