Poll

No contest. The Darkling all the way.

Definetely the Darkling. He is meant to end up with Alina! HOW ? Well, let's just wait for June

Please, Mal Ortsev all the way. He is completely devoted to Alina. He's been with her through the her worst and her best and unlike the Darkling he is not a crazed old psychopath who just wants to use her for her powers. That part of the book where Mal tells Alina that even when he knew she was gone, he still absent mindely looked for her was the sweetest thing ever. There is no choice. Mal forever and always.

I would have voted Nikolai but he seems self centered & arrogant and would most likely cheat! Sorry Nikolai!!

I solved this, after much pondering and brain squeezing: Mal for Alina and the Darkling for myself.

Nikki wrote: "Samantha wrote: "Please, Mal Ortsev all the way. He is completely devoted to Alina. He's been with her through the her worst and her best and unlike the Darkling he is not a crazed old psychopath w..."

Of course only Leigh Bardugo knows the answer but you can not seriously think that the Alina would fall in love with the DARKLING! He's called the "Darkling" for a reason honey, and unless he magically turns good, I highly doubt Alina is going to fall for his tricks. You may like them bad, but I want a man who treats you right, and doesn't use you to take over the country. But we won't know what Alina wants until the last book comes out.

Samantha wrote: "Please, Mal Ortsev all the way. He is completely devoted to Alina. He's been with her through the her worst and her best and unlike the Darkling he is not a crazed old psychopath who just wants to ..."

*Seige and Storm spoilers*

I don't know how valid "Mal sticking to Alina no matter what" really is. In the first book he was ready to storm off and leave her when he saw her dressed in all black and goo goo over the Darkling (understandable but shows he is not blindly loyal). In the second, he resents her for becoming so isolated and not always seeking him out and seems to resent the person she is once she obtains power (slowly becoming addicted) not to mention the changes that result in her personality.

I don't have a favorite Alinaxcharacter pairing - at this point, as long as she stays this strong and the story in which it happens makes sense, she can end up with Mal, Darkling, or Nikolai and I would be satisfied.

I love them all for different reasons. I like the chemistry the Darkling and Alina have; initially, she hated him but there was this sort of underlying temptation to go back to him (or at least the person he could be). Now she hates him, but she understands his frame of mind and what it is like to hold and crave for the level of power that she does. I would still like AlinaxNikolai because he is charming and charismatic (of course) and he too can relate to Alina because they share the burden of power and the responsibility of other's lives being placed in there hands: Nikolai seems to inspire hope in Alina, that there is an end to it all, and with hard work, it is attainable. Fact of the matter is, as we see in Siege and Storm that they are compatible. However,I would still ship AlinaxMal too. Most of us like seeing the "forever love"/ "childhood friend turned lover" story line work out... and within the right context, I do as well. Mal is a great character and I love their friendship and I love the two of them together. I'm not saying I don't. The purpose of this post was merely to point out that while Mal has been through a lot with Alina: their relationship is pretty strained (and technically over at the moment if I recall). Mal isn't necessarily a big fan of the woman Alina is becoming and the one he did have undying love for was significantly weaker willed and suppressed in many ways. I have a small part of myself (a third) rooting for them to work out, but I love the Alina that blossoms in the second book - and it doesn't look like he will be able to accept her like that. Ruin and Rising will tell all I guess, huh?

Sorry. I didn't mean for this to be so long. I just wanted to point out something simple and it turned into this relationship analysis... oops.

Ladyseraph14 wrote: "Samantha wrote: "Please, Mal Ortsev all the way. He is completely devoted to Alina. He's been with her through the her worst and her best and unlike the Darkling he is not a crazed old psychopath w..."

I understand you point so maybe Mal might give up on Alina and honestly I do love Mal but I wouldn't mind Alina and Nikolai as much as I would hate the Darkling and Alina. Mal can be for me and Nikolai can be for Alina, I'm perfectly fine with that. If Mal can't accept Alina when she's strong then he doesn't deserve her. I get that. But what I can't accept is Alina and the Darkling. The very fact that he used her is so wrong I can't even deal with it. And what he did to his mother is terrible, he is ruthless and will do anything to get his way. He doesn't really love Alina. And yes maybe Mal only loves Alina when she's weak but he has a point, Alina was powerhungry she wasn't herself. There's a fine line between being strong and being tyrannical and Alina hasn't yet crossed that like but she is very close. Mal is watching out for her wellbeing but I will admit that there is as slight chance he only loves her when she is below him. So maybe Nikolai is the perfect balance of the two. Maybe Nikolai will end up being the one to really understand Alina and tend to her needs.

Samantha wrote: "Ladyseraph14 wrote: "Samantha wrote: "Please, Mal Ortsev all the way. He is completely devoted to Alina. He's been with her through the her worst and her best and unlike the Darkling he is not a cr..."

I love people like you Samantha - you don't get angry and dismiss people, but defend your point through discussion. Just thought I should say that.

I definitely hear you out and agree with you. Mal not liking the power hungry Alina and some of the changes is completely acceptable and realistic within this fantasy world. I like that it was written that way and that Mal has thoughts and feelings and opinions contrary to what fangirls want to see unlike several male love interests that came before him.

I also agree about the Darkling - he's an asshole for doing what he did to his mom and Alina's friend that joins him... and the way in which many of his other followers were treated (that's not even covering what he did to Ravka). Yes, he is ruthless and driven to succeed. You are totally justified in disliking him and for even hating the idea of DarklingxAlina. However, I see a human side in addition to all the evil. The Darkling is doing what he is for all Grisha - in a sense putting them on top and the rest being the ones suppressed like they are now. Alina takes a different approach to reach the same goal, but in the Darkling's mind, this is the best way to achieve it (and maybe get revenge at the same time). And I disagree that he doesn't want Alina, only her power. Yes,of course her power is attractive to him and he doesn't hesitate to take the chance to use it even if it is against Alina's will, he didn't have to appear to her so much in the second book. He achieved fear in the initial moments when he did it, but we see he began to do it so much Alina begins to feel as if his presence is commonplace... and kind of comforting at times. We also saw in the first book that Alina made the Darkling shift his priorities at times (and was extremely angry that she invoked that response in him which was a tell it was probably unintentional and therefore not part of his ruse). I truly believe the power is something that attracts him to her, but he fell in love at some point in getting to know her.

Again, he is the villain. He is fully aware on the havoc he is creating and is knowingly killing people seemingly without guilt. Seeing this human side doesn't make up for his evil, and you hating him should be the response that most people have. I happen to like him because he has a certain wit and is delicioiusly ruthless (a ruthlessness that makes me happy because it's so clever or to a level that is beyond what I could think of on my own). While I don't think I could ever answer "Given the chance, I would choose the Darkling" like several other fans here, I don't hate him as much as I probably should. I respect that he is wrong and he has done horrible things, but he's a fictional character (therefore fictional sin forgiven). I wouldn't mind Alina and Darkling (although I respect you don't) because of the scenes he kisses her in the second book - she still has feelings for him and in many ways they are becoming more and more alike. At some point in Ruin in Rising (although EXTREMELY UNLIKELY), I could see where the Darkling could become the only one who doesn't hate her/ loves her although she's done horrible things or realizes he has to share her love with her love for power. I don't think it could work out but ... well there is still that third of myself rooting for it to happen...

Ladyseraph14 wrote: "Samantha wrote: "Ladyseraph14 wrote: "Samantha wrote: "Please, Mal Ortsev all the way. He is completely devoted to Alina. He's been with her through the her worst and her best and unlike the Darkli..."

Though I do not agree with your opinion (except for the part about the Darkling being an asshole), I totally respect it. And I greatly appreciate the fact that we can have a heated discussion on this topic, without us completely hating each other. You don't get to do that with a lot of people and often times people turn on one another because of something as stupid as their favorite book. I know that wasn't relevant to the discussion but I just thought you ought to know.

Anyway I still stand in my opinion that Alina should not at all choose the Darkling. It is quite possible that there is still some human left in him but if he could blind his own mother, imagine what he would do to Alina and even to the whole country once he has Alina's power. Alina may be attracted to him but that doesn't necessarily mean she is in love with him. It may just be a supernatural force messing with her mind. Them having equal powers in no way relates to her loving him. Just to bring in another book, if you've read Harry Potter, Harry and Voldemort do share a special connection and have equal power yet Harry made it his life goal to defeat him. It is not his powers that define who he is, but it is the choices he makes and so far all the choices the Darkling has made are for the evilest of reasons.

If only there was an 'all of the above' option. Sigh!

Am I the only one who thinks Mal is an annoying moaner whe just wants Alina with no powers? You can never go back from something's and Alina has to move forward. I think the darling needs saving from his dark side with some sun!

Claire wrote: "Am I the only one who thinks Mal is an annoying moaner whe just wants Alina with no powers? You can never go back from something's and Alina has to move forward. I think the darling needs saving fr..."

Same here. I don't like Mal either. It makes two of us.

Claire wrote: "Am I the only one who thinks Mal is an annoying moaner whe just wants Alina with no powers? You can never go back from something's and Alina has to move forward. I think the darling needs saving fr..."

I thought Mal was cute enough in the first book (though I was still a die-hard Darkling Darling <3) but he seriously annoyed me in Siege and Storm. Mal really lost me when he *******MINI SPOILER********* kissed Zoya, and if he was going there every night then it was probably not the first time either....

Three of us, Mirou.

I am a Darkling Darling as well, and it is not because of the evil within his darkness, but because of his mysterious self, because us Darlings know that there is a spark of light, kindness, within his own darkness. We wait; wait until he sheds that small ray of humanity he holds within himself, that he will shed only to Alina, someday, sometime. And it is this mystery that makes us fall at his feet with affection. He represents that darkness we all either attempt to hide or make no mistake in bestowing it upon those who cross us, because no matter who you are, nobody will ever be just a beam of light. If there is light, there are shadows.

"If there is light, there are shadows."

I LIKE THIS.

In real life I would probably choose someone like Nikolai, but I hope Alina will choose The Darkling. Yes, I'm Darkling Darling too :)

Has it ever occurred to any of y'all "Darkling Darlings" that the Darkling is several hundred years old, and Alina is like 16? Just a thought.

Samantha wrote: "Has it ever occurred to any of y'all "Darkling Darlings" that the Darkling is several hundred years old, and Alina is like 16? Just a thought."

1. This is fiction, not reality. In fiction everything is possible.
2. Alina is 17 at the beggining of Shadow and Bone (Leigh said that in one of the interviews), and probably will turn 18 soon. EDIT: Oops, I forgot - she's already 18.
3. Alina will probably live hundreds of years, so the Darkling is the only one who may live as long as her.

I wouldn't care about the age if I could end up with The Darkling. I really don't understand people. I didn't see this age problem between Bella and Edward or any other books where they have a huge age difference.

Samantha wrote: "Please, Mal Ortsev all the way. He is completely devoted to Alina. He's been with her through the her worst and her best and unlike the Darkling he is not a crazed old psychopath who just wants to use her for her powers. That part of the book where Mal tells Alina that even when he knew she was gone, he still absent mindely looked for her was the sweetest thing ever. There is no choice. Mal forever and always.
"

YESSSS. MAL ORETSEV ALL THE WAY.

Mal is so unappreciated for the sacrifices he's made to protect Alina. He deserves to be happy with her. I find his devotion to her adorable.

Also, I've been glaring at that typo in his last name for a while. Lol.

Forgot to say why I voted for Mal Oretsev.

If Alina wasn't the Sun Summoner, I highly doubt Nikolai and the Darkling would have given her the time of day. On the other hand, Mal fell in love with Alina before he saw her transformation and still loves her without her powers.

Mal has been there for Alina since the very beginning, and loves Alina the girl, not Alina the Sun Summoner. I doubt Nikolai and the Darkling can say the same.

So yes, Mal Oretsev for Alina please.

I voted for the Darkling because the Darkling is awesome, and he is like the other half to Alina, and they balance one another out.

Also, Mal Orstev? Sorry, who is he? I know of a Malyen "Mal" Oretsev, but no Mal Orstev. Thanks to WinterRose for pointing that out.

Also, I am not following this discussion, so feel free to ignore this post. You cannot argue with me here as I am not here.

Goodnight, listeners. Goodnight.

Having just read S&B, I am a Darkling Darling myself. I see quite a lot of potential for a redemption arc like Darth Vader. The Darkling is a complex character, and being centuries old, I'm quite sure he might have forgotten what it truly feels like to love and care for another person. To value a person not just for the power she holds, but for who she truly is. I would like to see Alina change the Darkling slowly, but surely. Not right away, no. It would take years to do that, but considering that Alina and the Darkling will be living for a very long time, they'll get there eventually. And besides, they balance each other very well, like Yin and Yang. They are dark and light, but they both have a piece of the other within them.

I do not like Mal. I see him as a typical character, with none of the complexities the Darkling posseses. He is a weak character who does not make much of an impression on me. In my opinion, quite a boring character. Everytime I read about Mal, I'm very tempted to skip that page. In S&S you can plainly see that Mal cannot handle a strong character like Alina and the fact that he runs off to Zoya speaks volumes about his loyalty in a relationship. And, to be honest, he lacks the sexiness that the Darkling posseses xD And another reason I do not want him with Alina--what do you call a boy whom you've grown up with, lived in the same house with? Brother. Yep, Alina and Mal feel like brother and sister to me, rather than lovers.

But if ever fate is cruel, and I don't get my Alarkling, I would rather see Alina with Nikolai or Sturmhond , than with Mal. It would be such a typical, safe and boring ending.

what is with all these darkling and alina shippers??? HELLO toxic relationship?! he is manipulative, abusive, and literally an evil being.

I am one of the few that ADORES MAL. Sorry not sorry.

Mirou wrote: "Definetely the Darkling. He is meant to end up with Alina! HOW ? Well, let's just wait for June"

Little did we know, he was, unfortunately, not meant to be with Alina. I still don't understand how Mal ended up with Alina, his (book) personality is just so bloody boring. I mean even the Volcra have more and a better personality than Mal.

That horrible moment that the embodiment of toxic masculinity won in the end. The guy that emotionally and verbally abused Alina all her life, gave her low self-esteem, made her suppress her true self, threatened to carve the power out of her, spoke over her and for her, wanted her to be the weak commoner he was familiar with, the one he could keep isolated and alone for himself….won

Mal the incel won. Leigh bardugo calling his behavior “healthy” and repeatedly failing to call out his emotional and verbal abuse is just….

i didnt realise this was a who you ship with alina poll. i chose inej.