[Review + Giveaway] Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Siege and StormThe Grisha #2
Leigh Bardugo
June 4th, 2013
Henry Holt and Co.
435 pages

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

 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.

I've been eagerly anticipating this book for a few months now. I decided to get aboard the Grisha train a little late, so the wait wasn't as excruciating for me as it must have been for those who read the book as it was immediately published.

I'm so glad it exists now. It was everything I could have hoped for. The story jumped straight into the action. Even when it let up, it didn't for too long. There was always some new discovery or bit of drama to keep the story interesting and the characters moving.

There are some new characters and I fell in love with every one of them. The new love interest has all the wit, sarcasm, charm, personability and ingenuity of Tony Stark. He's also deliciously royal. While I don't know yet how genuine he is, I approve fully with his addition. The brother and sister duo introduced kick all of the butt and are just sassy enough to love.

The romance has gotten out of control. Alina clearly has varying degrees of feelings for all the men involved as well as outside factors that interfere. Can she trust them? What do they really want to be with her for? Will they just try to murder her in her sleep? The important questions. Sturmhond is my new favorite, despite his obvious ulterior motives. Mal is a chain that has always weighed Alina down, and he continues to be flighty and run off with whatever available lady parts are thrown his way. The Darkling wasn't as prominent in this book. He creeps around like Slenderman, lurking around corners and doorways. His new powers are frightening, disgusting. Things he's done to influential, friendly characters are terribly visceral.

Alina is afloat on a river of circumstance. She's got to deal with the hand given her, but she really doesn't know how to do that correctly. There are plenty of missteps along the way, as she's not perfect in any sense.

It lives up to the first book, surpasses it. I cannot wait for the next installment. I will have to find a fawn jello mold to celebrate.

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