Ruin and Rising
discussion
Should the Darkling & Alina be endgame?
Haha, Cari, that was just cruel :P By the way, I never though the Darkling's appearance was the result of a Tailor's work.Do you remember at some point in this discussion the Darkling was compared to Koschei the Deathless?
When I was a kid, I knew and read countless stories and movies about this villain, and in all of them he was old and ugly. But now I started thinking - what if Koschei actually was young-looking and beautiful? Would then the girl he kidnapped in every story prefer him to the other, good guy, Ivan or whatever his name was? Would she fall in love with the bad guy? Would she see his side of the story, try to understand him?
@Natalia- Well, I thought old and badass and Keith Richards came to mind. Sorry!! :))I need to find this Koschei story. Is it from Russian folklore? I remember you guys mentioned it at some point and it escaped me until now that you say it again.
Personally, I don't think his looks come from a tailor, anymore than Zoya's do. But I think Abigayle brings a good point in that it reminded me that now Genya will be finally free to say everything that she knows about him and we may learn a lot about things that happened behind the scenes. (I hope she didn't do work on him though! I think her work for him was merely spying, but I think we will know soon enough!)
Also, the Keith Richards joke reminded me of "Headcanons for Ruin and Rising," hilarious end of series scenarios:
http://lyresandlasers.tumblr.com/tagg...
Also, for some reason I remembered this conversation between Alina and the Darkling from S&B. «Well, then, roughly how old are you?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Because I’ve heard stories about you since I was a child, but you don’t look much older than I am,” I said honestly.
“What kind of stories?”
“The usual kind,” I said with some annoyance. “If you don’t want to answer me, just say so.”
“I don’t want to answer you.”
“Oh.”
Then he sighed and said, “One hundred and twenty. Give or take.»
I laughed then, because he didn't even tell her a lie. He said "give or take", but didn't mention how much she was supposed to "give". )))
Cari wrote: "I need to find this Koschei story. Is it from Russian folklore? I remember you guys mentioned it at some poi..."I think WinterRose mentioned this book Deathless, but I haven't read it and I don't know if it's any good.
I was referring to the stories I read (or that my mother read to me when I was too young) and the movies I watched as a kid.
I am so naïve I completely believed the 125 years when I first read it. Then, after it was established he was much older I went back to when he told Alina about the Black Heretic and noticed he said "my great-great-great grandfather." That has to be more or less his age. How old would that be like 400 years?Thanks for the info. I'll look it up. It's kind of sad Koschei's bride is his "undoing," if we're seeing them as the Darkling and Alina. But perhaps because that has been written before, Bardugo will opt for a different ending.
@Cari Haha cute picture. Actually quite the opposite, I was humorously thinking that Genya was toning "down" his looks because of how he got even better-looking continually through the book (specifically the beginning and climax) but that might just be my inner fear if he wasn't gorgeous. It's possible though, but I hope it's not because I really want to imagine him the same gorgeous way we've always have. I need to read this Deathless story too. It sounds spot-on towards DarklingxAlina. I wonder if Leigh's read it before or after she wrote S&B...
When R&R/the Darkling's story comes out, I'm really looking forward to Genya's thoughts about what happened in S&B and before her eye was gauged. Not only could we find out what the Darkling's plans were, but she can probably tell us just how far the Darkling's obsession/attraction for Alina was. Genya was able to tell Alina was falling for him and warned her to be careful, but what if she detected something about the Darkling?
@ Cari, Deathless is VERY dark and different, but pretty good. The author doesn't sugar coat things in ways that many YA authors do or shy away from violence and dark themes. She doesn't hesitate to show the darkness in the heroine either, which I appreciated. The main characters reminded me a bit of Alina and the Darkling, albeit maybe a little more maturely handled. They're both cruel to each other at times but their love runs deep and painfully.@ Abigayle, I actually found out about Deathless because Leigh raved about it. :) So she has read it!
Maybe it's just me but I can't imagine the Darkling wanting a tailor to make him better looking. I think he was probably naturally good looking (Baghra is described as once being beautiful) but using his powers also made him even more so. Having one tone down his looks is interesting though! Reminds me of Fire from Kristin Cashore's books. She had to hide her appearance because she was so attractive.
Two things I wondered. Why 120? I know he says give or take, but why that number? Random or something else? Also, why call Baghra a tidemaker? Why that specific Grisha?@ Abigayle. I'm also curious how the Darkling managed to fake all those deaths, but also how long until his "son" took his place? I mean he'd have to alter his appearance somewhat if he emerged shortly after dying. People would recognize him. Maybe he just did minor adjustments, so he looked the same but different, like how a son can look very much like their father. And what about the "mother?" Did anyone ever wonder who the mother was?
Aaaaahhhh, so many good points. You guys have my head spinning... in a good way! :)@Winter- I've been thinking about your previous comment on why does Alina refers to the volchra as monsters and then children. Remember how at some point in S&S Alina is having these dreams that basically mean she's scared of being a housewife and leading a normal life? Well it just hit me that in a way this is the exact opposite: she's embracing an idea of motherhood, or family, that's contrary to the traditional notion. I'm guessing that,in that final moment, she recognizes in the Darkling and all they are together (light and darkness, good and bad) a sense of belonging. She's terrified of being a housewife but surrounded by him and their monsters, their children, she's found her identity.
I'm definitely interested in checking out "Deathless." It says that it's #1. Do you know if it's part of a trilogy too? I have the hardest time waiting, so I might wait for the second installment to become available before I start to read.Most likely Genya will have a big role in R&R. I can't wait for her and Alina to be friends again. She's the only female friend Alina's ever had and I just want them to make amends. Didn't Leigh say there was a wedding in R&R? I'm guessing it's David and Genya's. That should be beautiful (and pretty conflicting for Alina) too.
I hope R&R clarifies more about how the Darkling faked his deaths and came back. This is something I didn't think much about but now that you guys mention it, it's quite puzzling. I mean, you can look a lot like your dad, but would people buy it if he looked identical? So perhaps there have been some tailoring, even if temporary, to look younger or slightly different.
Also, I'd like to know more about the Darkling's mistresses or paramours or whatever it is they called them. Once again, I wonder if Zoya was on that list. Just because she's been so ridiculously jealous of Alina and also because they share the same taste in guys, it seems.
"Do you know if it's part of a trilogy too?"Just a stand alone. I don't think there are plans for any sequels, but I haven't researched it thoroughly.
" I mean, you can look a lot like your dad, but would people buy it if he looked identical?"
I know that's what makes me wonder if he waited years for the "next" Darkling to emerge or not. I definitely hope that's explained.
"Also, I'd like to know more about the Darkling's mistresses or paramours or whatever it is they called them."
Me too! I'm also curious if he's ever loved anyone or any past relationships. I'm kind of bummed Leigh didn't make more than 3 books with such an interesting character. I read a lot of urban fantasy which features complex immortal characters and thank goodness those are 5-8 books haha.
About the theory that the Darkling needs a tailor to made him attractive, The author cleary said (during an interview)that if she wants to create a villian she would imagine a Valdemort, instead he is handsome because it's the way she sees the dictator.Anyway, I definetely think that Alina and the Darkling should be together. At least, she would not end up with Mal. He is not the good one for her. Two mouths left; so so excited.
@Cari, @WinterRose, yeah the whole identical looks thing would be a problem. The more I think about it, he might've just had Genya make him look like he's aging a few decades later (you know, providing that Alina never came into play of his future plans) But still questioning that it would be this generation we'd see the real him. So now I'm crossing fingers that he's even more attractive ;)@Mirou, Good point. I think I remember reading that on Leigh's tumblr.
For the Demon in the Woods, agreed. There should be some past romantic relationship mentioned, whether it was real love or sexual, to explain his thoughts on loneliness. Also, Baghra will probably play a big role. Hopefully she'll have a lot more character comprehension as a mother and we'll see just how she affected him to create such a twisted mother-son dynamic.
Concerning the entire trilogy and the Darkling and Alina's relationship, are we going to find out if there were any other "darkness summoners" or "sun summoners" before he became the Darkling? Or after? I mean what happened to make him and secretly his mother the only mentioned ones of their kind(if the Darkling's power is so rare and respected in the Second Army I'd think they'd want more summoners like that), and why was Alina the last known Sun Summoner for who knows how long? Did he have anything to do with it? I bet this all plays into the creation of the Fold somehow...
“Fine,” he said with a weary shrug. “Make me your villain.”I love that line. XD
^Me too!@ Abigayle. I too wondered about if there was ever another sun summonor. The Darkling said he has been waiting for her a long time, so he obviously knew she would exist. How'd he know?
Has he sought her out because she can help him control the fold? Or had he been looking for her BEFORE the fold was ever created, believing she was meant to be his other half so to say?
(I still can't believe we're getting 30 pages of his POV. I sort of wish though that it was present time, instead of way back in his youth. I suppose it will explain how he came to gain the title of the Darkling. Why chose that title though? Why choose an eclipse, too?)
Vindictev wrote: "That being said, I don't believe the Darkling and Alina will be endgame because Alina has loved Mal all her life and always will.“I have loved you all my life, Mal,” I whispered through my tea..."
*SPOILER FOR SHATTER ME SERIES* JULIETTE TOLD ADAM THE SAME THINGS BUT LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM OOPS
im joining this discussion now because I've been looking for something like this for 80 years holla
Zenaida wrote: "im joining this discussion now because I've been looking for something like this for 80 years holla" Welcome to the club ))
Okay, guys, I decided this: I won't be buying the B&N edition with the Darkling prequel immediately, because I'm not sure international shipping will work fast, and I really need to start R&R as soon as it comes out. It would suck if I received it about two weeks later. So I'll have to survive without it for a while and read an ebook instead, BUT if I like the book and the Darkling will not be killed in it I will buy it afterward for my reread and proudly add it to my bookshelves.
Since the prequel is a bonus, I think the story should make sense even without it, but if I get pissed at the ending I might want to throw it against the wall and I really don't want to, it's too pretty.
Zenaida wrote: "Vindictev wrote: "That being said, I don't believe the Darkling and Alina will be endgame because Alina has loved Mal all her life and always will.“I have loved you all my life, Mal,” I whispe..."
Good point. I coudn't agree more
@ Natalia. Once I pre-ordered a book, it didn't come in on time, so I bought the e-book so I didn't have to wait. lol I'm impatient like that.I'm sure people will post about the Darkling prequel though. It will be all over Tumblr, haha.
@Natalia and WinterRose Same here. I pre-ordered the ebook. I'm wondering if it becomes available at midnight. That would be sooo great!!! Today someone was saying the pre-order option for the kindle US version was not available and they kept getting the UK version, which will be available two days later. So I'll have to double check, but last time I did everything seemed fine.
Regardless of the outcome, I'll go to the only B&N left around here to read the prequel. I don't want to think too much about bad scenarios.
Do you think Leigh is bluffing every time she hints at enjoying upcoming death and suffering...? T.T
Also, did you guys notice there will be a QnA with Leigh after the release of R&R? (June 26 at 3pm EST / 12pm PST) I'm really looking forward to that. I mean whatever happens, at least we get some answers.
Also, it gives us two weeks to read it. I think, probably, I'll read it fast just to know if everyone lives and then immediately re-read it for details.
Cari wrote: "Do you think Leigh is bluffing every time she hints at enjoying upcoming death and suffering...? T.T"I'm not sure of anything anymore. I already have two final books this year where the heroine ended up with the guy I WASN'T rooting for, one of them I just finished yesterday. I'm sad. I hope it isn't a year of ruined and disappointing final books for me. Sorry for this pessimistic bit, that's how I feel today. *Goes to eat some chocolate*
The Darkling simply MUSTN'T die. If he does, any other books in the Grisha world Bardugo plans to write won't be the same. You just don't go and kill off the most loved character of your series.
@Natalia I'm sorry your other books have had sad endings. Enjoy your chocolate. It's good for the soul! :) I had some today as well.Well, this is all you need to keep in mind: the Darkling HAS already "died" countless times. What's one more? Even if it appears he does, it could be a ruse. Right? So, let's try not to worry.
*hugs*
Hi new to this conversation. I think that the more you analyze Alina's options the more you see the benegits of her not ending with someone because let's be honest everytime she was baddas 80% of the time she wasn't distracted by boy drama but hey it's just my opinion.
Prayer circle that if the Darkling "dies" he managed to fool Alina and everyone else. That's sort of the ending I'm banking on. I do wonder though. What would happen to him if he destroyed the fold? Would the king (probably Nikolai in the end) let him live? IDK. I'm personally curious if he's done something like this before, risen up against the throne.
@WinterRose, if for some horrible reason the Darkling should die... there'd be a fangirl vigil somewhere online we can all probably join :)@Elena, welcome to the group. Not sure if you read through all the posts but it looks like we pretty much discuss anything, whether or not it has to do with DarklingxAlina lol...
...that being said, I wanted to bring up the BEFORE and AFTER Leigh always writes in her books. I love them and they always start out with "the boy and girl" referring to Mal and Alina. The ending of R&R always comes up in my mind so what would happen if the group members who supported DxA were right and something happened to Mal in the epilogue? Or even the chances that Leigh wouldn't end the series the way she started it with "the boy and girl dreaming about a meadow?"
@Elena- We've contemplated that possibility too. Alina, beautiful and terrible, leaving the boys behind while she enjoys all the power... The thing is that doesn't seem very much like a YA ending. Although perhaps there have been series that ended like that: "screw the boys, I want the power!" ? Let us know if you've read such an ending. It's always good to know if there's precedent :)
WinterRose wrote: "Prayer circle that if the Darkling "dies" he managed to fool Alina and everyone else. That's sort of the ending I'm banking on. I do wonder though. What would happen to him if he destroyed the fo..."
Me too. I decided that whatever happens, the Darkling will be alive. (So if I log on a sobbing mess, please remind me! )
Well, as you point out in R&R quite possibly Nikolai will be king. So he'll perhaps be facing the Darkling directly to try and recover the throne.
What I don't understand about the current situation is this: What is the Darkling doing in the throne, exactly?
If he wanted to be king, he's had hundreds of years to accomplish that. I am sure there must have been quite a few incompetent kings that could have been easily convinced to step aside, by force or cunning.
Bahgra said he's been serving countless kings, bidding his time waiting for Alina. What does that mean? That he was meant to rule only when she was around?
Also, on super-powerful grisha dying... How did Morozova die really? I don't quite get how mere humans get to kill these incredibly powerful beings, such as the first grisha. Could it be that faking their deaths is more common than we think?
Cari wrote: "Bahgra said he's been serving countless kings, bidding his time waiting for Alina. What does that mean? That he was meant to rule only when she was around?..."He was probably waiting for a Sun Summoner to show up so he could find a way to "save" Ravka and control the Shadow Fold. Like you said about the few incompetent kings he could've overthrown, the Darkling easily had the power and army to, but he'd still have a dying nation without ports and resources because of the Fold, a threat he had no ability to stop, and would've had a failing reign. Whether or not he is just ruling in Ravka's best interest, the Darkling knows that the Fold was his best weapon and greatest downfall. So to have the most gain, he needed Alina's power to use the Fold against the other countries.
@WinterRose and Cari, Nikolai is according to Kirkus "the last political hope for Ravka's future" so most likely, our Sobachka is alive and the next king. Has anyone read the review? I got worried because now it seems like Nikolai is a bigger romantic interest than the Darkling... there's barely any mention of him, its just a growing "fondness for Nikolai" and "naked lust for power." (sorry I can never seem to write a short post)
[...]Together with faithful childhood friend and would-be lover Mal and the last few remnants of the rebellious Grisha who aided her in the failed rising against the Darkling, Alina leaves the dubious protection of the Rasputin-like Apparat and the zealots who hail her as a saint to go looking for tsarevich Nikolai and for the fabled firebird. They seek Nikolai as the last political hope for Ravka’s future and the firebird for the third amplifier that will make Sun Summoner Alina invincible against the Darkling and powerful enough to unmake the Unsea that divides Ravka in two. Neither quest is easy or obvious, as Bardugo places obstacles both physical and emotional in Alina’s path at every turn. She is most successful at delineating Alina’s internal conflict as she struggles to balance love for Mal against both pragmatism and fondness for Nikolai, desire for peace and justice against naked lust for power[...] Every time readers may think she’s written herself into a corner, Bardugo pulls off a twist that, while surprising, will keep them turning pages furiously.
Abigayle wrote: "@WinterRose and Cari, Nikolai is according to Kirkus "the last political hope for Ravka's future" so most likely, our Sobachka is alive and the next king. Has anyone read the review? I got worrie..."
I read it ! And, yeah, I'm so confused now. What does that mean ? *Ahh, Want to weep*
Okay *Take a deep breath*
Maybe, Kirkus didn't want to tell us more about the Darkling just in purpose ? What do you think ?
"I got worried because now it seems like Nikolai is a bigger romantic interest than the Darkling."I noticed that too in the review. "Alina’s internal conflict as she struggles to balance love for Mal against both pragmatism and fondness for Nikolai." - This definitely indicates that Nikolai is a love interest in contrast to Mal, which is odd since the Darkling is technically more of a love interest (in the sense that he's been given the love interest treatment from the author with the set up, development, etc.)
The lack of the Darkling in the review could be because they don't want to spoil anything. Though this was on the UK Amazon site:
For Alina, time is running out. To destroy the Darkling, she needs to find the elusive firebird, and she needs to find it soon.
The Darkling’s power is growing. And so is his connection to Alina. Can Alina escape the hold he has over her? Does she want to?
IDK MAN.
"I wanted to bring up the BEFORE and AFTER Leigh always writes in her books."I've thought of this too. Interesting enough, from what I've seen of the BEFORE prologue of R&R, it doesn't start off about a boy and girl. It's about a monster who got lost in the dark. :P
So it's hard to tell how the AFTER will end. In a way it does seem inconsistent for it NOT to mention Alina and Mal, but maybe this will be the Darkling's book as much as Alina's and he'll be in the AFTER. I'm just not sure.
@ Cari. The more I think about it, I think it's clear the Darkling really is trying to do what's best for Ravka. Because as you mentioned (and Abigayle) he could have probably taken over before. If he was just on a power trip and wanted to rule in darkness or whatever, he wouldn't care about the fold, resources, ports, etc. He'd just take over. The fact that he's been waiting, I think, is a good indicator that he does believe what he's doing is in the best interest of Ravka.
Regarding Alina and the fold, I think he wanted to control it so he could use it as a weapon if necessary. (Not a bad idea, honestly.) I'm curious what he was trying in the first place that resulted in the fold.
I think people got my idea wrong. The ending I was imagining was something like this. Alina "sacrifices" herself to destroy the fold. Few years later after Nikolai is crowned king and Mal, Genya and the rest find their happy endings(assuming nobody dies, which is not very likely) and everyone thinks that Alina and the Darkling "are dead", somehow they see two people who "mysteriously" look like Alina and the Darkling.And the book ends with the After and probably announcing a new Grisha book.
Sorry for the wall of text!!
Elena wrote: "I think people got my idea wrong. The ending I was imagining was something like this. Alina "sacrifices" herself to destroy the fold. Few years later after Nikolai is crowned king and Mal, Genya an..."Oh my. I never think about it, but, actually, your end can possible possible. But how you explain the Darkling death ?
Mirou wrote: "Elena wrote: "I think people got my idea wrong. The ending I was imagining was something like this. Alina "sacrifices" herself to destroy the fold. Few years later after Nikolai is crowned king and..."The thing is I think in the end they would probably "sacrifice" themselves so that Ravka would get better and since we don't know how the Darkling faked his death for like so many times he wouldn't have a problem doing it and in Alina's case people would see her more as a Saint so the deception would be stronger, so that when they don't find her body it would be like in Morozova's case becaude in the book it is mentioned that there are a lot of places where people claim his bones are but nobody knows exactly what happened to him you know.
Also now that I think of Morozova, the Apparat mentioned that he has the Morozova journals. What it is intresting is that:
A) if the firebird, the sea whip and Morozova's stag are "legends" how old are they and how were they created?
B) if the Darkling had the Morozova journals why didn't he hunt the amplifiers before, and why did he not know about the ilustriations in Istorii Sankt’ya?
C) since the Darkling isn't the first to control darkness, that must mean that Alina and Mal(whatever his power is) aren't the first of their kind, also why are there fewer peole with power over the light and darkness Etherealki are the most common?
Sorry for the wall of text again!
My previous post disappeared >.<@Abigayle and @WinterRose- While I like Nikolai, I'm very conflicted about the possibility that R&R will focus too much on him. At least I hope the relationship between Alina and the Darkling is explored more and that Alina can understand it better before the end.
While I'm still not happy about it, there are three things that help me understand why Nikolai might end up with Alina:
1. Based on Kirkus and book cover descriptions, the Darkling will most likely remain being the terrible "villain" in this book.
2. At the end of S&S, Alina and Mal's relationship is in tatters.
3. Throughout S&S, Nikolai's character is developed as a "happy medium," encompassing many of the desirable qualities from the Mal and the Darkling.
I can see all this but still my brain can't believe this is how it may all end. Alina and the King...? Bah humbug ;p
Elena wrote: "I think people got my idea wrong. The ending I was imagining was something like this. Alina "sacrifices" herself to destroy the fold. Few years later after Nikolai is crowned king and..."I think that would be a very interesting ending. I like your questions too. There is so much we don't really know about the first Grisha and the Darkling as well. You should definitely ask the author those questions during the QnA.
I also find Morozova and everything surrounding the saints very intriguing. My guess is there was a time in Ravka when "magic" was more prevalent and that is where many of their legends and stories come from. For some reason that period came to an end and people where made to believe none of it was real. I'd like to know why it ended and why does no one know these legends come from true events.
Cari wrote: "Elena wrote: "I think people got my idea wrong. The ending I was imagining was something like this. Alina "sacrifices" herself to destroy the fold. Few years later after Nikolai is crowned king and..."Thanks! I think I will ask the author some of my questions!
Also about your concerns regarding the fact that Alina might end up with Nikolai:
A) If they end up together this means that 1. Alina would be queen, she would be obligated to have children and we know that is not exactly what she plans and 2. Alina is Grisha and The Sun Summoner meaning that she would age really really slow and what would happen if Nikolai died and he didn't have any heirs? You see where I am going? :)
B) Alina wants power but not so much in the political sense but more over her life and her power.
There's so many questions surrounding the Darkling and his nature that Leigh is going to have to explore it in R&R. Why would Leigh even write about small, but very crucial Alarkling moments if they weren't necessary to revealing the Darkling's true nature? Such as the scene where Alina asks the Darkling why he won't leave her alone and he says "because then I'd be alone too". I think Leigh was trying to hint something for us. It doesn't seem likely that Leigh would leave the Darkling as the terrible villain that people assume him to be in the series.
Yeah, after reading the Kirkus review, I see how Nikolai becomes the most probable endgame :/. Maybe the reviewer just didn't want to reveal too much about the Darkling? ugh
Zenaida wrote: "Yeah, after reading the Kirkus review, I see how Nikolai becomes the most probable endgame :/. Maybe the reviewer just didn't want to reveal too much about the Darkling? ugh"Same, I hope that's the case. Hopefully we don't get any huge character changes in the story. Thanks WinterRose for the inside flap info:
"[...]The Darkling's power is growing. And so is his connection to Alina. Can Alina escape the hold he has over her? Does she want to?
Mal is the one person Alina can rely on in an increasingly uncertain world. But could giving in to the bond between them be the most dangerous decision of all?"
I love that Destroy Me comes up so often in this group. (Don't want to spoil anything) but the huge changes in character development of Adam and Warner almost ruined my impression on the series. Leigh said if we saw the Darkling's POV, he wouldn't seem like a villain. Should we expect anything off from Mal as Alina's friend/love interest since he's still a disgraced tracker, unaware that Alina can't see a future where she doesn't outlive him, but now has an ambiguously new power (which I think is that he's a human amplifier)? I don't think it could mean much but I was so wrong in Destroy Me :(
I haven't read "Destroy Me" but from what I understand the author gave everyone "the old switcheroo" in the end.I've seen the comparison come up often but I'm not entirely sure we're talking about the same situation here, though. Leigh herself has said the Darkling is not a villain, but an antagonist. So that should not come as a surprise to the readers, but to Alina and company.
The books themselves have many instances in which the Darkling alludes at being misunderstood. So, in a way, we're all expecting to understand the Darkling better and finally see there's a reason to his behavior. I don't think this means he's all of a sudden a perfect guy or the quintessential good guy in disguise, though.
If Mal turned out to be the villain, that would be entirely forced and OOC. Nothing in the series points to the fact that Mal may have a secret agenda of evil and destruction or an inclination to do so. Yes, we all know there's more to Mal as well. So far, everything points to the fact that he could be the human amplifier. And Leigh said that human amplifiers can only be used when they give up their lives so... that could mean either him or the Darkling could take the place of the Firebird, if Alina can't find it or wont kill it.
Also Mal is not oblivious at all. He knows Alina is really becoming power-hungry and that the amplifiers are changing her. Still he's by her side because he loves her and he also has a sense of duty to finish what they started.
Leigh likes plot twists and she's actually good at it. I'm counting on that... hopefully we'll not see the same bad trick pull on two series in a row.
"since the Darkling isn't the first to control darkness, that must mean that Alina and Mal(whatever his power is) aren't the first of their kind, also why are there fewer peole with power over the light and darkness Etherealki are the most common?"Maybe controlling the darkness has something to do with being an amplifier? Since both Baghra and the Darkling are amplifers. Also, was Baghra the first? Did the Darkling inherit that ability?
I know we all love Baghra but I'm very curious about her past relationship with the Darkling. I'm not convinced she's this innocent old lady who is the victim of his "evilness." There's definitely parts of their story we don't know.
WinterRose wrote: "I know we all love Baghra but I'm very curious about her past relationship with the Darkling. I'm not convinced she's this innocent old lady who is the victim of his "evilness." There's definitely parts of their story we don't know."It's good that you mentioned it. There was this little bit in S&B that drew my attention while I was rereading the book:
«Baghra scowled. “You’re a fool.”
“I’ve been called worse. Often by you.”
“This is folly. You must reconsider.”
The Darkling’s face went cold. “I must? You don’t give me orders anymore, old woman. I know what has to be done.»
So I kinda agree that there is more to Baghra than what we know. And maybe the Darkling really is the "tortured Momma's boy" as someone mockingly called him in this thread.
"Leigh herself has said the Darkling is not a villain, but an antagonist. So that should not come as a surprise to the readers, but to Alina and company."Most definitely. I mean to me it's pretty obvious in the books alone that the Darkling isn't evil. (Evil power hungry monsters don't sit with their men on the ground and only eat their ration of the food like the rest of them okay. lmao) So I won't be surprised if the Darkling shows good qualities in R&R. I also won't be surprised if Mal shows bad qualities because I think he already has, despite Alina not really recognizing them. (I mean not villainous qualities, but enough that Alina may realize he isn't the right guy for her. Or maybe not. I guess I'm just saying he isn't as perfect as she's always believed.)
Which is where Nikolai might just come into play, because I agree with you Cari that he is sort of presented as the medium between Mal and the Darkling. Again, I wonder if the Darkling was once a bit like Nikolai.
Here's one thing to consider. It's not really that Alina is choosing a guy. She's choosing the life that will come with the guy. (And this is different for each of them.)
Basically, I think the Grisha and First Army will merge in the end. (Nikolai was already doing that in S&S) But I think Alina will oversee the Grisha training. So which guy fits into this picture best? To be honest, I think Nikolai has the best chances. Mal wants nothing to do with the palace or Alina ruling/leading, and the Darkling believes Grisha are superior and I'm not sure how he'd feel about trying to make the Grisha and First Army as equals.
As of right now, I do think Nikolai has the best chance; however, Mal may learn to accept that Alina (to quote the Darkling) doesn't want the life of a mouse. The Darkling may learn to open up and compromise. We'll see.
@ Cari Agreed. I actually started laughing at the idea of Mal becoming a villain :) I was only worried at the possibility of huge character changes, not good-guy/bad-guy personality switches. We know that Mal and Alina have communication problems in S&S, but does he know that the amplifiers not only makes Alina power-thirsty, but gives her the potential to stay youthful for generations while he would've continued aging. One of Alina's biggest fears is that she'll have to watch him age and die but I don't think she ever told him about this or if its inferred that he knows.
@WinterRose, if Baghra told more of her perspective and past, we'd probably have so many secrets revealed about the Darkling, the two's powers, and Ravka's history. Since Baghra's even older than the Darkling, not as powerful but enough to have lived so long, she might have known about Morozova's past too...
Sorry for the word vomit lol. Two more things to consider here. Awhile ago Leigh released a Shadow and Bone playlist. First song was Placebo's cover of Running Up That Hill and Leigh wrote:"Cool, driving intensity. This is the Darkling's song. Power seduces and it isolates, and for me, this is the story of a boy king, alone in his castle.
It doesn't hurt me
You wanna feel how it feels?
You wanna know, know that it doesn't hurt me?
You wanna hear about the deal I'm making?
I think this is a song about both the Darkling's heart and the face he presents to the world. Tell me we both matter, don't we?"
Second thing. Another thing she has said was:
"Now, if you’re asking if “The Too-Clever Fox” holds clues to Sturmhond’s fate, my answer is… maybe."
Also this:
"I like heroes who struggle and screw up. I like bad men who pretend to be good and good men who pretend to be bad. I like good men who have forgotten how to be good."
Guuuyyyysss!!! Did you check out the Macmillan site for the trilogy? There are 4 new scenes from R&R to "unlock"!!At least one features the Darkling... How do we unlock them, I wonder :)
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Ah, that's good news. I hope she does something similar. Tumblr would be perfect because she can easily sort and "group" the questions, which is more efficient than going one by one.