“Siege and Storm,” authored by Leigh Bardugo, chronicles the journey of Alina Starkov as she escapes the perilous Shadow Fold alongside her companion Mal. They seek solace in order to create a life distant from the unrest plaguing Ravka. However, their hopes for peace are short-lived as they are captured by the Darkling, who has survived their prior conflict and now possesses formidable new powers. The Darkling compels Alina to track down the mythic ice dragon, Rusalye, in an effort to enhance her abilities.
Fortunately, they are saved by the privateer Sturmhond, who unveils his true identity as Nikolai Lantsov, the charming prince of Ravka. He encourages Alina to return and take the lead in rallying the Grisha in preparation for an impending war. As Alina grapples with her burgeoning power and her complex relationship with the Darkling, she faces escalating tensions with Mal.
While gathering support in Os Alta, Alina confronts a web of political intrigue along with her own sinister inclinations, ultimately leading to a desperate effort to thwart the advancing army of the Darkling. The narrative culminates in a harrowing confrontation that leaves Alina deeply weakened and seemingly devoid of her powers, thereby setting the stage for the climactic battle that lies ahead.
In “Siege and Storm” by Leigh Bardugo, the protagonists Alina Starkov and Mal Oretsev have fled Ravka and are seeking refuge in the port city of Cofton, attempting to construct a new life free from the influence of the Darkling. However, their tranquility is fleeting as the Darkling, now possessing greater power than before, captures them with the assistance of his shadowy creations known as nichevo’ya, which he has conjured through merzost, a banned and corrupting form of magic. He compels Alina to aid him in locating the mythical ice dragon, Rusalye, which serves as the second of Morozova’s amplifiers, with the intention of augmenting her abilities further as the Sun Summoner.
As they journey across the True Sea, Alina and Mal find themselves aboard a vessel commanded by the formidable privateer Sturmhond. Just as the Darkling manages to enslave the sea whip and bind the amplifier to Alina, Sturmhond stages a mutiny, revealing his lack of allegiance to the Darkling. With the support of his crew and military forces, Sturmhond successfully rescues Alina and Mal, escaping the Darkling’s clutches. He later discloses his true identity as Nikolai Lantsov, the younger prince of Ravka, who has been operating under an alias to garner support for his cause. Nikolai persuades Alina to return to Ravka and unify the Second Army against the Darkling.
Upon their return to Os Alta, Nikolai introduces Alina to the Grand Palace and presents her to the royal court, aspiring to position her as a leader among the Grisha and a symbol of resistance. He also proposes a marriage alliance, acknowledging the political power she could bring to his claim to the throne. Concurrently, Alina assumes command of the Grisha and begins to establish her own elite unit, the Soldat Sol, which is dedicated to her leadership rather than that of the king. However, as her power grows, she starts feeling an unsettling connection to the Darkling, sensing his presence and experiencing visions of him, which allude to the ramifications of their mutual engagement with merzost.
Alina’s increasing focus on power creates a rift in her relationship with Mal, who grapples to find his role in her new reality. While he remains fiercely loyal, he begins to feel distanced as he witnesses her transformation under the weight of leadership and ambition. Meanwhile, tensions within the court escalate as nobles and Grisha factions vie for influence, with some backing Nikolai’s claim to the throne while others remain loyal to the ineffectual King Alexander.
As Alina’s visions of the Darkling amplify, she becomes fixated on the quest for the third and final amplifier, the Firebird, believing it to be essential for her to finally vanquish him. However, before she can pursue this goal, the Darkling mounts a devastating surprise assault on Os Alta, employing his shadow creatures to penetrate the city’s defenses. During the subsequent battle, the Grisha and Soldat Sol fight bravely but are ultimately overwhelmed. In a final act of desperation, Alina resorts to merzost to unleash a tremendous burst of light, aiming to obliterate the Darkling and his minions. Unfortunately, the dark magic backfires, nearly resulting in her demise and leaving her physically exhausted and severed from her abilities.
The novel concludes with Alina barely clinging to life, now a mere shadow of her former self as the powerful Sun Summoner. She is taken underground by a small group of survivors, including Mal and her remaining allies. As they regroup, the future of Ravka hangs in the balance, and Alina is left to confront the repercussions of her decisions, paving the way for the ultimate confrontation with the Darkling in “Ruin and Rising.”
“Siege and Storm,” the second book in the Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, was released on June 4, 2013, by Henry Holt and Company, following the success of its predecessor, “Shadow and Bone.” This novel continues the narrative of Alina Starkov while further expanding the intricacies of the world of Ravka. As anticipation for the sequel mounted, Bardugo’s exceptional storytelling and world-building received accolades for their richness, particularly through the introduction of new characters, such as Nikolai Lantsov. Upon its release, the book garnered generally favorable reviews from critics and readers alike, who praised its brisk pacing, character development, and complex political intrigue. However, some critics remarked that it functioned primarily as a transitional piece leading to the series conclusion, rather than as a standalone story. Nonetheless, “Siege and Storm” solidified Bardugo’s reputation as a notable fantasy author and played a significant role in the increasing popularity of the Grishaverse, ultimately resulting in adaptations and further expansions of the series.