Siege and Storm
Reviews
Siege and Storm is the second installment in Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy, following the events of Shadow and Bone. This sequel raises the stakes with more action, deeper character development, and a stronger exploration of power, leadership, and sacrifice. Set in the richly imagined world of Ravka, the novel continues Alina Starkov’s journey as she faces new threats—both external and within herself.
After fleeing the Darkling and escaping the Shadow Fold, Alina and her childhood friend Mal seek safety across the sea. But peace doesn’t last long. The Darkling, now more powerful than ever thanks to his horrifying new abilities, soon catches up with them. Alina is forced to return to Ravka, where she must gather new allies and embrace her role as the Sun Summoner to fight against the growing darkness.
At the center of the conflict is Alina’s growing power and the increasing temptation it brings. As she searches for the second of Morozova’s amplifiers—magical objects that increase a Grisha’s strength—Alina begins to change, and the lines between savior and conqueror blur.
Alina becomes more complex in Siege and Storm. Her internal struggle with power and identity adds depth to her character, making her journey feel more personal and relatable. Mal’s role becomes more conflicted, as his loyalty is tested by Alina’s transformation and the world pulling her away from him.
One of the biggest highlights is the introduction of a new character: Sturmhond, a charismatic privateer (and later revealed as more than he seems), who brings wit, energy, and intrigue to the story. He’s a fan favorite for good reason, offering comic relief and strategic brilliance.
The Darkling remains a powerful and haunting figure, appearing less frequently but still casting a long shadow over the plot.
Once again, Bardugo’s world-building shines. From stormy seas to royal palaces and ancient ruins, Ravka continues to feel vivid and immersive. The Grisha universe expands in Siege and Storm, with new factions, lore, and political dynamics coming into play. Bardugo carefully balances magic and realism, keeping the stakes high and believable.
The emotional tension in Siege and Storm is stronger than in the first book. Alina’s moral dilemmas, her growing isolation, and the weight of leadership are all thoughtfully portrayed. The action sequences are well-written, and the pacing keeps the reader hooked. Sturmhond is a standout addition, breathing fresh life into the series.
One potential downside is the romantic subplot between Alina and Mal, which at times feels strained and repetitive. However, this is arguably part of the story’s emotional realism, as both characters grapple with who they are becoming.
Siege and Storm is a solid and exciting sequel that builds on the promise of Shadow and Bone. With higher stakes, new characters, and deeper emotional complexity, it continues to draw readers into the darkness and light of Ravka’s magical world. It’s a thoughtful exploration of power, identity, and the cost of heroism.
This book is perfect for teens and young adults who enjoyed Shadow and Bone and want more political intrigue, character development, and fantasy world-building. It also appeals to readers who like morally grey characters and slow-burn tension. Fans of series like Red Queen, Throne of Glass, or The Cruel Prince will likely enjoy Siege and Storm.
3,5/5
** 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!
(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.
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.
2 stars for Nikolai.
Nikolai and the darkling would forever have my heart
*update 8/7/21 why was i hating on mal at least he’s not the darkling
erhh
nikolai <3
nikolai carried the whole book
“my power is yours,” i repeated. his arms tightened around me. “and yours is mine,” i whispered against his lips.
3.5 ✨ loved nikolai hated everyone else
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.
I love Nikolai so much. I need to read him and Zoyas book😭🤞🏾
after in this book was a freaking masterpiece to me
things i took away from this book: david is the only valid male that's all
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.
this killed my motivation to finish the series
CHE NOIA, NON VA AVANTI STO LIBRO.
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
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!
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
It felt wrong, like everything was happening too quickly, as if we were rushing toward something we didn’t understand.
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?
shes so funny
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.
We do our best. We try. And usually, it makes no difference at all.
Alina baby no 😭
“I like weeds," she said, pushing herself off from the railing and gathering her scattered lengths of rope. “They're survivors.”
“The dreams were the only place it was safe to use her power now, and she longed for them.”
I wept with rage that I would have to live at all.
“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;)
"I have loved you all my life, Mal," I whispered through my tears. "There is no end to our story."
"You know the problem with heroes and saints, Nikolai?" ... "They always end up dead."
"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.
Finally, he held out his ink-stained hands and said, almost pleadingly. "I make things. I don't destroy them."
"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."
yeah smash
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.
I shrugged. "Mal's always been like that ... He just blooms wherever he's planted."
"And you?"
"I'm more of a weed,"
"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."
"When people say impossible, they usually mean improbable."
Sturmhond
So many men had tried to make her a queen. Now she understood that she was meant for something more.
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.
“I want to kiss you,” Nikolai said. “But I won’t. Not until you’re thinking of me instead of trying to forget him.”