Reviews with content warning for Murder - Siege and Storm

Going into this sequel, I had low expectations. Not because I thought it would be terrible, but because I wanted to be extra pleased if it was extraordinary. I was really happy with the fact that it didn't have "middle book syndrome" in the slightest.

This story picks up immediately where the first left off, which made it easy to get into. There's very little lag on the world-building in this trilogy and I sincerely appreciate that. I want to be immersed and fully aware of my surroundings when reading a book like this. Bardugo does an excellent job of being detailed without explaining too much so that you're surprised when you need to be but also not confused about what's happening or why.

My friend described these characters as nesting dolls and I can understand why. They're little onions, with lots of layers and each time you think you've gotten them figured out, they show a new side to themselves that has you intrigued and wanting more.

I hate Mal. Maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but I don't really care. I hated him in the first book and I hate him even more now. He's manipulative, whiny, and childish. He makes Alina feel bad for things outside of her control and doesn't treat her as any kind of equal - suddenly interested in her when she came into power. Some might think The Darkling is the toxic one, but at least he displays his toxicity on his sleeve. Mal hides it beneath a "soft" exterior. Bleh.

This story didn't lack anything, in my opinion. I'm just looking forward to the finale book even more now!

Content Warnings

mikaelaandherbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous 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

4.0

Overall, I thought Siege and Storm was a good sequel. While it wasn't as great as the first - Shadow and Bone - I recognize that it has the purpose of building the story before the final book. I greatly enjoyed the new characters added, the further character development of our beloved heroes, and the slow reveal of Alina's true power.

Content Warnings

rorikae's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

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

4.25

'Siege and Storm' by Leigh Bardugo is a fantastic sequel to 'Shadow and Bone' as it builds upon the characters and world first presented in the first installment. There is very little I can discuss around the plot without getting into spoilers but I will say that I think it did an excellent job on showing us new sides to familiar characters and exploring more about Ravka and its history.
In this book, I particularly like how Bardugo discusses religion and what it means to be considered a living saint. From where this book ends, I believe we will be seeing even more of this in the final book. One of the things I appreciate about this trilogy is that Bardugo allows Alina to be a messy, flawed character. The decisions she makes are hard to agree with at times but her complexity also makes her more believable. This is true of the characters she is surrounded by as well.
We see a lot of tragedy in this book and it is very hard to witness. I fear there will be even more to come in the next installment though I also have hope. I trust Bardugo and her storytelling to deliver a satisfying ending. I cannot wait to pick up 'Ruin and Rising.'

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