The Grisha Series by Leigh Bardugo - Restarting September 21st 2019

[Shae]

Grace wrote: "Chapter 15 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ it is starting to make sense. I like this twist in the story, it's made it a bit ancey now. And now Mal is back in with a chance. I can't believe baghra is the darkling's mum! (hide spoiler)]

[grimple]

Finished!
(view spoiler)[Hmmmmmm I don't know how to feel! I don't really care for Mal?? When he was about to die I barely cared, I was more shocked that the Darkling said he could be merciful and then sent Mal to his death, lol. Like damn! And yet... I still love the Darkling! There has to be some redemption there, the author keeps hinting at it. And is he really crazy for power, or did he just want to end the war and give strength to his people? Maybe a bit of both, idk.

I'm also confused about Alina's power and the stag... if the power from the stag antler was rightfully hers all along, why did the Darkling possess it until they were in the Fold?

Overall, really liked the book! I want to see Alina's power and strength grow more, and also see Genya! I loved her. I wish this series had alternate POVs like Six of Crows because I would love to see inside the Darkling's head. I suspect we'll see a lot of Mal, but maybe I'll start to like him more, who knows (hide spoiler)]

[Just A Ginger]

Siege and Storm

Chapter 9 Okay so the first 77 pages or so I wasn't very invested. To be honest at page 153 I am not super invested. The characters have never really been my favorite. (view spoiler)[But I enjoyed being on a ship, that was a change of pace. And escaping the Darkling.

I wonder what that bite on Alina's shoulder is going to end up doing, Darkling said it would never heal. Hmm.

I also adore the fact that Sturmhond, the pirate *excuse me privateer*, the one who helped them escape, is also the second son of the king. A prince, and a handsome one at that.

This part had me just amazed,

""I think I can give you something no one else can."
"This ought to be good," muttered Mal.
"I can give you the chance to change Ravka," said Sturmhond"I can give you the chance to bring your people hope."
"Oh is that all? I said sourly. "And just how am I supposed to do that?"
"By helping me unite the 1st and 2nd armies. by becoming my queen."

& than Mal attacks LOL

"try explaining with my fist in your mouth"

"It would be a marriage in name only," Sturmhond insisted. Then, as if he couldn't help himself, he flashed Mal a taunting grin. "Except for the matter of producing heirs""

(hide spoiler)]

Somehow I always end up feeling bad for Mal.

[Just A Ginger]

Siege and Storm

Chapter 12, Ya'll I'm sorry but I am BOOOORED. This isn't exciting at all. What different is this than any other special little snowflake 'chosen one' that will save them all? All they are doing is walking around... talking, walking around... talking.. SIIIIGH

(view spoiler)[I am glad to see the queen is looking raged as hell since Genya left. I also am pissed at Genya. Someone take her beauty away, that'll teach her. (hide spoiler)]

[Just A Ginger]

Siege and Storm Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[Really another marriage proposal to make her queen? By the first born son, Vasily this time. Sigh. Well if she was single she would be able to be queen either way I suppose. But what good is that? Queen's don't have any real power with kings like these. (hide spoiler)]

[Just A Ginger]

Siege and Storm
Chapter 21. THAT MFer!! I am beyond pissed right now. Finally something in this book made me wake up but WTF (view spoiler)[I DONT CARE HOW fuckin wounded this little shit is! Mal is a fucking ass. Alina is dealing with so much and he feels neglected, so instead of listening to her and trying to understand he runs away and drinks himself stupid, fights, and has his TOUNGE down Alina's bullier Zoya's throat. It's disgusting.

I am disgusted with him. She didn't run off with anyone else, she didn't leave him.

He left her. He walked away from her, and went to another girl because he felt uncared for. I cannot deal with that shit. I can deal with a guy not feeling loved and leaving, fine be a pissy little ass whatever. But I cannot stand a man who runs from the woman he loves to just the next thing he can have to make himself feel fucking better. Its disgusting.

Because he kissed that vile thing he should never have Alina back again! She already feels horrible about what those two did BEFORE they finally got together now he's basically rubbing it in and saying "anytime u fuck up, this is what i'll do" its disgusting. if he truly loved her he wouldn't be shacking up with the other girl. If she forgives him, i'm fucking done. (hide spoiler)]

[Just A Ginger]

Siege and Storm

I finished it...
and you know what...
that was dumb.
Literally almost the entire book was filler, nothing happened. It was talk, talk, talk, walk, walk, walk, I don't like you, I don't like you, I don't like you, talk, talk, talk, future, war, future, war, talk, talk, walk. Like seriously? It was so freaking boring.

I do not want to read the next one.

[Just A Ginger]

My review shows so much hatred for this book, BUT I DONT CARE. I am going to go drink heavily now.

[Amanda]

Shadow and Bone Chapter 8: (view spoiler)[ I'm much more interested now. The Darkling seems to be more interested in Alina than just for her Sun Summoning powers. I'm ready for some details on what actually happened in the Fold. (hide spoiler)]

[grimple]

Ahhh Ginger I'm nervous about reading Siege and Storm now, lol. I hate filler books. I'm starting it now though so we shall see~

[Just A Ginger]

I really hope you like it more than me. I'm taking a break from this series, I'm gonna read Gemina and than I'll pick up . I just need something good right now

[[deleted user]]

Siege and Storm: chapter 5

This book started with lots of action, just how I like it. (view spoiler)[We got to meet a few new character. Stormhund, a sarcastic pirate (um...I mean privateer) and the twins Tonya and Tamara. They were interesting and I hope we get see more of them in this book. We also meet the Darkling again, my favorite villain. I'm not sure if the emotions he shows are real or not, or if he's just manipulating Alina. His new power is creepy as hell.
And of course, a new plot twist. The amplifiers. Alina has two, will she look for the third too? And who hired Stormhund to rescue Alina and Mal from the Darkling's clutches?
Also I think Mal has magical powers too. Is he an unknown sort of Grisha? (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Siege and Storm: chapter 10
(view spoiler)[While reading chapter 10 it occured to me that prince Nikolai and the Darkling aren't that different. They both are ambitious and they both want power. And in their own way, they want to save Ravka. Both want to use Alina to achieve this. The difference is that Nikolai is charming but cunning, while the Darkling inspires fear and uses his knowledge about the human mind to get what he wants. So, I'm curious if Nikolai turn out be as untrustworthy as he seems. And if Alina, finally takes matters in her own hands (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Oh wow I loved reading your little updates outside the spoiler tags XD When I start reading this one, I'll respond to your updates.

[Amanda]

Shadow and Bone: Chapter 12: (view spoiler)[ I wonder what is keeping Mal from Alina. I think the Apparet had something to do with it. I'm glad she finally learned to summon her powers. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

Shadow and Bone: Chapter 18: (view spoiler)[ I'm not sure whether to believe Baghra or the Darkling. I have a feeling Baghra is actually the Dark Heretic. I am glad Mal is back. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Siege and Storm: chapter 15
After the action of the first few chapter, the pacing considerably slowed after chapter 10. The group was mostly traveling and talking strategy. Before I became too bored, they story captured my interest again. (view spoiler)[I want to know what David know about the Darkling's new power and the amplifiers. Because he knows something, I'm sure.
Alina also has to deal with the consequences of owning two amplifiers. The power is changing her. It makes her cruel and hungry for more power. I hope she'll be able to control it.
But most important, I miss the Darkling. We only see glimpses of him. But I want more! (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

Shadow and Bone: End: Wow! What a turn of events! (view spoiler)[ I can't believe she was so sickly because she was tamping her power down for so long. I hope in the next books she doesn't turn because of what she had to do to save Mal and herself. I really enjoyed the ending (hide spoiler)]

[Shae]

Shadow and Bone - finished (view spoiler)[ I loved the ending and how Alina and Mal escaped the darkling. I really liked how Alina overtures the power from the darkling and could use her powers independently. I am excited to see what happens with the darkling and the shadow fold. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Siege and Storm: finished
(view spoiler)[OMG, Alina almost killed the Darkling and herself. Why did you interfere, Mal! And Troya and Tamar are with the Apparat. Also unexpected.
I missed scenes with the Darkling this book, hopefully the next book will have more scenes with him.
I'm actually dreading to start the 3rd book. Because I know how it will end for the Darkling😭 (hide spoiler)]

[grimple]

Siege and Storm Chapter 5: (view spoiler)[Good start, but I heard it gets slow after this :/ I love Stormhund so far, and I was happy to see Genya again. Alina just keeps annoying me. She hesitated to kill the dragon after her hesitation of killing the stag almost got Mal killed -.-
I need her character to get stronger because right now I feel like she's so weak and useless (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Ruin and Rising: chapter 4
(view spoiler)[At last, they escaped the Apparat. Those chapters were beginning to bore me. Alina had a powers back and more. She can now visit the Darkling, like he visited her in the previous back. Hopefully we get a lot more of these scenes. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Ruin and Rising: Chapter 7
(view spoiler)[The way Genya poisoned the King was really clever. I would've never expected that. Honestly, I admire Genya's strength and intelligence. Although, she was humiliated and used by both the Darkling and the King, she still fights. I don't approve of the choices she made, but I can understand why. I love the dynamics between her and David. They're cute together. Btw, Nadia and Tamar are cute together, too. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Ruin and Rising: chapter 12

Is it me, or are some of the scenes ill-timed. At times, the story structure seems off.

(view spoiler)[I'm also loosing patience with the relationship between Mal and Alina. It starts to feel like a contemporary romance, full of misunderstandings and assumptions about what the other feels, thinks and wants. Moreover, the characters seem to be unable to talk about their real feelings.

Even more irritating is the Darkling. He does all these horrible things and afterwards he grieves and feels sad. And I think, man up, no one forces you to do these things! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Ruin and Rising: Finished (3/5 stars)

(view spoiler)[I'm not entirely sure what to think of this book. I'm both sad and disappointed with the ending. Alina and Mal got their happily ever after, and it's a nice one. Although I knew the Darkling would die, I can't believe his defeat was so plain. I would've expected more. And in the end, he was just as lonely in death as he was in life. Forgotten?

"This is how it ended, not with a bang but with a whimper" (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Joining in :)

[Shae]

Joining in for book 2!

[Maddie]

Keen for this one. I really liked the first one.

[Maddie]

Pleased I can still remember it :p

[Amanda]

I'll join in!

[Amanda]

I'll join in!

[Maddie]

Sweet!!

[Tavia]

I'll be joining after I read the first one!

[Jamie]

Looks like this will be a good chat :)

[Maddie]

Haha sure is.

make sure to post lots of updates guys!!

[Lisa]

i'm so excited to start this book :)

[Lisa]

Chapter Before: (view spoiler)[It's written in the same style as the last chapter in the first book. I really like that. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Awesome :D Wait you starting from Siege and Storm Lisa?

[Maddie]

Lisa what book are you reading?

[Tavia]

She's most likely starting from Siege and Storm

[Lisa]

Chapter 1: (view spoiler)[i thought: okay, the beginning is always slow and not spectacular but BAAM! Darkling is back and can summon monsters! Great beginning :) (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I just want to make sure haha.

[Lisa]

upps, sorry. didn't see that this is a SERIES read along. i already finished the first book and just started with !

[Lisa]

can already say that the chapters are longer than in the first one.

[Maddie]

Alright thanks :)

And oh no, that means more to catch up on XD

[Lisa]

want to do a reading sprint?

i have only 1 chapter so far :) you are still on the first book?

[Maddie]

No I'm on the second, but I don't have it with me to sprint with right now.

A bunch of are us over here sprinting: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Lisa]

Thanks for the link :)
Should probably go to sleep but now a lot of people are on...

[Maddie]

Haha no worries. I'm going to read up to Chapter 2 now, to try and keep up :p

[Maddie]

Lisa wrote: "Chapter Before: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, but I do wonder why the author writes it like that.