Bardugo, Leigh. The Siege and Storm.

Bardugo, Leigh.   The Siege and Storm.    Macmillan/ Henry Holt   2013  435p  ISBN 978-0-8050-9460-2        hs    Hardback      E-BN  Fantasy

Set in an enchanting world that is both like and unlike imperial Russia, the second book in the Grisha series continues the story of Alina, whose unique ability to manipulate light magic has made her an irresistible lure to the devious and dangerous Darkling, whose powers are her opposite. The book opens with Alina and her beloved Mal fleeing Ravka to escape the Darkling.  But they are soon drawn back to their home country as Alina learns that there is more to be done to stop the evil the Darkling intends to release upon the world, even though it means completing a nigh-impossible quest to find creatures that only exist in legend.  Along the way, the pair is joined by a charming sailor who is more complicated than he seems, and when the time comes reveals himself to be both a greater ally and a greater liability than either Alina or Mal expected. All of the characters from the first book have grown, becoming far more realistic, in keeping with Bardugo's writing, which is smoother than before but no less full of delicious tension and drama, effortlessly keeping readers engaged until the very end and leaving them whimpering pathetically for more. 2014 is so very far away.         

Any library with a teen collection should include this book. And its prequel, of course. It should probably put in a standing order for the third book, too.  

Summary: Mal and Alina are on the run from the Darkling and trying to save Ravka in this excellent sequel to Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone, which introduces intriguing new characters, intriguing new places, and exciting new kinds of magic, while improving on the fantastic storytelling that made Shadow and Bone a best seller.

Magic-Fiction, Adventure-Fiction                            --Bethany Geleskie