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itsmemiana's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
loved this a lot.
I'm in love with Nikolai and Mal. (the darkling can die, although I love Ben Barnes and I think he deserves the world. ..........and he's really hot.......... but anyways.......)
can't wait to get the third one.
I'm in love with Nikolai and Mal. (the darkling can die, although I love Ben Barnes and I think he deserves the world. ..........and he's really hot.......... but anyways.......)
can't wait to get the third one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, and War
Moderate: Torture
ewwniamh's review
adventurous
dark
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
4.25
nikolai >>>>>
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Gore, Violence, Murder, War, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
seren's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Genocide, Murder, War, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
Minor: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
tiramisuandpasta's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
5.0
Leigh Bardugo, you’re a master of words (and fantasy).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, and Violence
lucinotlucy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War
jenarae's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and War
Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, Classism, Gun violence, Drug use, Grief, Kidnapping, and Torture
Minor: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Vomit
lee8's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Firstly, I’m gonna say Shadow and Bone was infinitely better than this book. The only exciting parts were at the beginning and very end which is why it took me SO LONG to get through the middle. Nothing happened for over 100 pages however one part towards the end kept me on the edge of my seat. If it weren’t for Nikolai I would not have been able to get through this book. Hoping the third one makes up for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault
lupinschocolate_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
this book was so good and i didn’t expect that ending at all ??? & the whole battle scene at the end had me sobbing so much. also ouch the stuff with mal and alina at the end was painful, like the rift between them growing and him not understanding her was so </3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal death
readwithde's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
I very rarely prefer a sequel to an initial book in a series, but I was constantly and delightfully surprised by Siege and Storm.
The characters felt even more grounded and real, if that is possible. I'm so used to reading fantasy novels (or watching fantasy) where the heroes constantly fight their flaws and think only of the big picture. It is refreshing to have Alina realize how much she wants power, how much she has obsessed over getting the amplifiers. I love that she is constantly overwhelmed and still full of grudges and emotion; it has been only a year (if that) since she discovered she was a Grisha, and she should be overwhelmed by commanding her own troops and preparing for war.
Even the love triangle (square?) seems real and grounded in the characters: Mal is the passive one, waiting for Alina to prove she wants him but refusing to communicate, while The Darkling imposes his own needs and wishes on her, and Nikolai plays the long game, constantly calculating actions and choosing when to risk vulnerability.
While a few of my guesses were correct, most of the last hundred pages were a complete and welcome surprise. It was refreshing to see Prince Vasily try to match his younger brother's cleverness and fail miserably, losing his birthright by his own hubris -- it was nearly Shakespearean or ripped from a Greek tragedy. Likewise, with nearly half the book away from The Darkling, it was refreshing to see him in his full power, both in his manipulation of others and political scheming, but also his strategies and honed skill as the leader of an army. His ambush and coup were nearly perfect.
I am very intrigued by the Sun Cult led by the Apparat. While in the shadows for most of the book, they proved to be useful allies, not to be overlooked by the Crown or Alina. I was completely unprepared for Tolya and Tamar to be part of it, but I'm excited to see where this will lead. If anything, it's a safe place for Alina to recover from her fight.
And, oh my gosh, what a crazy standoff we had between Alina and The Darkling. They have such a creepy codependent relationship, like a dark fantasy Catherine and Heathcliff, "whatever souls are made of, his and mine are the same," that is both enthralling and horrifying. Alina is clever though, and she found a weakness (just as Nikolai taught her, every person has a price), and all the talk of Saints and martyrdom definitely got into her head. Twice she has left him for dead and escaped with Mal, and twice she has been forced into hiding as he survived. I guess third times a charm.
The characters felt even more grounded and real, if that is possible. I'm so used to reading fantasy novels (or watching fantasy) where the heroes constantly fight their flaws and think only of the big picture. It is refreshing to have Alina realize how much she wants power, how much she has obsessed over getting the amplifiers. I love that she is constantly overwhelmed and still full of grudges and emotion; it has been only a year (if that) since she discovered she was a Grisha, and she should be overwhelmed
Even the love triangle (square?) seems real and grounded in the characters:
While a few of my guesses were correct, most of the last hundred pages were a complete and welcome surprise.
I am very intrigued by the Sun Cult led by the Apparat. While in the shadows for most of the book, they proved to be useful allies, not to be overlooked by the Crown or Alina. I was completely unprepared for Tolya and Tamar to be part of it, but I'm excited to see where this will lead. If anything, it's a safe place for Alina to recover from her fight.
And, oh my gosh, what a crazy standoff we had between Alina and The Darkling. They have such a creepy codependent relationship, like a dark fantasy Catherine and Heathcliff, "whatever souls are made of, his and mine are the same," that is both enthralling and horrifying. Alina is clever though, and she found a weakness (just as Nikolai taught her, every person has a price), and all the talk of Saints and martyrdom definitely got into her head. Twice she has left him for dead and escaped with Mal, and twice she has been forced into hiding as he survived. I guess third times a charm.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, and War
elysh_kaye's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Faced pace and enjoyable, I definitely think the writing improves from the first book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Violence