Okay, I guess I just need to say this out in the open just in case, so that people are less likely to... be disappointed in me (?):
â I'm pretty rude. I don't strive to be like that, but I can. It could also be due to just a bad mood (really sensitive person).
â I simply block people whose radical opinions disgust me, even if in principle I see their point of view. Thereforeâ
â Iâll say right away that I donât have any problems with NSFW of characters. INCLUDING minors or age difference. Cause it's just a characters. Y'know some image and nothing more.
â Therefore, Iâll add, pjo fandom: my brain ship lukercy from time to time; very, very rarely can take a swing at lukabeth, and generally keeps me hooked on such a thing as luke x bianca (donât ask, I donât remember how it came to mind).
â But I see absolutely no place for any of this in the canon, yes, it happens
except for the obvious Percy's and Annabeth's crush on Luke, cause y'know, been there, done that (silly childish crush on my cousin back then, yeah)
The Grisha Trilogy:
â The Darkling is the best boy. He deserved to finally bring some peace to his people and country. Fuck the Righteous Gang.
â Ivan is a freaking saint for not beating MC up. He restrained himself so much, I would've snapped. Love the Heartrender.
â Alexei. Oh boy, Alexei, I loved you, so I knew you were done for. When the reader love the character who was alive one (?) chapter more than MC it's not okay!
â S&B!Genya, you were awesome.
â DO remember about the Darkling's Oprichniki and Grisha, pls. More about people who knows what "loyalty" means.
â The Little Palace. I love the LP, neither of the Righteous Gang allowed to disrespect it with their asses. The home.
â I'm currently suffering through Siege and Storm. It's difficult, and Idk why.
HP part:
â I liked and will like Harry Potter, talk about it and all of that as much as I never gave the fuck about JKR. If you're the kind of person who thinks that you're better than someone by insulting and attacking them cause they're cannot âjust forgetâ, âgo onâ out of âcringe babyish and stupidâ stuff â fuck off from this blog.
pjo continued:
â My headcanons: Percy Jackson is biromantic/bisexual (as if he biromantic my Percy is heterosexual; if the other way, so he's biromantic bisexual); Luke Castellan is biromantic/panromatic bisexual with a (sexual) preference for girls.
â We here love Ethan Nakamura more than we love Percy. We love Titan Army more than we love Percy. Sorry, baby-boy.
â Genshin Impact part:
I absolutely DON'T GIVE A FUCK about how pale Hoyo makes their characters, because it's kind of hypocritical: did you even see what they were inspired by? The good old sterotypes!
And this is not exactly a hit-and-run, it don't offend personally me in any way, they are funny... perhaps some of them are TOO hackneyed and annoying, but nothing more
Drunks in Mondstadt, spicy and whole food thing in Liyue, fire water in Snezhnayaâ
part 2:
No, it's not devaluing, this is addressed to all those fans of Percy who allow themselves to talk about how "strong, kind and generally the
I'm afraid of dogs, and I'm in the summer house with a teenage dog who weighs the same as me. Well, I'm nervous. Playful dogs are not for me and my nervous system.
a/n an au where Luda is reborn again because I'm sad and I like reincarnation stories so I decided to do something about it. If the characters don't sound like themselves (and by characters, I mean Aleksander), I'm sorry. I try and I still can't get him right. Anyway, I guess this means no Darklina?
"If I get an amplifier, I'll live longer. I could see another 100 years, maybe more."
"That seems like a long time to you, I'm sure. But it won't last forever." She knew that. But she was desperate. What was Luda supposed to do? She wasn't like Aleksander, who was basically immortal. As a Grisha, she lived longer than most, but not as long as Aleksander.
"Aleksander." He cupped her face. Luda searched his gaze. She understood his frustration. As much as he loved her, as much as he knew that she would never leave his side, Aleksander knew that one day, she wouldn't be there.
And he was already mourning that loss.
"Luda, I understand, but-" A distant cry was heard, somewhere behind them. Aleksander went still, eyes searching the darkness, his hand dropping from her face. "Soldiers."
"Likely at Sikursk. They raided our village yesterday, calling for all known Grisha. A few of us got out."
"And Baghra?"
"She led others to the sanctuary." Luda felt the thump-thump of her heart as it picked up speed. She knew what it meant to have soldiers nearby. She wasn't safe. They weren't safe. They had to leave this place behind.
Luda followed Aleksander inside their home, helping him gather the important notes and books, the food, anything really that they needed. But at the sound of a horse neighing nearby, they both paused.
"Darkling! I know you're in there!" A soldier shouted. Luda felt, before she saw, Aleksander's panic. He did his best to keep it under control, but she knew he was worried. She wanted to pull him close, to whisper that everything will be okay. They will survive this.
"Remember Ryevost?"
"The same plan?" He nodded. Before he could turn to leave, Luda stopped him. She knew this could wait until later, but she had to do it now.
She placed her hands on either side of his face, bringing his head down so she could place a quick kiss on his forehead.
"Stay calm. Everything will be okay. And I love you." He kissed her palms.
"I love you as well, Luda." He pulled away. Luda watched Aleksander open the door and step out. They will be okay. They will reach the sanctuary.
As long as Aleksander was with her, Luda could still have hope.
She moved closer, looking out through one of the windows, straining to hear the conversation. She sensed so many heartbeats.
Luda was a Healer. That didn't mean she couldn't be a Heartrender as well, but her lack of training made her hesitate to try. She had learned how to heal others, not how to cause damage. But maybe, just maybe, if she got an amplifier, she could toe the line between Healer and Heartrender.
Luda raised her hands in front of her. She ignored everything else, but focused on the heartbeat she was most familiar with. Soldiers wouldn't spare him. And she would die before she let Aleksander suffer.
She heard his grunt of pain, clenching her jaw when he fell to his knees. She narrowed her attention to his wound, sealing it and repairing his muscles and tissues. Aleksander slowly yanked the arrow out, surprising the soldiers.
"I don't want to hurt you." Did they deserve his kindness? Even though they wanted to kill him, kill so many other Grisha, Aleksander was still giving them a chance. But somehow, the Grisha were the monsters, not the soldiers. And it made Luda burn with anger.
Two arrows were shot at once, and Luda repeated the process. So focused was she on Aleksander that she failed to notice the presence behind her until it was too late.
"One movement, and I slit your throat, witch." No. She couldn't be captured. Aleksander was depending on her. Her friends depended on her. She couldn't let them down.
She jammed an elbow into the man's stomach, reaching for her dagger. Her jaw ached with pain when he punched her face, using that distraction to wrench one of her arms behind her. He spat in her face.
All that training, gone in a moment.
"If he, or any of his men slaughter one more of my-"
"Stand down, Grisha!"
"Luda." She met his gaze, hoping he could read her apology written across her face.
"Here's the little witch who's been stitching him back together." She struggled against his hold, angry at the soldier. Angry at herself for getting captured so easily. Angry at the world for their hatred and prejudice, all because Grisha existed and wanted equal rights. Because they wanted safety. Because they didn't want to run, constantly looking back to see if they were being hunted.
"I'm sorry."
"Luda."
"Hands at your back. Or the next arrow will do his job." Aleksander looked...defeated. He allowed his hands to be tied, anger burning in his eyes.
"You have two prizes for the King. You want a promotion to the lieutenant, take us to the palace!" Luda sensed it before the words were uttered. Aleksander was confident that they would still be alive, still be together. She had promised to never leave his side. And now she would be breaking that promise.
"I only need you. Not your Healer." The anger in his eyes drained as he realized what that meant.
"No," He whispered as he was forced onto his knees, struggling to break free.
I'm sorry, Sasha.
"You thought the two of you could just quietly train witches among us."
"You want my cooperation, you bring us both in. Is that understood?" His voice shook with anger, but Luda could hear the desperation in underneath Aleksander's words.
"I told you. Those were not his orders."
"No, no, no, please." Aleksander met her gaze.
I'm sorry, Sasha.
"No, I'm begging you, please!"
I can't leave you. I can't leave you.
Aleksander's shout of pain hurt Luda more than the blade in her side. The soldier twisted it before slowly pulling it out and she dropped to the ground. The last thing she could remember was Aleksander kneeling, tears falling down his face.
For as long as Luda could remember, when she slept, she saw a man with beautiful dark eyes, and a soft smile. She longed to know who he was, this man who haunted her dreams.
And at the same time, Luda knew something was different about her. She remembered the time her little sister scraped her knee. Without thinking, as if she had done this countless times before, Luda brought her hands together, focusing on the injury. And just like that, her sister's knee healed.
"Keep your head down, Luda," her mother once hissed. "Never, ever give yourself away. They will kill you."
"Who will kill me, Mama? And why?" But her mother never answered. Luda practiced though. Mainly on animals. Whenever they limped from being caught in a trap, she set them right. Or that time she waited until cruel boys left the poor kitten alone, Luda healed him, and secretly cared for him.
She called him Sasha, a beautiful name for a kitten born of the shadows. And he grew into a strong and wonderful cat. Whenever she was confused, tired, or simply aching for something, though she wasn't sure for what, Sasha was there, gazing at her with his dark eyes, and that was enough to bring a smile onto her face.
Years passed by like this. The innocence Luda had as a child shattered when she witnessed what the world was truly like. When she learned what it meant to be different.
"I can't live like this, Mama. I have to do something."
"And what will one person do against drĂźskelle? What will you do against the royal family?"
"I can't just sit here when I know people out there are suffering. Why should they be punished for existing? Why should they be hunted down and killed just because others are afraid of things they can't comprehend so they solve that by trying to get rid of us."
"You're safe here, Luda."
"For how long? What will you do when someone realizes what I can do, Mama? What will you do when they break down our front door and kill me in front of you?"
"Luda!"
"Sooner or later, they will find out. Let me leave, Mama. I'll head to the Little Palace. I can learn more about myself, about Grisha history. I can help in the fight in creating a better future."
"And if they send you the Fold?"
"So be it."
"It can't be brought down!"
"Maybe, maybe not. But I won't know unless I try." Her mother fell silent, her eyes shining with tears. Luda didn't want to hurt her mother. But she heard stories about the Little Palace. And she felt like that was where she was supposed to be.
"At least write to let me know you're okay."
"I will. I promise." A few days later, Luda hugged her mother and sister, using the night to slip away from the only home she knew. The only reminder she could bring with her was Sasha.
Aleksander was exhausted. For the first time in centuries, he had dreamt of Luda. It felt like it was just yesterday that he held her in his arms, and she had promised to be with him, always.
Luda understood Aleksander in a way he thought wasn't possible. The first time he let his guard down, aching for a connection, hoping for a friendship, she tried to kill him for his bones. It had been a long time since he thought about that night, when they icy cold water covered his head, and for a moment, he thought he would drown.
After that, Aleksander made sure to keep a distance. At times, he still hoped that people would look at him and see him and not a Shadow Summoner, a rare type of Grisha. But many were wary of him. He tried to have friends, but it didn't feel right.
Aleksander was still young and slightly foolish when he met Luda. She didn't shrink back at the sight of his shadows, letting it curl around her as if greeting an old friend. She didn't flinch at his touch, eager for it because it was from him and not because he was a living amplifier. With Luda, Aleksander had hope. He thought he could achieve what he wanted: safety for all Grisha. He found someone who understood his vision and didn't try to stop him from trying to make that become reality.
That was why he loved Luda. Because she understood that he would never abandon the Grisha. He would never abandon a better future just because he loved her. And Aleksander knew he could trust Luda to do the same, to never sacrifice the world just for him.
And with Luda, Aleksander also found a dear companion, someone he could confide to without worrying about being betrayed. After so many names and titles, he finally revealed his true name to her. And it was worth it. Every time she said his name, Aleksander felt alive. He wasn't afraid of losing his real self.
But Baghra reminded him that it wouldn't last forever. Luda was a Healer. She wouldn't live forever. Not like them. One day, he would have to say goodbye. One day, he would lose her friendship, her love. Her smiles would fade from his memory, her voice a distant echo. His hands would forget that they ever cupped her face. His lips would forget the shape of her name. His heart would forget that it used to beat for her.
Aleksander knew it was foolish to fight against that reality. Even with an amplifier, Luda wouldn't live forever. That had caused minor arguments between them at times. Luda would insist she could expand her lifespan. She knew she was strong, and with an amplifier, she would get stronger, be able to dip into similar areas. And he would remind her over and over again that it wouldn't matter. That one day, he would have to bury her: her body and the memories of her.
He wasn't able to for a while. She haunted his dreams, the moments they created together replaced with the memory of her murder. But over time, as much as he hated it, Aleksander locked up all memories of Luda.
And now, centuries later, he was dreaming about her again. At least it wasn't about her death. No, he dreamt about the first time she expressed her love for him and how he had panicked and left. She had teased him about it when he finally allowed himself to let his guard drop to kiss her under the moonlight.
But there no use in thinking about Luda. Though his heart ached at the memory of her, Aleksander had to clear his mind. So many things needed his focus: the attacks on Grisha, the arrival of the Sun Summoner, finding the stag his grandfather made, the uprising in West Ravka.
He paused for a moment, replaying the moment when he first met the Sun Summoner, Alina Starkova, a mapmaker. He remembered the way she had denied her powers, questioning her importance. He remembered his mother pointing out that she was hopeless: she couldn't conjure light.
Aleksander knew she needed an amplifier, and not just one. He knew Alina was like him, a rare type of Grisha able to live forever. Overtime, she would settle into who she was meant to be, her fears and doubts long gone.
He knew what her arrival meant. Alina was his equal, the balance to his shadows. Together, they could guide Ravka into a new future. But with her focus all on some boy named Mal and her wish to return to her old life, Aleksander wondered if he got it all wrong.
Would Alina really abandon her life at the Little Palace, Ravka's future, Grisha's safety, herself, all for some boy? Was she that desperate to go back to pretending she wasn't meant for more? Aleksander hoped that wasn't the case. Discovering one's abilities was like breathing in fresh air. It made you feel alive. Surely, Alina wouldn't be so foolish as to let that all go?
"General?"
"Yes, Ivan?"
"Someone is here to see you." Perhaps it was Genya with her latest update. Maybe Alina had finally learned something and would now be ready to let go of her old life, to stop looking back.
"Let her in."
"I know you." That voice. Aleksander glanced up, the papers falling from his hand. There she stood, the woman who decided to haunt his dreams again, at the doorway, holding...a black cat.
"Sir?"
"Ivan. Give us a moment." He knew, without looking at Ivan, who knew Aleksander, that he was surprised, even if his face didn't betray the emotion.
The man from her dreams stood, dark eyes wide in surprise. Luda had been hearing whispers about General Kirigan of the Second Army, a Shadow Summoner. The whispers were a mix of awe and fear and her curiosity grew every time she heard something about him.
She hadn't seen him, not once since she arrived. She knew it might never happen. He was a general. He had responsibilities. He seemed to have a soft spot for the Sun Summoner. Or at least, that was what the rumours said.
Luda hadn't had a chance to meet her either, Alina Starkova. Her time was spent reading, training how to fight Botkin, and suffering under Baghra's 'teachings'. Eventually, Luda joined the other Healers and learned everything she could from there. In the evenings, she returned to her room, where Sasha would be waiting for him, taking over the entire bed and refusing to budge.
She thought she left her strange dreams behind when she left home, but they followed her to the Little Palace. And it took her a while to realize that there might be a connection between the man from her dreams and the General. Her only clue was that both wore black.
Genya, the only friend she had outside of the Healers, told her it was hard to meet him.
'I met him once.' Luda knew better than to ask the reaosn behind it. The mix of anger and pain in Genya's gaze was enough to tell her not to inquire further. And she heard what the others said about Genya. And if what they were saying was true, Luda hoped the king suffered a slow and painful death.
'I didn't think it was possible, seeing as he was busy. Why would he waste his time on someone he never met? But he listened to me talk. He gave me the strength I needed to continue. Whatever it is that you want, give it a try. If you seek his help or his advice, he wouldn't deny you.'
And so, carrying Sasha with her, Luda set off to the war room, which she knew was connected to the General's bedroom. She met Ivan and Fedyor there.
"Luda! And Sasha." Fedyor smiled at them, scratching the cat under his chin. Fedyor was her first friend at the palace. And though he always seemed grumpy all the time, Ivan, Fedyor's husband, was her second friend.
"I know it's sudden, but I was hoping I could meet the General? There's something that has been bugging me that I think he would have the answer to."
"Does it have something to do with your heart?" Fedyor teased, sensing the way her pulse quickened.
"No."
"Liar. Anyway, I think it should be fine."
"Fedyor."
"My love." Ivan sighed. He met her eyes, and, after a moment, opened the door.
"General?"
"Yes, Ivan?"
"Someone is here to see you."
"Let her in." Fedyor dragged Ivan away, giving Luda some space. And when General Kirigan met her gaze, it confirmed everything.
"Luda," he whispered.
"How do you know my name?" He went still, various emotions flashing through his eyes.
"Come in." She did, shutting the door behind her. He gestured at one of the empty chairs and she sank into it, grateful for it. Her legs were beginning to shake and she had wondered if she was about to fall over.
He sat back down in his seat. If Luda didn't know any better, she would say the General was nervous. But why would he be nervous around her? They had never met.
Right?
"Kirigan-" She stopped speaking when he closed his eyes.
"Luda. How are you here?"
"I heard about the Little Palace. I knew one day, my village would discover I was a Grisha. I knew one when I was younger, who had told me all about the palace. I didn't want anything to happen to my mother and sister so I came here. Can I ask you a question?" He still hadn't looked at her. He gave a simple nod.
"How do you know my name?" He opened his eyes. This close to him, Luda could appreciate the beauty of his eyes. They were dark. So dark, she could drown herself in his gaze.
"What do you know?"
"I...What do you mean? About my abilities?"
"About yourself." Luda paused, taking a moment to think. General Kirigan wasn't talking about what she had learned at the palace. What was he talking about?
"Not...much. All I've ever known, even before I realized I was a Healer, was you." That took him by surprise.
"You were always in my dreams. I know it sounds weird, but it's true. Seeing you brought me comfort. Seeing you felt like finding a missing piece of myself. But why? Why would I dream of you if I had never met you before?"
General Kirigan rose from his seat again, pacing the room. Luda rose as well, letting Sasha down as she followed Kirigan. When she took the chance to place her hand on his shoulder, he relaxed under his touch.
And just like that, her mind exploded. Luda swayed, and before she could even blink, Kirigan turned around, pulling her close.
Aleksander wasn't thinking clearly. Centuries of distancing himself from others vanished just like that. He remembered what it was like to hold Luda close. And his heart, his foolish, stubborn heart, had found a shred of hope once more.
Luda's eyes were closed, her face twisted in pain.
"Luda? Luda, answer me." She didn't answer, her hand clenching his kefta. She mumbled something, but he couldn't hear what she was saying. She was trembling all over. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get her to answer.
It was a good thing he was still holding onto her. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to catch her when she fainted.
"Ivan!" His right-hand man burst through the door, Fedyor behind him. He didn't try to explain, to clear away their confusion.
"I want a Healer. Now." Aleksander didn't put up a fight when Fedyor scooped Luda into his arms, carrying him out of the room. Ivan stayed behind, sensing something.
"General?" Aleksander couldn't break. Not now. Everything changed with Luda's arrival. He had his old companion back, the one who believed in his plans and his future. More than that, it was like his life had returned. He thought he had moved on. He had moved on. But what did it mean now that she was back? How could he pretend that what they had was nothing? Could he really turn his back away from Luda?
Aleksander went back to his desk. For Grisha? He would. The old promise he made to Luda surfaced in his mind. He wouldn't let the world burn for her. He couldn't.
"Let me know when she awakens."
"General. Who is she?" He couldn't answer. And his silence was answer enough. Ivan simply nodded once, closing the door behind him. Aleksander lost hours, mind consumed with everything and anything that wasn't Luda.
He couldn't focus. He retreated to his bedroom, but sleep evaded him. Eventually, he heard Ivan enter the room.
Aleksander watched Luda, her gaze distant. Before he could announce himself, Luda spotted him.
"Aleksander." A tear fell from her eye.
"You remember."
"I am so sorry." He sat at the edge of the bed.
"It wasn't your fault."
"Wasn't it? I should have fought harder. Not only that, I had promised, Aleksander. I had promised I would never leave you."
"Luda."
"I missed the sound of your voice." Me too, he wanted to say.
"I know what you're thinking, Aleksander. It was bound to happen at some point. At the end, I wasn't fragile. I was just mortal. And I know you. You wouldn't open up again, not when you know that I will still die again, while you would continue living." He remained silent.
Luda reached out, her hand shaking as she hovered over his. She watched him, waiting for what he would say or do. This moment, his decision, would decide what this meant for them.
Aleksander knew the risks associated with this. He knew what it meant to his heart if he decided to fall in love with Luda all over again. But with her, he didn't have doubts. He knew where her loyalties lay. With her back, he had one more person who would help him in this fight against what felt like the entire world.
"It doesn't have to mean anything, Aleksander. Your friendship is all I need." Because a better future for Grisha is far more important. Luda understood that. He took her hand, squeezing it gently.
"I don't know if I ever could, Luda. It's been so long. But I can't fully turn away from you." What if I lose you again? What if your blood stains my hands once more?
"Aleksander."
"Say it once more."
"Aleksander." It was foolish to let his heart open once more, to allow the light to enter through the crack. His mother would call him a foolish boy once she realized the truth, reminding him that Luda couldn't live forever. And he knew that.
A soft meow interrupted his thoughts. Luda's eyes lit up as she spotted her black cat.
"Sasha!" Aleksander watched as the cat jumped onto the bed, and allowed himself to be petted once before jumping off the bed and disappearing into the shadows.
"You name your cat after me?"
"At the time, I didn't know it was you." Aleksander smiled, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. Everything will be okay. Luda watched him, sensing his thoughts.
"It will be okay," she said. "Now, tell me everything I've missed."
a/n is this shit? Yes. Yes it is. Does Aleksander sound like himself? Nope. I tried (would this mean he's a bit ooc?). In this version of the story, he doesn't die because I refuse to have that ending. He works toward his goal and he doesn't feel as alone anymore because Luda is back, even if it's not forever.
Are we gonna tell the Crows fandom, that Nikolai is the Darkling's foil, so it's only natural to compare him with Kaz (who's claimed to be Nikolai's foil) or are they that hopeless?
I don't intend to criticize this YouTuber. She makes amazing edits that I genuinely love, and we share a lot of the same ships.
She made a Malina edit for Season 1, but I had never actually read the description she wrote beneath it until today .
As I've said before, I'm not surprised that people ship Malina in the show. Their relationship was handled much better than it was in the books, and the actors have genuine chemistry.
Archie Renaux, in particular, did a fantastic job as Mal despite the limited material he was given. He brought a warmth and charisma to the character that book Mal simply never had.
Even so, Mal is still, in my opinion, the least interesting character compared to the rest of the cast in Shadow and Bone, and the same goes for Malina as a relationship.
Mal and Malina are definitely better in the show than they are in the books, but they remain the least compelling part of the Grishaverse in either version.
That said, I completely understand why people ship Malina in the show. The chemistry between the actors is real, and unlike the books, the series actually gives them a believable shared history.
But then...
After reading that description, I realized there are genuinely people who think that Malina in the books and Malina in the show are basically the same relationship.
Some even believe it's the best adaptation in the series, despite the fact that it's arguably the relationship that was changed the most from the source material.
To me, that's honestly unbelievable.
I genuinely can't understand how anyone comes to that conclusion.
Did we even read the same books? Did we watch the same show?
For a long time, I kept wondering why Alina didn't end up with Nikolai.
Nikolai has major flaws as a character, but I still prefer him over Mal.
And honestly, I think Alina and Nikolai would have made a better couple than Zoyalai.
So why why couldn't Alina end up with him?
With the Darkling, I can at least understand the author's intention. It seems clear Leigh Bardugo wanted the classic "villain falls for the heroine, but the heroine ends up with the good guy" trope, even if I personally think that execution is rather laughable.
But Nikolai was, at least in Leigh Bardugo's own narrative, one of the good guys.
So why wasn't he an option?
Eventually, I came to the conclusion that, beyond the possibility that Leigh simply preferred Mal for reasons unknown, the real issue lies in the trilogy's message about power being inherently corrupting a theme that exists in the original Grisha Trilogy but is largely absent from both the Six of Crows duology and the King of Scars duology.
Nikolai, despite being portrayed as a fundamentally good person, is still part of the political system. He possesses power, has access to it, and actively uses it.
The story seems to suggest that if Alina remains close to power in any form, she risks becoming another Darkling as though that would be the worst possible outcome and the narrative is determined to prevent that.
On top of that, Nikolai is written as the Darkling's foil, meaning he intentionally mirrors certain aspects of him.
Since the story's goal is to distance Alina from power and from everything associated with the Darkling because the Darkling functions as a metaphor for corrupted power it follows that she couldn't end up with Nikolai either.
The problem, however, is that this moral framework surrounding power doesn't really exist elsewhere in the Grishaverse.
That creates the impression that some people are simply more susceptible to corruption than others, while certain characters are somehow more deserving of power because they supposedly won't be corrupted by it.
At least, that's how it comes across.
Then Rule of Wolves complicates this idea even further.
Zoya herself becomes afraid that the immense power she's gained might turn her into another Darkling, and even Alina sympathizes with that fear.
So what exactly is the story trying to say?
It almost feels as though Leigh Bardugo gave Zoya special treatment, allowing her to do everything Alina was never allowed to do, without providing any real narrative justification.
Zoya is allowed to desire power, obtain it, keep it, and still merely fear becoming like the Darkling.
Does that imply she would always resist corruption while Alina wouldn't?
If that's the intended message, then it reflects even more poorly on Alina as a character.
Or perhaps, once again, everything is ultimately blamed on the Darkling, and simply removing him from the tree is somehow supposed to magically erase Zoya's fears.
Because although Leigh tries to frame removing the Darkling from the tree as bringing him some measure of peace, for Zoya it reads more like she's hoping it's a magical solution that will free her from the fear of becoming like him.
Ironically, from my perspective and from the perspective of the person who wrote the original analysis Zoya is already worse than the Darkling in certain respects.
Another issue is that the narrative gives the impression that Alina truly wanted a quiet, peaceful life.
The problem is that she never really seemed to know what she wanted, and, ironically, running an orphanage or managing a farm never struck me as something she would genuinely choose for herself.
But consistency and internal logic don't always seem to be priorities in Leigh Bardugo's writing.
Meanwhile, Zoya is openly allowed to want power and a life built around it.
Which, once again, undermines the trilogy's supposed moral lesson that desiring power is inherently wrong.
I remember there was a Tumblr blog called Darklina Forever that said this, and I genuinely think it should have been called Nikolina Forever instead, because it feels like they liked Nikolai even more than the Darkling. What do you think ?
I don't really know why, but Nikolai has always felt kind of... hollow to me, especially in his own duology. I'm not sure if you've read king of scars and the rules of wolves or not . I feel like he's always saying the right, beautiful things, but when it comes to actually taking action, he doesn't accomplish much.
I also don't really understand why people ship Alina with Nikolai. Sure, compared to the Darkling and Mal, Nikolai might be considered the "green flag" by some people, but I still don't think he was on Alina's level. Alina was meant to live for a very long time because of her Grisha nature, whereas Nikolai would eventually die. I also never really felt much romantic tension between them. I don't dislike Nikolai, but I just never saw that chemistry , also fuck mal ofc , he shouldn't even exists .
I also have a question. Why did the Darkling turn Nikolai into a volcra? And why did he say, "If I regret many of the things I was forced to do during this war, this is not one of them"?
How much of a problem was Nikolai for the Darkling? What did the Darkling mean when he implied that he had underestimated Nikolai, or that Nikolai had somehow made him think he was a fool?
Hi there! Thank you for the ask!
Whew, this was a lot to unpack đ .
So, I'll preface this by saying haven't actually watched the Shadow and Bone TV series. Partially because I'm not much of a show person, partially because my parents cancelled their Netflix subscription years ago. But I have managed to gather a good deal of what goes on in the show thanks to the majority of the YouTube and Ao3 Grishaverse content being show-related.
It is very bizarre how often people confuse the show canon for the book canon. Because from what I have seen, they are vastly different. I heard someone once describe the show as a âwell written fanfiction of the booksâ which⌠Maybe thatâs true. But very few people in the Grishaverse seem to recognize that fact, however. Because with any fanfiction, you will have cases of the writer inserting themselves and their personal interpretation into the characters. And the Shadow and bone show had an entire team of writers, plus the directors, and the actorsâ input into how the characters and their dynamics were portrayed. Not to mention that the storyline and even backstories of some of the characters were changed drastically.Â
Leigh Bardugoâs hypocrisy concerning her morals on power is just annoying to me, especially since there are several other fantasy stories out there whoâve told stories dealing with the issues of power and its ability to corrupt so much better. Especially since it makes her reasoning for not letting Alina get with Nikolai or the Darkling null and void. While I believe that the Darkling was just overall the best of Alinaâs romantic options, Nikolina is a really cool romance concept. Sort-of-antagonists to reluctant allies to fake dating to friends to lovers? Thereâs so many good ways to portray a dynamic like that! And it would be a thousand times more interesting than the story we got. Also, I really like the idea of exploring more of the parallels between how the Darkling is perceived and how Nikolai acts through Alinaâs conflicting feelings about the two of them. Because Alina will outlive Nikolai, you could also that extra layer of Alina loving this man desperately and wanting nothing more than to spend at least his lifetime with Nikolai while the Darkling actively fights this romance because he doesnât want Alina to feel the heartache of losing Nikolai. It would at least add some depth to Alinaâs storyâŚ
Zoyaâs arc in the Nikolai Duology is definitely the strongest example of Leigh Bardugoâs hypocrisy and retconning in her writing. Dragons are almost always associated with greed in fairytales and mythology, genres Bardugo seems to have taken a lot of inspiration from in the writing of her books. Then thereâs the allowing Zoya to be powerful and prideful in a way she heavily shamed Alina for being in the original trilogy. Itâs bizarre, and it leads me to wonder if Leigh ever really believed in the morals that she preached.
Leigh Bardugoâs inability to stand by her own teaching also causes problems with her continued portrayal of the Darkling as the villain of the story. Because if itâs okay for Zoya to be proud of how powerful she is and to constantly call herself âthe most powerful Grishaâ, why is it so wrong for the Darkling, a 400+ year old general with a power shared with only one other person in existence, to say the same about himself? If itâs okay for Zoya to perform an ancient magical ritual to gain more power, why was it wrong for the Darkling to use merzost to attempt to create amplifiers to increase the power of his fellow Grisha (this is the theory as to why he made the Fold in the books btw)? Zoya calls the Darkling vain for not wearing his shirt in a room that they are constantly flooding with sunlight, even though sheâs constantly going on about how good she looks. And, like you mentioned in your ask, Zoya seems to thrive and enjoy her power, and is also allowed to gain absolute power while the Darkling is actively harassed by the narrative for seeking more power. Itâs very hypocritical, and how people couldâve read the Nikolai Duology and still condemn the Darkling yet condone the Righteous Gang is beyond me.
I personally donât much like the whole âpower corruptsâ lesson to begin with. Power usually seems to just amplify already existing problems and make them more of an issue for other people. The idea that anyone is less susceptible to this amplification is absurd to me. Given the right pressure, the right circumstances, the right time, anyone can crumble. No one is strong enough to outlast every storm. The Darkling fell prey to his loneliness and desire to be appreciated. Alina fell prey to her infatuation with Mal and apathy. Zoya will fall to something too. Perhaps to the very people she claims to lead.
Leigh Bardugo wanted to write a love story. Whether that love story was originally meant to be Malina or Darklina, Iâm not sure. But because this was meant to be a romance rather than a true fantasy or an exploration of certain ideals or philosophies, and so nothing beyond the romance plots seems at all thought out or consistent. Not even the characters. Alina had no real personality beyond her snarkiness and her part in the⌠Love triangle? Love Square? Love Line? Nikolai in the Grisha Duology was nothing more than a âclever solutionâ to the problem of Ravkaâs government and a means to fast-forward Alinaâs work life and get her that promotion well before she was ready. Then in his own duology, he had to be dumbed down to allow Zoya to shine and to allow the plot to exist. You cannot tell me that Grisha Trilogy Nikolai would be so dumb as to be stressing over how to solve Ravkaâs debt while sitting in a palace practically dripping in gold and jewels. Not the guy who somehow managed to fool the four-hundred year-old general!
Why did the Darkling turn Nikolai into a volcra? Well, two of Nikolaiâs greatest and most favored assets are his looks and his brains. And volcra are known for being ugly and not very bright. Aleksander turned Sobachka into his worst nightmare!
The Darkling likely saw Nikolai as a wild card, someone he knew would always oppose him if allowed to remain on the playing field, but as to how much of a danger to Aleksanderâs rule he would be⌠That he could not be sure of. Nikolai had spent a good portion of the past years out on the sea instead of studying in Ketterdam and NO ONE back home was any the wiser. Who knows what other tricks and secrets he has gained over that time. He made the Darkling feel like a fool because the Darkling didnât even think for a moment that the cunning, sly, slippery Sturmhond could be the second prince or that he would ever dare to double-cross him.
I hope Iâve answered all your questions in a way that makes sense! Please donât be afraid to let me know if Iâve missed anything or if you have more questions!
Yes, firstly, Nikolai betrayed him, and secondly, he deserves the worst for bombing the supply lines.
And I'll be the heretic, but Mal and Malina are worse in the show than in the books. They're more boring and I don't understand what a good in acts of Archie/Jessie. Jessie is adorable when she's smiling, otherwise I'm not impressed.
Should I mention how fucking creepy and awful she is?
Men lay dead and bleeding, and a crowd was waiting outside the Kettle doors. I could hear Nikolaiâs voice in my head: The people like spectacle. The show wasnât over yet.
I walked forward, stepping carefully around the trench Iâd opened, and stood before one of the kneeling guards.
He was younger than the othersâhis beard just coming in; his gaze fastened on the ground as he mumbled prayers. I caught not just my name, but the names of real Saints, strung together as if in a single word. I touched my hand to his shoulder, and his eyes slid shut, tears rolling down his cheeks.
âForgive me,â he said. âForgive me.â
âLook at me,â I said gently.
He forced himself to look up. I cupped his face in my hand, gentle, like a mother, though he was barely older than I was. âWhatâs your name?â
âVladim⌠Vladim Ozwal.â
âItâs good to doubt Saints, Vladim. And men.â
He gave a shaky nod as another tear spilled over.
âMy soldiers bear my mark,â I said, referring to the tattoos borne by the Soldat Sol. âUntil this day you have put yourself apart from them, buried yourself in books and prayer instead of hearing the people. Will you wear my mark now?â
âYes,â he said, fervently.
âWill you swear loyalty to me and only me?â
âGladly!â he cried. âSol Koroleva!â Sun Queen.
My stomach turned. Part of me hated what I was about to do. Canât I just make him sign something? Give a blood oath? Make me a really firm promise? But I had to be stronger than that. This boy and his comrades had taken up arms against me. I couldnât let that happen again, and this was the language of Saints and suffering, the language they understood.
âOpen your shirt,â I commanded. Not a loving mother now, but a different kind of Saint, a warrior wielding holy fire.
His fingers fumbled with his buttons, but he didnât hesitate. He pulled the fabric apart, baring the skin of his chest. I was tired, still weak. I had to concentrate. I wanted to make a point, not kill him.
I felt the light in my hand. I pressed my palm to the smooth skin over his heart and let the power pulse. Vladim flinched when it connected, scorching his flesh, but he did not cry out. His eyes were wide and unblinking, his expression rapt. When I pulled my hand back, my palm print remained, the brand throbbing red and angry on his chest.
Not bad, I thought grimly, for your first time mutilating a man.
I let the power go, grateful to be finished.
âIt is done.â
Vladim looked down at his chest, and his face broke into a beatific grin. He has dimples, I realized with a lurch. Dimples and a hideous scar heâll bear for the rest of his life.
What were you saying, fuckers? The Darkling manipulates and using others? He? Not your protagonists, are you sure?
To the question of how they allegedly "didn't torture anyone", although they did pseveral times and will continue to do so.
Relief came with the light, a sense of being right and whole for the first time in months. Some part of me had truly feared I might never be restored completely, that by using merzost in my fight with the Darkling, by daring to create shadow soldiers and trespass in the making at the heart of the world, I had somehow forfeited this gift. But now it was as if I could feel my body coming to life, my cells reviving. Power rippled through my blood, reverberated in my bones.
Genya continued to keep her face covered and spent most of her time in her chamber, but she no longer hunched, and she didnât shy away from people in the tunnels. Sheâd made herself a black silk eye patch from the lining of an old coat, and her hair was looking distinctly redder. If Genya was using her power to alter her hair color, then maybe some of her vanity had returned, and that could only mean more progress.
