Lenka S. reviewed on 12/23/2022 + 823 more book reviews

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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