Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo + Giveaway

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Genre: YA High Fantasy
Expected Publication: June 4th, 2013
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Page Count: 448
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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, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But 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.

*A review copy was provided*

I will start off this review and say that if you haven't read the first book in this series yet, Shadow and Bone, please do.  You're missing out big time.  I fell in love with Alina's story and her struggle with the Darkling and her powers.  It all created this epic adventure that was hard to put down.

While I like Alina's character, she actually got a bit on my nerves in this one!  It's not necessarily a big deal, but it definitely created some conflict in the story and made me have the desire to pull out my hair.  Like I said, no biggie.  However, she still was stubborn and determined as ever, making rash decisions and trying to save all of Ravka.  If you don't admire this character, there is something possibly wrong with you.  Also, she's got some great snark.  I loved it.

You don't know how excited I was to jump back into this story.  I got it in the mail and I read it as soon as I possibly could.  While I think I like the first book better, Siege and Storm did not let me down in any way.  There was always plenty of conflict to keep me interested, whether it be romance or saving Ravka.  And right in the beginning there is a major plot twist!  Many new characters are introduced and Mal and Alina's relationship deepens.  And I cannot count how many suitors Alina receives!  But it's okay . . . maybe.

Speaking of relationships!  I might as well bring up Alina and Mal!  I love these two together! While there is a certain alluring quality about the Darkling, I think that Alina and Mal are Meant to Be.  There's something about way-back-when-friendship-turned-couple that makes my heart go all mushy.  It just makes me SO HAPPY.  And seeing them hurt makes me hurt, and when they're happy I'm happy.  I am the commensurable reader benefiting from (or suffering from) their togetherness, an unknown presence to them, but a large part of my survival as a reader.  Also, their banter was so cute to read!  They had such great chemistry!

And may I also bring up the subject of Bardugo's writing skillz??  They are AMAZEBALLS.  Everything about it is visual, the descriptions are beautiful and thus, the wonderful and terrible world that Leigh concocted becomes real.  It is magical in every way!  Her writing really sets the tone.

I drifter through the half-light, past the silent lawns covered in mist, the clouded windows of the greenhouse.  The only sounds was the soft crunch of my shoes on the gravel path.  The morning deliveries of bread and produce were being made at the Grand Palace, and I followed the caravan of wagons straight out the gates and through the cobblestone streets of the upper town.  There were still a few revelers snoozing on a park bench.  A group of girls laughed and splashed in a fountain, their skirts hiked up to their knees.  A man wearing  a wreath of poppies sat on a curb with his head in his hands while a girl in a paper crown patted his shoulder.  I passed them all unseen and unremarked upon, an invisible girl in a drab brown coat.

Isn't it beautiful??  Or maybe it's just because I've been reading such meh books with meh writing that going to this one clearly outshines the others.  But still, I have to admit that Bardugo is a very talented author.

5 Splashes

Now, for everyone to get into the cheer for the release of Siege and Storm, I have a giveaway for you all!  You know the rules: play fair and all.  So, now I'll leave it up to you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway