Leigh Bardugo
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Synopsis for Shadow and Bone:
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.
Review:
The Cover:
My only real problem that I have ever had with these books is the change they made, from that glorious matte grey into these, shiny editions. Meaning that only the second and third book, now, truely matches on my shelf.
Still beautiful, though.
I think once you read the book, that's then when the cover will make sense as a journey. The waves directing back to the palace in the background, of this art piece. Yes, art piece. I can't really elaborate more on the cover.
The Content:
I'm out of sorts in writing reviews but, let's start on characters?
Alina goes through an interesting character arc in Siege and Storm. Which is why I probably enjoyed it more than Shadow and Bone. She grows. From the weak character, she was, into someone willing to put herself forward. She grew into the role that needed to be set up for the events in book three. It's rare to find someone who is already willing to put herself on the line, to not need any growth as a person. Especially in the events of the past book and this one. To not grow would just be a testimony of an author's inability to write.
Even if, Mal remains a great pain in my reading ass. I understand Mal's purpose in the story, he is what grounds Alina. Which I'm not sure means I can tolerate him or it's making me more annoyed. But, he acts as a boundary, blind sighting her into the wanting of what she has now had to leave in the past. But, also not letting her fall into the world of politics, in making the same mistakes and presumptions as before. The only default I find with this is that sometimes he is a trope. Jealous over a little competition and over protective, when clearly Alina can protect herself. Male beating his chest.
The most common opinion I can find is that the Darkling is a love among readers. Even after the revelations in Shadow and Bone, I can see why so many people continue to swoon at his feet. When he shows presence in a scene I can feel his charm, he is alluring in some respect. Yes, I, too, have fallen at his Darkling feet.
In my mind, the plot for Siege and Storm splits itself into two parts. We have Alina's journey in the first 200 pages and then the second half towards a destination. The first I enjoyed reading more. There was an adventure to be had, moving plot and turns that kept me going. I found myself just pushing for the sake of finishing the last hundred or so pages. I knew what was going to happen, unlike how this books started out with. I think if I the plot had kept pace and not tampered off. This would have been given 4.5/5 stars, perhaps.
I'd still recommend. Particularly to those who are treading the waters into YA Fantasy. I am still going on to the third and final instalment of the Grisha Trilogy.
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