Review: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

BOOK STATS

Rating: ☆☆☆
Title: Siege and Storm
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: Shadow and Bone #2
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Young Adult
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Lauren Fortgang
Length: 12 hours
Publisher: Audible Audio; Henry Holt
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Source: Personal collection

SYNOPSIS

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, 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.

MY THOUGHTS

This story really drags. Siege and Storm is SUCH a middle book and is definitely the weakest in the series.

Alina has the worst taste in men; she has so many suitors, yet she pines for Mal. I knew Mal sucked, but I forgot how much he sucks in this book. He wants Alina to be common, and he is jealous and insecure that she is extraordinary. Whereas every other man wants to make her a queen.

Nikolai is this book’s saving grace. He is my favorite character in this series. The final battle with the Darkling was also REALLY GOOD, but there was a lot to slog through along the way.