Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - Siege and Storm

This book is much better than the first one in my opinion yet I feel unable to give it a 4-star rating. I feel like it's closer to a 3.5 or 3.75 rounded down but I may bump it up after I let my thoughts ruminate on it.

I found that this book was much more gripping that the previous one which very much felt like the first book in a trilogy (Not a bad thing but it definitely had that feeling) whereas while the long chapters remain in this one (And I'm assuming in all of Leigh Bardugo's work) I found it much easier and enjoyable to get through as well as it taking me less time. I liked a lot of the new characters the obvious being Nikolai who I feel brought a lot of charm to the novel and his back and forth with Alina was probably one of my favourite parts of the novel. Speaking of Alina, this time around while she still doubts herself and has her insecurities she felt a lot more involved in the action and getting to see her utilise the Cut and her power was nice to see throughout the novel.

I also really liked that we got to see more of the military-type operation and world of the Grishaverse/Ravka and Alina coming into control of the Second Army was really cool to see as it was a nice change of pace to have her decide to fight back against the Darkling (As briefly mentioned above). Tolya and Tamar were also a pretty good addition to the ensemble of characters even if they don't get a lot of backstory or much to do besides protecting Alina.

I can definitely see how some may not like this book as like how I feel with the first book feeling like the first book in a trilogy the same could be said for this one which can definitely feel like the second book and middle-point in a trilogy with its main goal being to set up the 3rd book/conclusion and filling out the rest of time with character dramas and a larger focus on dialogue and development that action (E.g the main real conflicts only come at the beginning and the end and The Darkling remains out of the picture for nearly all of the book aside from the final confrontation and appearing physically to Alina throughout after her nichevo'ya bite)

Overall, I might have the unpopular opinion that I preferred this book to the first and found it to be much more engaging (Perhaps due to the first book having set up everything that the second book could easily and comfortably ease back into the world). I'm planning on trying to finish this series as soon as possible rather than taking a couple of months break in between like I did with this book and the first.

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konstantina's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

When people say impossible, they usually mean improbable.

This is an unpopular opinion amongst the fandom but I actually enjoyed this more than Shadow and Bone. Preparing for a war is more exciting than going to school, and Nikolai is one of the best characters in the trilogy.

Alina might have some pick me characteristics but she's a likeable and impressive MC, and I'm excited to see what she does at the finale.

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neko_reads's review

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adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

2.75
After actually liking shadow and bone I was so disappointed by this book.

First let’s start with the positives: the twins and nickolai. And also parts of Alina and Mals relationship
So we all know, mal is an asshole in this book but it’s actually justified. Alina completely fails to communicate with him, especially when she starts seeing the darkling, and while I understand why she didn’t tell I still hate it lol.

Now speaking of the romance, nickolai. Great character, love him, but I can’t help thinking that I think he would have been better if he was just sturmhond. Still a very interesting character though and hes great. But I don’t like the romance between him and Alina. The love triangle sucks

Still on the subject of romance, the darkling and Alina, absolutely not. The darkling is a super evil mass murderer and manipulates Alina for what he wants. I will say it again but I mean he also called himself the darkling. If that’s not cringe I don’t know what is.

To me mal and Alina is the only romance of the book, there just needs to be more communication because seriously.

Now the twins. AMAZING CHARACTERS. Their loyalty, their power and skill, just everything. Need I say more?

Now moving onto plot, honestly I wasn’t really interested most the time. It’s pretty meh to me.

Overall an ok book

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hmbrokaw's review

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adventurous funny inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I’m a Malina stan (I don’t care if it’s basic). The miscommunication SUCKS. Some great plot developments, though

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trintrin's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

NIKOLAI LANTSOV!!!!! How does your back feel after carrying this entire book, sir? I know I cannot legally give any book featuring Nikolai Lantsov less than 5 stars but Mal is starting to annoy me so points taken off :(

I love that Alina is becoming a much stronger character but she still kinda relies on men to feel like she matters and I hope she changes in the next book. It's so refreshing to read about her not-so-moral thoughts ~~like her firebird cravings for example~~. I still have hope for Mal to change but he's really insecure and that gets on my nerves. Tamar, Tolya and Zoya are super cool and David too ig. I wanted to see more of the Darkling and Genya but they barely got any scenes ;-;

Let's talk about Alina's love interests. Okay I admit Darklina is hot but nahhh ain't no way I'm gonna ship them that dude is an ancient fossil and he's evil on top of that. Nikolai seems too good to be true and even though I love him, I don't think him and Alina would make a good pair. There was a part where I thought Leigh was gonna kill Mal off (maybe even hoped that would be the case) but that didn't happen and I'm not sure if I like it or not. Because out of the options Mal would be the best fit and they're most likely gonna end up together but I still wish things were a little different. Maybe if Mal was just a little more likeable or maybe if Alina and Nikolai fit together a little better but oh well.

Some parts of the book felt like it's repeating scenes from the first one. ~~like the sea whip or the Alina v. Darkling at the end and the way she tricked him sort of??~~ The middle part dragged a little but over all I think I like this one more than the first. Leigh's writing is as beautiful as ever and it's a page turner for sure.

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beckyyreadss's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to read this book due to the Netflix series that is being made. And I am really late to reading these . . . as always. This book disappointed the hell out of me.

This book starts right where it ended. Alina is being hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold. Alina is trying to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy whilst 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 new power that is terrifying and a dangerous plan that will test the boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight these forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips into the Darkling’s game if forbidden magic and further away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power and the love she always thought would guide her.

This book dragged. It was so disappointing. Mal drove me mental but so did Alina. I think they were just both too self-centre and this book made me understand why everyone obsesses over the Darkling, he made the book so much more interesting. I was so bored trying to wait for the big action or reveal, it was just a lot of Alina’s thoughts which aren’t interesting. I usually hate love triangles, but I felt like this book needed a love triangle, just to give it some complex and drama. I think the bit with Genya was completely rushed and I wanted more of a development with her or a hero arch or something. This book was lacking a lot and could have been chopped by 100 pages and it wouldn’t have missed anything.

If this book was the first one of the series, I probably wouldn’t have carried on with the series, but I must finish the series just to see hopefully more of the tension between Alina and the Darkling.

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hobbitmusings's review

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adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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nmtthews's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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