Shadow and Bone: Siege and Storm: Book 2

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Alina’s power was growing but it wasn’t enough against the horrifying change in Darkling and his forbidden magic. Alina’s only way to stop running for their life and take the responsibility of what happened on the Fold in previous book was to lead the Grisha army against Darkling and find a way to grow her power even more. But power and victory doesn’t come without sacrifice. Fine," I grumbled as I followed after Mal. "But just so I'm prepared, how do you say ‘you're an ass' in Kerch?" Apart from world, what I enjoyed most was banter between Nikolai, Alina and Mal, conversation between Alina and Nikolai, the way Alina made changes at Little Palace, and action scenes. Bardugo builds on strengths she brought to the first volume, including a richly crafted fantasy world with its own twist on magic, a surfeit of handsome leading men, and plenty of teen-appropriate romantic angst.” — The Horn Book The Darkling. The encounter between he and Alina in The Shadow Fold has irrevocably altered him as well. The Darkling's power is growing as is his hunger for it, and for Alina. Like calls to like, as he's so fond of reminding Alina, and he will stop at nothing to claim her, her power, and the Ravkan throne.

terrifying ferocity. Some were dressed as farmers, some wore ragged First Army uniforms, but each of them bore identical tattoos: my sunburst, wrought in ink over the sides of their faces. Only two were unmarked. Tolya and Tamar led the charge, eyes wild, blades flashing, roaring my name. He raised a finger, and the men holding me let go. I stumbled forward and then stood frozen in the center of the room, my hands balled into fists. Dagger first, I reminded myself, sliding the blade from my sleeve. Try not to draw attention. Pistol if you must. Power as a last resort. Not for the first time, I missed the Fabrikator-made gloves that I’d had to leave behind in Ravka. They’d been lined with mirrors that gave me an easy way to blind opponents in a hand-to-hand fight—and a nice alternative to slicing someone in half with the Cut. But if I’d been spotted by a Corporalnik Heartrender, I might not have a choice in the matter. They were the Darkling’s favored soldiers and could stop my heart or crush my lungs without ever landing a blow.

Goodreads Summary:

How do you go?" Jes asked in broken Ravkan, offering me his hand. His expression seemed unduly grave. When held captive in the Darkling’s whaler, Alina comes across the ‘Book of Saints’, a book that was given to her by the Apparat in Os Alta, something she had discarded, considering it to be a children’s picture book. However, this time she carries it with her while escaping the Darkling and soon comes to know about the existence of a third amplifier—the Firebird. To defeat the Darkling’s new and evil powers, Alina knew she needed more than one amplifier; she needed all three of them. Much against Mal’s disapproval, and with the help of a Fabrikator on board, Alina takes seven scales from the ‘sea whip’ and fetters them around her wrist. News was easy to come by in Novyi Zem, but none of it was good. Rumors had surfaced that the Darkling had somehow survived the battle on the Fold, that he had gone to ground to gather his forces before making another attempt on the Ravkan throne. I didn’t want to believe it was possible, but I knew better than to underestimate him. The other stories were just as disturbing: that the Fold had begun to overflow its shores, driving refugees east and west; that a cult had risen up around a Saint who could summon the sun. I didn’t want to think about it. Mal and I had a new life now. We’d left Ravka behind.

He yanked me beneath a shadowed awning. I had a moment's panic when I thought he'd spotted trouble, but then his arms were around me and his lips were pressed to mine.

In short

Fast-paced and unpredictable, this debut novel will be a hit with readers who love dark fantasy. . . . Bardugo creates a unique world complete with monsters, magic, danger, romance, corruption, and extravagance.” — School Library Journal, starred review on Shadow and Bone At this point, I know I enjoy Leigh's writing and would love to continue reading the story just for that, but I'm starting to think I just don't like some of the characters. Alina is very difficult to read and her constant change in personality is very frustrating at times. At the start of the story, after being captured by the Darkling yet again, Alina kills another of Morozovas amplifiers and it was at this point I realised what the story was about.