The Grishaverse discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Leigh Bardugo Q&As
>
LEIGH BARDUGO Q&A - 5/1 at 3pm EST
Mod
Hmmm, that's a tough question. It's hard to quantify. All I can say is that it was REALLY hard to shift between them. I had to listen to particular songs to make the transition because I'd finish writing a Mal scene and I wouldn't want to work on a Darkling scene and vice versa.
Mod
(the letter he/you wrote was amazing. <3)"
Thank you! Right now, I don't plan to. I do love writing in Mal's voice though.
Mod
It's the lifespan of this particular Darkling "incarnation," so he was referring to that. The Darkling has faked his death many times so that he could be replaced by his "heir," but he tries to keep his lifespan as long as possible each time.
Hi, Ms. Bardugo, I was wondering, before the events of Siege and Storm, what color was Alina's hair? I've seen a lot of fan art with her being blond, but I don't remember ever reading a description of her physical features.
Also, how much time takes place over the course of the whole series?
Love your series and can't wait for Ruin and Rising!
Thanks for answering my questions!Maybe this can't be answered yet, but when the Darkling "dies" how long does he wait until his "heir" emerges? Does he change his appearance at all?
Mod
1. Did something happen between Mal and Zoya at the camps while Alina was away?
You'll find out!
2. Did the Darkling read the letters that Genya received from Alina? (I guess that's more related towards the Tailor but please answer)
Yes, the Darkling read ALL of Alina's correspondence.
3. How did the Darkling find out Alina ran away from the palace? Did he actually go visit her room?
Sorry, this falls under the category of "things I won't answer because of Alina's limited POV"
4. What happened to Mal's letter that he wrote to Alina that was found "near the northern border?"
Nothing. I imagine it was burned on a pile of refuse or cast back to the wind. Or maybe it was tucked into a stranger's pocket ;)
5. Can other Grisha besides dark and sun summoners use the Cut? If so, how exactly because don't the other Grisha like Etheralki manipulate things like air pressure and combustible substances?
Think of the Cut as concentrated power—a blade made of light, or fire, or even ice. It's a way of wielding matter—or the lack of it (in the Darkling's case, the dead and empty space)— in a focused and specific way.
6. Was the Darkling heavily drinking during the tent scene before the last trip to the fold?
Huh. Interesting question. I guess I'll answer this one—I don't see the Darkling as EVER drinking to excess. He doesn't like to be out of control.
7. Because Mal and Alina's ages were guessed and given the Duke Keramzin's birthday... are they as old as they think they are?
Mal and Alina are both around 17 at the start of the story, give or take a few months for birthday confusion.
8. Are the other deer in Morozova's herd less powerful amplifiers compared to the stag?
Hmm, this is kind of spoilery in terms of Siege and storm, but Morozova was known as the Bonesmith. The herd is mystical and existed before the stag became an amplifier. But the other deer are not amplifiers.
9. Can you estimate how long ago the whole Black Heretic and creation of the Fold was before the S&B events?
I'd prefer to keep that a bit cloudy, but you can put it at several hundred years.
What hobbies did the Darkling take up during the down time between incarnations? Evil?
Mod
I am not sure if this question has been..."
Thanks for the kind words! Most of the names have meaning, though some are simply invented. But a lot of them have little spoilers or information buried in there. Very few people have guessed at the correct origin of Mal's name, but I'll tell you that Malyen is the Ravkan version of Malcolm.
Sometimes there are practical considerations too, like a name needing to sound different from others, or I'll choose something just because I like the sound.
Mod
What's up with Baghra? That stifling hot hou..."
I hate to say this, but you'll find out the answers to both of these questions in Ruin and Rising ;)
Will we ever find out the answers to some of these questions that cannot be answered because we are restricted to Alina's POV? For example, will we ever find out if the Darkling went to Alina's room in R & R?
Mod
This is a complicated question. Genya is not really a different kind of Grisha. She has the skills of both a Corporalnik and a Materialnik. She's also not the only Tailor out there.
All I'll say is that the Small Science is just about the manipulation of matter at its most fundamental levels. The divisions between Grisha have much more to do with natural aptitude than any kind of strict division. In other words, a Tidemaker could attempt to work as a Heartrender, but it would be really, really tough.
Mod
Maybe a, maybe b, maybe a and b.
I keep wondering and worrying.. Alina has real feelings for Mal in Shadow and Bone, right? As in, I'm-in-love-with-you, and not just I-love-you. :)
How long did it take for you to have this world all mapped out? I love to write, and a well- thought out setting for any story I try to create is something I struggle with. What made you want to paint this unique plot with a Russian twist? If you could have brunch with anyone of your characters, who would you pick?
Mod
1.) Did the Darkling have any past relationships/hookups ? Don't judge me for asking, even Alina was wondering about his past romantic history lol :)
Going into lightning round mode so just gonna answer the first one. YES, he has. And I find it really peculiar that people even debate whether or not he has. I'm gonna chalk it up to the Cullen Effect.
Mod
Ahahahaha. Best question thus far.
Princes of the Universe: "I am immortal. I have inside me blood of kings. I have no rival. No man can be my equal." And if you think I had to google that, you are mistaken.
What were the songs that you listened to when writing the Alina/Darkling and Alina/Mal scenes?
Mod
--------
4. The book says "no Darkling & his heir can live at the palace at the same time", so that got me wondering... What happened to the Darkling's Father & was he a Darkling too? (although the Darkling seems like he may have some abandonment issues so that answer might be apparent!! ;-)
Thanks for coming out!! And lightning round so I'll go with the last one...
Keep in mind that policy was created by the Darkling to preserve the secret of his looooong life. However, you'll learn more about his past and his parentage in Ruin and Rising!
If the Darkling was alive and somehow came to be in the United States in, I don't know, say the Galleria Mall in Dallas Tx, what would his initial reaction be to the modern world? Would he be kinda like the characters in "Enchanted"?
Are the Grisha Orders supposed to represent like real life science ? Like The Corporalki represent Biology/Anatomy, The Etherealki represent Physics and The Materialki represent Chemistry?
Mod
That's a legit question. And if you remember, Baghra made a point of the power/age discrepancy to Alina.
As in their reactions to this age?
Mod
Also, we heard that you had sold the book..."
Hi, Baita!
I wrote each book separately. About half-way through Shadow and Bone, I began taking notes for a much larger story that I saw broken up over two more books. But my goal writing Shadow and Bone was simply to finish it and hope that someone would want to read it.
As for the movie, I don't have much news! I've been in the writing bunker, but hopefully we'll hear more soon :)
Mod
Yes to this^^ Why does Zoya dislike Alina so much? Is it because of Mal? Did Zoya have something going on with the Dar..."
You'll find out about Mal and Zoya. As for Zoya and the Darkling, never happened. Though she sure as heck wanted it to.
And I'll tell you a secret... Zoya is one of my favorite characters to write.
Mod
I can't speak to the inner workings of Ivan's heart, but the Darkling does inspire a great deal of loyalty and who knows what else.
I've always been unclear about this in the Witch of Duva: Were the missing girls eaten?
Thanks for answering my question Leigh!!! Totally amped up for R&R :-)
Mod
I'm just going to say that there have certainly been rumors of other Sun Summoners, but it's possible that those stories were the natural result of the fear and desperation caused by the Fold.
Mod
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 powe..."
Baghra is older than the Darkling. But she shows her age a great deal doesn't she? And she stays huddled up in that hut for warmth too. Not using your power ALWAYS has consequences.
Mod
I don't want to go too deeply into this, but mother/child relationships are always complex. I hope you'll come to understand the nature of their dynamic and the foundation of it better in Ruin and Rising. But I would say that it is never easy for a parent to dismiss a child or vice versa-- no matter the wrongs done. Baghra believes the Darkling can be redeemed. She feels responsible for the path he's on. The Darkling has no one else in the world who knows who he truly is or what he's been through.
Lotta baggage.
Mod
No.
Mod
Grisha can be born into otkazat'sya families, but there would have to be a Grisha somewhere back in the ancestral line—think of it as recessive gene.
Mod
I'm going to answer this question along with your next together. When I was writing Shadow and Bone, I had absolutely no knowledge of "team" or shipper culture so the idea that I might have readers that invested in a character or that the Darkling would ever be blessed with fangirls was completely beyond me. I didn't want him to be easily dismissed as a "villain," but I'll admit that I don't much like seeing him described as a "bad boy." For me, he isn't either of those things. But I'm also a cranky author ;)
As for which "love interest" if any will win out, all I can say is that I've always known how the trilogy would end and I've never wavered in that.
Mod
I noticed a thing while re-reading Shadow and Bone, something I glossed over during the f..."
Lol. You will get no honesty percentages from me!
That's an interesting question re the Darkling's name, but he's simply referring to his title. Clever catch though!
Mod
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 ..."
Hey, Mathilda!
I'm 90 minutes in and losing a bit of steam so I'll just say this
1. It's rare that the story surprises me, but there's definitely a change that happens when it takes on momentum of its own.
2. I wrote the first two books before anyone but my editor and agent had read Shadow and Bone, so I was lucky enough not to have many voices in my head influencing direction. I did at one point think about making the series muuuuuuch longer, but that was a pretty fleeting thought. I just don't think I'm a 12 book series kind of girl.
3. I love that you shouted out Giger!! Yes, his aliens were a big influence on the volcra. Also Blake's Red Dragon. And sharks. Because I'm terrified of sharks.
Mod
The language was heavily inspired by Russian and Slavic languages. But the landscape was largely invented and built around the idea of the Fold keeping the nation in a kind of geographic and economic stranglehold. If you pop by leighbardugo.com I have lots of links to information on worldbuilding, language, and the way the story developed in the "World of the Grisha" section :)
Hope you guys are enjoying!
Mod
People have made much over this, but my intent was just to show that the danger of assassination was still in play and that even the protection of the Darkling has its limits. Hope that helps!
Mod
There's a lot of animal myth in Slavic folklore, but the creatures are my own as are the legends associated with them. There is one firebird story that is closely tied to the trilogy, but the rest is my spin on the myth.
Mod
Mine is probably Alina, because we're a lot alike :)"
This is going to be my last answer as I am totally wiped out. You guys hit me with some great questions! I'll try to tackle more when we get to Siege and Storm.
Casey, I'm delighted that you see yourself in Alina. I think Sturmhond is probably my favorite character to write, but Genya and Zoya are up there too. Honestly, I feel close to all of my characters. Except for the King. He and the Queen are probably the closest I've come to writing straight up villains. Even so, I hope there are moments when you glimpse the humanity they might have had.
Just want to take a second to thank everyone for being a part of the re-read and for asking questions here. I am so nervous/excited/READY to share Ruin and Rising with you guys, and seeing your enthusiasm and engagement here has meant so much.
xoxoxoxo
Leigh
Thank you for all of those great answers!!! <3
Leigh wrote: "Lol. You will get no honesty percentages from me! "XD It was worth a try XD ;)
Thank you very much for your time and for doing this! :)
will we find out the darklings real name in ruin and rising???
What makes Alina's amplifiers, i.e the Sea Whip and Stag so special? How are they different from other animals that are used as amplifiers?
Thank you so much Ms. Bardugo! You are spectacular!!!
how many people die in Ruin And Rising
Thank you so much it's amazing that your doing this and I can't wait for Ruin and Rising !!!'
Leigh wrote: "The Loopy Librarian wrote: "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 ..."Thanks! I'll do that.
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
How is this even possible?! (Zutara FTW)