About this book:

Title: Siege and Storm ( Shadow and Bone #2)

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Genre: Fantasy, YA

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Publication date: June 2013

Paperback: 435 pages

Blurb:

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. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. 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.

My Review:

Rating ⭐⭐⭐

This second instalment in the Shadow and Bone series didn't grip me as much as the first one. After how the first book ended, I was expecting a lot more action and less conversation. The plotline felt dragged, and the Darkling was not as present as I would have liked. I wanted to see more of him and less of Alina and Mal constantly bickering. I didn't feel any chemistry at all between her and Mal, and I just can't imagine them as a couple. The only saving grace for this book was the last few chapters (that compiled most of the action) and Sturmhond/Nikolai. His presence revitalised the story, and his effervescent personality made me like him from the get-go. He is a complex character, arrogant, seductive, manipulative. His intentions were hard to guess, but his remarks constantly brought a smile to my lips, especially when he made annoyed Mal. This volume focuses a lot on Alina and her development as the Sun Summoner. It was interesting to see her inner turmoil, she's definitely a layered character. Overall, I liked this volume, but I feel it could have offered more. On to the next one!