Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo Series: The Grisha Trilogy #2
Publisher: Square Fish (2013)
Paperback (432 pages)
Via: Library
Rating:
Also by this author: Shadow and Bone, Ruin and Rising, Six of Crows
Also in this series: Shadow and Bone, Ruin and Rising
Reading Challenges: Read 2015
Synopsis
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.
Find the book: Goodreads
My Review
Alina has really grown up from the previous book. She is making some of her own decisions. While I don’t think she is always choosing the right thing, at least she is attempting to make the best decision. She does seem to be a bit more corrupted by the power that she knows she wields. At times I do feel sorry for her.
Mal is confused. He is trying so hard to fit in even though he knows he really doesn’t. He would do anything for Alina, even when he isn’t sure about her feelings. She could lead him to the ends of the earth and he would follow.
Then there is Sturmhond/Nikolai. He can change personalities so fast and everything he does is so calculated. I really like him though. He does what he feels he needs to do and he really cares about Ravka.
Tolya and Tamar are pretty cool. Any Grisha who can live that long without the Darkling knowing they exist is pretty awesome. They have also learned different ways of using their power and they are intensely loyal to Alina.
A lot of this book focuses on the preparations for when the Darkling will decide to attack. Learning more about the Grisha and seeing them work together was really nice. I feel that I can better understand some of the choices that have been made now. However, it is a very slow moving book. I didn’t like it near as much as Shadow and Bone.
Catholic Connections
*Spoiler Alert*
In order to analyze the text and make these connections, there may be some spoilers.
Please do not continue reading unless you have already read the book
or you don’t mind if you read some spoilers.
*Spoiler Alert*
This book, like Shadow and Bone has the struggle of good versus evil. The struggle here, though, isn’t as clear cut. Alina isn’t as pure as she was in the first book. She is starting to understand corruption and temptation. That is a struggle that every human has. We will always be tempted and tend towards corruption.
There was loyalty and perseverance from Alina’s friends: Tolya, Tamar, Nikolai, and Mal. There are people who are willing to do what it takes to follow their convictions, their consciences.
I like how Alina doesn’t cave to some of her pressures, especially the pressure that she marry one of the two princes. Even though I think she would do splendidly with Nikolai, she won’t agree to marry him because she doesn’t love him. I like that.
I know that none of these comparisons are perfect and I doubt the author intended such connections. This is simply my own opinions and views on the matter.
Which Reading Challenges?
- You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
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