The Grishaverse discussion

And we’re back with our first official re-read recap! We’ve spent the last few weeks devouring Siege and Storm. Many factions have popped up here in our offices (Team Mal, Team Alina, Team Sturmhond, Team Darkling, Team Genya . . . we could go on and on . . . but we won’t) as Grisha loyalties are tested in the shocking first five chapters! Let’s get our recap on!

We return to Mal and Alina who are now on the run from the Darkling and the terrible massacre on the Fold. After crossing the true sea they have now begun to make a sort of life for themselves in a cramped boarding house in Cofton. Alina and Mal have been saving for their journey to find the next amplifier.
They return to their “tick free” boarding house to discover that all their planning is for naught. Someone has found them . . .



The Darkling has tracked down them down. Not only has he survived the Fold, he now has a new form of monster to unleash on the world.


The Darkling’s escape from the Fold has given him to gift of controlling nicheo’ya (nothings) terrifying shadow monsters. After being attacked and bitten by one Alina and Mal are once again captured by the Darkling and his evil crew.

Alina wakes up on the ship of the pirate (privateer!) Sturmhond (*swoon*), who is dashing, charming and more than a little ruthless. We also meet Tolya and Tamar twins, pirates, members of Sturmhond’s crew and powerful Grisha.

Alina is reunited with Genya who is sporting some new Grisha robes (red, embroidered with blue!). Of course Genya rocks this combination. Genya is part of the Darkling’s crew who have hired Sturmhond and his ships to sail after the next amplifier, Rusalye, the ice dragon.

The Darkling uses Alina and Mal’s friendship against them in order to force Mal to track Rusalye. Sturmhond is not pleased by the Darkling’s treatment of Alina and Mal on his ship . . .



And then . . . we find Rusalye! And WOW!

There’s mutiny, a nicheo’ya attack, a captured dragon and a fleeing Darkling all in one chapter. We’re still a little breathless to be honest! Did you see that twist coming? What do you think of Sturmhond? What about Genya and her decision? How terrifying are the nicheo’ya?

I, personally, swooned a little when I read about Sturmhond. He seems like a dashing figure. I hope we see more of him. He seems like a guy holding all the secrets.

Kinda made me think of the Dread Pirate Roberts... (grrowrs).

Genya has to make some hard decisions over much of the book. Her big act of defiance kind of came back around to bite her in so many ways and she is -- as always -- kind of a separate creature from the rest of the Grisha and it leaves her defenseless -- to an extend. BUT I suspect there's still more going on with Genya and that she will prove to be more of a friend even still. (I HAVE SUCH HOPES!)

The nicheo'ya? Gosh. I swear they're built of my nightmares. ::shudders:: I read that bit and was to afraid to even hide under my desk....

I just started reading the sequel (and I feel sooo behind as I haven't got the final book yet). =P But first things first, my thoughts from the beginning:

Who would have thought that Sturnhound was a double agent? And I wonder who the mysterious client is? I have a few guesses, maybe the Queen?

So far I'm with team Mal and Alina (or Malina?) I can tell that Mal is starting to fear Alina and her powers. But I'm really worried about Alina as my worst fear is that she allows all this power go into her head and suddenly she looses it. I really hope that doesn't happen. In a possible situation like this, I'm glad Mal is on her side to look out for her but for how long?