Review: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
“‘There are no others like us, Alina,’ he whispered, ‘And there never will be.’”
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The Basics
Title: Siege and Storm (Shadow and Bone Trilogy #2)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Published: 2013
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company — Macmillan
Pages: 432
Format: Paperback
Genres: Fiction — Fantasy, High fantasy, Romance, Fantasy romance, Young adult, Young adult fantasy
Book Synopsis
Alina and Mal have escaped from the Darkling and are now in hiding across the True Sea in Novyi Zem. Unable to use her magic for fear of being identified as the Sun Summoner, Alina is withering away and unsure how long she can maintain the ruse. She has heard that the Darkling is looking for her, and she knows that he will not stop until he finds her. The question is should she remain in hiding and await her inevitable discovery, or should she return to Ravka and attempt to fight back against the Darkling?
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: This sequel is even better than the original.
Dare I say, Siege and Storm is an even more captivating read than Shadow and Bone. From world expansion to the introduction of new characters and the development of existing ones, this book has a lot going on – in a good way. If you are anything like me, you will be sneaking off to read it at every available opportunity.
The story hooks you from the get-go, throwing you into the thick of things almost immediately. Not even twenty pages in, Alina and Mal are captured by the Darkling and must subsequently find a way to escape from him and his minions. From there on out, the plot only gets better.
The story stretches beyond the bounds of Shadow and Bone, traveling to the lands outside of Ravka. We cross the True Sea, journey to Novyi Zem and the treacherous Bone Road, and eventually, make our way back to Ravka. With each new corner of the world that we explore, the Grisha universe becomes more fleshed out and consequently, comes to feel more real. The world exploration also has an escapist effect. When you read this book, you are transported from mundane reality to an expansive, magical world. You are right there alongside Mal and Alina as they journey across lands.
Another side effect of the world expansion is the introduction of new characters, including one of my favorite characters from the series, Nikolai. His sharp wit and humor add brevity to the story; his teasing of Mal is particularly entertaining. Other fantastic characters who we meet in this book include the formidable siblings, Tamar and Tolya, and Sturmhond, a privateer.
The existing characters, namely Mal and Alina, experience change in this book. Alina’s power grows, and with it, comes an insatiable desire for even more power. This thirst for power causes darkness to take root inside of her, manifesting itself in unusually cruel thoughts and behavior. In many ways, she starts to resemble the Darkling, the very person she detests the most.
Mal undergoes his own transformation, becoming a slightly aggravating character. As Alina’s power and prominence grow, he starts to feel threatened and jealous, and as a result, he begins to pull away from her. At times, he assumes the worst of her and does not give her a chance to explain herself. His behavior made their interactions difficult – not to mention highly frustrating – to read.
The interactions between Alina and the Darkling, on the other hand, were a treat to read. In fact, their dynamic is a highlight of this book. Their relationship is a complicated one. Through Morozova’s stag, they are inextricably linked, and through their shared darkness and greatness, they are drawn closer still. At the same time, Alina is repulsed by the Darkling’s cruelty and violence, and he is frustrated by her conscience. This tension always manifests itself in their interactions, with Alina fighting an internal battle between wanting to be with him and wanting to be good. Part of me hopes that this story will take a dark turn and see Alina pick the Darkling and thus become a villain herself, but that will probably not happen. It would, however, make for a far more memorable ending than what I suspect will happen: Alina remains the hero and walks off into the sunset with Mal.
Moving on to the writing, it is every bit as skillful as it was in the previous book. A first-person narrative is once again used to create an immersive and engaging reading experience, and the writing itself is easy to understand and follow. Bardugo also does a wonderful job of pacing the story and weaving in suspense to keep you flipping the pages.
The not so good
As previously alluded to, I feel rather lukewarm about the Alina-Mal romance and would prefer a pairing with either the Darkling or Nikolai. Perhaps the next book, however, will change my opinion; I will try to keep an open mind.
Overall
Siege and Storm is a sequel that outshines the original. It is a riveting read that draws you further into the Grishaverse and leaves you eager to delve into the next book in the series.
Have you read Siege and Storm? If so, what did you think of it? As always, share your thoughts with me in the comments section below!
