Review | Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Procrastinate. verb. To delay or postpone action; put off doing something.

Sigh. I REALLY struggled with this one – and must have started/restarted it a half-dozen times over the summer. Yes: it’s an important book in the trilogy. But, jeez, does it suffer from second-in-a-trilogy syndrome.

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What happens?

Recap! Welcome to Ravka! A magical nation that is one part Imperial Russia, one part steampunk-western.

In Shadow and Bone, we met Alina Starkov: a cartographer in the Imperial Army who discovers that she has magical powers. In the span of hours, she is whisked away into the extravagant world of the Grisha. However, she soon discovers that not is all as it seems. The leader of the Grisha — the Darkling — is an ancient foe who has his sights set on conquering the nation.

Siege and Storm picks up several months after Shadow and Bone. Alina and Mal are on the run, — and are nearly free — when the Darkling catches up to them. Once again, Alina is made prisoner.

After a series of highly unusual and perfectly timed events, Alina escapes; forges a tenuous alliance with the prince of Ravka; and assumes the position of leader of the Grisha. But war is threatening — religious zealots are gathering — and the king’s power is fading fast.

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What I liked:

Nikolai. The reason I got into this series in the first place was King of Scars — which I still have to read, but which I’m really looking forward to now that I’ve properly read Siege and Storm. Nikolai is such an intriguing character: brash and genius; patriotic; and yet so vulnerable and lonely.

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What I didn’t like:

The YA drama. Good god, Alina and Mal. You’re in the middle of a war. Can you puh-leeze stop with your on-again-off-again toxic mess?!

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My Favourite Quote:

I’m perfectly capable of being stupid on my own.

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The Details:

• The Book: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
• Published: 2012, Henry Holt and Company
• My Copy: Personal copy
• Read date: September 7-18, 2020
• Rating/5: 🐉🐉🐉