Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

23 reviews

david_slack110507's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and War

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

prettynerdy3's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

rose_88's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Didn’t like this one as much as the first. I loved all the new characters and how they felt with the aftermath of the fist book, but I felt that it went way too fast, with very little descriptions of what they were doing, especially near the end, and it was more like ‘they did this and then they did this.’ Like they were rushing to get to the final battle, very repetitive of the first book where they sped through a lot of action and events to get to the final confrontation.

I really liked Mal in the fist book, but I didn’t like how he handles things in this one. I understand that he felt out of place in the Little Palace, but he was very dramatic about it and didn’t even try to talk to Alina till his rage had boiled over.

I really liked everything in the beginning on the True Sea and the ships, I really wish there had been more about Nikolai’s crew. Speaking of the crew, I really liked Tolya and Tamar, their beliefs about Alina being a Saint came out of no where for me, looking back I can see the snippets of it littered thoughout.

I ADORED Nikolai, and I thought he would have been a much better King than his brother, and was super confused as to how he would become king (I don’t know if he actually does but I hope so) and his brother’s death was just horrifying. Basically all the death and destruction from when the Darkling attacked the Palace  was horrible and WTF it was mental.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, and Blood

Minor: Toxic relationship and Dementia

bookobsessedfamily's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.5

Siege and Storm is much better than Shadow and Bone. I understand now though why Shadow and Bone was so slow. 

Will Mel and Alina be able to save Ravka? Will the power Alina has discovered turn her into someone else? Will it cost her everything? 

Who can she trust in the new second army? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, and War

Minor: Child death, Mental illness, and Xenophobia

jenarae's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Child death, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury

matild_o's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.5

I loved Alina and her arc, I loved the world building and the building threat of the Darkling and I loved Tamar and Tolya. I didn't love Mal or Nikolai, Mal annoyed me at the end <when he was all whiny and I didn't like Nikolai's charisma and sarcasm. I know that's why people love him, but he just felt arrogant and rude, and I hated his and Alina's romance. >I did like when he was more serious and we saw more depth in him. 
<PS, the ending of this book really reminded me of the end of catching fire and mockingjay>

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Child death, Genocide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

jonsnowsmanbun's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious fast-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

4.5

Big Gale energy from Mal in this one. Not a fan…

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and War

therobinjoyce's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Once again, Leigh Bardugo has done it and produced a fantastic and gripping piece of fantastical fiction for the world to enjoy.

The action definitely heats up in this one with the introduction of Sturmhond and the whole Pirates, nichevo’ya, and Rusalye arcs.

It’s so wonderful to dive back into the mind of Alina Starkov as she tries to escape the dark forces after her and her strained relationship with her old friends. While it was a little slower pace-wise than Shadow and Bone it was still wonderfully written and I absolutely loved the new characters we got to meet in this novel.

The ending also was insane and I cannot wait to finish Ruin and Rising and find out what happens!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

katvou's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Moderate: Death and Alcohol

Minor: Child death and Violence

luluslittlelibrary's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis