Siege and Storm
Siege and Storm (2nd Book in the trilogy) sets the stage for an epic finale with great world-building and Nikolai's charm, despite its slower pacing.
Read on Kindle (e-book)
Reading Siege and Storm was like being on a rollercoaster that slowed down a little too often. There were moments of thrilling action, especially at the beginning and end but the middle section dragged as it focused on politics and preparation. It felt more like a build-up to the big showdown in the final book and while that was interesting, it lacked the punch I was hoping for. The expanded Grishaverse, a deeper dive into Ravka’s legends and power struggles, were fascinating.
Nikolai was hands down the highlight for me. His charm, wit and cleverness lit up every scene he was in and I couldn’t help but root for him. Honestly, he’s one of the best characters in the series so far. Alina’s internal battles with her growing power were engaging but her strained relationship with Mal felt draining this time around. Their dynamic often overshadowed the more compelling parts of the story, like Alina stepping into her role as a leader and grappling with the Darkling’s looming threat.
Smash Hit Score: 3/5
Overall, this book had its ups and downs. While it was slower and more reflective than Shadow and Bone, it still held my interest thanks to the world-building and intriguing new characters like Nikolai. I enjoyed the setup for what’s clearly going to be an epic finale, even if I wish the journey there had been a bit more exciting. Here’s hoping the next book brings it all home! 🤞🏽
