Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

87 reviews

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

laurin_harris's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail

kt_timms's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

3.75

I think I enjoyed this book more than the first. I feel like there was a lot going on in this storyline that I found particularly interesting. There was definitely some explicit religious content that I found really interesting, how it was included in a fantasy/magical context. It was a different perspective on how that can play out, and I think it was an addition to the story itself, in a good way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Genocide and Fire/Fire injury

lilawsahar's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

3.75

It was slow in the middle. The action was packed in the beginning and end of the book. I loved how the book ended.

I love that Alina and the Darkling are wounded. They need to heal before their final battle. That Alina tricked the Darkling into thinking she’d go with him when she used his power to try and destroy him. I feel bad for Genya. I’m glad she’s back with David though.

I also love how three men are vying for her power (and love?). I want her to be with the darkling or the prince. I kind of am rooting for the Darkling to win the war. Just for the plot hehe. 

Also I hate the lead character lol

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

ravenauthor1013's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Murder

Minor: Sexual content

vnfhcxksiw's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail

tabea1409's review

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

oxfordcommas91's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This was my favorite of the Shadow and Bone series - a fast paced second book that really catapults you into action and keeps it going through the whole book. Part of the fun of this new book is the new cast of characters it brings with it (Sturmhond hands down becomes my favorite character in the entire series, can we pls get a spin-off, Leigh??) and we get to learn more about the Grisha, the Darkling, and what makes them who they are. There is good palace intrigue, drama, battles between good and evil - this installment had it all! I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War

snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism