#s&b chapter 17

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The Darkling: Versatility is important! You can't always rely on your powers! Zoya Nazyalensky, his successor in the position of the "General" of "Second Army": What is the point of using fists when I can command a storm?

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Shadow and Bone- 01×05: Show Me Who You Are

One of my "favourite" Choices the show writers made was to omit the relative privilege Alina grew up in. To make her a poor little outcast, who has it worse than the starving majority of the country.

Butter week had been the best time at the orphanage, when classes were cut short so that we could clean the house and help with the baking. Duke Keramsov had always timed his return from Os Alta to coincide with it. We would all ride out in the dom cart, and he would stop at every farm to drink kvas and pass out cakes and candies. Sitting beside the Duke, waving to the cheering villagers, we’d felt almost like nobility ourselves.

Shadow and Bone- Chapter 17

So of course, there's 180° turn in what's her orphanage life described as. Poor orphans couldn't even join the festivities!

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Second Army disorganization

Siege and Storm- Chapter 14

One of the most frustrating and famously nonsensical passages of Grisha trilogy, easily explained through doylist approach- the author's inability to write strategy or politics and demands of the genre, requiring a weak, unfit heroine to defeat immensely powerful opponent way out of her league:

Alina: Oh no, they dare to oppose me again! :(

Isn't that why would you want to establish a council in the first place? So you get constructive criticism and suggestions to do things better?!

My objections to the notion Alina came up with representation of Grisha can't be more obvious:

Army is a structured organization. There are ranks and councils by default. No amount of ignorant teens will persuade me calling it "Second" makes it otherwise.

Any big organization has a structure. Even if Second Army were only about education, there would be councils and posts on different levels. Hell, school system works that way.

Alina: I'm gonna have the useless ones represented, because we're not doing things like the Darkling, but that doesn't mean I'll respect them myself or abandon my prejudices. Fucking nerds. Weidos...

Another YA nonsense- you cannot put people into categories based on their physical predispositions, and expect the mental ones to fit accordingly. You can have a huge, muscled guy, skilled in delicate handiwork. You can have a tiny wisp of a girl beating the living shit out of you (popular trope by itself).

Now why should sensitivity to metals get you a spot in labs, if you're a strategic genius? Or incredibly skilled, witty rhetorician? Isn't it more likely you'd be required to complete basic training to stay healthy and prevent accidentally endangering others, while being assigned to whatever you're most useful at?

And what about those weak or less intelligent ones? Are they bringing coffee and arranging entertainment?!

It also fits this fan interpretation, that Materialki are often neuro-divegent, so they are tend to be kept away from battle for their own sake.

Alina wasn't involved in practical running of Second Army before. Just because she doesn't know about something, it's not a totally fresh idea.

I'd be afraid of a girl, who almost murdered a bunch of people for asking questions, too.

At this point, I'm gonna run with the idea that all the older Grisha are torn between face-palming and silently laughing their assess off (so Alina doesn't overhear and her clique doesn't resort to violence).

“But what do they do in there?” I asked, not entirely sure I wanted to hear the answer. “Only the Corporalki know. But there are rumors that they’ve been working with the Fabrikators on new … experiments.”

Shadow and Bone- Chapter 8

... and that says nothing about the field, or the little groups in noble houses. People tend to stick together with their own, when in strange enviroment. I'm sure such bonds dissolve immediately after their return "home".

I've also delved a little into the sitting order here.

A few lines earlier, Alina noted Materialki didn't show up to complain. Who is so horrified then?! Not them, for sure.

Ironically, this fits into Fabricator-brain theory linked above AND the most logical explanation- Materialki have basic self-defense training, but only those, who are able to, continue. Alina isn't particularly friendly with any of them, so how would she know no one had EVER bothered to teach them? Alright, there are none in her class, but as far as we know, it consists of a Squaller, an Inferni and a Heartrender. Not the most saying sample.

Having a third of all Grisha helpless doesn't fit into the picture of Aleksander's leadership:

“That’s what Botkin always says. ‘Not showy, just to make pain,’” I said, imitating the mercenary’s heavy accent. “Smart guy.” “The Darkling doesn’t think Grisha should rely on their powers for defense.”

Shadow and Bone- Chapter 17

You don't have to become another Bruce Lee, you only need a chance, when they drag you out of bed in the middle of the night.

What tradition?

This is rather well-written group of angry, disorganized people. It might start with a reasonable goal, but soon everyone talks about something else than others, and the message gets lost in the noise.

Tradition doesn't equal "the way things are done". Neither of them is the same as "the need for structure and people knowing their places". The third one is a legitimate concern, although one could argue it's exactly what Alina's attempting.

This whole scene very much reads like:

The author is desperate to prove the Heroine isn't quite useless- she has good ideas! Look! *whacks a hundreds of years old stategist and survivor par excellence with stupid stick*

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Siege and Storm- Chapter 17 (Leigh Bardugo)

Alina's lying once again, this time to make her new favs look better and cleverer than the Darkling. We all know he's the bigoted one, who's crippling his subordinates by forcing them into his preferred lifestyle, when the alternative is so much more reasonable and so attractive, should poor Second Army know about it!

Except Shadow and Bone- Chapter 17 tells us:

I suggest two possibilities:

Alina's group's made of Grisha so young they haven't been in the field yet, so although taught to fight in many ways, they lean too much into their instinctual responses. Except that would make me question Botkin's abilities as an instructor, since he's the one to teach them AND it's disproved in first book too- when Zoya attacks Alina, we learn they're NOT allowed to use their powers during their martial arts training (“Zoya!” Botkin roared. “You do not use power. Not in these rooms. Never in these rooms!” S&B Chapter 11).

Alina made herself forget, because her beloved Malyen reacted negatively here, and she tends to avoid topics he doesn't like.

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Zlatá Malina (Golden Raspberry), pt. 7

Siege and Storm- Chapter 11

Which is totally a reason for him to ride outside!

It's not like he's on a job, not a joyride...

Nikolai kisses Alina. Mal isn't happy about it.

If only he were angry FOR Alina...

If this was Alina, disgusted by the kiss, I could accept it. Nobody likes to be kissed by basically a stranger out of nowhere. But making her reaction about Maaal just has you question whether Alina's dramatic reaction isn't more about appearances.

Just... dump the blade boy and kiss whoever you like, girl! If you won't like it, don't repeat it, but don't beat yourself over some guy's feelings, if it's you, who should be allowed to feel discomfort.

And he gets it in the end! Yay for Maaaaal!

Wow! Surprisingly correct answer (minus the fists solution), but then again someone else wants Alina now. He has to show he's the better option. Look Alina, I know you SO well, I support you against others, I'll make sure they stay away...

It's so ~cute~ how insecure he gets, right?!

Malyen knows his place for once, and Alina's so distracted she cannot pay attention to her political duties.

WHERE'S MAAAAL?!

Or is the tracker sulking he doesn't fit into the company?

Mal: *compliments Alina*

Alina: My summoning helps.

Mal: Yeah, remember when you didn't do ~that~? I liked you looking like shit too!

I'd say it's like he doesn't even realize her "ordinary" looks mean she's sick, but he did! He just doesn't CARE or what?! Or doesn't know how to use words properly?!

“And here you are, safe and sound, dancing and flirting like some cosseted little princess.”

Shadow and Bone- Chapter 14

“You’d be a lot easier to feed if you hadn’t developed an appetite.”

Shadow and Bone- Chapter 17

TW: Malina kiss ↴

Oh shit, LB heard me...

Nope.

Just nope!

Not feeling it.

It might be because I very well remember Mal's behaviour from a few chapters back (No black!), or even a few moments earlier in this one- his disregard of her health-, but while his ordinary kisses leave me indifferent and disinterested, his take on passion turns my stomach. It might be partly because our culture often describes passion and anger as "fire" and Malyen already proved to be unable to control one of those.

pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3, pt. 4, pt. 5, pt. 6, pt. 8, tag for all icluding the rest

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I'm not sure if this has been brought up but like

What does Mal know about farming?

Are you telling me the boy raised in a fancy orphanage then entering the army would know anything about animal husbandry and agriculture? Does he happen to hang out with the old serfs working the Duke's lands? When? Is the orphanage even near a farm?

Who knows maybe Mal is just in love with the idea of a farm but will wilt when he realizes he has to wade through animal shit every day. It'll be something like those people on Homestead Rescue. Or ballerinafarm. Someone's run the numbers and rn there is no way they're getting a profit from their farm...and it turns out they're connected to an airline family. Sort of like how the orphanage in canon was bankrolled by the crown

Not to mention that viral article which just gives me trapped Alina vibes

I don't think he really wanted a farm, that's show!verse. Book!Mal is mostly interested in making sure Alina doesn't have a life outside of him, otherwise he'll just get around ~somehow~.

Since I don't remember much about Malyen, outside his stellar bf moments, I had to go through the books to search mentions of it, and the only line that makes it his goal is from Alina's memory of them as children:

Shadow and Bone- Before

That's something akin to today's children dreaming of becoming an astronaut, or what do they long for these days. Especially, since diary farm would be the "cleaner" option (And how do they keep the milk cold in Ravka anyway?), compared to beef for slaughter.

Next mention of a farm in connection to Malyen is from Ruin and Rising- Chapter 11, when Nikolai promises to give him whatever he'll wish for finding the firebird:

So yeah, here goes said bankrolling...

Last, there is his happy ending, when he's educating the next generation in modern agriculture:

Ruin and Rising- After

Which again- sounds like a pastime of a rich guy with nothing to do, and let's be honest- could mean anything including showing them pictures of old and new ploughs, or diagrams on fertilization. It doesn't mean he's the one with pitchfork in hands, getting up in five AM every day to milk those cows child him dreamt of. Quite contrary- if there are any animals, he won't be the one taking care of them, if he has plenty of time for frolicking around the woods.

He's a strong, young, good-looking, able-bodied man in a country lacking these and he's supposed to be very likeable (Dunno where, but nvm me.), there's really no reason to go for the lowest-paying, "unqualified", physically exhausting labour and in books, it seems more like he was planning a career in the army. Even Alina realizes he's happy there, and if we're to believe her in this, his career was promising.

Shadow and Bone & Siege and Storm- Chapters 17

So yeah- if a farm remained something he fantasised about even as an adult, it was likely the way rich or town folk think about it- running around pastures with sun at his back, cows and sheep feeding themselves, no upkeep necessary.

It's likely about an idea of stable source of income and owning a property, I don't think it would involve nearly as much mud as it realistically does, much less the proper amount of shit.

It's possible I've missed something, but then again- Malyen's good in ~everything~, so perhaps he used to muck out as a part of his childhood chores and now he can do it all, but I'm more inclined to believe his dream came true even in this and he simply has people, who know when, what and how.

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Sham trial: Otakazat'sya edition

Siege and Storm- Chapter 12

Alina knew these are the rules, but why should they apply to her bf, right?!

What is the point of this? Is Malyen suddenly aiming at position of royal philosopher? Is that supposed to highlight how down-to-earth he is? How honest (in this case equaling pure idiocy) he is? I'm far from humble and I rarely appreciate this sort of characteristics, but shouldn't he at least pretend penitence? What kind of idiot does this in front of sovereign, disinterested in truth or fairness? Does he believe Tsar is some nice Batyushka, finally free from the Evil Darkling's influence?

Saints!

Not to mention he's lying anyway. I was looking for Malyen's interpretation of his desertion, lo and behold, his good reasons had a shape of taking back his suddenly popular not-girlfriend:

Shadow and Bone- Chapter 17

He was pissed off Alina's well and happy without him, he found her to help her (get back to him), but didn't forget to make sure she'll know just WHAT he's doing for her, and where's her true place...

Awwwww!!! SO sad!

Mal was still hoping there will be NO CONSEQUENCES of his actions!

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I doubt Malyen has other responsibilities at the moment, so I will assume it's not Alina's egocentrism talking and he can't even be arsed to tell her he “doesn't want to talk about it”, or “she should shut the fuck up, he's trying to focus”. The usual stuff you tell your “best friend”, when they’re getting on your nerves (with perfectly valid questions)...

Alina takes it in her usual melodramatic way, and thinks about upcoming doom.

I remember that one post about how Inferni should be quite popular, when wet or cold weather strikes. Either Malyen hates Grisha more than freezing his ass off, or he’s blessed with supernatural camping abilities along with supernatural tracking.

Plus Alina’s obviously proud of herself for this, but who cares...

This is one of the grossest comments to make. And I'm saying it as a chubby girl, who always loved food. I can't imagine, how would a skinny, sickly girl, who spent her whole life fighting a lack of appetite, feel, but my humble estimation is- not any better.

Shadow and Bone- Chapter 17 (Leigh Bardugo)