Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

6 reviews

punktilious's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-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

3.5

Siege and Storm is the sequel to Shadow and Bone, of which it delivers nothing less or more. While I still recommend it, do not expect anything particularly special.

The trend of romance being a huge factor continues even though there is no romance label. Alina is now involved in a "love square", that is, she has 3 suitors… While I do not mind romance, it is a major motivation for Alina. And, again, it was not what was advertised. With Genya no longer by her side, she also has few friends. It seems her love interests are the main characters she interacts with, which limits the way she can develop. In the first book, it took getting over Mal to awaken her powers. What sort of development would occur if Alina had different people by her side?

I wonder. There is an unfortunate lack of character development for all characters, not just Alina. It seems the characters wrestle with the same issues over and over again. Some characters, such as Mal, seem to have no purpose behind their actions and feelings. Why was he so proud of his position in the First Army? What made him fall in love with Alina, when he had paid her no mind?

Alina is dependent, despite her strength. Mal is insecure. Nikolai is concerned with only Ravka. The Darkling wants power. Everyone else is either ignorant, scared or too concerned with tradition. They are all stuck in their ways and therefore do not promote the development of the story. The only thing keeping the book moving is the goal: finding the Firebird and taking down the Darkling.

It is the development of one of the goals that was handled in an… interesting way. The climax WAS the end of the book, it happened abruptly and was quite unsatisfying. I look forward to how Leigh Bardugo wraps this story up in the third book.

With this seemingly negative review, why did I say that I still recommend the book? While the characters are a bit of a drawback, the world is wonderful. Throughout Siege and Storm, we get to learn more about the setting and the "magic" system. The book, despite not being the best thing I have ever read, still kept me on the edge of my seat. It was fun. While Siege and Storm is certainly not a must-read, it is still worth it if you are…

• an enjoyer of "trashy" (said with affection) romances
• looking for an easy read
• a fan of Leigh Bardugo
• interested in the Grishaverse

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Alcohol, War, and Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Grief

oldemort's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

I've decided to rate this book 4 ⭐️. I still really enjoyed it, just less than the first book. 🥲

Let's be real, the reason I didn't like this book as much was the lack of the Darkling content and the ton of Mal content.  😅

Character wise, I still found Alina a bit immature and annoying at times, but I think I liked her a bit more than in Shadow and Bone. 🙂 Obviously, I still love the Darkling and I wish there was way more of him in this book. 😍

The only thing that I didn't really like that he did was making his monsters hurt Genya like that. 😬 I mean, I get why he did it, because she'd kind of betrayed him and all, but still. 🫣

Mal, I COMPLETELY HATED WITH EVERY BONE IN MY BODY. 🤬He's so annoying and petty and throughout the whole book just seemed to be trying to start arguments with Alina and was constantly blaming her for things that weren't even her fault. 😤

Also when he said: 

 

"At least she doesn't flinch when I touch her,"

 

 

That was so disgusting! 🤢 And this is the character I'm supposed to like?! 😧

Anyway, I quite liked Nikolai, 

although I guess that was because in some ways he was similar to the Darkling, like the way he's constantly just trying to annoy Mal. 🤭

He was also funny sometimes.  😂 As for Tamar and Tolya (I'm pretty sure that's their names), they were okay. 😐 I liked how they were looking after Alina, 

but the whole "plot twist" with them secretly, like, following the Apparat person didn't really bother me much. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Like, I wasn't gob-smacked. 😶 I didn't expect it, but I didn't really care about it. 🫤 Like, obviously he's creepy and a weirdo, but meh. 🫥Although I think it would be cool if there was, like, a plot twist in the next book that was something to do with him. 😎 It just kind of seems weird that he's still such an important character if he isn't going to be involved in a plot twist of some sort. 🥸

 

Plot wise, the end of this book made me sad. 😭

Like, the poor little Darkling thought Alina was going to be nice to him and help him and then she was just like "sike, I wanna take your power". 😣 He's just so misunderstood. 😔 I really liked the plot twist with Vasily thinking he'd made a great deal because I was thinking "Surely he can't actually do anything good or smart" and then BAM! 🤯 He was a massive idiot and basically helped the Darkling get to them. 🤦🏼‍♀️ He kind of deserved to die, he was rude and arrogant. 😤 And then obviously I didn't like when Alina tried to take the Darkling's power because that was just rude! 😠 How dare she! 😡 I really thought for a second she was just going to go with him. 😞 She clearly picked up a few manipulative tactics from the Darkling (and Mal). 🫣 Honestly, Mal was really annoying when he decided to save Alina. 😒 Like, I think it would've been a good ending if they'd have both just died. 🥲 But now, because of Mal, Alina has no power and they're basically just doomed. 😬 It's kind of cool that Alina has white hair now though.  😅 I wonder if the Darkling lost his power too? 🤔 Or if he's still got his power and he's got Alina's as well now? 🧐

 

Anyway, I'm excited to see what happens in the next book, 

especially with Alina not having her power now. 🤩

My ideal ending would be either Alina and the Darkling dying because, I don't know, that just seems like a peaceful ending, or with Mal dying and Alina and the Darkling ending up together (which I don't think is very likely).  🙃

However, I think that the Darkling will die (seeing as that's the only actual way to, like, ensure that he can never do evil again) and that Mal and Alina will live and be together and live happily ever after, even though I obviously don't want that to happen. 😣 (Also, my prediction may end up being correct, so that's why this is in the spoiler bit, just in case. 😌 I mean, my ideal endings could also come true, but I highly doubt it.) 🙃

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Cursing, Gun violence, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

cnannery19's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

hayleythegoose's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Slavery

effy's review against another edition

2.5

This was the weakest book in the trilogy and honestly was a bit of a slog to get through. Mal and Alina's relationship just wasn't believable as a romantic one to the point that I had to keep reminding myself that Alina's 

dislike of Zoya was because she was being territorial.

 

I literally finished this book this morning and I am struggling to think what happened in this book. 

I know there was questing for amplifiers, most of the second army dies, Mal is a dick and doesn't listen to Alina, the Darkling and Alina have some chats... tbh, that basically summarises this book in fewer words!

 

The only redeeming thing about this book was that we meet the amazing character that is Nikolai.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Incest, Slavery, Torture, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

brandie_abbie19's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail