The Grishaverse discussion
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Leigh Bardugo Q&As
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LEIGH BARDUGO Q&A - 5/1 at 3pm EST
WinterRose wrote: "I would also like to know if Mal and Zoya..tumbled. :)"Yes to this^^ Why does Zoya dislike Alina so much? Is it because of Mal? Did Zoya have something going on with the Darkling too?
(She's pretty outspoken in the tent before the Darkling tests Alina.)
Is Ivan secretly in love with the Darkling so that's why he's grumpy all the time? I mean he was the Darkling's second in command...late nights, roaring fire, eating dinner together, plans of world domination...it's really a beautiful story of unrequited love.
1. Does Ilya Morozova have any connection to the Darkling? 2. Are there any other Sun Summoners? In S&B, Zoya says "Are you saying that you've found A Sun Summoner?" Not THE Sun Summoner. 3. How old are Mal and Alina? 3. What is the significance between Black Heretic?
Maddie wrote: "Georjandavis wrote: "Maddie wrote: "If the Darkling is 120 years old why is everyone so cool with his attraction to a teenage girl?"#ThanksTwilight"
#ThanksObama."
My thoughts about comparing them to Twilight exactly. It's even worse lol... Edward and Bella were about ninety years apart. The Darkling and Alina are supposed to be hundreds of years apart.
I have questions about Baghra.According to what the Darkling said "The length of a Grisha’s life is proportional to his or her power. The greater the power, the longer the life. And when that power is amplified …"
We know that Baghra is a living amplifier as well, but she is ancient, even older than the Darkling, so she must be VERY powerful, right?
Is Baghra more powerful than the Darkling? How could she have lived so many years without turning sickly if she doesn't use her powers? I mean, Alina got sickly even after several years of repressing her powers, but Baghra has lived for millennia! Or does she use them in secret? Did the Darkling call her a Tidemaker randomly, or is she really one as well?
Shall we learn something about Baghra's relationship with the Darkling when he was still a child/young in R&R?
The Darkling and Baghra have a very ambiguous and emotional mother-son dynamic. I really want to learn more about their past in R&R, but is there a reason why she's still stayed with him at the palace or a reason why he's let her stay in S&B?Do they still rely on each other for protection, guidance, duty? I don't say love because that's opening too many doors. Why did the Darkling let her stay if Baghra frequently scolds him and (probably more than once) interferes with his plans?
Are Grisha powers strictly hereditary, or can a Grisha be born into a family of regular humans (and vice versa)?
Hi, Leigh! Could you approximate the Darkling's age? He always says he is ancient, but to me that would be a few thousands of years and I'm pretty sure he isn't that old, lol.
Did you anticipate the amount of Darkling love and Alarkling shippers since he's, well, the bad-guy, the villain? Or did you make him so complex for this reason? So that lots of fangirls could fuss over him? :) Or better yet: did you plan beforehand that he'd be a love interest or did he become one along the way?
Since there are so many love interests, what's your opinion on their chances? Has it been clear for you right from the start who Alina would end up with? Or did you discover alongside her who really stole her heart?
What made the Darkling decide to appoint Ivan as his sort of right hand in command?
Why did they have to kill the stag for an amplifier, the stag liked Alina, couldn't they have just cut the antlers? I hate seeing animals die :(. Also the flying creatures over the fold, is there any way to communicate with them, Alina thought she could hear some human in their screams? Thank You!
I really enjoyed Shadow and Bone, could you put a section in the back, translating the Russian words?
Meghan wrote: "Why did they have to kill the stag for an amplifier, the stag liked Alina, couldn't they have just cut the antlers? I hate seeing animals die :(. "I second that question! I also hate it when animals get killed by people and for some reason that scene with the stag made me way more frustrated than when the Darkling destroyed the village in the Tula valley.
First of all, thanks Leigh for doing this Q&A session(s) and thanks for having written such amazing books!I noticed a thing while re-reading Shadow and Bone, something I glossed over during the first read. At the end, before entering the Fold again, the Darkling says to Alina:
The people curse my name and pray for you
does he mean people curse his REAL name?
On an unrelated topic, I think the Darkling and Baghra both lied/hid things to Alina, so if you could give a %... who has been more honest with her?
Hello Leigh,Were you master of your story from the beginning to the end, or did it at one point grab your hand and tug you along the way; taking on a life of its own?
If yes, did the direction it take surprise you?
Also,was there any change of direction due to you being influenced by outer factors, such as perhaps the ideas and desires of admirers (something I think is totally natural-I think medieval minstrels functioned this way- and so did shakespeare, I believe ;)
Just one more question: What inspired the Volcra? I'm an admirer of Lovecraftian creatures, and of Gigger amongst others; and I couldn't stop wondering whether you had designed the Volcra from an image you saw, or a story you read? Or did they simply spring out of the deepest and darkest corners of your inspiration mine?
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful world and story with us! And also for being so kind and attentive to your fans.
May your digging in the mine of inspiration bring you lots and lots of extra puzzle pieces to help you create more stories! Take care
Mathilda
My daughter and I are reading this series together. We are eagerly anticipating the 3rd book. My question is: The vocabulary and the geography give the book a Nordic or Russian feel. What setting/s did you envision as you were drawing the landscape and from where did you draw the language? http://www.theloopylibrarian.com/book...
At the end of 5th chapter of S&B the maid tells Alina to make sure to lock the door to her room as a precaution. Then, Alina wonders "Precaution against what?". That is my question too - precaution against what?
I wanted to ask her about the third book, even though it's for the second book conversation...I wanted to ask if Darkling would ever be with Alina? Would they be together or will she choose Nikolai?
I'm not asking about the end of Ruin and Rising, but does it at least rhyme with Schmalina schmand Schmal Schmget Schmtogether?
If you had the power to change one decision you made in Shadow & Bone about a character, or a choice plot wise, what might it be?
Hi Leigh! I know you took inspiration from Russian folklore, and I know the firebird is taken from Russian folklore, but do the stag of Morozova and the sea serpent from the second book feature at all in Russian folklore?
Out of all of the characters in your books so far, who is your favorite character and why? And who is your least favorite character and why?Mine is probably Alina, because we're a lot alike :)
What made you choose a pseudo-Russian setting? I LOOOOOVE your language creation choices. So many of the words are just beautiful and so fun to say!
Does the legend of Koschei the deathless play any role in the Darklings background?
Mod
Where did you get the inspiration for this world?
Also, do you remember my review with the standing ovation and bow from Eric (True Blood)? Lolz."
Hey guys! I'm here and going to try to get through as many of these as I can :)
The inspiration for the world basically came from a Russian Imperial Atlas that I found at a used bookstore, but quite a bit of research went into it as well. If you'd like to see some of my sources, they're listed in the acknowledgments :)
Also I NEVER FORGET ERIC NORTHMAN! (um he may be the inspiration behind a character in my new project!)
Mod
I think my favorite scene to write was the winter fete. It was like being able to throw the most fabulous party of all time. Mermaids serving oysters? Why the heck not.
Mod
This is kind of a behind-the-scenes question but...
1. How did the Darkling react once he realized Alina was gone? D..."
Let's go one by one...
1. The trilogy is written from Alina's POV because I want you to be guessing right along with her. She doesn't know how the Darkling reacted, so the reader doesn't get to know either. Unless I someday release Darkling POV and if that happens it won't be for a long time.
2. Hmmm, not sure exactly what you're referring to. He definitely doesn't read minds but he is EXCELLENT at reading people and also has spies everywhere. This is a man who does his research.
3. The Darkling's chooses his favorites based on how best a Grisha's gifts can serve him. Is the Grisha powerful? Loyal? Can he or she be trusted? All these factors come into play.
Mod
Honestly, I built the Darkling to be appealing. If I wanted readers to reject him entirely, I'd pull a Vader or a Voldemort. Beyond that, I don't think it's for me to judge whether he can be forgiven or redeemed. My job is to tell the story and let the reader decide.
I like Darth Vader. I hated Anakin though....
Mod
Oh man, I would LOVE to see a Grisha graphic novel. Seriously that's a huge dream. As for a fashion line... hmmm, that's not something I'd ever pursue, but I have a serious softspot for cosplay and costuming. I'd love to see someone put up a pattern for a kefta!
Mod
I'm currently writing a new fantasy, but I can't say more than that. I hope to be able to tell more later this month!
What is the kefta supposed to look like? I'd like to be able to draw the characters, but currently, I'm mostly limited to the faces because of my lack of knowledge....
Mod
I've certainly thought about it and I've written some Darkling POV, but for now, I want readers to see him through Alina's eyes.
That said, the prequel short story in the Barnes & Noble special edition of Ruin and Rising does offer a pretty important glimpse into the Darkling's past.
Thanks for your answers Leigh!! I'm really in love with Grishaverse and I hope there are more stories to come after Alina story concludes. *sniffs*Does everyone know that Bahgra is the Darkling´s mother or is it only Alina??
As a reader I get heavily involved in a good book and find it difficult to pull myself out of their world to start something new. Do you become do emotionally involved and how do you get out of it?
Leigh wrote: "Kristine wrote: "Would you consider doing a bridge book, written from the perspective of the Darkling? I would LOVE to get inside his head."I've certainly thought about it and I've written some D..."
I was wondering, Is The Demon in the wood written from the Darkling's POV, or in third person like your other short stories?
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I get how the other novellas relate to the other books, so I'm thinking that I'm missing some sort of connection."
All of the folk tales (Witch of Duva, Too Clever Fox, Little Knife) are stories that Mal and Alina might have heard as children. That said, they're closely tied to the mythology of the world and there are bits of truth hidden in all of them.
For me, Duva offers a perspective on the way that the people of Ravka view "magic" and on the sacrifices brought to light by merzost as opposed to the Small Science.
Mod
The rights have been optioned by Dreamworks and David Heyman (Gravity, Harry Potter) and Jeff Clifford (Up in the Air) are our producers. But we'll just have to wait and see what happens!
Kinda of a silly question, but does the Darkling actually like herring all that much?
I want to ask all the questions about Ruin and Rising, but I won't, hih. <3 But I was wondering. If you were to live in the world you have created, would you rather have lived in Ravka, Shu Han or Fjerda? :) And do you think you would have been Grisha?
Mod
1. You'll learn more about the early Grisha in Ruin and Rising and in "Demon in the Wood." That said, Ravka is an old country and what is fact or faith or outright fiction can be hard to untangle.
2. After the accidental creation of the Fold, the Darkling had to create distance between himself and that particular "incarnation." I wouldn't be surprised if he came up with the name "The Black Heretic" himself to make it easier for people to vilify that Darkling.
3. Human amplifiers are rare, but they exist.
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You'll find out in Ruin and Rising. That was one of my favorite scenes to write.
What was the Darkling trying to do when the Fold accidently happened?
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I'd never seen AtLA or Korra before I wrote the books. But when I did watch them I was like "ohhh mannnnn" because I definitely see similarities. That said, elemental magic is a pretty common trope and I think the mythologies behind the worlds and the magical systems are pretty radically different.
I've also become a huge fan of AtLA, though I must confess I ship Zutara AND Kataang.
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1. After the party, did the Darkling go to Alina's chambers?
2. How long had the Darkling and his crew been following Mal and Alina in the woods?"
Sorry, if it's not on the page, I won't be answering questions like this. See above ;)
Hi Leigh, thank you for taking the time to answer these questions! If you were Grisha, what would you be?
Thank you so much for responding to my questions! Thank you for this awesome series. Me and my friends can't wait for Ruin and Rising.P.S. Now that I proved that I am a Darkling everyone respects me more at school ... so thank you again.
Mod
No, I don't think he was. And I don't think it was a shift. Mal really takes his relationship with Alina for granted at the start of the book. As much as he loves her, he's a seventeen year old boy; he hasn't forced himself to sort out what that love means—or what losing it might cost him.
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Also, we heard that you had sold the book rights to Dreamworks. Can you give us an update on any possible plans to develop a movie from the books?