Review: Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Title: Siege & Storm

Series: The Grisha #2

Publication: June 4, 2013

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Source: Around the World Arc Tours

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

Thoughts: Alina is on the run, hoping to gain her freedom from the Darkling and all the responsibility being placed upon her as the Sun Summoner. Struggling to come to terms with what happened in the Fold, Alina harbors guilt that makes her wonder if she is like the Darkling. Desperate to hold on to what she has with Mal, wanting to have her gift and him without this cloud circling about them. Will the pull off her power drive away the one she loves or can they survive the darkness surrounding them?

Alina is much stronger in this book. She's tired of running, and with the help of an unexpected savior decides to take matters into her own hands. But the cost of what she needs to do .....the further away Mal becomes and eventually the weight of it begins to wear on their relationship. The Darkling hopes that the two lovebirds will see they are too different and it will never work. He wants her to feel alone, so he can pretty on her emotions and doubt.

Okay, so this is still a game of cat and mouse. She runs, he catches her. Alina seems to have an edge about her and Mal comes off as moody. My favorite character
is Sturmhond, he's a Jack of all trades so to speak and I liked how he developed throughout the book. The writing moves slowly in the beginning but it gradually picks up. Overall, this is an okay read full of magic and mayhem.