Scan barcode
A review by lizziepurpleserenity
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
4.0
2nd read, 16th Feb 2021
Last time I read this was back in October 2018, when I was first beginning to read YA Fantasy and hadn't been reviewing books properly for that long. Reading my thoughts from back then about this book (I also keep a private blog in which I waffle a lot) is so interesting, because I really overhyped this book! I've kept my first (brief) Goodreads review below for posterity. I've dropped my rating from 5 stars to 4.
I think I was overly influenced by the climax of the book, because I still think it is a great climax, perfect for the end of a second book in a series, and I rate it slightly higher than book 1 (which scored 3.8 using my rating system, this one scored an exact 4). The first third of the book is great too, exciting with twists and turns, the introduction of Nikolai (who is still my favourite character) etc. But the book drags a lot in the middle, and while first time around I thought that was unavoidable given what's going on, this time I do think there was more that could have been included during that time to make it more exciting. E.g.I think Vasily striking a deal with Fjerda at the end, enabling the Darkling to come through and attack (and by the way, given how powerful he and his nichevo'ya are, couldn't they have come through anyway?!), came a bit suddenly and out of leftfield - we could have had some more interesting conflicts between he and Nikolai around that kind of an idea during the dull planning and meetings and so on, to foreshadow that and build up the tension and stakes and the feeling of time running out. We also could have had a lot more of Zoya!
The main thing that drove me nuts about this book though, much more than first time around, was Alina & Mal. OMG I wanted to bang their heads together!! I still maintain given the circumstances Bardugo chose for them, that Mal deserves a lot more sympathy from readers than he gets, butit drives me nuts that a lot of the time it feels like Alina is all about Mal, especially during the first third of the book, where she is pretty weak and constantly looking for him and panicking about his safety etc - yet in the Palace, she seems so cold about what he is going through and the fact that they have to stay apart; until the latter quarter of the book where she pines again....And meanwhile she's pretty OP'd! FFS why didn't they sneak around to be together, especially given that Tamar & Tolya, her two main guards, actually know about him?! Or, why didn't Mal leave (much as I find his loyalty endearing)? Oh and, TALK TO EACH OTHER!!! They are supposed to be really tight, a lifetime of friendship and now love between them, yet they couldn't figure out how to keep it together at the Palace? Drove me nuts that she didn't tell him properly about the Darkling's appearances. This was a classic example of the infuriating lack of communication trope.
In general with Alina, I thought she was awesome first time around, but this time around I find her story and arc a bit sort of inconsistent. It was pretty cool how the darkness develops in her and her struggles with it, but it was difficult to keep a hold of what she really wants.Does she really want to defeat the Darkling and save Ravka, is that her main goal? Or does she just want to be with Mal? If the latter, what the hell is she doing agreeing to go along with Nikolai's plans? (and yes I do recognise that that's the whole point, she's a reluctant 'chosen one', but still...)
Anyway, on the positive side, I love this world, though I would've wanted more detail about the magic system (loved theuse of the Squallers for the flying ships, for example</spoilers>). I love Genya and her role (more this time round, I didn't really connect with her first time). I like David too. The Darkling is creepy. So, there is a lot to enjoy.
First review, 8th Oct 2018
BLEW. MY. MIND.
Nobody writes characters the way Leigh Bardugo does, they feel so real and complex. The development of darkness in Alina and her distrust of it was great. Nikolai (who I was aware of before I read it, from talk in the community) did not disappoint. Unlike other readers, I actually felt sorry for Mal most of the time, despite how irritating he could be. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the final climax and when I closed the book I felt like I'd just walked out of a loud, dramatic movie, blinking in the sunlight!
Last time I read this was back in October 2018, when I was first beginning to read YA Fantasy and hadn't been reviewing books properly for that long. Reading my thoughts from back then about this book (I also keep a private blog in which I waffle a lot) is so interesting, because I really overhyped this book! I've kept my first (brief) Goodreads review below for posterity. I've dropped my rating from 5 stars to 4.
I think I was overly influenced by the climax of the book, because I still think it is a great climax, perfect for the end of a second book in a series, and I rate it slightly higher than book 1 (which scored 3.8 using my rating system, this one scored an exact 4). The first third of the book is great too, exciting with twists and turns, the introduction of Nikolai (who is still my favourite character) etc. But the book drags a lot in the middle, and while first time around I thought that was unavoidable given what's going on, this time I do think there was more that could have been included during that time to make it more exciting. E.g.
The main thing that drove me nuts about this book though, much more than first time around, was Alina & Mal. OMG I wanted to bang their heads together!! I still maintain given the circumstances Bardugo chose for them, that Mal deserves a lot more sympathy from readers than he gets, but
In general with Alina, I thought she was awesome first time around, but this time around I find her story and arc a bit sort of inconsistent. It was pretty cool how the darkness develops in her and her struggles with it, but it was difficult to keep a hold of what she really wants.
Anyway, on the positive side, I love this world, though I would've wanted more detail about the magic system (loved the
First review, 8th Oct 2018
BLEW. MY. MIND.
Nobody writes characters the way Leigh Bardugo does, they feel so real and complex. The development of darkness in Alina and her distrust of it was great. Nikolai (who I was aware of before I read it, from talk in the community) did not disappoint. Unlike other readers, I actually felt sorry for Mal most of the time, despite how irritating he could be. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the final climax and when I closed the book I felt like I'd just walked out of a loud, dramatic movie, blinking in the sunlight!