A review by ehmannky
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

dark emotional tense medium-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

4.5

The second book in a trilogy is usually the weakest, but I honestly feel like Siege and Storm drastically improves on the first installment. I truly felt Mal and Alina's connection, the tension felt much more palpable now that there didn't have to be the interlude at the palace, and I really liked the interplay of politics and the way that duty just weighs on the soul. I have no idea how it would be if you read these all spread out, but reading the series back to back just really creates a cohesive story that builds and builds on itself. 

Also, now that I have started looking around on the internet for the fandom of this series, I do not understand the dislike of Mal. Honestly, his reactions seemed completely reasonable to his situation and his biggest crime seems to be 1) not being the Darkling and 2) not being able to read Alina's mind when she is actively pushing him away and not telling him what she's going through and 3) going into a spiral over #2 while also dealing with having his sense of purpose stripped away.
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