Siege and Storm - Review

Siege and Storm (Grisha #2)

By: Leigh Bardugo

Published: June 4, 2013 by Henry Holt and Co.

Hardcover, 435 pages

Source: Personal Library

(Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository)

Summary:

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. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. 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.

My Review:
I had this book worked up a bit more in my head due to the high reviews of so many others.  I was disappointed it didn't deliver more of a punch.  Don't get me wrong, it was good, really good at times, but I felt it was lacking some and a bit too slow for my taste at times.  The whole book leads up to the last crescendo in the last 30-50 pages.  All in all it was a great second book in a series continuing the battle between light and dark, good and evil, the Darkling and the Sun Summoner.

The author does a great job of painting a rich, colorful world of magic and fantasy and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about the land and the people of Ravka.

Alina is the most powerful Grisha and as such many are vying for her hand in marriage to form an alliance that is the strongest in the land.  At every turn someone is making their not so subtle intentions clear with her.  "Oh, you know," I replied.  "Another prince, another proposal."  The problem is that she is not looking to be queen or to rise to be the most powerful person in the land.  "So many men had tried to make her a queen."  As they say, "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions..."

Favorite Quote:
"They may be different, I reminded myself as we headed into the palace, but they both want to use you just the same."

The book ends in a place that seems rather hopeless.  In any great story, it's a perfect place to be for the final chapter(s) to take place.  I look forward to the ending of Alina's story in Ruin and Rising (Grisha #3).

Final Rating - 4 stars.