REVIEW - SIEGE AND STORM BY LEIGH BARDUGO

pic and description taken from Goodreads:

DESCRIPTION:

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

I am so glad I waited to read this because now I can devour the series.  This book was even better than the first book.  It was so exciting.

I do not even think I mentioned the world building in the previous review, but I love it.  I love the maps at the front of the book.  It is so much fun when authors do that with worlds they have built.  I really felt like I was living in the book with the characters.  I could feel the darkness and despair they were feeling.  I could feel how anxious the people were just waiting for The Darkling to appear.

I could feel my self blushing when Alina would blush.  I use to make fun of my daughter when she did this..hehe.  I have now realized that the more I read the more the world pops out in my head, and my emotions are linked to the books I am reading.  It's fabulous.  I cannot believe I hated reading as a kid.  I missed out on so many fun adventures.  Even if they would have been in my head.  hehe.

There is so much tension in this book.  Alina and Mal seemed to find a little place to live and be a "normal" couple.  I knew in my head it wouldn't last long, but it was fun while it lasted.  They are such a cute couple.

Alina gets another amplifier in this book and she is finding it harder and harder to hold back the power that comes along with it.  Alina finds out that their may be a third amplifier, and wants to go seek it out.  Meanwhile, Alina has taken over The Darklings place, and they are preparing for war with him.

We also get to meet a few new characters in this book.  One, helped her and Mal escape from The Darkling again.  Twin Grisha's who are to protect Alina.  A few other characters show their nasty heads back in this book as well.  

Alina is becoming more power hungry and in the process is pushing Mal away.  Let me just say...they better end up together or I might cry.

This book was so exciting.  I thought the first one was, and then I fell into this book.  It was wonderful, every step of the way.  I love the feelings the author brought out in me during my reading of this book.  I love the writing...it's beautiful.  I just all around loved this book.

I cannot wait to see what the conclusion brings!  I am a little nervous to start reading it.  I have heard so many great things, but ending a series is always nerve racking for me.  I am one of those people that if the ending doesn't work for me it kind of ruins the whole experience for me.  So, onto book three.....Here's hoping it is as fantastic as the previous two!

Source:  I bought this series for myself.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

   

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from Goodreads

Leigh Bardugo is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising). 

She was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University, and has worked in advertising, journalism, and most recently, makeup and special effects. These days, she’s lives and writes in Hollywood where she can occasionally be heard singing with her band. Her new book, Six of Crows, arrives fall 2015.

She would be delighted if you followed her on Twitter, elated if you visited her web site, and downright giddy if you liked Shadow & Bone on Facebook.