Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

5 Stars
Actually all the freaking stars. This book was phenomenal. I actually want to go back and reread it now...but my TBR list is too ginormous at the moment for that. Maybe...in a few days :)
Read June 6-8, 2013

I was so excited for this book and it really did not disappoint. I loved the new power dynamics, the new areas to learn about and explore (I bet the bone road will look pretty cool on film), the twists and turns in the plot, the drama between Alina, Mal, the Darkling...and Sturmhound. Let's face it: I absolutely lurved Sturmhound! He was an amazing character and I can't wait to see more of him in Ruin and Rising (I want to fast-forward to next year so I can go ahead and read it. Why can't I be the Doctor's companion? I would totally use the TARDIS to snap up all my favourite not-yet-released books and read them early). I laughed, I cried (not as bad as I thought I would but the tears were still there), I shook my fist at certain people being stubborn idiots, I yelled in shock and anger when crazy things went down, and I smiled at Alina's determination at the closing of the book. The only thing that disappointed me about the book...was that it ended. Maybe we could have a short story or two about Sturmhound's adventures before he met Alina and Mal? Some fun privateering stories? More Tamar and Tolya? Pretty please? With sprinkles on top?

P.S. it was super fun seeing Leigh Bardugo and the other Fierce Reads authors at the Irving Public Library yesterday, especially as I learned that she sometimes works through writer's block by speaking dialogue and conversations between her characters aloud. It's good to know I'm not the only writer who does that (of course I'm not published...yet *hopeful, nerdy smile*).