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January 2025

The Darkling: A Character Analysis (Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo)

The Darkling A Character Analysis

 

Hello, loves!

This analysis of the Darkling/Aleksander Morozova is based ONLY on the Shadow and Bone book series by Leigh Bardugo! I did not include King of Scars nor Rule of Wolves (also by Leigh Bardugo), nor the Netflix series. I wanted to stay true to what we’d first seen of him and how we got to love-and-hate him at first.

With that in mind, are you curious to discover perspectives or aspects you perhaps hadn’t thought about? And to delve deeper into understanding this essential and beloved (sometimes hated) character?

Then, read right on!

 

(In case you're trying to figure out how to read the Grishaverse in the correct order, I've got you!)

 

His Beginning

Aleksander Morozova wasn't always a villain. Okay, he was born with the Shadow Summoning ability, just like his mother, Baghra, but he wasn't heartless nor mean. In the short story and graphic novel Demon in the Wood, he was just a young man of 15, like any other teenager, and he dreamed of having friends and a steady place he could call "home". He rejoices at the idea of staying a few months in the same place, despite being hunted as a rare Grisha (and an amplifier!) with his mother. And when he started to befriend a girl, who seemed to like him, and he liked her back, ordinary adolescence stages came through: he fancied her, and he wanted friends. Does that sound mean to you? No.

He also entertained his friend's littler sister with his powers; and defended them from the village's bullies. He just yearned for a safe place. For himself, his mother, and the Grisha who had to live in desolate places and ruins, or secluded because of their powers. And they were hunted, constantly, every one of them.

It's quite reminiscent of the witches and witch hunts. Were the witches bad? No. But the hunters and the Inquisition sure were, burning and killing people (and even cats!) without an ounce of remorse. Most of the time, witches often helped people in the villages with their remedies... and they got killed for it. Which is similar to the Grisha, albeit their powers are more demonstrative.

When Aleksander saw his life being dealt between two Grisha teens to become more powerful and have a chance at survival (since he's an amplifier, and if they wear his bones, their powers will increase), he understood there was no safe place for people like them. They were driven to despair. His mother wasn’t even angry that these children tried to kill her son for it--she understood them because it's such a rough life. And so, Aleksander realized that someone needed to create this safe place for his own kind--and he vowed to be the one to do it. Because he’d experienced first-hand how despair drives the Grisha to do horrible things to each other, and how much they’re hunted and must live in fear.

So far, so (not) good.

 

Merzost and Losing Himself

However, he did spend centuries learning and climbing the social ranks, faking his death here and there to be born anew so no one would suspect him. He vouched for this safe place, and put all his knowledge and power and social ranking to this purpose that drove him. Sadly, the Darkling turned to merzost, which is the magic at the basis of all things, and forbidden because the cost is high. Using it, he created the Fold, a long and wide space full of people-turned-monsters, all darkness. He'd started losing his way by looking for such desperate means such as merzost from Morozova's books, but his intention was good. He wanted to help and protect his people, who were still hunted and despised.

But after the creation of the Fold, he became a general to the king of Ravka, where Grisha serve in the Second Army (the army of those with powers), where it's a bit more acceptable to be a Grisha, though still not entirely accepted. And he started losing himself quite a lot, by offering a preteen girl to the queen knowing full well how the king was dirty... by killing people and other Grisha, by manipulating his own and lying his way to power.

 

His Hope and Love for Alina (and His Mother, Baghra)

Then, Alina arrived.

He viewed her both as a hope, a grand hope for the Grisha, and a threat. Because if she was not on his side, she could fight him and that would be disastrous as it would threaten everything he ever fought for. And as a grand hope, because she could help him with the Fold, help him make it greater so he could create a haven for Grisha. Also, he saw her as an equal. Because besides his mother who also wielded the shadows, Alina was the only other like him, she’s a Sun Summoner, a rarity, like he was the only Shadow Summoner with merzost command. They were the strongest and the rarest of the Grisha.

The worst part is she was with an otkazats'ya, a commoner with no power. Exactly the kind of people who hunted and killed The Darkling's Grisha throughout the centuries, and why Grisha have been pushed to despair. So this was not only insulting, but a thorn on his side.

Another point that made it difficult for Darkling to bond with Alina was how reluctant she was about the whole Sun Summoner ordeal that befell her. I mean, I get her, she wanted a normal life making maps and being with her childhood friend, ok. But she was something else--she was a rare Grisha, viewed as a saint. Although, I admit, it's never easy to embrace one's destiny when it doesn't fit with what you wanted in the first place. Nevertheless, Darkling had to work harder to make her see she was truly that important. Just like when the Darkling told Genya to withhold Mal's letters to Alina, because she hoped for him to write to her... Why? Because the Darkling said Mal, an otkazats'ya, was part of an old life, one where Alina wasn't that important nor Grisha. In truth, he was not so wrong, because oftentimes Mal didn't understand how the people relied on her and looked up to her, nor how being Grisha means to love one's powers and be attracted to said power. Mal often tormented her by being untruthful, moody, lashing out at her, when all she needed was comfort and to be asked "why" she said that or acted this way. But he didn't, he just assumed things, bad things about her. When she was traumatized. Boo hoo, poor guy feels forgotten and useless... Alina was experiencing hell in Ravka and her mind, but sure, pout about it and make her feel worse. That's the way to go.

At least the Darkling always saw her. For her potential, yes, but also as an equal, another Grisha. Not one to be scared of, not like Mal. Mal doubted Alina here and there, and thought Grisha were scary and dangerous... But the worst part of his character was that he alienated Alina often, almost every time they talked. Why? Because he went with other women, and suddenly when Alina was important, AH, now he'd always wanted her. He also left her alone, not really worrying about her. And when the Darkling played with Alina's mind in quite direct ways, Mal pouted, snapped at her, stayed by her side as a guard but clearly resented her with his silence AND he kissed Zoya even though he was dating Alina. Just to get back at her, because Mister is so forgotten. But Alina lived through being the Chosen One, being played with, and was still being played with in her mind and she thought she was going mad, and she was afraid and traumatized. She needed support. And who wanted to be there for her? Albeit in a weird way, yet with open arms? The Darkling. He knew how lonely it can get, being this powerful.

But then after the Darkling's plan of which Alina escaped (thanks, Baghra!), Alina just wanted to defeat him. Yet, the Darkling was mad at her, but he wanted to force her into his arms and vicinity, until there was no shelter but him. That was not healthy affection, but he still reached out to her. But he also became angry and more violent, more desperate, because she wasn't on his side anymore, the right side, to help Grisha. This made her an enemy, and yet he tried to make her see that Mal wasn't good for her, nor common people. That she was siding with those who burned Grisha at the stakes for centuries and more. He was just trying to make her understand he was trying to help them, but since she didn't want to hurt people, and was hurt by his betrayal of his plan, she didn't give him reason. Sometimes, she felt attracted to him and his ideas, the power of it, but she fought against it. I love this side of Alina, which gives her a greater tangibility and reality. She's mostly white, but a lot of grey too. She, just like the Darkling, went to great lengths to protect those she loved. And that makes her more than his match in all the ways. She even lost her own power to end his reign. He made a lot of sacrifices, of people, of opportunities, of parts of himself, too... Just like her. And he was right, the only person to truly understand her was him, and she'd be left alone if she killed him.

I think the way Mal brooded against her didn't help her inclination to the Darkling. Because when she was at her most vulnerable, Mal was mean to her, and the Darkling came to discuss and somehow make her see how wrong she was about all of them. Darkling probably did this for himself, for somewhere he knew what it was to be reviled and wanted for something you were, like the girl he liked who tried to kill him to survive. With otkazats'ya, once more. Always the normal ones against the Grisha.

Despite all of this spite and fight between Darkling and Alina, in the end, the Darkling wanted her to be close as he was dying, and he offered her a piece of himself he held secret for centuries: his true name. That cannot mean that she was unimportant. He kept his real name secret for centuries, only to say it to one person only, the one rival he esteemed, the one woman he truly desired. And if he hadn't lost himself along the path to saving the Grisha by creating a haven for them, the one woman he'd have loved.

His mother, Baghra, when Aleksander was only 15 years old, had warned him to disclose his true name only to someone who was very meaningful to him. Because since they changed places often, he had to change names as well. And he felt like his true name, Aleksander, was getting lost among all those changes... But his mother told him his name was engraved on his heart. So, logically, only someone who was important to him or that he loved or both would get to learn his real name.

On a side note, which is essential to his character, Aleksander loved his mother, Baghra. He did mistreat her by making her blind, true, yet he always kept her by his side despite their differences on his grand plan for Grisha. When he was at the Little Palace, she was there. When she betrayed him by helping Alina, he made her blind to punish her, yet he did not kill her. He wanted his mother close and alive. They had lived so many centuries and survivre so many dangers together, this clearly meant something to him. And when Baghra jumped to her death, Aleksander rushed after her body, instantly focusing on her while not caring about Alina anymore. He became more vile and unstable after Baghra’s death. Although he was was dangerous and seemingly heartless, he deemed his mother important enough to keep her close and go after her as she fell to her death. Aleksander is complex, and he kills in the name of making a safe haven for Grisha—he sacrifices a few of their own as well, like poor Genya, giving her as a child to a mean queen with a dirty king he was well aware would take advantage of Genya—but part of that comes from having followed his mother around younger, when they had to hide their identities, lie their way through an ounce of safety at a time, and fighting anyone to stay alive. He grew up suspicious, terrorized. But he knew Baghra was reliable and trustworthy, and that she loved him enough to teach him how to survive against all odds. So losing her was like losing an old and steady pillar of his life—the only one to stand the test of time. Aleksander needed her; the boy within loved his mother to the end. Her death made an impact on him, and that’s part of what’s love’s about. And monsters can’t love. But Aleksander did.

Upon dying, he disclosed his true name to Alina, asking her to say it one last time. He wanted to hear his true self reflected back to him upon dying. It seems like he suffered from having to hide constantly and being this all-powerful tyrant, when his basis was just a young man who wanted friends and a steady life. And he wanted to hear it said back to him, by someone he (probably) loved and who was meaningful to him. I think it's quite significative that he chose to tell it to Alina out of all people; he had collaborators, henchmen, and lovers... but never anyone who mattered enough to him to disclose his real name. Except Alina Starkov. Because she was like him, in a way. A soul lost in a world she just wanted to stop and live her life ordinarily. But she was nothing ordinary, she was the Sun Summoner. Thrust into the Grisha world, Aleksander had to win her over, otherwise she threatened all the order and safety he had earned for the Grisha. But she was of his own kind, an equal. Someone who could understand him.

No, he wasn't always fair nor kind to her. Like the letters from Mal he kept... to make Alina learn she wasn't "common" and that her place was among the Grisha, not those without powers. He viewed this relationship as dangerous because "common people" had been killing his kind for centuries, so it was a bit like a treason to see Alina with an otkaza'tsya.

Also, he did manipulate Alina to fall in love with him. But he did also try to protect her from others (and mostly from Mal and the otkazats’ya) here and there, and he gave her a few chances to join him instead of outright killing her. He liked her. Which is even further proven with the fact he took Mal's appearance to make out with her in bed. He wanted her, and that made him weak.

Even at the end, he wanted her to say his true name. When it comes to the Darkling, this is a big mark of respect and affection. Also, it means that just like the girl he liked when younger, he liked Alina enough to disclose secret parts of himself to her--because, in the end, he resorted back to his true self. A young boy scared of the world and in need of friends and in his own identity quest.

Perhaps he didn't love her, but he sure was sometimes protective, kind, honest, and he did not just want her but liked her. If he weren't so lost in his quest or his madness, he would have loved her for sure. If he'd stayed the good boy he once was. I think that that part of him loved Alina truly. But the rest wanted her powers for himself. But since he was so lost in his quest, he forgot how to love properly and loved her wrong. He lost himself on the way to protect his kind, is that truly evil? His intention was to help all of them... he got lost, ok, but he tried when no one else did. I think that makes him more of a morally grey character pushed to the extreme than a real villain or mean.

 

In the End

Taking all of this into account, of course, when put up against Alina, the Darkling does seem villainous. But hell is paved with good intentions... and he sure had one. Imagine a witch trying to create a haven for others like her. Would you say she's evil? No, of course not. She's just trying to save her kind. But if she began killing others and turning to black magic for this, then she'd have lost her righteous way... But the intention would stay the same, albeit more violent and desperate. That's what happened to him. His ways were too drastic, but his idea and intention and will were admirable. And at least, he tried when no one else would. In my opinion, this all doesn't make him evil; it makes him human, a human who suffered from his own kind's pain to a terrible level, and who tried and failed with the best of intentions.

 

What do you think? Does he make you think of a morally grey character? Do comment your opinion, and share this character analysis with someone who might enjoy it!

See you next post, lovelies!


The Conjurer's Wife by Sarah Penner: A Book Review

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Sarah Penner's Website

Amazon CA

Goodreads (Add it to your bookshelves!)

LibraryThing

Fable

 

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Number of pages: 40
ISBN: 9781662526213

ASIN: B0D6RSVHLR

Format: eBook (Kindle),  Audiobook (Audible)
Publication date: January 01, 2025
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Type: Short Story

 

A HUGE thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book! I get no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.

 

The delightful cover which spoke of spectacle and ancient times what with the clothes and braid of the woman really caught my eye. But what intrigued me was the title, The Conjurer’s Wife! A conjurer? Interesting! And his wife… She’s clearly much more than what she appears to be at first.

I had to read this short story by Sarah Penner! Not only does it occur during the 19th century, but also in Venice, with a backdrop of illusionism and spectacles. I love everything magic and that relates to the arts of the scene.


So, I was kindly granted a digital copy, and honestly I read it so fast. When I had to do something else, I would keep thinking about the story and Olivia, the main character, until finally I could resume my reading.

This sounds like your cuppa too?

Keep reading, loves!

 

Blurb

In nineteenth-century Venice, a young woman’s marriage to an illusionist hides secrets that go deeper than his spectacular acts. The stage is set for transformation in a mesmerizing short story by the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary.

In 1820s Venice, world-renowned magician Oscar Van Hoff confounds sold-out crowds with his astounding manifestations. Even his beautiful wife and assistant, Olivia, is mystified. Her job is to smile and recite her lines—onstage and in society. But the thankless routine is bringing out her rebellious side. Then, on the eve of what promises to be Oscar’s greatest performance yet, Olivia uncovers a secret with the power to shatter all her husband’s illusions. Now the finale belongs to her.

 

The Positive Points

The prose is straightforward and includes much information in short sentences and fewer words than one would think. I love it! You know all you need to in a swift and direct way. The descriptions are succinct, yet they tell everything you need to know: like how common the clearing of throat is before a show as a spectator, and how the theatergoers are drunk, notably before it happens in the holidays and on a Friday evening. The author doesn’t shy away from less-than-agreeable truths and descriptions, and I appreciate it.

Also, I love the integration of gaslight system which is from that time period—it is accurate and well-thought of.

Plus, you can feel the tension between Oscar and Olivia right from his entrance! He doesn’t seem wholly good… what has he done in the past? It seems Olivia thinks it’s high time for a little rebellion of her own. I am intrigued about what truly happened to Olivia before the injury and what Oscar might have done to her… used her for his shows? Lied and manipulated her to wed her?

As I kept progressing in my reading, something clearly didn’t seem right about this whole thing and Oscar, was Olivia the magician before and then he met her and used her talents to become popular? Maybe he stole magic by causing her head injury… Argh, I didn’t know, but something was definitely wrong in this picture! He seemed to have no trick to his shows… which as a magician is highly improbable! Almost impossible. So what gives?

I love the scene with Olivia and the painting. It is much more important than we know at the moment!

Omg, the plot twist was great! I wasn’t expecting that plot twist until the very last minute. Fantastic and chilling at the same time. A grand number in the author’s show! The ending is excellent and rebellious—just like Olivia in the beginning. dang how I love her character! I would read a whole book about her.

Lastly, this short story reads like a show. I mean, it’s like I am watching a theater play or a tv show—it’s really entertaining and captivating.

 

The Negative Points

How can she be sure that thing (no spoilers here) is magic? She simply assumed when she saw it. Perhaps Oscar plans his shows with it? This would be more logical than assuming it’s magic right away. This seemed a bit illogical and it bothered me, jumping to conclusion like that—the right one at that, and much less plausible than anything else!

 

In Conclusion

Overall, I give The Conjurer’s Wife by Sarah Penner a grand rating of 5 stars out of 5 for how excellent the storytelling is, how captivating and engrossing the story is, and also how much I love Olivia as a character and the amazing plot twist! Honestly, I would really read a whole thick book about Olivia! This story is genuinely that good.

I recommend this short story to all lovers of magic in all its forms, art, and spectacles, as well as those seeking to be captivated by a story and characters and taken aback by a plot twist cleverly crafted!

Cinq

If you want to learn more about the author, Sarah Penner, you can visit her author website, and follow her on her Goodreads author account, as well as on her Instagram account. Don't forget to add The Conjurer's Wife to your wishlist, your cart, or your bookshelves! 


The Draw Challenge: Choosing My Montlhy TBR Blindly

Hello, lovelies!

Every month, I have so many books to read: ARCs, books for book clubs, books from my bookshelves, and so on. But oftentimes, my OWN bookshelves are put aside for the other readings. So, I decided to do a monthly draw challenge where I pick a book blindly for six months from my curated TBR list. This makes things a bit more fun, and ensures I read at least one of my own books per month, too. 

I was inspired to do this by a certain book vlogger I just love to watch (she's my favorite, hiya!), Sarah Hafidh (a.k.a SarahsCozyCorner). I figured it would be the solution to my problem of not reading enough of the books I own, while being amusing, too!

 

DSC01689_done_Draw Challenge

 

So, I picked six books for January to June 2025 to choose from blindly:

Teach the Torches to Burn by Caleb Roehrig

The Modern Faerie Tales by Holly Black

La casa de los espíritus by Isabel Allende (Why not read also in Spanish when I can, huh?! So, to spice up this reading challenge, I decided to read in another language as well. As a polyglot, this is very helpful in keeping what I learned!)

The Witches of St. Petersburg by Imogen Edwards-Jones

Roseblood by A. G. Howard

Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell

 

DSC01695_Gathering supplies_1

Then, I took out some brown paper to wrap them in, scissors, tape, and a Sharpie to number them. I would have preferred an ecological solution, but I didn't haven enough cloths lying around at home. So, I am trying with this method first, and another time if I repeat this endeavour, I will use cloth.

 

DSC01699_Wrapped Up_2

I wrapped them up, then numbered them. I made sure that when two-three were done to mix them up on my table so I couldn't know which was which, and I didn't number them in order at all--only after I'd mixed them up. Otherwise, what's the point of choosing my next read blindly if I know which one it is in advance?

 

DSC01713_ALL Wrapped Up_3

And tah dah, all done! Isn't it just beautiful?! Now, there's no book I can identify--besides the mega one, I know which one it is (it's The Modern Faerie Tales by Holly Black), but STILL! The rest is still a surprise, and it's fun just to pick the books blindly through an app. 

 

Now, only one last step for January 2025: picking the actual book!

I chose an app called LuckyDraw, so that I could input six numbers and it won't pick the same number twice (great feature! It makes this draw challenge easier.) I turned the wheel, got the number 3, annnnnnddd...

 

January 2025 Read: Teach the Torches to Burn by Caleb Roehrig!!! YAY!!!!

DSC01714_Teach the torches to burn_Number 3 picked

I've been longing to read this book since I ordered it a few months back, and I couldn't be happier for the number 3 to have been picked! You can watch my happy unwrapping reel. 

You can now expect a review of Teach the Torches to Burn towards mid-February, and a new pick at the beginning of February, and so on for the Draw Challenge! Fun, right?

 

Here's the blurb of this Romeo & Juliet LGBTQ+ retelling:

In Teach the Torches to Burn, a breathlessly romantic remix of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet and seventh book in the Remixed Classics series, a queer teen boy discovers first love amid a bloody, centuries-old feud.

Verona, Italy. Seventeen-year-old aspiring artist Romeo dreams of a quiet life with someone who loves him just as he is. But as the heir to the Montague family, he is expected to give up his womanly artistic pursuits and uphold the family honor--particularly in their centuries-old blood feud with a rival family, the Capulets. Worse still, he is also expected to marry a well-bred girl approved by his parents and produce heirs. But the more Romeo is forced to mingle with eligible maidens, the harder it is to keep his deepest secret: He only feels attracted to other boys.

In an attempt to forget his troubles for just one night, Romeo joins his cousin in sneaking into a Capulet party. During a fateful encounter in the garden, he meets the kindest, most beautiful boy he's ever encountered, and is shocked to learn he's Valentine, the younger brother of one of his closest friends. He is even more shocked to discover that Valentine is just as enamored with Romeo as Romeo is with him.

So begins a tender romance that the boys must hide from their families and friends, each of them longing for a world where they could be together without fear. And as the conflict between the Montagues and Capulets escalates out of control, Romeo and Valentine find themselves in danger of losing each other forever--if not by society's scorn, then by the edge of a blade.