People who say that "Alina chose to sacrifice her power" can stay. They're clearly ignoring crucial details of the scene where it happened, and also Alina's opinions on her power from previous' books, and also Mal's clear hostile approach to them, and, when calling Alina's ending "feminist", they're obviously playing into the "choice feminism" pole, which is not feminist at all, but at least they're deluded about the whole of the situation.
Which cannot be said about people who do acknowledge that Alina was stripped of her power completely outside of her own will (which is the author herself, too). Because they see that Alina had not wanted to gave up her power, and she deems losing them a punishment, yet still they turn around, and say that her ending is peak feminism, because... she becomes a housewife, when she could be a queen? Of course, women can be housewives if they choose so. But when they become housewives, because that is the only option that the world left for them? That's the beginning of a peak horror story of marital and financial abuse.
Alina wanted to run off, and become Mal's private punching bag for the whole time she had her power, she would "make the right decision" of choosing him over Ravka even if she remained Grisha. But she still had to be robbed of her only strenght, the only thing that guaranteed her a bit of an upper hand, to ensure she will end up where her place is. Because she, a woman, couldn't be trusted with making a decision about her own future.
"If Alina remains Alina Starkov she will be a target for the rest of her life", but she very much could fake her own death, and live under false name while remaining a Sun Summoner. Nikolai the Good wouldn't force her to stay with him in Os Alta, would he? But everyone knows that women shouldn't be able to decide on what's better for their own safety, so the world stepped up, and in order to protect her, acted against her will. Which is the most romantic, women-empowering thing one could find in any book.
It is always so fulfilling when a third party butts in, and solves heroine's personal problems for her. When the heroine is not allowed to decide what kind of life she wants to live, and has to settle for what's left. Because someone else already thought what will be better for her. Nothing screams "feminism" to me louder than stripping the main female character of her agency.
Alina:I called and the light answered.[...] It surrounded me, blazing with heat, more powerful and more pure than ever before because it was all mine. I wanted to laugh, to sing, to shout. At last, there was something that belonged wholly and completely to me.
Bardugo: not so fast, you greedy slut! Now it belongs to everyone but you!
I could write three long metas about his toxicity and why I dislike him but I don't want to tire my fingers for him. 😑
Maybe because of his slut-shaming behaviour?
Oh and what is this? Ah yes, Mal being angry that Alina found happiness away from him:
I'm so sorry Mal that Alina wasn't tortured so you could feel okay. I'm so sorry that she didn't feel insecure enough to run back in your arms, needing you and depending on you like you always wanted for her.
You know, that's the thing with Mal. He did nothing to Alina.
Not when his "friend" was mocking her appearance (and yes this is serious for me because I too have a very thin body and people from my own family have mocked me for it. So it's no joke).
Not when she was apparently sad that he fucked around girls knowing that she knew.
He did literally nothing until Alina wanted to fuck the Darkling and showed interest for him.
(slut shaming her even here)
From then on he ✨magically✨ noticed her out of nowhere and he said that "now I see you".
BULLSHIT!!
According to Mal, it's okay if he fucks girls every other night but it's not okay when Alina wants to do it with a man that....I don't know. Supported her power and abilities maybe?
And he seems constantly so concerned that she has fucked him that he apparently doesn't care if she's truly okay.
What a normal person would say to Alina: "Are you okay? Did he hurt you? I'm sorry you had to go through this."
What Mal said to Alina: "FUCK TORTURE! DID HE FUCK YOU BY ANY CHANCE?!?!"
He's so unserious FR
That's his only concern. If Alina likes or fucked the Darkling (sometimes I wish she had done the latter just so I could see Mal's face after it).
Also! He's an extraordinary bad influence for Alina and her confidence! 😍
A few minutes ago, Alina decided to return to the Little Palace to lead. To do the right thing and stand in this war.
And now we have Mal threaten her: "If you go, I might not follow!!"
And that shattered Alina's confidence. Now she feels ashamed ("maybe he doesn't want me", "maybe he'll leave me") and after that passage when Mal exits the tent, Alina starts thinking "What am I doing? I'm no soldier, or Saint. How will I make it?"
Mal is an influence that constantly wears her down emotionally by making her doubt herself, making her have guilts and making her thoughts come back to him constantly ('cause he's always "What about me?? Think of me!! Look at how shit I feel!!").
Again, he makes the whole matter revolve around him.
There is a civil war ongoing and Mal is like "Okay, but what about me, Alina??!!?!"
LIKE BRO NOBODY GIVES TWO SHITS ABOUT YOU!! THERE ARE PEOPLE DYING HERE!!
And another toxic trait of his. Apparently, if a woman says "no" to him, it's unacceptable:
(The first passage is when Mal tried to kiss her but Alina saw the Darkling behind his back and the second one is when Alina saw Mal kissing Zoya, btw)
He gets angry for the fact that Alina withdrew from his attempted kiss. And apparently he "knows what that means" because every girl he had ever kissed was willing to him.
I'm sorry, Mal, for the fact that a girl changed her mind at the last minute.
If a girl changes her mind, then you must respect that. Not shout at her. NO MEANS NO, MAL.
Mal is that type of guy that throws you in bed, you kiss him and all, and at the last minute when you change your mind and don't want to go for it (for whatever reason the girl might have of course) he gets angry and says "BUT YOU SAID "YES" TWO MINUTES AGO!!!"
He gives me the ick for real, guys.
And, of course, his fury for Alina's power and status. Because, since she gained them, she's no longer depended on him.
Yes, people. Mal wanted to take out a piece of her soul essentially, so he could have her! Romantic!! 🤩🤩
Also, the fact that he was constantly looking like shit in S&S because he was drunk every night is also selfish of him. Mal was Alina's personal guard and protector. One of her three closest ones. By doing this, by having this behaviour, he gives a VERY bad image to Alina.
Imagine what the nobles would think if they saw him this way. The power of image is everything. Nikolai knew it. The Darkling knew it. Even Alina came to know it. By having one of your protectors drinking heavily all night, get into fights and look like shit makes Alina feel embarrassed for the image she gives to the other people. And she was actually in a very delicate position at that time, because she had to gain the trust of the King, his counselors and nobles. Mal should know better than embarrassing her.
Imagine if you were in a high position for the first time in your life, trying to make an impression so everything could go alright and, in the meanwhile, your guardian walks around drunk.
This is not good. In today's world, they fire such people from their work.
And all these bullshit from him in R&R saying "I told stories of you from your childhood so they could see the real Alina" is also bullshit. Bitch, if you wanted to do something good, look respectable for the part. If you want to cry and drink kvas 24/7 then resign, lock yourself up and do it. Don't embarrass your boss.
Also, Bardugo had said that after S&S she received a lot of negative comments about Mal's character. So it's no wonder she made him suddenly all "good" in R&R. She wanted to give reasons to the readers to like him and support his eventual marriage with Alina.
Anyways, I know people will say that the Darkling was no better but, guys...
This is not a competition. Of who is better or worse.
And just like another person had once said in this fandom "The Darkling represents a fairytale character while Mal reminds you of every jerk you've met in your life"
And it's a perfect quote to describe them.
The Darkling is the type of guy we all fall in love in fiction. A fantastical character that does bad deeds but still you swoon over.
While Mal is that asshole you met in high school treating you like shit. That boy you were seeing in corridors flirting with every girl he saw and being a fuckboy. That relationship you had that undermined your value.
Mal is a character that hits very close at home for the readers (with his actions and personality).
This post about him and M*lina explains my thoughts perfectly.
Go read it when you can, guys. It's an incredible mini meta.
“There was darkness inside me. He had put it there, and I would no longer deny it. The volcra, the nichevo’ya, they were my monsters, all of them. And he was my monster, too.”
