Katerina's Reviews > Siege and Storm

Yup, I'm still insanely in love with the Darkling. I'm going to burn in Hell. Or rule the world with him as his Queen of Darkness, whatever comes first.

“I know the truth in your heart. The loneliness. The growing knowledge of your own difference. The ache of it.”

Alina tried to deny it, the connection and the similarities with him, but she could't hide from the truth. Her purpose seemed clear; rebuild the Second Army, defeat the Darkling, destroy the Fold, free Ravka, find the third amplifier, don't burn everyone in the process and keep Mal close. It wasn't simple though. She could feel the hunger for power growing inside her. With an ambitious prince by her side, she tried to fight the evil that was haunting Ravka and her guilt for helping this darkness unleash. Some people worshipped her as a Saint, some hated her because they were afraid of her powers and some wanted her to run away from this new life and become the person she was before she had the potential to destroy the world .Well, not some people, just Mal.

“There is no ordinary life for people like you and me.”

I really enjoyed Siege and Storm (not as much as Shadow and Bone but still it was great),a nd even my dislike of Mal can't take that away. You may ask why I don't like the handsome tracker who is willing to give his life for Alina, who bleeds when you cut her and tries to protect her at any cost. Because he loves only certain parts of her, excluding her being a Grisha and the role she has to play in the game of politics and eventually the struggle between light and darkness. He loves the girl who grew up with him, who followed him blindly and was always in the backround. The girl he took for granted. But she isn't the same person anymore, and the Darkling is the one to blame. The ruthless, murderous, manipulative Darkling. Deep, deep inside, I hope he will redeem himself, that there is still something good worth saving despite the awful things he has done, his twisted ways and his greed.

But Darkling isn't the only one antagonizing Mal. Have you met Nikolai?
The witty, sarcastic, calculative pirate (or privateer) with a claim to the throne who has a kind heart even though he rarely reveals it?

"I can’t decide if you’re crazy or stupid."
"I have so many good qualities. It can be hard to choose."

Well after babbling about the men I want to marry (that's right, men, I'm polygamic when it comes to book boyfriends) I have to talk about the rest of Siege and Storm !It was captivating (again, not as much as the first book but I can't give it less stars, it's physically impossible!), it sucked you in the world of the Grisha and held you with a strong grip. Leigh Bardugo's writing is stunning, the world-building incredible, the tension in the scenes palpable and the evolution of Alina's character well-presented. Definitely a great sequel to a great series!