siege and storm: shadow and bone book II

Rating: 3.3/5

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Book two of the Shadow and Bone trilogy was yet another great addition to the trilogy and came sweeping in with lots of new characters and new developments in Alina's story and her issues surrounding her power and the Darkling. Overall, I enjoyed the book but I did rate it just a bit lower than the previous.

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Synopsis: 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 took on the Shadow Fold. But she and Mal can't outrun her enemies for long. The Darkling is more determined than ever to claim Alina's magic and use it to take the Ravkan throne. As truth of Alina's destiny unfolds, she slips deeper into the Darkling's deadly game of forbidden magic and further away from her humanity. To save her country6, Alina will have to choose between her power and the love she thought would always be her shelter. No victory can come without sacrifice.

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If you read my last review on Shadow and Bone (if not, please go read it!!) I actually enjoyed the book. Did I think it was the greatest piece of literature ever to be written? No. But it did remind me how much I just love cliche little storylines sometimes! Siege and Storm was defiantly the middle book in the series. Normally these books, especially in YA (young adult) are trying to lay enough ground work for the finale. Sometimes, this can come off boring...I am so sorry Leigh Bardugo, but Siege and Storm dragged a little. That combined with the ever annoying Mal, the book was docked down half a point, a 3.5 from me!

The book was good, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the introduction of characters such as Strumhond, who is actually the prince of Ravka, and the introduction of the twins who are totally badass. My main issue is that I felt like nothing really happened throughout the majority of the book. In the beginning we had some action and a fight against the Darkling (love) and then at the very end, our mysterious evil man shows up again and him and Alina tangle almost to the death. But all throughout the middle and main chunk of the book, it's just day after day. Talking, war meetings, more politics, Mal being ridiculous. I at least thought somewhere they were going to find out where the third amplifier was...but they didn't. I didn't understand exactly why such a large chunk of the book had been devoted to just monotonous days in and out.

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The only interesting details were that Alina took over the Second Army. She attained the second amplifier (which I felt was rushed juuuust a little bit, but cool!) Her and Mal's lover quarrels (I hope these end soon) and that the Darkling had some new powers considering that he could create these shadow beasts. Other than that, nothing happened. I assumed the second book would be to work in favor of connecting the reader closer with side or even the main character. It didn't. I would be sad if anyone died but not in a soul crushing, I just read that Dumbledore was killed by Snape cry. No where close. Then theres Mal. I just think he's annoying. He was kinda sweet??? in the beginning but I just honestly think Alina could do better! Mal literally does nothing to woo her or try to make her life any easier. He expects her to do it all...which bothers me because she is literally trying to save the world.

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Then the whole scene where they are about to kiss and she flinches back because she sees THE DARKLING IN HER ROOM (!!) and Mal just leaves. He doesn't even give her a chance to explain a n y t h i n g. THEN he continues to go and become a drunk...and kiss Zoya...who I hate. I hated her in Six of Crows too and now I just dislike her EVEN MORE. If you know me, I HATE the troupe where the man has an "all encompassing love" for a character but at the first inconvenience he straight up goes for another girl. I despise it. I think it adds nothing but distaste to the character and this troupe is so overdone. So Mal is not on my list of likable characters. He's irrational, annoying, and only slightly funny sometimes....so 4/10.

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That being said, I'm hoping that Ruin and Rising is loads better! I have high hopes as it is the last book in the trilogy and I can't wait to see some actual action happen! I want plot lines answered and some epic fighting to go down. I want Mal to leave Alina alone...

Alas, I part ways to finish this trilogy and see what Bardugo has in store!

Happy reading friends :)

xoxo,

paige :)

booksta!!