The Grishaverse discussion

"I looked up to see Mal's familiar face, a smile in his bright blue eyes as he fell into step beside me."

Mal, my love. <3 Really hoping there will be more of him in Ruin and Rising.

I can't ship it! I just can't!! *hyperventilates*

Agh! You must ship it! <3 Mal/Alina is the best ship. He is the best one for her. (I do not care that so many people disliked him in Siege and Storm. I did not. I loved him to pieces. Because seriously! What he did? Didn't anyone read why he acted that way? SPOILERS. Alina left him alone. She barely spends time with him. And when he asks her if she cares for him, she doesn't respond. Yeah, sure, she's seeing the Darkling in her mind. Whatever. That is no excuse for not caring for Mal. So yeah. I know that lots of people will want to have Mal make up for what he did in S&S. But I want Alina to make up for not caring enough for Mal. He loves her so much. He gave up EVERYTHING to be with her. And she doesn't care that much. Okay, fine, I do think she loves him. <3 Which is why I ship them. But yeah. I want her to make it up to him. He wasn't the only one at fault. Anyway. This is just my opinion, hih (A) <3)

I'm sorry, I just can't! He wasn't supportive at all, and he kept pushing her away. It's like he didn't understand that she had a duty to her people. Yes, the Darkling is pretty messed up, and I kinda hate him. To be honest, I kind of hate both of them. Now, Nikolai I am totally in love with, but him being the THIRD "love interest" I don't see that in the third book. My point is that Alina can't trust Mal, nor the Darkling. I'm so conflicted! If it came down to it, I say I ship Darklina.

I actually understand why he wasn't being supportive, as you say. Alina did change a bit in this book. And she didn't truly change for the best. I'm not sure I would have wanted the powers that she have. (But I also adore her. <3) Huh. I didn't think that he pushed her away. I felt like she pushed him away. He gave up everything to be with her. His place in the army. Just.. everything. And she doesn't seem like she wants to be with him at all. She didn't give up anything, did she? Not for Mal. I'm not sure I understand about that "Duty to her people." Probably because I like putting myself first :p But I do love the plot in these books. Sigh. I just wish Mal and Alina could be together at all times. I don't like triangles and and I don't like it when people break up.. Hmm. The Darkling. I like reading about him, but I never ever saw him as a love interest. Seriously. HOW many people have he killed? I don't get why people find that hot. I would never ever have been with a guy that kills and tortures people like he do. Poor Genya. Seriously. Not hot. At least, that is my opinion (A) ANYWAY. And Nikolai. I like him. But not for Alina. Wish he did not have any feelings for her. Sigh. I will always and forever ship Mal and Alina. <3

I have no love or loyalty for Mal.

He's such a flat character, that I neither see what he or Alina see in each other. There's so little character development for him, that I'm not drawn to him at all. In fact, I remember what other secondary characters did or said in both previous novels; however, I honestly cannot say the same for Mal.

Even though I love the Darkling, I still ship Malina <3

I think there is a broken man inside the Darkling, who has been buried for centuries. But what can you expect when he has been alone for most of his incredibly long life? I think Alina could change him. Give him some light, just as he gave her some darkness. He is ruthless, but he's in the middle of a war. War leaders are known for going to extremes. I'm not saying his action aren't wrong, but think of how Alina left those people at that skiff in "Shadow and Bone." That's why series like these really intrigues me. The protagonist and antagonist are very alike.

I have never been for Mal, sort y'all, and I just don't think that the Darkling is right for her either. I was all for the Darkling and Alina in "Shadow and Bone," I totally was like Alina can help him and find his humanity, but in "siege and storm" I kind of began to doubt that. Also in "Siege and Storm" I fell in love with Nikolai, and I don't know if Alina and Nikolai would work well together but if I had to pick, I think I would pick him.

I have to disagree. I do not think you can compare Alina leaving those people behind, with the Darkling KILLING and torturing who knows how many people. They are nothing alike. At least, that is how I see it :D I don't mind that you don't agree, that is fine :) We all see things different. But I do not think the Darkling can ever be a good person. Seriously. I do not understand. How can ANYONE forgive what he did to Genya? It makes me sick. I'm sorry. I just don't. I would NEVER forgive something like that. I don't care how "hot" he is. Just because you are good looking does not mean you can do whatever you want. But anyway. That is just how I feel about it :)

Yeah. I hate him for doing that to Genya, and it broke my heart. I don't trust the Darkling and Mal for different reasons. The Darkling is not a stranger to mass murder, and Mal is not a stranger to breaking girls hearts. I love Nikolai with all my heart though. He's one of my favorite characters.

What can I say? I have a soft spot Mal. People hold it against it that it took him a while to notice Alina, but really it's perfectly understandable. They've always been together and all he needed was to be apart to notice what his true feelings were.

Once he knew, there was no turning back. He's been with Alina every step of the way, even when he disagrees with her. I believe he truly knows her and loves her in a way that's pure and true, and she does him as well. I wish Alina and him would communicate better and also I wish that they weren't so cautious with one another.

Their love is difficult because as orphans they share a deep bond and loyalty to each other. They can't just abandon each other, like their real families once did. They're best friends and also the only family they've ever had and because they're in the middle of a big turmoil, I think most of the times they're both overwhelmed.

At this point, however, I'm not sure if Mal will be endgame. There's much we need to yet know about him. Alina is changing and becoming a new person, in many ways. Perhaps this is one of those stories where their timing was just not right. It will break my heart but also I'm prepared for it.

Totally agree

Emma I'm right there with you. You basically summed up my thoughts lol.

I think its cool that Mal has his own gift. Sidebar, am I the only Guy in this club, I feel like I'm in a room a bunch of girls talking bout their crush lol. No offense, if any is taken, I apologize.

I just don't understand it. HOW can you all be so quick to forgive the Darkling? He did the worst things anyone can do. What he did to Genya. To HIS OWN MOTHER! For god's sake. I don't understand. How can anyone like him? :\ (Sorry, I just have a lot of feelings. Hih.)

ANYWAY: How can you forgive him? But be so quick to hate on Mal? Mal LOVES Alina with all his heart. The Darkling does not. Mal gave up everything to be with Alina. The Darkling gave up nothing.

When you are given a gift like alinas in a time and place they are in, how can Mal expect her to hide it away and pretend she is the old Alina? He may have sacrificed his army life, but he should embrace Alinas hopes to save their country and fight by her side. Instead of sulking and whining to go back to his dreams of her before. You can never go back!
I would ship that Mal. But I just found him so annoying in siege and storm!

Not to mention the "old" Alina was a shadow of who she is now. She was sickly, unhealthy, weak, etc. I personally DON'T want her to ever go back to suppressing herself. This is a huge reason why I'd prefer her to end up with Nikolai or the Darkling, because they don't want her to either.

I don't think Mal wants her to go back to being her old self. But I do agree with him sometimes. Alina is not doing all good things with her powers. She changed a lot in Siege and Storm. I do adore her, and think she's amazing, but I also wouldn't have taken on those amplifiers. (Might be because I wouldn't have been able to care that much about so many people. I'm more worried about myself living (A)) But thing is. I do not think Alina has to go save "her" people. First, it is not her people. Second, I think they should try to save themselves as well. And.. she can try saving them without changing. Without killing and hurting people. I just think that Mal is the right one for Alina. He loves her. And I think he loves her the way she is right now as well. He is hurt. And I do not blame him. Alina keeps pushing him away. She doesn't talk to him. She doesn't share anything. And when he asked her if she wanted him, she didn't respond. And I would have been beyond hurt by that. So yeah. I don't blame Mal for anything.

Yeah they ate both young and have made mistakes. She is frustrating too how she didn't share with him about seeing the darling etc. but how can they ever just have a normal life? The darling will never just leave Alina. You can run and hide from him. You have to stand up and fight!

Argh sorry about typos! You can't hide from the darkling and without claiming those amplifiers she is leaving herself weak and open!

Well, Mal actually says in S&S (pg. 367) that he DOES want the old Alina back. :/

I do agree though that the people should try to save themselves. I'm not a fan of people expecting the super hero to do all the work and save the day all the time. :P But as it is, Alina could never live with herself if she ran and hid when she is the only person with the power to destroy the fold.

I think the issue is that when Alina does tell Mal about her visions, he says nothing and turns his back on her. When she first tried to tell him, he exploded and left before she could.

It's a two-way problem. Alina should be more willing to share things, but Mal has to be willing to listen and not just blow up or storm away. Almost always, relationship problems are not caused by just one person. Alina is to blame some. But so is Mal.

I do agree with that. I do think Mal is a little to blame as well. I just don't agree when I see people only blaming Mal. And hating on Mal because of it. I do not think Mal is a bad person. It makes me sad that he wouldn't listen, but I also don't blame him for that, because he is hurt by how she has been acting.

And about him wanting the old Alina back.. I do understand that as well. Because as I said, she wasn't the same in Siege and Storm. She didn't talk with Mal. She didn't share things with Mal. She didn't care for Mal. The old Alina did that. And maybe that is what he meant? I'm not sure.

I do like Alina's powers. And I do think she should help the people. But I also don't think she should ruin herself to do so. I wouldn't have found it worth it :p As you say, the people should do something to protect themselves as well. I wish they would fight as well. But anyway. I am curious about what will happen next :) But I do want Alina and Mal together. But I'm starting to fear it. Which is making me heartbroken. But I will forever ship them. <3

I didn't like Mal in s&S I thought we was a bit of an asshat TBH but honestly? The poor boy was going through a lot. I definitely think the way Alina was acting towards his was part of that. At least MAL didn't blind his own mother, destroy villages with the Fold, and torture Genya. I mean, Mal was acting badly, but he can defend his actions somewhat. I would never root for the Darkling.

It's not Mal's fault Alina completely pushed him away. What would you do in that situation? Mal didn't even do anything wrong, he's shown nothing but love towards Alina yet Alina pushes him away. She wanted him before but now that she has him, she's lost interest and that is not ok. Mal has nothing to make up for but if Alina doesn't start being more affectionate towards Mal in the third book then I'll be happy to see the Mal/Alina ship sink. Mal deserves happiness and right now Alina isn't holding up her part of the relationship at all.

Mal is definitely my pick for Alina! I've loved them together from the start, and the thought of them not being together at the end depresses my soul very much.

YESSS. This. I agree with Jun. And Samantha. And Kat. You guys are awesome. Thank you for shipping Mal, hih. <3 Mal is the best. But sniffs. I am HEARTBROKEN by these books. I love him so much. And I just want him and Alina together. He loves her so much. I just.. I also need her to love him a bit more. Okay, I do think she loves him a lot. I hope she does. But I want her to start showing it. She kept pushing him away in the last book. And that was just.. so heartbreaking. Sniffs.

Mal and Alina should kiss and make up.
There, I said it. :P

Alina has to understand she doesn't have to change the world, and that even if she has to, she doesn't have to do it alone. And Mal must stop being a jerk and understand the poor girl is scared, hurt, and sad, and not the same.

Then they should kiss again.
:*

lol, they should. But I don't think Mal is being a jerk. Alina is the one who hurt him first. She stopped talking to him. Stopped being with him. I need her to fix that. :) But yesss. I need them to do some kissing. <3

Also, yes. I don't think Alina needs to be the only one who can change the world. I want the people to try to save themselves. Alina does NOT have to be the one who fixes everything. (Though, I do want her to, as long as it doesn't kill her. Because I do love Alina. <3)

True :3 But we all know we just love the characters sometimes making mistakes so that later they can apologize. (I know I do.) They both are to blame and just have to sort out their issues.

I HATE mal. hes all like " oh Alina i love you soooooo much!" then he goes and sleeps with some girl that Alina hates. what. the. crap?

I think I'm the only person in the universe who doesn't care for Mal BUT wasn't that angry about the Zoya thing. (The kiss, that is.) Out of the things that bothered me about him, that was at the bottom of the list. lol

This is the guy who tells her "I don't care if you danced naked with him" AFTER he realizes he's in love with Alina.
Why would we care so much about what he did BEFORE he knew this himself?

Natalie wrote: "I HATE mal. hes all like " oh Alina i love you soooooo much!" then he goes and sleeps with some girl that Alina hates. what. the. crap?"

Uhm. That is a VERY MEAN thing to say :\ And what the. He does NOT sleep with anyone after he realize that he loves Alina!! Think you need to re-read the books :)

Cari wrote: "This is the guy who tells her "I don't care if you danced naked with him" AFTER he realizes he's in love with Alina.
Why would we care so much about what he did BEFORE he knew this himself?"

Very true. I adore Mal. He is honest, real and loving. Mal isn't the one involved in a love square. That is ALINA. Sure, Mal kisses this one girl. AFTER Alina basically told him she didn't care for him. I would be beyond hurt by that as well; like Mal was.

The Mal/Alina excerpt has been UNLOCKED on grishatrilogy.com

Go CRAZY!

I just read it. Thanks!!!! OMG it has everything: funny dialogue, feels... Harshaw!? I forgot how much I miss Mal.

From the looks of this excerpt, it seems they've decided to go back to being friends only. Oh poor Mal.

"On the fourth day, we came upon a cavern with a perfectly still pool that gave the illusion of a night sky, its depths sparkling with tiny luminescent fish.

Mal and I were slightly ahead of the others. He dipped his hand in, then yelped and drew back. “They bite.”

“Serves you right,” I said. “‘Oh, look, a dark lake full of something shiny. Let me put my hand in it.’”

“I can’t help being delicious,” he said, that familiar cocky grin flashing across his face like light over water. Then he seemed to catch himself. He shouldered his pack, and I knew he was about to move away from me.

I wasn’t sure where the words came from: “You didn’t fail me, Mal.”

He wiped his damp hand on his thigh. “We both know better.”

“We’re going to be traveling together for who knows how long. Eventually, you’re going to have to talk to me.”

“I’m talking to you right now.”

“See? Is this so terrible?”

“It wouldn’t be,” he said, gazing at me steadily, “if all I wanted to do was talk.”

My cheeks heated. You don’t want this, I told myself. But I felt my edges curl like a piece of paper held too close to fire. “Mal—”

“I need to keep you safe, Alina, to stay focused on what matters. I can’t do that if . . .” He let out a long breath. “You were meant for more than me, and I’ll die fighting to give it to you. But please don’t ask me to pretend it’s easy.”

He plunged ahead into the next cave.

I looked down into the glittering pond, the whorls of light in the water still settling after Mal’s brief touch. I could hear the others making their noisy way through the cavern.

“Oncat scratches me all the time,” said Harshaw as he ambled up beside me.

“Oh?” I asked hollowly.

“Funny thing is, she likes to stay close.”

“Are you being profound, Harshaw?”

“Actually, I was wondering, if I ate enough of those fish, would I start to glow?”

I shook my head. Of course one of the last living Inferni would have to be insane. I fell into step with the others and headed into the next tunnel.

“Come on, Harshaw,” I called over my shoulder.

Then the first explosion hit."

I loved the excerpt! Not gonna lie that I did get feels for one particular line. So excited to meet Harshaw!

Mal is still the best. <3 I'm just waiting for people to stop talking bad about him. Sigh.

And you're welcome! Just doing my Grisha Army duties :)

I think there is more to Mal than what we've seen so far. It's been strongly alluded to that his tracking skills are more than just talent. I have wondered if he and Alina aren't some sort of... lock and key designed by Morozova to destroy the Darkling. I'm not sure on the details, but I definitely think he has a hand in their gifts and the specific and unique way they manifest themselves. The archway ruins from their childhood village possibly/probably being the ones in Sankt Ilya's picture connects him to that village, so his connection to their origins is just too coincidental to not mean something.

I think Mal might be some sort of Summoner that no one has ever seen before, a summoner of specific things/items, but instead of calling them to himself the way that the traditional summoners do, he goes to the items. ??? Just guessing at the details. Maybe that's silly.

I also think that Ana Kuya is somehow in on everything... working for Morozova or something. For whatever reason, it was essential that Mal and Alina go under the radar of the grisha recruitment at the traditional age, and that they forget as much about their childhoods/parentage as possible, and she had a direct hand in both of those things happening.

Jessica wrote: "I think there is more to Mal than what we've seen so far. It's been strongly alluded to that his tracking skills are more than just talent. I have wondered if he and Alina aren't some sort of... lo..."

I agree with this. So much. I also think there is more to Mal. And I think it will make everyone else love him as well, hih. <3 (I have loved him from the very beginning. And I never stopped loving him. Sigh.) But yesss. I am SO curious about knowing more about him! There must be more about his tracking skills. And I cannot wait to figure it out. Sigh. I think he and Alina is the perfect match. <3 Just.. I will never be okay if they don't end up together. Sniffs. They must. <3

I have loved Mal since reading Shadow and Bone. He really cares about Alina. He doesn't just want to be with her because of her powers like I think the Darkling is.

Does anyone else suspect Mal of being the Firebird?
IDK but he moves about a lot he's from the place with the stone archway and when he grabs Alina's wrist and circles his hand all the way around (like a bracelet/fetter) both Alina and Mal feel a jolt of power.

Agreed. Mal truly loves Alina. And I love Mal so so much. <3 just a little bit sad that not that many seems to love him like I do. Sobs.

Hmm. Mal being the firebird.. could be awesome; unless he has to die because of that :\

I love Mal, even though he's made some mistakes and done bad things, he's been with Alina from the very start. They grew up together and they were all each other had. You just cant separate that and he clearly does still love her, there's just too much bad stuff going on around them.
I don't ship Darklina at all, he's such a pure bad person. It'd be weird for them to get together after all he's done. Its a repulsive thought.

Laura wrote: "I love Mal, even though he's made some mistakes and done bad things, he's been with Alina from the very start. They grew up together and they were all each other had. You just cant separate that an..."

Very much agree with this. <3 though I do not think Mal did anything wrong in Siege and Storm. He was hurt. I would do stupid things as well if someone hurt me like that. Sigh.