By: Leigh Bardugo
Grisha #2 | 435 Pages | Pub. 2013
Siege and Storm at a Glance
- Overall Rating: ★★★★
- Heroine: Needs a vacation
- Dude: What a bro
- Emotional: The angst is real
- Brutality: Torn apart by birds
Pairs Well With
Liquid Sunshine
- 3 oz. coconut rum
- 1.5 oz. peach schnapps
- 1/3 c. orange juice
- 1/3 c. pineapple juice
- Splash of grenadine
Shadow and Bone Spoilers below…
Jess Review
I love this world so much. The magic and creatures make it like a fairytale, but this book did NOT go like a fairytale. There is a chance that Bardugo hates pretty, mythical creatures because they seem to keep dying. She also has zero qualms about killing of and/or maiming characters. Which I kind of like, even if I’m not sure what that says about me as a person. I think it sent me spiraling a little.
I remember how I felt after Shadow and Bone, those were nice times, times when I had long beautiful hair. Before I ripped it out in frustration.
I don’t want to hate Alina, but I kinda do right now. Yes, she is put in an impossible position by the Darkling and his creepy minions, but she completely loses sight of who she is. I’m a little terrified to read Ruin and Rising because i’m not sure I can handle this getting worse.
The Darkling got even creepier. I was pretty distraught by him actually being a bad guy because I was really hoping to get SJM’d. Alas, he is pretty freaking evil and now haunts her dreams/daydreams. It wasn’t bad enough that the hot guy turned out to be the actual devil, but you have to make him super creepy too? How dare you.
The bright light in this book was Sturmhund. Yeah, he is a borderline f*ckboy for going after Alina, but he provided humor that I severely needed to get through this thing. Plus, we needed another guy to love after the whole Darkling devastation.
“Do you take anything seriously?”
“Not if I can help it. Makes life so tedious.”
Mal, you poor thing. I was really annoyed and unimpressed by Mal, but he climbed up tremendously. He LOVES her and protects her and Alina just is a giant bitch to him. He just wants to go live in the woods and track things, but he gives up everything to be with Alina. The back and forth with those two and the pure angst killed me.
I am pretty convinced that Ruin and Rising will be the end of me, so I may wait to read that until I have gotten over what happened here. But I still have to read it because this world is gorgeous and so well done.
Plus, if they find another sea whip I call dibs on that thing.
Have you read Siege and Storm? Let us know what you thought in the comments!
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Great review!! I totally agree with all of your points.
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Thanks!
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I’m a little worried to start the series. I like Darkling from a far, but I’m not so sure if I will once I read about him.
But I’d like nothing more than to smack Alina though 🙃
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haha read it!
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I totally agree with you on all of these points!! I loved this book so much and felt sooo bad for Mal 😦 This was a great review 😀
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Thanks!
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Fantastic review!! 😀 😀
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I’m totally re-reading these before King of Scars… I just have to figure out when ❤
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Nikolai!
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😍😍😍
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I’m surprised to see you liked Mal over Alina in this one, bc I’ve heard from other reviewers that his character turns to complete shit? D: Anyway, I haven’t continued the series because of that reason. 😦 BUT I REALLY NEED TO MEET STURMHUND!
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You have to meet Sturmhund!!! And Mal started to devolve at the end, but it was Alina’s fault in my opinion. I was not a fan of him in the first book, but he won me over.
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I’mj in the middle of this book right now and I love it so much!! I’m in love with Sturmhund, Nikolai and The Darkling. Even if The Darkling is evil. I sort of hate Alina AND Mal though.
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Love to hear what you think when you are done!
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I read Siege and Storm last year and even though Ruin and Rising is awaiting me on my bookshelf I’m too scared! I was not prepared for the direction these first two book have taken I have have no idea at this point how it’s all going to go down! I don’t know if I should be rooting for Mal, The Darkling or Nikolai??? All I know is – this ending will be soul crushing and I’m not ready haha
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I know!!!! I’m terrified to read it. 😭
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Poor Mal. The idea of him as the end-game for Alina is soooo boring. I haven’t read the third book yet, but I’m torn between Stormhund or the Darkling. I’m hoping for some kind of redemption. Is it possible? maybe not, but would that matter so much?
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I liked him a lot more in the second book than the first. But, he was not the best end game right? I’m really looking forward to book 3!
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I love Nikolai so much and he was the best thing about Siege and Storm! Personally I’m a Mal lover so I’m feeling for Mal in this book! But I also love the Darkling even though he gets really evil. I’m glad you enjoyed it though!
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Nikolai is amazing! I did love Mal in this book too.
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