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A review by literarydumpling
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A great second installment of the Shadow and Bone trilogy. In a sense, very different time to the first book, but has just as much of a journey as the first book.
There world expands a little more and I liked the detail of how the map has gotten bigger and how the Fold has changed after absorbing Novokribirsk. There are new characters introduced that are done in a natural, but exciting, way and it doesn't feel like a huge character dump, each one is clear in terms of who they are.
I think it was great how they explored Alina and Mal's relationship and how things aren't all rosy now that they know they love one another, but that they have to grapple with Alina's new-found infamy and what that means for them.
The character development of Alina is great and you can see the parallels between her and the Darkling, and it really does keep you reading more because you can't tell what she will do next as opposed to the first book. You almost start thinking Alina is an unreliable narrator with her thoughts towards power and wanting to achieve more without stopping to notice how it is affecting the people around her.
One final thing I loved was the additional information on the politics of Ravka. With the introduction of Nikolai, you can see how Ravkan court is held as well as the split between politics, culture and religion in this world, and I think it is very well done without being too overwhelming!
You won't be disappointed by this book at all, and I'm very keen to read the second book.
There world expands a little more and I liked the detail of how the map has gotten bigger and how the Fold has changed after absorbing Novokribirsk. There are new characters introduced that are done in a natural, but exciting, way and it doesn't feel like a huge character dump, each one is clear in terms of who they are.
The character development of Alina is great and you can see the parallels between her and the Darkling, and it really does keep you reading more because you can't tell what she will do next as opposed to the first book. You almost start thinking Alina is an unreliable narrator with her thoughts towards power and wanting to achieve more without stopping to notice how it is affecting the people around her.
One final thing I loved was the additional information on the politics of Ravka. With the introduction of Nikolai, you can see how Ravkan court is held as well as the split between politics, culture and religion in this world, and I think it is very well done without being too overwhelming!
You won't be disappointed by this book at all, and I'm very keen to read the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, and Blood