Wednesday, 12 July 2023

SIEGE AND STORM by Leigh Bardugo

“Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Alina Starkov’s power has grown, but not without a price. She is the Sun Summoner – hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she’s taken. But she and best friend Mal can’t outrun her enemies for long. The Darkling is determined to claim Alina’s magic and use it to take the Ravkan throne. With nowhere else to turn, Alina enlists the help of an infamous privateer and sets out to lead the Grisha army. But as the truth of Alina’s destiny unfolds, she slips deeper into the Darkling’s deadly game of forbidden magic. To save her country, Alina will have to choose between her power and the man she loves. No victory can come without sacrifice – and only she can face the oncoming storm.

What is the book about?

Alina, with Mal’s help, managed to escape the Darkling and cross the True Sea. However, no matter how far she travels, the Darkling is determined to find her and get his hands back on her power. Once he finally finds her, he takes her back out onto the waters of the True Sea in search of the second of Morozova’s amplifiers, hoping to make Alina the most powerful Grisha in order to expand the Shadow Fold and control Ravka. However, Alina is not going to let that happen and she is desperate to escape from him for the third time, so in order to do that she begs for the help of an infamous privateer. Now, Alina hopes to lead the Grisha army and finally take down the Darkling. But, as she plans to stop the Darkling and take back her country, Alina realises that if she ever wants to restore her country back to its former glory she is going to have to make the biggest choice of her life – she is going to have to choose between her power or the man she loves and has always loved and always will love. There is no way to win the battle without making a sacrifice and only she can make that sacrifice.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

As I had just finished Shadow and Bone (the first book in the trilogy), I was desperate to read Siege and Storm (the sequel). Shadow and Bone had ended relatively well and I think if it had ended like that, with no books to follow I would’ve survived. However, it wasn’t enough to satisfy my questions and, although at that point I may not have had many questions, deep down I still felt like something was missing and that Alina’s story wasn’t quite finished, so obviously I wanted to read on. When I picked up the book, I had high expectations, due to how impressive the first book was, but I still a little worried that Siege and Storm would start out boring (just how Shadow and Bone had begun). But, when I finally had the courage to start reading, I was delightfully surprised to find that the book started off strong and immediately captivated me and brought me back to the magical world Leigh Bardugo created. After only a couple of pages, I was already trapped in the book and didn’t ever want to leave the incredible characters and the adventure that I truly felt like I was a part of. However, sooner that I would have thought I found myself reaching the end of another novel and I was regretting reading so quickly. It was a great read from the very start. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I think in this book, my favourite character was also Alina. This was for many reasons but mainly because she didn’t let what she went through with the Darkling change her. She was strong character, a lot braver and independent than she was before she discovered her power and, even though she didn’t let her power get to her head, she also didn’t just spend her time thinking herself inferior. I was actually surprised how much I liked her because usually I don’t always like the main character, but I found that she was a lot better than most main characters. I also really liked how she never forgot the lives that she took and yet she didn’t let her succumb to that pain and grief. It was a heavy weight on her shoulders and I think it always will be, but she didn’t let that change her too much. One thing that I loved was when she stopped to read the names of all the people she allowed to be killed through the expansion of the Unsea and how she wasn’t going to let herself forget what she did, even if it wasn’t her fault. Alina was a great character and I was generally just proud of her with how she acted in the face of it all.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book was when the characters were at the Little Palace. The main reason for this was because they had hope and they believe that it was possible that they could win the inevitable battle that would occur soon. Despite everything that the characters had gone through and the fact that they spent every waking moment at the Little Palace preparing for the fight they were expecting against the Darkling, they all held the belief that there was a strong chance that they could win. After all the training and all of the things they built to give themselves every advantage, Alina and her Grisha had hope. This was the best part of the book in my opinion because their hope made me hope that they would succeed. They had no way of knowing what would happen, yet they believed in themselves and I admired that ability and strength.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Siege and Storm was an incredible book and I loved every second I spent reading it. Initially I had been concerned that the book wouldn’t be as good as the previous one, however I soon realised I should’ve never doubted Leigh Bardugo’s writing and it actually ended up being better than Shadow and Bone. One thing that I loved was the incredible plot and world-building. Somehow Leigh Bardugo was able to create an entire world and to transform my bedroom into a magical land full of unbelievable creatures and action-packed adventure. I honestly can’t believe that what I just read doesn’t actually exist outside the pages of a few books because I honestly felt like that was all real and it could exist someplace other than my own imagination. I have lived through so many adventures and have shared them with so many characters, but this is one of the ones that felt the most real and I know it will live with me forever. The plot was also amazing and it really showed me why fantasy books are some of the best books out there and the ones that I always enjoy the most. We live in a world that is so mundane and using only a pen and some paper Leigh Bardugo was able to bring magic into my life. I seriously don’t know what I would’ve done if I never discovered the transformative powers of reading. Another thing that I enjoyed was Nikolai Lantsov’s role in the story. Despite not having been in the first book, it truly felt like he belonged and that I had known him my whole life. He made the words come alive and he brought a positivity that radiated through the pages and into each character. Personally, I feel like he was partly responsible for the sense of hope the characters felt when they were preparing for battle. Every book needs a character that brightens the room and always seems to have a new trick or joke up their sleeve and who always knows exactly what to say and I am honestly grateful this happened to be a handsome, cunning prince. Siege and Storm was a great book and I am thoroughly looking forward to reading Ruin and Rising, even if it means the series ends.

Which book did you like better, the first or the second?

I really enjoyed reading both Shadow and Bone and Siege and Storm and found that they were both incredible books that left me feeling like I had just lived through an impossible adventure with characters that exists only on the pages and through my imagination. However, personally I believe that Siege and Storm was the better book. There weren’t really many differences between the two books – both had an incredible plot and were set in the most magical land you could ever think of. Despite the lack of differences, I still feel like Siege and Storm was my favourite so far mainly because of the introduction of the character of Nikolai Lantsov. I always appreciate a character who is, in a sense, some comic relief and I usually find that the scenes that involve that character are easier to enjoy. He was always positive and always knew exactly what to say in every situation. He brought a much needed light to the book, especially now that the characters were mid war and couldn’t do anything other than think about the oncoming battle that they all most definitely wouldn’t survive. Siege and Storm was an incredible book, just like Shadow and Bone, and I am more than desperate to read the third and final book in the series.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would definitely recommend you read Siege and Storm, of course after Shadow and Bone. It is the perfect book for any over 15 year olds who are hoping for a great read full of adventure, fantasy and thrilling action, while also a sense of mystery that leaves you yearning to find out the truth. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A stunning and tense sequel full of action, adventure and romance.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

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