Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

*This is a sequel and the review may contain spoilers*

This book takes off right where Shadow and Bone ended. With Alina and Mal escaping and running from The Darkling, or rather sailing. As far away from The Darkling as possible. For a while, everything seems to go smoothly until they get caught and captured again. Alina doesn’t know what she’s supposed to do with all the magic that’s inside her, while others are determined to use her power in ways they seem fit.
Alina gets sucked back into court life but into a very different role. I really loved how Alina herself started ordering people around, even the people who had undermined her. She was so powerful and you can see that she starts to get a little more comfortable with her magic, sometimes maybe a little too much... She constantly struggles with finding out who she wants to be while everyone has their own great expectations of her. I love that throughout the story she keeps putting her own thoughts and feelings first and she keeps standing tall even though people keep deceiving or betraying her.

I loved the characters, I’m a sucker for The Darkling so I was actually quite disappointed at how there were barely any moments with him and Alina. The little moments that they had were really good and intriguing but left me scrambled on the floor craving for more… just a little exaggeration there…

BUT..

NIKOLAI!!!!!

ugh he kinda carried this sequel on his back but I LOVE him for it. I love his sarcasm and just his overall I don’t give a sh*t, living my best life attitude (which is clearly a mask to hide his true cinnamon roll identity) And he’s pretty romantic?? At least for a moment