Siege and Storm (Bardugo)

Siege and Storm  (Grisha Trilogy, 2)
Leigh Bardugo, 2013
Henry Holt & Co.
496 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781250044433


Summary
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.

Seige and Storm is the second installment of the Grisha Trilogy. The first is Shadow and Bone (2012), and the third Ruin and Rising (2014). (From the publisher.)

Author Bio
• Birth—1975
• Where—Jerusalem, Israel
• Education—B.A., Yale University
• Currently—lives in Hollywood, California, USA


Leigh Bardugo is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Shadow and Bone (2012) and Siege and Storm (2013). Ruin and Rising (2014) is the third installment in her Grisha Trilogy. Leigh was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University. She has worked in advertising, journalism, and most recently, makeup and special effects. These days, she’s lives and writes in Hollywood where she can occasionally be heard singing with her band. (From the author's website .)

Book Reviews
After narrowly escaping the Darkling at the end of Shadow and Bone, Alina and Mal are still on the run.... World-building and character development are top-notch, and relationships and motives are complex; Alina hungers for more power just as much as the Darkling does.... An action-packed, heartbreaking ending (Gr 8 & up). —Leigh Collazo, Ed Willkie Middle School, Fort Worth, TX
School Library Journal


Darkness is not easy to escape, even as the “Sun Summoner.” Alina finds herself trapped in a web of forbidden magic as she tries to start a new life in unfamiliar territory. Even with Mal by her side, the tempestuous Darkling’s game is putting a wedge between them....she cannot seem to trust anything as she did (Ages 12 & up). —Lisette Baez
Children's Literature


This second installment...takes off where Book 1, Shadow And Bone (Henry Holt/Macmillan, 2012/VOYA August 2012), left off: Mal and Alina escaped the King's palace and are fleeing another Grisha.... This action-packed, suspenseful grand tale of war, adventure and love, with a maritime setting, colorful battles, and female warriors, will appeal to a broad readership and is an enticing prelude to the anticipated Book 3. —Christina Miller
VOYA


Bardugo populates her fully realized world with appealing three-dimensional characters and an involving plot that keeps a steady pace. But she doesn’t skimp on the introspective moments that will bond readers to the main characters and have them tapping their feet impatiently for the concluding volume.... The buzz will be big (Grades 7-12). —Cindy Welch
Booklist


The Grisha Trilogy turns from bildungsroman to political thriller in its second installment.... Bardugo's sophomore effort smooths out many of the rookie wrinkles that marred Shadow and Bone...keeping readers immersed in the plot. Characters are rich and complex.... Scheming and action carry readers at a breathless pace to an end that may surprise them. (13 & up ).
Kirkus Reviews

Discussion Questions
Use our LitLovers Book Club Resources; they can help with discussions for any book:

• How to Discuss a Book (helpful discussion tips)
• Generic Discussion Questions—Fiction and Nonfiction
• Read-Think-Talk (a guided reading chart)

(We'll add specific questions if and when they're made available by the publisher.)

top of page (summary)