Fantasy teen fiction, by Leigh Bardugo, second in the Grisha Trilogy. Alina the Sun Summoner has been tied to the Darkling by the collar he put on her neck. At the end of the first book, Alina and her best friend Mal had escaped the Darkling and were in hiding. But, soon they are found, and make their way back to Ravka.

Alina is torn and wants the impossible, to be both the young peasant girl that Mal loves, and to be the powerful Sun Summoner who saves her people from the Darkling.

Awesome series. Awesome book. Cannot wait for the third.

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I got a copy of this book from the publisher for review. It was a wonderful continuation of this story, I think it was even better than the first book in this series. The third book in this trilogy, Ruin and Rising, is scheduled for a 2014 release date. You definitely need to read the first book, Shadow and Bone, to know what is going on in this one.

Alina and Mal have fled across the True Sea in hopes of escaping the tragedy that ended the last book, and of course in hopes of escaping the Darkling. With Alina trying to hide her ability as the Sun Summoner she is growing weaker and weaker. When the Darkling emerges from the Fold with a new and terrifying power Alina begins to despair. That is until a mysterious and charismatic privateer steps up to help Alina and Mal. Alina decides to try to return to Ravka to save the city she loves, but as she grows in power she is drawn further and further away from Mal and more and more towards the darkness.

This was a spectacular read. I loved the creative world-building in the first book of this series, this book grows that world and expands it. We get to journey to new regions of ice and snow, and sail dangerous seas, not me mention venturing into the darkness of the Fold again. This is a wonderful world and I love reading about it.

I thought that the characters grew a lot in this book as well. I wasnt a huge fan of Alina in the first book, she was a bit too passive for me. In this book she finds her strength and her will to do what is right. She works to master her power and seeks out more power. Alina does all of this in an effort to help, but as she finds she likes the power she struggles to maintain her identity. Alina was wonderfully complex and had to deal with some tough decisions in this book.

Mal is in the story quite a bit as well. He is supportive of Allina, but also a bit overbearing at times. He just doesnt want her to change and is starting to fear the power that she is becoming. As with Alina, he is a complex character who is struggling with his love for Alina and what he feels is the right thing to do.

The Darkling is in this story a lot less than in the first book. He is there looming over everyone and creating fear. Hes gained some interesting powers and I continue to find him fascinating. Still he is more in the background in this story.

The character that really steps up and shares the spotlight with Alina in this book is Sturmhond, the privateer. He is incredibly charismatic, witty, and intelligent. He also has a bevy of secrets that will blow you away. He was a wonderful addition to the story.

The plot is well paced and engaging. I had a lot of trouble putting this book down. The writing is absolutely beautiful and flows well. The story is intense, but there is some humor throughout as well. Seriously you have magic, sea battles, epic darkness versus light fighting scenes...it was just wonderful.

Overall this was just an absolutely wonderfully done fantasy read. This book is highly recommended to fans of fantasy, and not just YA fans but fans of all ages. This is a magnificent world with complex and engaging characters. The storyline is epic and takes a completely new twist on the epic battle between light and dark. The pacing is wonderful and the book is impossible to put down. I want to read Ruin and Rising now!!! This is a highly recommended and absolutely stunning fantasy read.

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Great second book. Keeps the story going full throttle right till the end. Some nice twists in the story. Looking forward to book 3.

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Despite the fact I didn't read the first book I dove into bk2, and had no problem diving in. The author gives enough clues not to have me lost. So for those who don't know what is going on, don't despair, the book gives enough background to lead you into the story. Siege and Storm however suffers like most trilogies from the syndrome of the second book. Its tedious, it drags, and it doesn't seem to go anywhere most of the time. The start and the end is stellar. The 300 pages in between is mostly useless political plotting that is not even all that well executed, that should have been condensed into 100 pages.

The book is divided into two parts: 1. adventures with the privateer/prince and 2. adventures with the revealed true identity of the privateer/prince. The latter part of the book is dull, and tedious. It was drudgery forcing myself to plow through it. When the action finally picked up again, the book promptly ended. I wonder if the second half was stretched out to make the book novel length?

ROMANCE?: Except for Nikolai, whose appearance in this story gives the novel a bit of spark. The romance between Alina and Mal does not exist.

SPOILERS: The Sun Summoner is hiding among the refugees. Not very well since she uses precious jewelry to pay for her passage and lodging. She is found. Taken on a trip to north to hutn the fabled ice dragon, the second amplifier. They find the dragon, she kills him and she makes bracelet out of his scales. She and Mal are rescued by the Privateer/Prince Nikolai and taken back home. Where 2/3 of the book she is paraded around so he can plot to take the thrown from his brother the crown (useless) prince. While they go into the Void/Fold and hunt its creatures. (No reason given). I suppose to make the boring parading and palace live more interesting. Then the reader finds out the Summoner needs to complete the amplifier outfit by locating a firebird (and killing him). But no one knows where to find it. Nikolais brother makes a deal with the Drakling, and sells out the kingdom. Darkling attacks, Sun army is decimated. Everyone is dead except a few people. Sun Summoner gives her self up to corruption, to dark power. She goes to the Darkling, Taps into his power and summons Nothings (Nichevo) Creatures until Darkling collapses with the effort. As Nichevos have to be created out of something, the sometning being him. The laws of Science. If she can outlast the Darkling by a hair then so be it. Mall stops her suicide and thus saves the Darkling too. Alina the sun summoner is now hiding in the catacombs of ancient temples. Deep underground. She is safe from the Darklings search. She has 2 amplifiers. If she can get the 3 she can control the fold but loose her soul. The only problem is she can no longer summon the light.

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3.75 stars. This books suffers from sequel syndrome. The characters have developed, but into angsty, whiney babies who don't communicate. I understand this is a typical story trope and I both love and hate it. It's fun to see how long the idiot protagonists will take to pull themselves together and actually speak to each other. But at times, it drags out for far too long and you kind of hope they never get together at that point because they don't deserve happiness for being so stupid.

This story is right on the border of taking too long. Alina and Mal are a hot mess. Alina is being pulled in so many different directions. She's trying to do what's best for the country, for the people, but it's hard for her. She's conflicted, which, of course. But she also has so much working against her. Two princes fighting for power, a cult who worships her, friends who are deceiving her, and Mal who both loves and fears her.

The plot is still moving forward, if taking a bit long. And the protagonists are in their annoying phase, but it still kept my interest and I am definitely looking forward to seeing how it all works out.

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