Young Adult Book Review: Siege and Storm

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Age Range: 12 - 18 years

Grade Level: 7 and up

Series: Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone) (Book 2)

Hardcover: 448 pages

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (June 4, 2013)

Genre: Fantasy

Source: Library

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

About the Book:

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.

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About the Author:

Leigh Bardugo was born in Jerusalem, raised in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University. These days, she hides out in Hollywood and indulges her fondness for glamour, ghouls, and costuming in her other life as makeup artist L.B. Benson.

Her debut novel, Shadow & Bone (Holt Children's/Macmillan) is now a New York Times Best Seller.

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.

My Thoughts:

If you are going to read any fantasy series, this should be it. I loved this book just as much as the first. I can't wait for the third book in the series!

The Darkling is back and more powerful than ever. Alina makes new friends and new enemies. She gains some new power herself and grows into herself a little more. She also loses herself a bit. She changes. I didn't like Mal at all in this book. I wanted to smack him upside the head. However, their rocky relationship made sense and added depth to the story.

I cannot get enough of this series. I might be obsessed, but it is too soon after reading the final page to tell. All I know is that book #3 can't get here soon enough.

FIVE STARS!