The Grishaverse discussion

so what do you guys think is gonna happen!!?!?

After finding the last amplifier with Mal as leader of the hunt :
- Alina died saving Ravka
- Alina saves the world but loses her power in the process. Nickolai becomes King.
- Alina and the Darkling shared a deep connection. Like someone said earlier, she is his balance and he is hers. So maybe, Alina will "cure" him, or he will change [Not that I don't like him right no] and *Please, NO* sacrificing himself for her ?
- Genya is definetely connected to the fire Bird : How ? No idea.
- Alina and the Darkling disapeared, and they reincarnate again ? *Sounds crazy*
And of course, Alina AND the Darkling, in all of this, will be together somehow ! No kidding, I think it's really complicated to try to know what's going to happen .. The different reviews plus the quotes and the informations drive us crazyyyyy

All the typical stuff: Everyone's in a romantic slum, Alina regains her health, the romantic "Ruin and Racy" moments we've been dying for, the recovery of Morozova's journals, Mal and Alina fall back in love, Nikolai's alive and makes us laugh and cry, the Darkling showing a softer side, the revelation of his name for crying out loud, and the firebird somehow backfires on Alina's plans. But in particular...
-Alina and Genya have a deep, friendship-rebuilding moment
-Mal addresses that he's a human amplifier
-We meet the interesting new Inferni of Alina's Grisha team that Leigh's mentioned
-Mal and Alina visit their hometown and discover something traumatic about their past and Border Wars
-Genya and David get married (pretty sure Leigh's confirmed there'll be a wedding)
-Awesome magical fights and Nikolai's mechanical wonders with the First and Second Armies
-An AMAZINGLY EPIC ending... please be one that ends somewhat okay for the Darkling.

- Either Mal or the Darkling (or both, plot twist!) sacrifice themselves so Alina can use them to destroy the fold.

- The sun summoner was rumored to be where Alina and Mal are from, so someone who is opposed to this (maybe they knew the Darkling was looking for the sun summoner) destroyed the town and killed everyone with the hope that they killed the sun summoner. (Hey, Leigh is a fan of ATLA and something similar happens. :P)

- Nikolai will be king.

- The Darkling tells Alina his name. Probably as he's dying. *sobs*

- The Darkling fakes his death.

Alina has regains her powers by resurfacing from the tunnels and soaking the sunlight. Distance makes the heart grow fonder and she realizes she has feelings for the Darkling and Nikolai as well. Her growing power with the amplifiers and the Darkling experiments with magic, start altering the balance of things and unleash an unexpected disaster... Perhaps the gigantic worm will wake from its sleep, ravenous and unstoppable attempting to destroy all of Ravka.

Enemies reluctantly come together. Nikolai comes out from hiding. Alina has her chance to have a couple of racy moments with her suitors and becomes even more confused as the Darkling reveals his name and she realizes he may not be monster she always thought.

She also realizes there is more to Nikolai than she thought, and that perhaps he's Ravka's best chance to be a unified country for all the people and the grisha as well.

Mal learns he's a human amplifier too. He also held it back from the testers as he didn't want to separate from Alina either. As they go back to their village and uncover their past, he realizes it's not by chance they ended up together. He was meant to be Alina's companion all along and her amplifier.

When the time comes, the Firebird cannot be killed. Bahgra explains it is more than another mythical creature: it is the heart of Ravka and the land would be destroyed.

Mal offers himself as an amplifier for Alina. Alina is destroyed by grief. The Darkling cannot stand seeing her like that and decides he'll be her amplifier then. She tries desperately to find another way but there is none. We all cry and wail with her as he's ready to take his life and offer it to her.

At the very last minute, Bahgra steps in and takes his place, so suddenly he's not able to stop her. She dies. Chaos ensues. Big, crazy battle is at hand. The Apparat is somewhere. The other big threat is defeated by Alina's completely astounding powers. Mal dies heroically in battle. The Darkling is presumed dead, nowhere to be found.

(In reality, he helps in the battle and as he realizes Nikolai should be king, he steps back to avoid causing more pain and because he's consumed by guilt because of Bahgra's death. He recognizes his time as leader has ended and he goes into exile.)

Alina is left with the task to reconstruct Ravka with Nikolai at her side. We don't know if they'll be a couple. Alina is not quite herself and is overcome by pain and grief. He knows her heart belongs (belonged?) to another but he's content that they're together. Being not only clever but also wise, he doesn't press the issue. There's a new beginning for Ravka with much work to do. However, all are hopeful.

Cari wrote: "Alina has regains her powers by resurfacing from the tunnels and soaking the sunlight. Distance makes the heart grow fonder and she realizes she has feelings for the Darkling and Nikolai as well. ..."

Applause for Cari and her beautifully moving predictions! :)

Same thoughts about Baghra dying somehow and the Darkling being traumatized by the loss. A dark thought in my mind gave me the idea that the Darkling detected that Mal was an amplifier while he pulled Alina apart from him during the nichevoya creating scene in R&R and that he would've even had threatened to kill Mal himself to give Alina her missing amplifier. o_o I get scared just thinking I thought that up.

Abigayle wrote: "Cari wrote: "Alina has regains her powers by resurfacing from the tunnels and soaking the sunlight. Distance makes the heart grow fonder and she realizes she has feelings for the Darkling and Nikol..."

Aww thanks! ^_^

Well, it just occurred to me today that Bahgra is also a human amplifier. Human amplifiers cannot be killed to obtain their power. They have to give their lives willingly, said Leigh. So, in a way, that would be a sort of happy ending: instead of the Darkling having to die a martyr, his mom does in his place. It would be horrible for him but also kind of redeeming to see how much she loved him.

I just don't want him to die a martyr and become an amplifier just as we're getting to know and understand him better. However, that may very well be the end.

"At the very last minute, Bahgra steps in and takes his place, so suddenly he's not able to stop her. She dies"

OMG this theory is perfect. I mean I don't WANT her to die but it's very plausible. Also plausible that this would really shake the Darkling's perspective. Through everything he's lived through, she's been his only constant.

It's hard to imagine the Darkling's future. Right now we only see death or ruling. Is there another option for him? Would he want to continue leading the Grisha alongside Alina, with Nikolai as king? (If say, you know, he wasn't arrested/imprisoned/went into hiding.) Or more curiously, how would he be as a king with Alina by his side? Would some of his hardness soften?

Oh god Cari that's the perfect ending about Bahgra, how no one thought about it sooner instead of all already burying the Darkling in our mind !! Love this prediction, it warmed my heart that it's a possibility.

About the Darkling, I don't see him in another role than dying or ruling and if he fakes his death, then it would probably mean it's because he wants to wait to reappear one more time to get the power back and that would not be possible in the book itself because I'm totally sure he will redeem himself or be killed if he doesn't, there's not another alternative, he can't live if he stays "evil", so about faking his death I'm not sure

Cari wrote: "Alina has regains her powers by resurfacing from the tunnels and soaking the sunlight. Distance makes the heart grow fonder and she realizes she has feelings for the Darkling and Nikolai as well. ..."

This is so perfect ! You said the Darkling kinda of "disappear". I think, he will come back but in the last pages.

"While Alina is in the balcony in the Grisha's castle (Because she choose to live there) - OMG, I'm picturing the scene right now - The Darkling appears as if by magic, and then she is totally confused, and she yells his name, he smiles to her, and she runs meeting him, and hugging him."
Hahahaha, I'm being too romantic

Mirou wrote: "he Darkling appears as if by magic, and then she is totally confused, and she yells his name, he smiles to her, and she runs meeting him, and hugging him."
Hahahaha, I'm being too romantic "

OMG OMG OMG THAT WOULD BE LIKE SO AWESOME I'M IMAGINING IT RIGHT NOW. AND IM PICTURING HIS HALF-SMILE AND OH MY GOD, I CAN'T EVEN.. OHH GODDDDDD
*faints*

I am torn because I am both hoping for Darkling+Alina and Nikolai+Alina. I don't think she will actually kill a firebird though - I agree with the other people who think the "firebird" is actually something else.

I have a strong inkling Alina might not survive...

I hope someone (David, maybe??) discovers a way to take those amplifiers off of her.

Jessica wrote: "I hope someone (David, maybe??) discovers a way to take those amplifiers off of her."

I recently re-read that part of Siege and Storm where David tells her that if she breaks the color off it would cause another catastrophe like the Fold...so though I hope she can get them off, I'm not sure if David would try...

Right, I mean, of course, that he discovers a way to do it without that happening. Maybe in the journals??

Oh right, I forgot about the journals! Maybe he would then. I do hope they can be removed though.

On that note, Alina's greed for power - think it'll be satiated by the third amplifier or just get worse?

I think it will definitely get worse, then get better. But while it's bad she will go to be with the Darkling. Not necessarily to align herself with him, but she will convince herself that he is the only one who understands her, or something.

Hmm that actually sounds super plausible. She does go and see him, doesn't she?

What do you think will happen, Tiffany?

I honestly have no idea. I do think she will join up with the Darkling at some point, because he really is the only one who understands her. And that her power will grow so much that she continues to change in personality. That's why though I like her and Mal's relationship, I don't think Mal will end up with her because he doesn't understand that.

Also I hadn't thought about the human amplifiers playing into the story before but now I think it might!

"I have a strong inkling Alina might not survive..."

With this being YA, I think she'll live. :P It's rare for the heroine to be killed off. (Unless you're...*cough)

Still though, I think she'll live. Is it bad that the only character I REALLY want to live is the antagonist? *sighs*

"She does go and see him, doesn't she?"

Do you guys think she physically goes to him, or does she APPEAR to him like he had appeared to her all through S&S? I just have a hunch that's a two way ability between the two of them now.

WinterRose wrote: ""I have a strong inkling Alina might not survive..."

With this being YA, I think she'll live. :P It's rare for the heroine to be killed off. (Unless you're...*cough)

Just a thought, in S&S a lot of emphasis was put on a Saint's martyrdom though which is why I think so. Though I get what you mean - most YA protagonists don't die.

Oo also hadn't thought about her not physically being there. Also an option.

I know that he was somewhat corporeal when he "visited" her, but I I still think they will fill each other's real physical space for a portion of the book. She wouldn't bypass that opportunity. Haha! Maybe she gets in touch with him that way and then uses that to find him??

I am not so convinced that she won't kill the firebird. That may be what pushes her over the edge. You know there was all that empathizing go she was doing with the volcra. I wonder if the fold is where he is hiding out and where she will find him...

And when I say, "she wouldn't bypass that opportunity" I mean LB, not Alina.

Mirou wrote: "Cari wrote: "Alina has regains her powers by resurfacing from the tunnels and soaking the sunlight. Distance makes the heart grow fonder and she realizes she has feelings for the Darkling and Nikol..."
I love it

Jessica wrote: "And when I say, "she wouldn't bypass that opportunity" I mean LB, not Alina."

I wouldn't be surprised. Leigh is a Slytherin after all :)

Nikolai better come back. He must!

I'm excited for anythig as long as Bardugo doesn't, in some fantastical way, announce that The Darkling and Alina are siblings.
I personally think I'd cry for hours!
Honestly, YA book series are scaring me with random plot twists!

I am so scared the Leigh bardugo will pull a "Veronica Roth" if you know what I mean.

Natalie wrote: "I am so scared the Leigh bardugo will pull a "Veronica Roth" if you know what I mean."

Sadly I do although I haven't even read Insurgent yet. (Darn internet!) However, like I said before, I wouldn't be surprised lol.

So... crazy thought. What if Genya is faking her bite marks? Anyone see any reason why that COULDN'T be a possibility?

I don't think it is possible to fake something like that.. And I don't think she would. Genya is a good person at heart, I think.

I have to wonder if maybe the Darkling dies in a building collapse. Maybe the end of Siege and Storm, with the chapel caving in, was foreshadowing. Who knoooowwws?

If she is one of the best tailor's out there, and Tolya, as a decent tailor, can totally alter Nikolai/Sturmhond's look, I don't see why she couldn't fake the bite marks. And I'm not saying that she isn't conflicted, but she has shown herself loyal to the Darkling over and over again. She also has lots of practice infiltrating the enemy in order to collect information for him. I could be missing something, but I don't think her scruples would be the thing that would keep the theory from being plausible.

I'm not sure. Genya's hesitation to stop Alina escaping Sturmhond's ship speaks volumes for her. Also she did it to fit into the Grisha for once, but the Grisha order like she knew it doesn't exist. Also Tolya just overemphasized some parts of Sturmhond's look...though I guess we don't know the limits of Genya's power.

Britton wrote: "I have to wonder if maybe the Darkling dies in a building collapse. Maybe the end of Siege and Storm, with the chapel caving in, was foreshadowing. Who knoooowwws?"

I really hope not! Though we do have Darkling quotes from R&R so he does appear in some form or fashion!

You know I considered the possibility that it WASN'T Genya, but a girl they tailored to look similar. She's been so disfigured that a look alike might pass for her.

But Genya very well could be still working for the Darkling. She has made it clear (so far) that she believes in what he's trying to do. So Idk. Just because she was punished doesn't necessarily mean she'd change her alliances. It could, but we just don't know for sure.

The Darkling called Genya unique like himself and Alina. I find it hard to believe he'd completely ruin someone he found to be so unique. (Someone he also might need.)

Anyone get RT Magazine? There's a R&R up! I don't have it though so I can't read it. :(

http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-rev...

WinterRose wrote: "Anyone get RT Magazine? There's a R&R up!

I thought there were no ARC's of Ruin and Rising...?

Tiffany wrote: "WinterRose wrote: "Anyone get RT Magazine? There's a R&R up!

I thought there were no ARC's of Ruin and Rising...?"

Wait what? R&R? What are you talking about?
Why not? I can't wait to read ruin and Rising.

Apparently at least two gave gone out, as Kirkus posted a review too.

What do you guys think of this?

“What have you come here for, Alina?”

I answered him honestly. “I wanted to see you.”

I caught the briefest glimpse of surprise before his face shuttered again. “There are two thrones on that dais. You could see me any time you liked.”

Where do you think they are? Based on the context, they aren't at the palace. Or at least not in the throne room. Alina goes to HIM. He's asking why, as if he wasn't searching for her this time.

Think he's been captured? And Alina went to see him?

Really interesting idea WinterRose. I usually overestimate the Darkling but what if he did get captured somehow? How? That's where I'm stuck. I don't know how that would work if his Grisha turned on him or Alina's small Grisha and oskazatsya army attacked.

I think she visited him at the palace to search for something important or managed to visit the Darkling the same way he did using her powers. The words before this quote "I should have predicted another betrayal from you..." do you think that's referring to where we left off in S&S or a future scene in R&R that resulted in this situation?

Well his first line is "Why waste my anger on you when the fault is fine?" This makes me wonder if Alina asks something like "you aren't angry with me?"

I think it's referring to what happened at the end of S&S.

How the Darkling would be captured is a very good question. Maybe Nikolai? He's clever like that. I just can't shake the feeling that Alina is visiting him in a holding cell. "What have you come here for?"

It just sounds like he's asking why she's come to see HIM. She's come on her own, too, which makes me think he's in her custody so to say. Idk. It could be a visitation like he had done with her.

Ah, in the new Darklina scene from R&R that was released, I'm guessing we were right in one aspect. I think she visited him like he visited her in S&S.

"He leaned against the window, and the gilded frame came into sharp focus." Also in the way she talks about visiting.

But holy wow, that scene. I love the vulnerable side of the Darkling it showed.

I think you might be right, Tiffany. I think she may have figured out how to go to him in a vision.

Or whatever it is they are doing to show up in each other's spaces. :)

What did Alina mean by that last line? My mind was whirling in all sorts of directions I'm not sure Leigh wanted it to go, haha.

“It’s true,” I said softly. “You are stronger, wiser, infinite in experience.” I leaned forward and whispered, my lips brushing the shell of his ear. “But I am an apt pupil.”

I think using his manipulation and seduction techniques against him. I mean, it is Ruin and Racy

Yep, yep. I agree, Tiffany.

Oh how the tables have turned. I love seeing the Darkling a hot mess.

I love the Darkling so much, you have no idea....seriously...

Jun just posted this and I didn't catch it before: In S&B, Zoya says "Are you saying that you've found A Sun Summoner?" Not THE Sun Summoner.

I know we've talked about the idea that more sun summoners excited, but how does Zoya know this? Is she older than we think?

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the sun summoners were wiped out and Alina is the last one. She was taken to the orphanage to be put into hiding. Maybe Mal was put there too because rather than being an amplifier, he's an anti-amplifier. (I know that's a stretch but just go with it, lol.) Whenever he touches her wrist, there's a jolt, but Alina doesn't describe it as a similar feeling to Baghra and the Darkling.