Written by Erin Francois
Artwork by Jo Painter
Where are all the Darkling lovers at?!
One of the strangest things about the Grisha-verse was how different Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone were from each other. It seemed like Bardugo fell in-love with the Darkling but couldn’t find a way to justify the things he had done and instead wrapped up the series so she could write about Kaz Brekker.
Shadow and Bone was basically The Hobbit in disguise. Bilbo leaves the comfort of his boring map-making life to travel with a really old wizard-man to make the world better again. He’s slowly corrupted by his magic jewellery, goes to battle, and then comes back home to where it all started and lives on peacefully.
On the other hand, Six of Crows is just Ocean’s Eleven but George Clooney rips people’s eyes out and is afraid of touching people. Brad Pitt is a Zemeni who’s cool but ADHD and Matt Damon is… well he’s just Wylan. And we all know who Julia Roberts is!
So, let’s get into why the Darkling and Alina should have ended up together, apart from the obvious. The Darkling and Alina are polar opposites and opposites attract *winks* yeah they do. At one point in the books the Darkling actually tells Alina that she would make him better, quell his naturally dark and apathetic side and make him love and feel again. I know, I know, stay with me here.
He was a boy, she was a girl, could I make it anymore obvious? She’s day and he’s night. He was a library of lifetimes of knowledge and he was always pushing her to grow, to expand her mind, not to just think about individuals but the country as a whole which she would need to learn if she wanted to rule. However, his many lifetimes had made the Darkling apathetic to human life. How could they not? But he was changing, guys! He wanted to be better. Why pull Alina closer? Why tell her she made him feel and care again, ask her to be with him if he didn’t want to change, to be better? If he really was apathetic and tyrannical and evil, why ask her to be by his side as an equal?
He knew they were opposites and they would make each other better. They would improve each other and grow which is an important part of being human. Something that Mal never offered her. He was always trying to squish her down into what she had been. And in the end, he succeeded.
Now, there’s the argument that Alina’s march for power would still have led her to being stripped of powers and then the Darkling would leave her because she wasn’t a powerful person anymore. But people, that’s what relationships are all about! Trust. Would Mal have loved Alina if she was this all powerful being ruling over Ravka? No, and he said just as much.
Let’s talk about Mal for a second. Mal was oblivious to Alina’s love from before book one even began. He slept with Zoya and countless others before he realised who was waiting by his back door. Was this the relationship we were rooting for? No! Mal was one-dimensional. He was a tracker and joined Fight Club. That was all his personality. He didn’t even consider Alina until he saw the Darkling and her together. And then, once he finally wanted to have her, he wanted her to change into the person she had been. Without her Grisha powers. Once he realised he couldn’t have her because her destiny was far grander, he simply gave up. He stepped back so Nikolai could queen her. No bro, you did this to yourself. Don’t be salty about it.
The Darkling was a complex, tortured character who did the wrong things for the right reasons. Sure, he was a tad controlling at times, but so was Mal. Even though the Darkling wanted to change, Mal got a free pass. Now, another argument is that the Darkling did some horrible things. Take Genya for example.
My answer is this: Kaz Brekker. Smash-your-knee-caps-pull-your-eyes-out Mr Brekker. He did some pretty despicable things all for the wrong reasons. Greed, money, power, and revenge. So where’s the line? Does it take a villain to advertise his misdeeds for us not only to forgive him but also root for him? To end up with the girl?
Lastly, if this argument still has not won you over yet, I want to leave you today with an image. Imagine Alina has been stripped of her powers. She’s daydreaming again, her fingers unconsciously playing with the light streaming in through the window. But instead, there is the Darkling, his grey eyes almost sad but he’s smiling slightly, just at the corners of his lips. Alina looks up and her cheeks turn pink but he comes to sit beside her, taking her fingers and kissing them softly. Around them shadows begin to leap and dance and twirl. But it’s not his. It is hers. It’s the part of him lingering inside her. Even after she had lost everything, her light, she has kept just a little piece belonging to the Darkling, to Aleksander.
THANK YOU. Also my comment has major spoilers so scroll on if you don’t wanna read them. I’ve thought this from the beginning. Season 2 on Netflix had me screaming at the TV because the Darkling saw her and loved her for who she really IS. I’m still hoping for Netflix to correct this gross miscarriage of justice done in the books. I don’t hate Mal, but the Darkling is her equal and he showed compassion, remorse, and very complex human emotions. I hope he comes back and they end up together, it’s the only thing so many fans want. Just look at the IMDB ratings. The HIGHEST rated episode was Season 1, Episode 5, “Show me who you are.” It was the Episode that he remembers back to, when he first started down the love interest past, as a moment of peace, happiness even, when they kissed…just before Alina kills him… He needs to come back. I’m okay if Mal dies. Alina and Aleksander need to be together.
I love the Darkling’s character in the books, and I appreciate how the producers in the show gave a glimpse into his past to really show his humanity. I rooted for him and Alina, even knowing that as the antagonist he was probably doomed, but I yearned for more relationship development between them. I imagine he saw her as his redemption, his better half, a way for him to regain his humanity, to love and receive love and make his eternity worth living. I do like Mal’s character, but I felt some small resentment towards him in the end, not just because Alina ended up with him. He made Alina’s character tragic and sad to me. She grew up sickly and frail from subconsciously suppressing her power for so long just to be with him. That’s something I feel like his character didn’t understand and couldn’t appreciate. Even if Aleksander’s motivation was corrupted, he wanted Alina to grow her power, and she really bloomed when she started using it by letting go of Mal in her mind. Then when they were on the run and in hiding in the second book, here she is with this powerful amplifier and forced again to suppress her power, making her a shadow of who she should be. Mal wished she didn’t have her power, and loved who she used to be, which is pure in the way he doesn’t love her for her power, but again, she was less than her potential. I loved the way Alina and Aleksander were connected by the tether in the books, and I wish that in their private, make believe place, they could have been more. When she comes to him and he gives her his real name, and he says “it isn’t real, let me.” I felt he loved her and was desperate for some connection, even if it wasn’t real. I know he’s truly shown himself to be a villain by that point, but I wanted her to give in to him there so badly! I really wish the show had portrayed that connection better, instead of how they chose to alter it.
I don’t know, I just feel badly for his character and while his heinous actions weren’t justified, I feel like he believed the ends justified the means because he thought that they were meant to be together, that together they would make a better Ravka, the threat of their power could actually end wars, and the lives lost would be just a speck in their eternity. Part of me hated Bagra for her role in shaping him and then telling her to run from him. He kept warning her at every turn that her choices would bring about more death and sorrow, but she just kept running. Tragically Alina, instead of being his balance and salvation, the end to his loneliness, ultimately became his undoing and brought him beyond redemption.
Does anyone else feel like this, or am I simply sick in the head? Lol
I wish the bad guy got the nice girl. It’s that simple—bring on another season. Make the series continue —this story is a classic. Make it happen to the powers that be….more followers than you can imagine.
Yes!!!
She shouldn’t have ended up with either. They are both abusive and annoying.
I absolutely LOVE Aleksander, I HATE Mal and I really like Nikolai. Honestly speaking, Alina would’ve picked Nikolai if she had sense, Mal was a pathetic loser who only showed any interest in her after Aleksander did, Aleksander (whilst being the most lovable in my opinion) did some pretty messed up stuff (even though it was mostly for the right reasons) whilst Nikolai has always been a good person.
EXCUSE ME! HELLO? HAVE YOU GUYS FORGOTTEN?! In the last book, Ruin and Rising, Zoya tells Aliana that she and Mal never slept with each other and that Mal had never slept with anyone else. I mean, they even nick-named Mal the hopeless! C’mon, guys! Read the books!
I agree., I read quite a lot and have seen other authors write a differant version of a final book in a series. They usually do this due to fan pressure. Both versions are available but it allows the reader to choose the one they want. I wisn Ms. Bardugo would also do this.
No, she tells her in that book that they did sleep together. Never since that time though, and no one else had been with him either. She absolutely confirms that they did though at the start of the series before Alina’s first trip into the fold.
I agree. Grisha live longer the more powerful they are, and since Alina lost her light powers, she would probably live an average amount of years, but I feel she’s retained her powers, she would practically be immortal, just like the darkling. The darkling loved her while mal completely ignored her in parts of the series. I feel like in book series only the good guys get love in the end and the bad guys don’t. I was a little sad when the darkling didn’t get a chance to be human.
I hope the Darkling gets freed from the tree and has a redemption arc. That someone new is born that can be an eternal partner. He wasn’t just disappointed because she lost her powers rather he lost his potential partner in his eternal existence. Since the Darkling chose to sacrifice himself for eternal pain to save the world, shouldn’t he get release?
Absolutely agree!! Shadow and light!! WOW! Light and a tracker… ERM. opposites attract just like Alina and the darkling they should have been endgame
Absolutely!
This book was so well-written. The world was built so good and the ideas were fascinating. I got obsessed with the series at the beginning. But I hate it now, for the ending! It was so wrong.
Alina ending up with Mal and all the things along that meant denying one’s true nature. It’s not how things work. The writter got it so wrong. Alina should have made herself more powerful, powerful enough to stand the darkling alone. She should have known better who she truly was and appreciated this true nature of hers instead of trying to be someone less. So when she is already strong by her own, she should have make darkling a better man.
Both Alina’s and Darkling’s power was a precious gift, a blessing. Alina shouldn’t try to destroy it. She took the blessing as a curse. It was so wrong.
You lost me around the part where you tried to justify the utter horror that he inflicted on Genya! Because she cared for Alina and Alina loved her too. Same with her ‘foster mother’ Ana. He was horrifying, unforgivable, trying to tear Alina’s life apart so he would be the only thing left, like a true abuser.
That said, he is still 100% more interesting than Mal and has the better chemistry with Alina! If she had either gone down a dark path or kept her powers and lived an immortal life and the Darkling had survived, there is no doubt in my mind that they would have ended up together, seeking redemption. Because they are a part of each other and there is undeniable love amongst the hatred. Now that would have been a fascinating ending!
He doesn’t deserve our girl but their twisted love was so well written and undeniably the most gripping relationship of the series.
I agree completely. I am such a passionate reader I read the whole series in 3 days. when I got to the ending literally cried. It was so bad. Alina should have been with the the Darkling. He was always there for her when Alina needed him most. Whereas Mal completely turned his back on Alina the one time she really needed him.
I thought the same actually. I like the their relationship more. With Mal is just cute, but that’s all. In real life, I think if people were Alina, they will choose the Darkling. Dno what the author is even thinking to put Alina with Mal. I’m salty af knowing this.
In ruin and rising when Alina looses her power and Darkling is devastated. I cried a few silent tears. He was shattered and angry for more than loosing his ultimate power. He not only lost his ambition. He lost his one hope of never being alone again. A wise man once said, ‘fall in love with someone you cannot live without. Not just someone you can live with.’
May is likeable. He is someone anyone can fall in love with. Anyone can live with. This fact is well mentioned in all three books. He doesn’t feel like someone just made for you (Alina).
I fell in love with Darkling. I was hoping for his redemption. I was rooting for his salvation.
Exactly 100% this. Hence why I won’t watch the series.
After I read shadow and bone and found out Alina and the darkling did not end up together. My heart broke. He was perfect for her. Yeah I know he wasn’t the best nor was she. And this article just proved that they should be… It provided every reason and more…And come on, the darkling is cute and powerful who would not want to end up with him. I know he was wrong at time but at least her cared for her. I personally liked Mal in the beginning, but of course I ended up shipping the darkling with her.
Nope. Darkling said she was nothing after she lost her powers. He didn’t love her just what she could do for him. Alina was at risk if joining the dark side and he would probably drag her down with him. Mal was her best friend, even if he didn’t love her romantically yet, he would risk his life for her like the first crossing and when he was tracking the first amplifier wrote that she is everything to him. He had self esteem issues for sure when other men came into the picture but who wouldnt when the person you love is being courted by a prince and you’re supposed to be some secret. Alina avoided him and kept secrets and let Nikolai control her life and Mal’s in the palace. At least the Darling and Alina had chemistry compared to Nikolai who I think is just good at scheming, but it was a ruse so that she would be loyal to him, if the first amplifier had been successful there wouldn’t be an argument for the Darkling being the better choice. I would have been happier with a story where Alina was a stronger female character who wasn’t constantly in this love entanglement and just stood on her own more.
I 100% agree with this!! Literally everything I thought and the Darkling deserved better. I wanted him and Alina to end up together so much to the point where I just assumed they would because it was kinda obvious that they were meant for each other. Her and Mal were cute but as you said, there were so many flaws which made me not grow to want their relationship as much. Ughh I just wish she ended up with the Darkling 🙁 and since she doesn’t when the tv show comes out I’m going to be sad wishing they were endgame.
SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK!!! so well written and agree with every single word!
Ohhh god I have been blessed with this site🥀💞💞💞 could not be anymore ryt! Seriously it was so obiyous and painful when alina didn’t end up with the Darling the pull was so obiyous and omg if u have read it! U can’t never deny the posibility…I didn’t give this book a 5 star only Cuz of that I really rotted for the Darling oh darn gods!
I absolutely agree, I hated the ending, I hated Mal, it’s so depressing seeing Alina being left behind after she came so far. I even hated the fact that she stifled her power as a child to stay with Mal, she should have be off training with Zoya and the other Grisha.
to be honest, I was fine with Alina ending with Mal but I would have been just as happy with Mal just dying… for 2 books straight, Mal was sulking and feeling sorry for himself and only towards the end of the last book he snapped out of it. It was clear to me that Alina loved Mal so I’m fine with them ending up together but I personally liked The Darkling better because he just had a much better story… And can we just be honest, the only living person in the world with power over darkness and the only living person in the world with power over light belong together. period.
Thanks for the massive spoiler in the title.