While the first book had the weighty duty of introducing the world and magic systems Bardugo wanted to tell, it ultimately fell prey to some classic YA cliches that made it somewhat generic. The sophmore book shows grand improvements as it presents its cards straight up.

Set a few weeks after Alina and Mal’s frantic run from the Fold and the Darkling, they are hiding out in a small town, hoping to be able to get enough money to find a ride out to West Craftan where they’d be safe. The immediate problem is clear as even though she’s safe in hiding, not using her powers is making Alina weak, and moreover, she misses that rush. The Sun Summoner powers, being a Grisha is part of who she is. If they go into hiding forever, she’ll always be a liability as she spends most of her strength tamping down her powers.

Worse still is that Mal doesn’t seem to understand that and Alina somewhat resents how they’re back to their old roles with perfect, atheltic Mal and the less impressive, unatheltic Alina. Though Mal still clearly loves her even though she doesn’t look her best, looks so ordinary, it stings.

Now that’s Alina’s internal conflict. The external threat of the Darkling makes himself known in the first chapter, capturing the fugitives and allows for the introduction of a new macguffin (a device or object that serves as catalyst for the plot, normally one of those quest adventures like Indiana Jones and the Holy Grail. The Grail would be the macguffin). Here, the macguffin is Ruslya, a mythical sea serpent. But just as with the stag, the serpant is very real and the Darkling wants to use it as a second amplifier to control Alina after she used the stag against him.

Not only are these new settings exciting but allows for some good drama between the Darkling taunting Alina and Mal (such as pointing out the obvious weakness they have for each other so he can keep them in line), and utilizing her guilt over the deaths of the forty people she sacrificed in running from the Fold. He also pinpoints Alina’s secret fears tat Mal will never understand her because he’s not a Grisha, that he’ll resent and fear her while the Darkling will always understand being one of a kind like she. Worse, what the Darkling says plants a logical seed of doubt and an additional fear that he’ll win. Or worse, they’ll be able to defeat him but she’ll become as monsterous as he craving power.

But it’s not all doom and gloom as Bardugo uses this time on board the Darkling’s ship to reveal the Darkling’s new powers that he gained from the Fold, the creation of near industrictable volcra. But that powers comes at a cost, weakening the Darkling so with this newfound knowledge Alina, Mal and her new allies have an edge.

Oh yes, did I mention their new allies? The Darkling hired mercenaries for his prison ship but those mercenaries double-cross him! These are my favorite characters. Captain Strumhold who turns out to be the second prince of the royal family-Prince Nikolai. Fox-like, Nikolai has that royal training that allows him to easily blend in with any group he meets, peasants, soldiers, royals, you get it. What they want, what will charm them, he can be. But even so, there’s a layer of ruthlessness underneath that makes him dangerous as every move he makes is calculated. Yet he’s not entirely cruel as the Darkling’s calculating manipulative nature as he truly wants to make his kingdom better compared to his work-shy family. There’s also the holy warrior twins, Toyla and Tamar, who I just like.

Together, they brief Alina and Mal on the new state of the kingdom since the Darkling’s defection including a cult under Alina’s name, Grisha-discrimination and the possibility of the Darkling attack. So it’s up to them to start a plan to save Ranka. It’s up to Alina to not only lead the Second Army but to use her powers to defeat the volcra and give them leverage to kill the Darkling.

I enjoy how much Alina has changed since being that insecure, confused girl who arrived at the Little Palace almost a year ago. She is a lot more secure of herself now, knowing the importance of her power. I admire how Alina is making the decisions, commanding that she become the head of the Second Army and implementing new changes because she recognizes that she’s been used as a pawn by various men. She’s tired of that and needs to take charge to regain control. I admire that self-awareness and that backbone.

But that backbone may be a hint of the darker things inside her as Alina’s anger is growing as she takes joy in hurting her former adversary, Zoya, in demanding conditions from Baghara and also invisible visions of the Darkling appearing at her weakest moments. It’s always said that a Grisha should have only one amplifier and those who take on two or more like she is, may go mad. She certainly worries she is but it cannot stop the cravings she has to get the third amplifier. Yes, it may be the key to defeating the Darkling once and for all but she also just wants the power. The power feels good and eases her feelings of being a fradulent saint figure.

As for Alina’s steadfast companion, Mal has an interesting conflict as well. Their sweet moments here are far in between as Alina is preoccupied with being a leader. This leads to Mal feeling neglected because as a non-grisha, he feels that he is unimportant and unnecessary while Alina gains more status. Furthermore, he’s no longer a soldier but a deserter so his whole life path is gone leaving him restless. While he can be somewhat annoying as he doesn’t bother to understand why Alina feels such responsibility toward saving Ravka, I do like his humanity. It helps bring Alina down to Earth as she comes in greater contact with the rush that is giving into the Darkling and all her worst impulses.

These character conflicts present the bulk of excitment in the book alingside the interesting search for where and what the power of these amplifiers come from. But under it all, is this looming sense of wariness. Even as things are going well with the three Grisha groups co-mingling and creating new weaponry that might give them a chance, Bardugo maintains a sense that the worst is about to happen whether it is a possible traitor in the midst or the Darkling is about to strike. Even with this forboding, Bardugo still manages to pull the twist and create a fantastic climax that not only is action-packed, and devasting but also revolves around Alina’s hunger for power and her darkness.

This was a great step-up fillled with pathos and political intrigue that makes me eager for the final resolution of this trilogy.