Actual rating: 4.5 stars, I think?

It‘s been three years since I first read the sequel to [b:Shadow and Bone|10194157|Shadow and Bone (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy, #1)|Leigh Bardugo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1339533695l/10194157._SX50_.jpg|15093325], and therefore, it was only natural that I couldn‘t recall every event that happened in Siege and Storm. However, I must admit how suprised I was to find out how much I didn‘t remember properly. This time, I was able to retrieve some of the thoughts I had when I first read it in my old reading journal (that hasn‘t been in use ever since I finished Siege and Storm back in the day). And I found myself suprised how much I still share the same thoughts as 2018 Aleksandra.

I can‘t decide if I like the sequel more than the first book. There‘s just a certain magic to first books in a series that immediately has a hold on you which sequels can‘t always compete with. Siege and Storm was a great sequel, and definitely went into a direction this story needed. But at the same time, it works pretty much like a filler, building up some anticipation for the final book in the series. And I would‘ve wished for more.

My highlight remains the introduction of Nikolai. While I did have a great time with that character already this year when I was reading [b:Rule of Wolves|36307674|Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2)|Leigh Bardugo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1598133584l/36307674._SY75_.jpg|57978381], I enjoyed meeting him once again, and witnessing the beginning of his story. He definitely has changed as a character over the course of all the books within the Grishaverse, and I must say this Nikolai must be my favorite. Not only did his charm and humor brough some fun and interesting moments into the book, he also contributes so much to the worldbuilding which we weren’t able to explore before. If it weren‘t for him, I think many things wouldn‘t have worked the way they did. Especially the worldbuilding became a bigger, and more layered thanks to his political mind. As much as it was needed that Alina experiences the Little Palace and her Grisha powers in the first book, and therefore, a more detailed description of the world, different cultures, and politics outside of the Os Alta weren‘t needed, this book needed the vast worldbuilding to expand the universe more, and I think Bardugo did a great job by introducing Sturmhond, the twins, and Nikolai.

In general, I think this book works so fine because of the introduction of the new characters. We see some we already met in Shadow and Bone again; however, those don‘t play as big of a role as the Tolya, Tamar or Nikolai. The two that still remain in the focus were Mal and Alina, and yet again, this is where my issue stays.

Putting aside that I‘ve been a Darklina shipper from the start, I tried to stay open-minded in regards of Mal and Alina‘s relationship, and not let my subjective wishes interfere. I have to admit, I was more inclined to like Mal in Shadow and Bone as I was rereading it. Though, those feelings could‘ve pretty much come from the fact that I liked his depiction in the Netflix adaption more. In Siege and Storm, it yet again became impossible for me to even tolerate him. I get that drama makes things interesting, and we sometimes we need a fight or a disagreement to build up the relationship and to be seated at the edge of our seats. However, with Mal and Alina, I just don‘t feel any of the drama is right. Knowing where this all leads, I hated to see some arguments now between them, because they interfere with Alina‘s character development. Alina‘s path gets tricky in this one, and I have to say I like it. Because sometimes making decisions is not all black and white, sometimes there are grey areas where you want to do something good but can‘t do what‘s best for everyone. Alina struggles to find herself, find the place where she belongs, and do the right thing. It‘s interesting to see her development, to see which path she could end up on, and to figure out what‘s right for her. Mal seems more like a hindrance for her, holding her back. And I just can‘t find one reason why I should justify that. While I have an understanding for his situation, and want to wish him all the best, I hoped these two could‘ve found a way to grow seperately instead of clinging to each other and a version of themselves from the past.

One thing I forgot was how little the Darkling was in the picture during this book. However, it made sense. Siege and Storm is about Alina‘s journey, and we needed that time to let her grow, and find her path without the Darkling‘s influence and manipulation. What did bother me, though, was the rather anti-climatic ending. Which is probably a very subjective thing to say because I had remembered the ending to be bigger than it now happened to be. This is what rereading does, I guess.

Overall, this book opens so many paths to a greater story, and offers so much potential for the final installment of the trilogy. I loved to see Alina trying to grow into the life she is meant to live, to see more of Ravka and the rest of the Grishaverse, to meet Nikolai once again and fall deeply for him, and see the madness slowly coming into play. At the same time, I just constantly had to think of how Ruin and Rising did, in fact, end,

Spoiler

and how much of that potential was wasted.

I did end up being very, very excited for the second season of the Shadow and Bone Netflix series, though. I think there‘s lots to unpack here, and I‘m curious to see how things will work out in the show, especially as the show features the crows from [b:Six of Crows|23437156|Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)|Leigh Bardugo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1628438817l/23437156._SX50_.jpg|42077459], and how those stories will intertwine in the upcoming season.