The Night is Dark and Full of Terrors

God wants you to fight.

Jon Snow & Sansa Stark + ASOIAF

Sansa Stark Month 2022 - Day 09 - Music

Jon Snow & Sansa Stark + ASOIAF

Sansa Stark Month 2022 - Day 09 - Music

Jon Snow Month 2022

Day 3: Personality traits and skills

Observant

Jon's eyes were a grey so dark they seemed almost black, but there was little they did not see. (Bran I, AGOT)

[...] His uncle glanced over his shoulder at the raised table at the far end of the hall. “My brother does not seem very festive tonight.”

Jon had noticed that too. A bastard had to learn to notice things, to read the truth that people hid behind their eyes. His father was observing all the courtesies, but there was tightness in him that Jon had seldom seen before. He said little, looking out over the hall with hooded eyes, seeing nothing. Two seats away, the king had been drinking heavily all night. His broad face was flushed behind his great black beard. He made many a toast, laughed loudly at every jest, and attacked each dish like a starving man, but beside him the queen seemed as cold as an ice sculpture. “The queen is angry too,” Jon told his uncle in a low, quiet voice. “Father took the king down to the crypts this afternoon. The queen didn’t want him to go.”

Benjen gave Jon a careful, measuring look. “You don’t miss much, do you, Jon? We could use a man like you on the Wall.” (Jon I, AGOT)

Kind

“It be a mercy to kill them,” Hullen said.

Bran looked to his lord father for rescue, but got only a frown, a furrowed brow. “Hullen speaks truly, son. Better a swift death than a hard one from cold and starvation.”

“No!” He could feel tears welling in his eyes, and he looked away. He did not want to cry in front of his father.

[...]

“Lord Stark,” Jon said. It was strange to hear him call Father that, so formal. Bran looked at him with desperate hope. “There are five pups,” he told Father. “Three male, two female.”

“What of it, Jon?”

“You have five trueborn children,” Jon said. “Three sons, two daughters. The direwolf is the sigil of your House. Your children were meant to have these pups, my lord.”

Bran saw his father’s face change, saw the other men exchange glances. He loved Jon with all his heart at that moment. Even at seven, Bran understood what his brother had done. The count had come right only because Jon had omitted himself. He had included the girls, included even Rickon, the baby, but not the bastard who bore the surname Snow, the name that custom decreed be given to all those in the north unlucky enough to be born with no name of their own.

Their father understood as well. “You want no pup for yourself, Jon?” he asked softly.

“The direwolf graces the banners of House Stark,” Jon pointed out. “I am no Stark, Father.” (Bran I, AGOT)

Longclaw was not so long or heavy a sword as his father’s Ice, but it was Valyrian steel all the same. He touched the edge of the blade to mark where the blow must fall, and Ygritte shivered. “That’s cold,” she said. “Go on, be quick about it.”

He raised Longclaw over his head, both hands tight around the grip. One cut, with all my weight behind it. He could give her a quick clean death, at least. He was his father’s son. Wasn’t he? Wasn’t he?

“Do it,” she urged him after a moment. “Bastard. Do it. I can’t stay brave forever.” When the blow did not fall she turned her head to look at him.

Jon lowered his sword. “Go,” he muttered.

Ygritte stared.

“Now,” he said, “before my wits return. Go.”

She went. (Jon VI, ACOK)

Horseback rider and sword fighter

Jon swelled with pride. “Robb is a stronger lance than I am, but I'm the better sword, and Hullen says I sit a horse as well as anyone in the castle.” (Jon I, AGOT)

“The Old Bear's no fool,” Dareon observed. “You're certain to be a builder, and Jon's certain to be a ranger. He's the best sword and the best rider among us, and his uncle was the First before he…” His voice trailed off awkwardly as he realized what he had almost said. (Jon V, AGOT)

Natural leader

He could feel the despair all around him. “There must be a hundred thousand,” Satin wailed. “How can we stop so many?”

“The Wall will stop them,” Jon heard himself say. He turned and said it again, louder. “The Wall will stop them. The Wall defends itself.” Hollow words, but he needed to say them, almost as much as his brothers needed to hear them. “Mance wants to unman us with his numbers. Does he think we’re stupid?” He was shouting now, his leg forgotten, and every man was listening. “The chariots, the horsemen, all those fools on foot… what are they going to do to us up here? Any of you ever see a mammoth climb a wall?” He laughed, and Pyp and Owen and half a dozen more laughed with him. “They’re nothing, they’re less use than our straw brothers here, they can’t reach us, they can’t hurt us, and they don’t frighten us, do they?”

“NO!” Grenn shouted.

“They’re down there and we’re up here,” Jon said, “and so long as we hold the gate they cannot pass. They cannot pass!” They were all shouting then, roaring his own words back at him, waving swords and longbows in the air as their cheeks flushed red. Jon saw Kegs standing there with a warhorn slung beneath his arm. “Brother,” he told him, “sound for battle.” (Jon VIII, ASOS)

Negotiator

“Your Grace, I know where you might find more men. Give me the wildlings, and I will gladly tell you where and how.”

“I gave you Rattleshirt. Be content with him.”

“I want them all.”

“Some of your own Sworn Brothers would have me believe that you are half a wildling yourself. Is it true?”

“To you they are only arrow fodder. I can make better use of them upon the Wall. Give them to me to do with as I will, and I’ll show you where to find your victory … and men as well.”

Stannis rubbed the back of his neck. “You haggle like a crone with a codfish, Lord Snow. Did Ned Stark father you on some fishwife? How many men?” (Jon IV, ADWD)

“Mance should have killed you when he had the chance,” he said as he did his best to turn Jon’s hand to pulp and bone. “Gold for gruel, and boys … a cruel price. Whatever happened to that sweet lad I knew?”

They made him lord commander. “A fair bargain leaves both sides unhappy, I’ve heard it said. Three days?”

“If I live that long. Some o’ my own will spit on me when they hear these terms.” Tormund released Jon’s hand. (Jon XI, ADWD)

“There is always a price, is there not?” The Braavosi smiled. “What does the Watch require?”

“Your ships, for a start. With their crews.”

“All three? How will I return to Braavos?”

“I only need them for a single voyage.”

“A hazardous voyage, I assume. For a start, you said?”

“We need a loan as well. Gold enough to keep us fed till spring. To buy food and hire ships to bring it to us.”

“Spring?” Tycho sighed. “It is not possible, my lord.”

What was it Stannis had said to him? You haggle like a crone with a codfish, Lord Snow. Did Lord Eddard father you on a fishwife? Perhaps he had at that.

It took the better part of an hour before the impossible became possible, and another hour before they could agree on terms. The flagon of mulled wine that Satin delivered them settle the more nettlesome points. By the time Jon Snow signed the parchment the Braavosi drew up, both of them were half-drunk and quite unhappy. Jon thought that a good sign. (Jon IX, ADWD)

Northern politics expert

[....] Roose Bolton may regain the north, but when he does he will find that his castle, herds, and harvest all belong to me. If I take the Dreadfort unawares—”

“You won’t,” Jon blurted. [...]

Stannis raised a hand for silence. “Explain your meaning.”

Where to begin? Jon moved to the map. Candles had been placed at its corners to keep the hide from rolling up. A finger of warm wax was puddling out across the Bay of Seals, slow as a glacier. “To reach the Dreadfort, Your Grace must travel down the kingsroad past the Last River [...]”

[...] Stannis stared at the map. For a long moment the only sound was the king grinding his teeth. “Leave me. All of you. Lord Snow, remain.”

[...] “And they will fight for me, you believe?”

“If you ask them.”

“Why should I beg for what is owed me?”

Jon Snow Month 2022

Day 6: Familial relationships

Jon Snow + Stark brothers

He missed his true brothers: little Rickon, bright eyes shining as he begged for a sweet; Robb, his rival and best friend and constant companion; Bran, stubborn and curious, always wanting to follow and join in whatever Jon and Robb were doing. (Jon III. AGOT)

Jon Snow Month 2022

Day 2: Book moments or quotes

“Lord Janos,” Jon said, “I will give you one last chance. Put down that spoon and get to the stables. I have had your horse saddled and bridled. It is a long, hard road to Greyguard.”

“Then you had best be on your way, boy.” Slynt laughed, dribbling porridge down his chest. “Greyguard’s a good place for the likes of you, I’m thinking. Well away from decent godly folk. The mark of the beast is on you, bastard.”

“You are refusing to obey my order?”

“You can stick your order up your bastard’s arse,” said Slynt, his jowls quivering.

Alliser Thorne smiled a thin smile, his black eyes fixed on Jon. At another table, Godry the Giantslayer began to laugh.

“As you will.” Jon nodded to Iron Emmett. “Please take Lord Janos to the Wall—”

—and confine him to an ice cell, he might have said. A day or ten cramped up inside the ice would leave him shivering and feverish and begging for release, Jon did not doubt. And the moment he is out, he and Thorne will begin to plot again.

—and tie him to his horse, he might have said. If Slynt did not wish to go to Greyguard as its commander, he could go as its cook. It will only be a matter of time until he deserts, then. And how many others will he take with him?

“—and hang him,” Jon finished.

Janos Slynt’s face went as white as milk. The spoon slipped from his fingers. Edd and Emmett crossed the room, their footsteps ringing on the stone floor. Bowen Marsh’s mouth opened and closed though no words came out. Ser Alliser Thorne reached for his sword hilt. Go on, Jon thought. Longclaw was slung across his back. Show your steel. Give me cause to do the same.

Half the men in the hall were on their feet. Southron knights and men-at-arms, loyal to King Stannis or the red woman or both, and Sworn Brothers of the Night’s Watch. Some had chosen Jon to be their lord commander. Others had cast their stones for Bowen Marsh, Ser Denys Mallister, Cotter Pyke … and some for Janos Slynt. Hundreds of them, as I recall. Jon wondered how many of those men were in the cellar right now. For a moment the world balanced on a sword’s edge.

Alliser Thorne took his hand from his sword and stepped aside to let Edd Tollett pass.

Dolorous Edd took hold of Slynt by one arm, Iron Emmett by the other. Together they hauled him from the bench. “No,” Lord Janos protested, flecks of porridge spraying from his lips. “No, unhand me. He’s just a boy, a bastard. His father was a traitor. The mark of the beast is on him, that wolf of his … Let go of me! [...]” He was still protesting as they half-marched, half-dragged him up the steps.

Jon followed them outside. Behind him, the cellar emptied. At the cage, Slynt wrenched loose for a moment and tried to make a fight of it, but Iron Emmett caught him by the throat and slammed him back against the iron bars until he desisted. By then all of Castle Black had come outside to watch. [...]

“If the boy thinks that he can frighten me, he is mistaken,” they heard Lord Janos said. “He would not dare to hang me. Janos Slynt has friends, important friends, you’ll see …” The wind whipped away the rest of his words.

This is wrong, Jon thought. “Stop.”

Emmett turned back, frowning. “My lord?”

“I will not hang him,” said Jon. “Bring him here.”

“Oh, Seven save us,” he heard Bowen Marsh cry out.

The smile that Lord Janos Slynt smiled then had all the sweetness of rancid butter. Until Jon said, “Edd, fetch me a block,” and unsheathed Longclaw.

By the time a suitable chopping block was found, Lord Janos had retreated into the winch cage, but Iron Emmett went in after him and dragged him out. “No,” Slynt cried, as Emmett half-shoved and halfpulled him across the yard. “Unhand me … you cannot … when Tywin Lannister hears of this, you will all rue—”

Emmett kicked his legs out from under him. Dolorous Edd planted a foot on his back to keep him on his knees as Emmett shoved the block beneath his head. “This will go easier if you stay still,” Jon Snow promised him. “Move to avoid the cut, and you will still die, but your dying will be uglier. Stretch out your neck, my lord.” The pale morning sunlight ran up and down his blade as Jon clasped the hilt of the bastard sword with both hands and raised it high. “If you have any last words, now is the time to speak them,” he said, expecting one last curse.

Janos Slynt twisted his neck around to stare up at him. “Please, my lord. Mercy. I’ll … I’ll go, I will, I …”

No, thought Jon. You closed that door. Longclaw descended.

In this amazing scene from Jon II, ADWD, I really appreciate not only Jon's ability to be ruthless in ruling if need be, but also the fact that he can stay so calm and focused, keep his dignity and composure despite the multiple insults, mockingly thrown right at his face, accompanied by his other foes laughing at him, and the brilliant way he handled the whole situation, showing not only his self-control and maturity but also his intelligence.

Jon made it clear why Janos Slynt was executed - because he, a sworn brother, disobeyed his Lord Commander, not because of some personal quarrels with Jon abusing his power and playing with human lives for the sake of “winning” petty fights with others, as a boy Slynt and others thought him to be would do. Jon proved he is a man, not a child that can be told off by these grown men, and that neither he nor his commands should be underestimated because of his age.

I’m honestly bewildered by the Darkling’s endgame. His goals seem... very strange. Almost incomprehensible. I think I sent an ask to serpenteve wondering this very same thing!

His plan only seems to work if you don’t think about it. And for a centuries old man who’s plugged as a master manipulator of naive girls, I just don’t buy it based on what I’ve read so far.

On the show, he seems to have self sabotaged himself by being a total simp for Alina.

In the books, he’s more opaque but we know that he’s still telling Alina things he shouldn’t.

For example: why would you ever ever tell Alina that you’ve found the herd?

Keeping this from her would reinforce Baghra’s claims that he’s hiding things

Telling her will make Alina want to hunt the stag with him

It would be much simpler to kill the stag without Alina and return with the amplifier (and lie to her).

Logical character motivations should be- keeping Ravka safe for Grisha (and expanding protections for them in other countries).

Something the narrative seems to frame as unimportant. As though a reader with half a brain cell would ever find the systematic enslavement or murder of a people unimportant. Especially when all the main characters are from that group!

She was trying to make the Darkling Magneto, the epitome of an anti-hero, or even a bad guy with a point. But then somehow turned him into Voldemort. A figure of unambiguous, pure eeevil!

It’s convoluted, and utterly ridiculous because in Ravka- the monarchy are the bad guys. But somehow they come out smelling like fucking roses.

The Grisha are muggle born.

The monarchy have a long history of discriminating (or killing) Grisha. And the Darkling was forced to work for the enemy to save his people.

That’s compelling! I’d read novels full of the Darkling at 13 wanting to build a better world for Grisha. A world where children aren’t so terrified they’re willing to kill their friends to stay alive. A world where power means life. And a single touch, a single hug, means your death.

The Darkling deciding to be better, to make the world better, is a kind of strength I do not see in Alina.

He could have looked at the world-at the children that tried to kill him for his bones, a mother who says nobody else matters but us, a king who hurts the people he’s supposed to protect, and said- fuck you, fuck this world, I only care about keeping myself alive. The world can burn.

The fact that he didn’t, should make this story optimistic.

A disillusioned romantic who sees all the rot in the world and thinks he can still make it bloom.

That’s the bad guy. The mustache twirling villain.

I have not read the Nikolai books, so this may not be a complete list, but in TGT, he's a Shadow Summoner, meaning he can control shadows.

As a baseline, that means he can use them to blind his enemies, use them to hide himself etc. and he can also make them into an infinitely thin and sharp blade called "The Cut". Any kind of Summoner can create it, but it is considered to require a lot of power and skill.

Secondly, he's very powerful a "living amplifier" meaning physical contact between him and other Grisha greatly increases the other Grisha's power for as long as it lasts. If killed, the Grisha who killed him could also use his bones for a permanent amplifier.

And thirdly, he has learned to control something called "Merzost". Normally, Grisha can only control what is already present, but Merzost allows them to use their lifeforce (or something similar) to create new matter and perform much more extreme manipulations of the world, in general. This is what Aleksander used to create the Fold, transform Nikolai (book spoilers) and the Volcra into monsters and what he uses to create Nichevoya (the shadow monsters that are seen in the S2 trailer and which he uses for majority of the fighting he does in the S&S and R&R.

As using Merzost uses lifeforce (or something similar) as it's power source, creating the Nichevoya is very painful and draining for Aleksander, though through either his experience, age or being decended from Ilya Morozova (blame LB for the fucked up name) or possibly a combination of all 3, he is able to use them very effectively in the books, even if his physical (and possibly mental) health suffers.

Outside of his Grisha abilities, he's an experienced and skilled military leader, negotiatior, manipulator and has excelent acting abilities. He also is probably decent at horse-riding and non-magical combat.

When I first learned about the infamous name drop, I was under the impression that its only purpose was to bridge the gap between the two different mediums. What works on paper might not always work on screen, and vice versa. I'd only read the first book at the time, which is why I wasn't familiar with the real significance of the scene. It seemed to be a logical choice, especially since the books were written strictly from Alina's perspective. As mysterious as he may be, even the Darkling has to have a name. I can hardly imagine anyone calling him that to his face and living to walk away in one piece. But he must be addressed somehow, right?

Manipulative or not, the decision to reveal his name sooner than expected actually serves the plot brilliantly. For once, it does a great job in creating a certain sense of intimacy and vulnerability in his relationship with Alina. And this only gets more emphasized later, after she just casually drops his name to Mal. Because she gives it away just as quickly and just as easily as it was given only to her.

Which brings us back to the original problem. If his real name is so important that it has to be hidden, and you can't really expect people to call him the Darkling to his face, then what will they call him? General Kirigan sounds perfectly fine for a soldier. Except that it doesn't sound Slavic at all, let alone Russian.

And of course it doesn't. It was probably borrowed from a 1986 British fantasy-adventure film called Highlander. Do you remember that famous line? There can be only one. But more importantly, do you remember that evil warrior named Kurgan?

From the moment I've first heard Kirigan's name, I've wondered whether it was a deliberate choice. And I think I may have found some sort of confirmation. Recently, I was browsing through the author's old GR blog posts. In August 2011, she wrote a post titled There Can Be Only Some. Essentially, it's a little trip down memory lane. She writes about Highlander being one of her favourite childhood films AND about Kurgan being 'her first dark knight'.

And those words really struck a chord.

It's her description of him that gets to me: 'the evil warrior who will pursue the hero across time', and later 'we'll learn that Kurgan is a rapist and a murderer', but he 'makes a great first impression', and 'tricked out in truly wicked style, he is an EPIC adversary'. But then, 'sadly, the Kurgan just gets goofier and, by film's end, he's a silly, sleazy bit of caricature'.

This reminds me of the Darkling a lot, especially since I find his character severely degraded from 'an epic adversary' to a simple 'sleazy bit of caricature' in the last book. And even that humorous description of Kurgan's choice of wardrobe later in the franchise reminds me of a certain 'put on a shirt' scene in RoW.

Not to mention that KoS character named Count Kirigin.

It's just you and me now, Alina. And we are all we need anyway.

*Who Wants to Live Forever playing in the background*

I'll admit that I may be reaching a little here, but I just can't help it. Especially since I've realized that a large portion of TGT world was probably inspired by different pieces of art.

For example, there's an opera called The Oprichnik. Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the opera was set in the 16th century court of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. And it was dedicated to the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich Romanov. What matters here is the historical context.

The 'oprichnina times' started with a state policy established by the Tsar in order to repress the boyars (aristocrats) who opposed him. Led by the Tsar Ivan himself, the Oprichniks performed a lot of public executions and confiscations, sometimes also terrorizing the civilian population. They rode black stallions and wore black robes similar to those worn by monks, with their lifestyle often described as ascetic. [Remember how Alina describes the Darkling and his soldiers during their trip to the Little Palace: peasant foods, stable campings, etc.] Because the Oprichniks were all hand-picked by the Tsar, they were also called cromeshnina ('selected') by the public. [As opposed to being the otkazat'sya, right?] The country was basically separated in two: with oprichnina being ruled by the Tsar from his residence in Alexandrov, and zemschina ('the land outside her'), headed by the boyars and the king in Moscow. Travelling between the two was permitted, but costly. Those who were evicted from the Tsar's court were also permanently exiled to zemschina. The two even had their own separate regiments.

It's difficult not to draw parallels here, especially since the opera's libretto features two characters named Morozov(a): the widowed boyarina Morozova and her son, Andrei Morozov.

Speaking of Morozovas', there was also a 17th century martyr named Feodosia Morozova. As a punishment for supporting the Old Believer movement during the schism, she was literally starved to death in an underground cellar. Immortalized in a hagiography (a genre depicting the lives of saints and martyrs), and later celebrated as a symbol of resistance to state power by 19th century radical writers, she was also an inspiration behind the 1887 painting by Vasily Surikov.

The painting Boyarina Morozova now belongs to the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. In 2006, Rodion Shchendrin composed a choral opera of the same name.

Inspired by a folktale, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov composed an opera called Kaschey the Immortal. Simplified Wikipedia-style description paints him as an evil old wizard who liked young women. The story also mentions a firebird. The famous Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg has a performer named Alexander Morozov.

A similar folktale inspired Igor Stravinsky to compose The Firebird. And should I also mention the very existence of a composer named Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev? Or a Finnish rock band The Rasmus, whose biggest hit up to date is a song called In the Shadows? [Granted, Rasmus is a fairly common name in Scandinavia, but every decent TGT playlist has to have that song. Right?]

Ravka should have the best fricking R&D department in the world. Why? Because they have whole orders that can manipulate the building blocks of the universe! And, coming from a more rural community, my first thought went to agricultural development.

Ravka should not be starving right now. In fact, they should be exporting food products to Kerch for profit. Again, why? Because they have people that can literally manipulate matter. Plant genetics? That’s a walk in the park for Durasts and Alkemi! (Anyone else remember the monk and his pea plants from biology 101 in school?) What literally took people generations to carefully learn and cultivate, Durasts and Alkemi could do in a matter of weeks or less.

I mean, imagine having the power to take the best crops and make them even better. Cold resistance, drought resistance, blight/rot/bug resistance. Poison-free pest control. Quicker growing times, larger yields, longer yield times, better flavor and higher quality. This could be a game changer for a country in desperate need of a way to make some money! And Kerch is right there, and seems to be completely urban with no large agricultural means. I’m willing to bet they have to import a lot of food, and Ravka could be the one to provide it.

Now, there is the problem of growing seasons. After all, you can’t grow things all year round can you? Actually you can with greenhouses. In our world this might not always work because these buildings are outside and are affected by the weather. The beauty of working with a fictional world like the grishaverse is the magic powers some of its people are granted.

I remember seeing a post where someone mentioned that, in the books, a grisha (squaller?) was in charge of maintaining the moisture content in a room of old books. Using that info you could make a team of Squallers, Tidemakers, and Inferni to keep these greenhouses warm and working 24/7, even in the middle of winter! Hearty, healthy food for your troops and the starving people, plus a desired export to bring in money from other nations.

Hey guys. Its me, here to justify the thought process of the evil, toxic, terrible villain. Because I’ve been thinking about this nonstop since my watch and I actually think that the show did very well at SHOWING us why the Darkling doesn’t want to get rid of the Fold–and why he doesn’t see that as a solution for the Grisha. And based on his own personal history…he may be right.

So let’s revisit the story of the Creation of the Fold, as told in the show.

The first time we hear the story of the Black Heretic, Alina is recounting what she learned from her schooling. That the Black Heretic was advisor to the king, he grew too power hungry and the King hunted him and the Grisha who sided with him down. In order to create an army to oppose them, the Heretic created the shadow fold and the volcra and died in the process.

Obviously, the most blatant lie here is that the Black Heretic died, but I’d also like to question why the king went after the Darkling in the first place. Because of course its easy enough to simplify a story into a ‘crazy power hungry grisha’ but the truth is more complicated.

And the show even gives us that truth.

In the flashback at the beginning of episode 7, we find Aleksander in hiding with his people. The king’s men try to kill him, kill his lover, and are coming after his people. Why? Is it because he tried to grab for power? Nope!

Baghra: You made him afraid.

Aleksander: I won a war for him.

Baghra: And brought a war down on us.

 So he didn’t grab for power at all. But because the Darkling won a war for him and the king got scared of what Grisha could do.

Because of course he did. In Ravka, Aleksander tried to find a place for Grisha by getting into a position of power. Proving that Grisha have a use and don’t need to be hunted. And maybe he did that to eventually claim more rights for the Grisha. The right to exist and not have to fight for that existence. But the king only wants them as long as they can be useful.

Baghra confirms as much when she begs Aleksander to flee and then return later when there’s “a problem only Grisha can solve” because then the king will “have to embrace them”. She knows they’ll only be accepted if they can earn it. And the man from the First Army in an earlier episode speculates what will happen when technology has advanced to a point that Grisha aren’t special anymore. Because the tragedy of the Grisha is that even in Ravka where they are not hunted that is ONLY the case because.the Darkling carved them a place where they could be useful–war.

So what happens if the Fold is gone? What happens if the fold goes and Ravka is united and strong and crushes their enemies? What happens when war is over? Alina speculates about this in the fifth episode, optimistically thinking that ‘Grisha will have more opportunities’ and that maybe she can travel.

But the Darkling knows the truth. If peace comes and he has not secured a position with the Grisha…the king and the common people will no longer see a use for them and cast them out once again. The Fold is his way to make sure that doesn’t happen. By using its power and taking over, he can ensure that Grisha always have a place. Because he doesn’t trust kings or any non Grisha to have the interest of the Grisha at heart.

It doesn’t mean everything he does is right. he has no problem with sacrificing innocents for the long game. And while he has given Grisha strength, it could be argued he has made them more feared than ever. But no one is exactly standing around with an alternative solution are they?

In the Grishaverse, it is notable that all of the saints were Grisha. Grisha who either tried to help people and sacrificed themselves for it. Or Grisha who tried to help people and were murdered for it. Either way, they died, many of them violent deaths. They are worshipped but only because they were useful in life and now dead so they can no longer be a threat. They are worshipped because they SUFFERED. And what kind of life is it if you are only loved because you serve a purpose and suffer for that.

Aleksander has lived many years watching this happen. And one can’t blame him for wanting to overthrow a terrible king, or wipe out a general who is currently making deals with their enemies who are a threat to the Grisha. One can’t blame him for wanting to permanently secure a place for the Grisha. No one has yet come up with a better way. And no one has seen all of the previous paths fail like he has.

You’re preaching to the choir, Anon. 🙌 I truly do not know. And it really does pain me, because with a few small changes all of these things could have been resolved easily.

(This got long)

There are various times throughout the book when LB writes one thing, Alina says another thing happened, and then chapters later Alina says yet another thing happened. It’s like a slow creeping game of telephone that’s gets more and more different with each recitation.

It made me feel like I was remembering things wrong, I’d go back and realize, Alina was wrong, but it’s not treated like a statement from an unreliable narrator. It’s not addressed or broken down or used later for some form of catharsis. There’s never any pushback from the narrative.

Things that would have improved the story (with little effort):

Have Alina notice things are out of place at the LP, have her develop her sleuthing skills, just enough that she discovers things to later put together. This would support Baghra’s claims.

Have her find her letters in Genya’s room.

More scenes with the Apparat (because that feels like a dropped political plot line)

Another scene with the king where he tries to sway her away from Grisha/the Darkling.

Scenes with other Grisha outside of Marie and Nadia- the only Grisha Alina ever interacts with other than Genya. She needs to talk with them, see the lives they’ve lived, the things they’ve endured, the horrible things they’ve escaped from. Have her talk to the children, maybe ones from Kerch or Fjerda.

Alina needs to see the impact of the war on Grisha- have her see Grisha recovering from captivity in Shu Han in the infirmary. Just glimpses whole her ribs are healing. Enough for her to imagine another life and another fate she might have endured.

Issues with Catharsis (the plot twist sucks):

She already doesn’t trust the Darkling which lessens the effectiveness of the reveal. LB telegraphed the Darkling reveal from Day 1, so when the hot guy all in black called the Darkling ends up being the bad guy... gasp? I mean fucking duh.

So, when Alina’s all “you betrayed me!” I’m over here like... this was entirely expected and I don’t know why you’re so surprised.

Alina is never convinced, she never buys into it, and without that investment, the reader can’t invest either.

Baghra’s claims... are just ridiculous. And the only way they make sense is if you know the ending beforehand. That is bad writing. There’s no clues littered along the way, no evidence of some master plan of manipulation on the Darkling’s part. Alina just believes Baghra based on zero evidence.

In Alina’s position, who are you going to believe: the man who’s supported you every step of the way, saved your life, and you have a budding romance with?

Or, the woman who hits you all the time, never calls you by your name, insults you, drugs you, and never gives an ounce of encouragement or approval at any of your accomplishments? Who’s now screaming that the Darkling is going to lay waste to the world and have volcra eat everyone.

LB is nuts if she thinks I’m going to believe Baghra in this scenario.

It’s presented as a zero sum game: spend a short life running, or live as a slave.

But it’s a false dichotomy. These are not Alina’s only choices.

The solution is simple: Alina needs more information. She should have stayed at the Little Palace to gather evidence. Jump into a cat and mouse game that could have been absolutely hair raising with suspense.

If she had made her own choices, taken her agency and her position of power, the story would have been much more interesting. But instead, she allows everyone else to make choices for her.