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A review by rubeusbeaky
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
4.0
<3 <3 <3 Sturmhond <3 <3 <3!!!!!
I am SO happy I stuck with this series, because the second book REALLY kicks it up a notch. The characters are more complex, more vivid. The drama is palpable and unpredictable, the courtly intrigue twisting and rewarding for a keen-eyed reader. And the stakes are high, the casualties in this book make me feel both confidant and concerned that no one will be safe going into the finale.
Sturmhond is worth 10 stars all on his own, he is an AMAZING character!!! Every single line of dialogue was quotable. He's witty, charming, endearing, troubled with a desire to do Good, he admits his mistakes and has the gumption to get up and try again or make amends, he doesn't bully Alina (unlike the other two male protagonists!)... I am hardcore Team Sturmhond, he is the best part of this series.
But once again the book loses a star thanks to Mal. I STILL cannot tell if the author /wants/ us to cheer for Mal and Alina, or wants to tell a heartbreaking universal story about two childhood friends who outgrow each other, and depending upon the author's motivations this book is either tragically amazing or a travesty of tropes O_O. I guess I'll know by the finale? But Mal and Alina are insufferable: Mal is forever jealous of Alina, whether it's because of her newfound magical prowess, the attention she gets from men at court, or her growing confidence and ambition, but whatever the reason, Mal is never /happy/ for Alina's successes, and instead bullies or begs her to devolve into the meek girl who /needed/ to hide behind him. His temper doesn't leave room for her to talk, and often Mal forces Alina to physically prove her loyalty to him, pressuring her to be physically intimate mid-fight. Mal. Is. Toxic! Alina doesn't do herself any favors, by keeping secrets from him or encouraging distance between them to avoid more temper tantrums. It was painful to read their fights, I had to walk away from the book frequently. I am hoping Alina chooses to walk away from this murky relationship too, because she deserves to be the best of herself, instead of babysitting the worst of someone else.
THE ENDING!!! That's where I'll leave this review: The ending of this book blows the roof off of the place. I was so deliriously excited after getting to the end of this book, that I couldn't sleep, I paced the house for hours. It's well worth the wait.
I am SO happy I stuck with this series, because the second book REALLY kicks it up a notch. The characters are more complex, more vivid. The drama is palpable and unpredictable, the courtly intrigue twisting and rewarding for a keen-eyed reader. And the stakes are high, the casualties in this book make me feel both confidant and concerned that no one will be safe going into the finale.
Sturmhond is worth 10 stars all on his own, he is an AMAZING character!!! Every single line of dialogue was quotable. He's witty, charming, endearing, troubled with a desire to do Good, he admits his mistakes and has the gumption to get up and try again or make amends, he doesn't bully Alina (unlike the other two male protagonists!)... I am hardcore Team Sturmhond, he is the best part of this series.
But once again the book loses a star thanks to Mal. I STILL cannot tell if the author /wants/ us to cheer for Mal and Alina, or wants to tell a heartbreaking universal story about two childhood friends who outgrow each other, and depending upon the author's motivations this book is either tragically amazing or a travesty of tropes O_O. I guess I'll know by the finale? But Mal and Alina are insufferable: Mal is forever jealous of Alina, whether it's because of her newfound magical prowess, the attention she gets from men at court, or her growing confidence and ambition, but whatever the reason, Mal is never /happy/ for Alina's successes, and instead bullies or begs her to devolve into the meek girl who /needed/ to hide behind him. His temper doesn't leave room for her to talk, and often Mal forces Alina to physically prove her loyalty to him, pressuring her to be physically intimate mid-fight. Mal. Is. Toxic! Alina doesn't do herself any favors, by keeping secrets from him or encouraging distance between them to avoid more temper tantrums. It was painful to read their fights, I had to walk away from the book frequently. I am hoping Alina chooses to walk away from this murky relationship too, because she deserves to be the best of herself, instead of babysitting the worst of someone else.
THE ENDING!!! That's where I'll leave this review: The ending of this book blows the roof off of the place. I was so deliriously excited after getting to the end of this book, that I couldn't sleep, I paced the house for hours. It's well worth the wait.