Siege and Storm
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Siege and Storm

Leigh Bardugo2014
Hunted across the True Sea and 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. This edition of the second novel of the Grisha TrilogyNthe follow-up to the "New York Times" bestseller "Shadow and Bone"Nincludes bonus content.
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Reviews

Photo of Marta
Marta@springsofdelusion
3.5 stars
Aug 11, 2024

hmmmmmmmmm.... it was okay, I guess. I did not hate it at all, but I did not love it.


Here are some scattered thoughts:

-I think the coolest bit was when they met Sturmhond until he finally showed himself as the Second Prince.

-Like I said in my Shadow and Bone Review, I knew that the princes would be more relevant in the second book, even though they were barely mentioned.

-I still do not care much for the romance part of it either. It's obvious they have intense feelings for each other but whether they end up together or not...... it's whatever to me. I feel like the romance bit is a little all over the place and hope it's sharpened up in the last book.

-I felt like the twists were really obvious and not surprising.

-That pacing was also a little weird in some parts imo. Some things that should have been better explained were brushed off and other parts dragged for too long.

-Nikolai became the most interesting character for me, following the Darkling. I would not mind having a side story just knowing in detail his previous adventures.

-Alina is a really pretty name.

-Well, onto the next one.

This review contains a spoiler
Photo of Myriam Boulanger Lapointe
Myriam Boulanger Lapointe@vitarimagic
3 stars
Jul 26, 2024

3,5/5

Photo of Jennifer Gosnell
Jennifer Gosnell@jennifereveann
4 stars
Jul 19, 2024

** spoiler alert ** Really liked this second installment! I think it suffered from a lot of the normal things of a trilogy, mainly being a device to set us up for the final book. But I think it was really well done, contributed considerably to the world-building, and I lovedddd meeting Nicholai. That whole privateer storyline was excellent and the highlight of the book for me. Mal on the other hand… whiney. SO whiney. Anyways, I’m psyched to read the finale!

Photo of Ada
Ada@adasel
3 stars
Jul 16, 2024

(3.5) The last book was better and even though this book delved deeper into the relationships, I felt as if the whole book was just about the same thing. AND THE ACTION WAS ONLY AT THE END AND BEGINNING. THE WHOLE MIDDLE, 500 PAGES, WAS JUST DISCUSSING WAYS TO STOP THE DARKLING AND MAL AND ALINA GETTING INTO FIGHTS.

Photo of Anna
Anna @ann_omalia
4 stars
Jul 13, 2024

finished book two of the grishaverse trilogy in 4 days and the review will be most likely the same as it was for the first one. i read it quickly, the pacing was nice and it was easy to read. it even made me cry which i appreciate because i like it when an author is able to make readers cry. yes i'm weird. alina acts even worse than in book one and mal gets on my nerves every time he opens his mouth. they are both selfish and thought they can just run away and have their silly little house in the middle of nowhere and start their silly little family or something. when you are the most powerful grisha to ever live you sadly cannot do these things, alina :D. well nikolai showed up and told her exactly that so thanks god i love that man. haha i don't really know what else to say, it was dumb but in a nice and nostalgic way. perfect for summer vacation if you don't want to read anything too complicated.

Photo of ploral
ploral@ploral
2 stars
Jul 1, 2024

2 stars for Nikolai.

Photo of Linta
Linta@lintareads
4 stars
May 29, 2024

Nikolai and the darkling would forever have my heart

Photo of kelsey
kelsey@horrorforlove
3 stars
May 28, 2024

*update 8/7/21 why was i hating on mal at least he’s not the darkling

Photo of a
a@literaury
2 stars
May 21, 2024

erhh

Photo of jax simpson
jax simpson@jaxsimp
5 stars
May 15, 2024

nikolai <3

Photo of clau☁️
clau☁️@claureading
3 stars
May 11, 2024

nikolai carried the whole book

Photo of arwen
arwen@corienrielle
3 stars
May 5, 2024

“my power is yours,” i repeated. his arms tightened around me. “and yours is mine,” i whispered against his lips.

Photo of Helena
Helena@helenagher
3 stars
May 5, 2024

3.5 ✨ loved nikolai hated everyone else

Photo of Hanna Rybchynska
Hanna Rybchynska@hannarbc
4 stars
May 3, 2024

Alina and Mal's adventure continues in this second book when they try to find a second power amplifier. This time majority of the adventure is in the water. Yes, this is a predictable and simple story, but I liked it so much. Sometimes simpler is better.

Photo of Elif Türker
Elif Türker@lonelyreader22
4 stars
Apr 22, 2024

** spoiler alert ** güzeldi. Gittikçe iyileşiyor seri. Sonunda Nikolai ile tanıştım. Kendini açıklamadan öncede seviyordum sonra açıklayınca insanların niye bu kadar sevdiğini anladım.

Photo of Amira
Amira @imamiraball
4 stars
Apr 19, 2024

I love Nikolai so much. I need to read him and Zoyas book😭🤞🏾

Photo of karo
karo@luxrkaro
3 stars
Apr 13, 2024

after in this book was a freaking masterpiece to me

Photo of Christine
Christine@definitelynotskittles
2 stars
Apr 2, 2024

things i took away from this book: david is the only valid male that's all

Photo of Meg Ma. Guerrero
Meg Ma. Guerrero @megyu
4 stars
Apr 1, 2024

more of a 3.5 than a solid 4 lol somehow enjoyed this more than s&b simply because there's less of the darkling ajdlkfajlwe but also disliked the pacing. it took me a while to finish this because there was barely anything happening despite already being halfway through the book and it was literally only in the last chapter (or last 2 chapters) where it started moving along. happy to have finally been introduced to nikolai, though. he seems like a lot of fun and i'll probs read the books centered around him, too.

Photo of Sophie P.
Sophie P.@so_its_soph
3 stars
Mar 20, 2024

this killed my motivation to finish the series

Photo of martina
martina@immarti
2 stars
Mar 14, 2024

CHE NOIA, NON VA AVANTI STO LIBRO.

Photo of gülefşan
gülefşan @venicesque
3 stars
Mar 13, 2024

It started really well and for a moment i thought it might be better than the first book but it wasn't. The only thing that i love in this book was nikolai

Photo of Julie Rubens
Julie Rubens@julierubens
4 stars
Feb 15, 2024

Not my favorite book, but I definitely loved the last 50 pages! I really like the world and storyline, but I just don't like the characters that much. Also, I don't see why no one likes Mal and I personally find Alina really annoying haha. I am curious to see how the final book will wrap up the story and I'm definitely excited to see the show on Netflix!

Photo of chloe rae
chloe rae@heychloerae
4 stars
Feb 14, 2024

re-read 2018: I enjoyed this more the second time around, which has been my case with all the books I've re-read this year! I gotta say, the middle still feels too long but I still enjoyed all of it. This time around I found Mal to be way more annoying than Alina, which I think is interesting. Nikolai is still the cutest and I love him. I don't quite remember what happens in the last book but I'm pumped to find out! original review: I enjoyed this more than the first one! I think the middle was too long and Alina is pretty dang annoying 90% of the time but THAT ENDING. WHOA. But I'm confused because I'm still in love with the Darkling? And I'm also pissed that Mal and Alina aren't doing so well? And can I just take a moment to talk about how much I freaking love Nikolai?! I LOVE HIM. Man. I don't have a single clue how this series is going to end and I LOVE that! Jumping into the 3rd book now.

Highlights

Photo of kari <33
kari <33@karibari

It felt wrong, like everything was happening too quickly, as if we were rushing toward something we didn’t understand.

Page 67
Photo of kari <33
kari <33@karibari

The Darkling just stared out into the waves. I considered shoving him over the railing. Sure, he was hundreds of years old, but could he swim?

Page 52

shes so funny

Photo of kari <33
kari <33@karibari

I turned onto my side, feeling the gentle roll of the ship beneath me. Was this what it was like to be rocked to sleep in a mother’s arms? I couldn’t remember.

Page 50
Photo of Jun Sani
Jun Sani@jkleseleise

"I was just tired," I said lightly. You used a lot more of your power when we escaped es princt. And what about Sturmh Th also Sturmhond, uge of the Irue Sea." from the nichevo'ya, and you never faltered. Is it the fetter?"

Page 130

Why can’t Alina tell Mal the truth? Maybe if she did, Mal would understand why she had to do it?

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Jun Sani
Jun Sani@jkleseleise

They were Grisha. Heartrenders. "Do you like that, little man?" Tolya asked as he stalked towards Ivan.

Page 59

Omggggg. Tolya and Tamar are Heartrenders - Grishas! Sooooo good!!!

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Emma N Harrell
Emma N Harrell@nicole_amme

We do our best. We try. And usually, it makes no difference at all.

Page 334

Alina baby no 😭

Photo of Emma N Harrell
Emma N Harrell@nicole_amme

“I like weeds," she said, pushing herself off from the railing and gathering her scattered lengths of rope. “They're survivors.”

Page 111
Photo of Emma N Harrell
Emma N Harrell@nicole_amme

“The dreams were the only place it was safe to use her power now, and she longed for them.”

Page 3
Photo of Chloe Heisserer
Chloe Heisserer@chloeheiss

I wept with rage that I would have to live at all.

Page 424
Photo of Eslie
Eslie@eslie

“I want to kiss you,” Nikolai said. “But I won’t. Not until you’re thinking of me instead of trying to forget him.”

I love Nikolai he is the best , i juat wish she can get over Mal

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Eslie
Eslie@eslie

“Your highness—”

“Nikolai,” he corrected. “But I’ve also been known to answer to ‘sweetheart’ or ‘handsome.’”

Omw Nikolai is already one of my favorites;)

Photo of vinny<3
vinny<3@reverence

"I have loved you all my life, Mal," I whispered through my tears. "There is no end to our story."

Page 417
Photo of vinny<3
vinny<3@reverence

"You know the problem with heroes and saints, Nikolai?" ... "They always end up dead."

Page 388
Photo of vinny<3
vinny<3@reverence

"No, Alina. You came here for Ravka. For the firebird. To lead the Second Army." He tapped the sun over his heart. "I came here for you. You're my flag. You're my nation.

Page 327
Photo of vinny<3
vinny<3@reverence

Finally, he held out his ink-stained hands and said, almost pleadingly. "I make things. I don't destroy them."

Page 280
Photo of vinny<3
vinny<3@reverence

"Watch yourself, Nikolai," Mal said softly. "Princes bleed just like other men."

Nikolai plucked an invisible piece of dust from his sleeve. "Yes," he said. "They just do it in better clothes."

Page 250

yeah smash

Photo of vinny<3
vinny<3@reverence

He adapts, I thought. But I knew some part of him would always grieve for the life he'd been meant to have, the life he would have had without me.

Page 176
Photo of vinny<3
vinny<3@reverence

I shrugged. "Mal's always been like that ... He just blooms wherever he's planted."

"And you?"

"I'm more of a weed,"

Page 111
Photo of vinny<3
vinny<3@reverence

"I'm taking you to meet my client, and that's really all I can tell you."

"Who is he? What does he want from me?"

"Are you so sure it's a he? Maybe I'm delivering you to the Fjerdan Queen."

"Are you?"

"No. But it's always wise to keep an open mind."

Page 83
Photo of Jess
Jess@jessbooks

"I want to kiss you," Nikolai said. "But I won't. Not until you're thinking of me instead of trying to forget him.:

Page 312

Nikolai to Alina

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Jess
Jess@jessbooks

"When people say impossible, they usually mean improbable."

Page 106

Sturmhond

Photo of Anna Stewart
Anna Stewart@annaporluisanna

So many men had tried to make her a queen. Now she understood that she was meant for something more.

Photo of Anna Stewart
Anna Stewart@annaporluisanna

Like calls to like. I’d sensed it when the Hummingbird entered the Unsea, but I’d been too afraid to embrace it. This time, I didn’t fight. I let go of my fear, my guilt, my shame. There was darkness inside me. He had put it there, and I would no longer deny it. The volcra, the nichevo’ya, they were my monsters, all of them. And he was my monster, too.

Photo of Anna Stewart
Anna Stewart@annaporluisanna

“I want to kiss you,” Nikolai said. “But I won’t. Not until you’re thinking of me instead of trying to forget him.”

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