Shadow And Bone (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy #1)

 Shadow And Bone

(The Shadow and Bone Trilogy #1)

By Leigh Bardugo

My Rating: 5

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Finished on: 26th Aug, 2020

Entering into another fantasy world created by Leigh Bardugo. Started this after finishing the Six of Crows duology (or Trilogy?) and now I'm wondering maybe I should have first started with this one. I would have focused more when Genya, Alina and other Grishas were mentioned in Six of Crows. 

But, anyway. 

Let's get inside the story 😉

So Alina Starkov and Malyen (Mal) Oretsev are two best friends. Inseparable. 

They were living in an orphanage of Duke Keramsov. And were taken care by Ana Kunya. 

In the beginning it's shown how they both are tested to see if they are Grisha. To see if they too have some hidden power. 

As kids, they are pretty much excited. 

But turned out they both are normal after all. And they carried on with their lives. 

If only. 

Let's fast forward to the present. Alina and Mal are not kids anymore, and they have their own set of friends. 

Alina has Alexei. Mal has Mikhael and Dubrov. 

It clearly shows Alina is very much bothered when Mal isn't giving her the attention she needs from her best friend. But Mal doesn't notice that, he's busy in making new friends and attracting beautiful Grishas. And Alina's jealousy is clearly shown. But she doesn't hold that against him. All she wants is for Mal not to forget her. Simple. 

We get to the part which I know will be exciting and an important part of the book. They are all crossing the Fold to get to the other side of Ravka. West Ravka basically. 

And what is Fold, you ask? 

It's the Shadow Fold in the Unsea. A place engulfed in  Blackness,  Darkness and Shadows. And not just that. What makes it most dangerous is the presence of creatures called Volcras who feed on flesh of humans. And they are spreading over entire Ravka. 

So what happens? They enter the fold, Squaller Grishas (Summoners of Air) use their power to steer the ship they are travelling on. 

And once they enter the fold, all they have to do is be quiet and hope they reach the other side without the Volcras spotting them and making them their food. 

Again, if only. 

This entire book is Alina's POV so she describes how in the complete silence, their heart beats sped up when they heard the sound of winds. 

Volcra's wings!

And when they became closer, they had no choice but to defend their lives. 

And so it all started. 

Inferni Grishas (Summoners of Fire) used their powers to create flame and scare Volcras away. But that isn't enough. As there are number of Volcras around, and if a bunch of them are scurrying away in fear, the other bunch is surrounding the people on the other side and having their meals. 

All hell broke lose. There were screams everywhere. 

It was devastating and a horrifying scene for Alina when she saw one of them take Alexei, her friend, away. She tried saving him, but helplessly looked on as her hold was not enough for her to drag her friend back from the claws of Volcras. 

Alexei was gone. 

It was clear that it won't be longer before she gets taken away too. And while one Volcra near her was about to do that, Mal, yes Mal her best friend, comes to her rescue and saves her!

From only one Volcra though. 

But that won't be enough as there are many. 

They tried battling through them with their knives, but they can only do so much. Mal was badly injured, and at one point he drops down and doesn't get up. 

Alina tries to wake him up, but the situation is hopeless as there are more Volcras around flapping their wings and screeching. Alina notices one of them zooming in on Mal, to end him. And Alina obviously  can't stand and watch that happening. She puts herself between Mal and Volcras, and we readers excitedly read/experience the part we were most excited for (at least I was!)! 

The revelation of her mysterious power. 

When they attack, to end both their life, light blasts from her and surrounds the entire place, filling the place with bright light and scaring the Volcras away, and this was much better than what the Inferni could do. 

But Alina doesn't witness this from happening, as she was already being attacked by Volcras at that time. And after unknowingly doing the deed, everything goes black for her. 

How do we know this had happened? When Alina hears this being described when she's taken to Darkling at Kribirsk. 

Yes, Kribirsk, the place from which they left for the fold (seems like the mission was aborted and they have returned to the same place) 

And yes, Darkling. 

When she was being taken inside, Alina observes the surroundings.

"Darkling’s symbol had been cut into the glass: two overlapping circles, the sun in eclipse."

She was confused and wondered, had she done something wrong? What had happened? Looks like they are alive and fine since they have returned to the land, but, what happened? Where is Mal, and most importantly, is he even alive?! 

She doesn't get the answer to any question, until she meets the Darkling. 

The Darkling. 

At this point, trust me, I'm not sure what was so scary about this Darkling, but Alina was pretty terrified. And he acts the same way too, as he desperately wants to see if what people witnessed was true. 

That there's a Sun Summoner amongst us. 

Yep, you heard it right. 

What people saw was brilliant light flashing from her and surrounding the entire place. Almost as if she as summoned the light from the Sun. 

And right now Darkling wants to know if she really is the one. 

He holds her hand and Alina feels something, the pull of something inside her which she didn't feel before, the call of something which she never experienced before. 

Darkling's power was, as it is in his name, to spread darkness, and that's what he has done before putting this show of amplifying her powers to spread. 

Yep, you heard it right again. 

Darkling is a living amplifier. One touch and he can amplify anyone's power. 

But of course Alina comes to know this later, but at that point, even she was surprised to see the light spreading the entire room, letting the darkness fade away, making people squeal in surprise because there she is!

The Sun Summoner which they have been needing and trying to find all this time! 

Their savior is here! 

Initially they thought she has committed a treason by hiding her power all this time. But her stern denial convinced them enough that she didn't even know she had powers until this day. 

She did not know she was a Grisha.

But there's no time to waste. She has to be taken to The Little Palace for her training. And she's dragged away forcibly as she tries to fights them, begs them, tells them she's not who they think she is. 

She didn't even get to say goodbye to Mal :(

But on their way, they were attacked by Fjerdan assassins, to kill the most important Grisha now existing in the world. 

And they almost succeed at that, until The Darkling arrives. 

To save the world. 

"He stood before me, a dark rider, cloaked in black, his features in shadow."

He not only saved her, but did it in a very dramatic way. Sliced the assassin in half with simply his... Darkness? Shadow? What was it? He simply used his hand, and then whack, just like that the assassin had died.

And Alina then knew why Darkling was someone not to be messed with. 

He had saved her, and Alina was very grateful about that. But he also showed how dangerous he could be. 

And then, they move on. 

They reach The Little Palace. Darkling demonstrates Alina's power to The King and he's very impressed with it. The whole crowd present at the little Palace rejoices, as they now too believe, their problems are short lived, and they'll be free of Shadow Fold soon. 

Alina befriends few people. Marie, Nadia who are Etherealki (Summoners), just like her. And also Genya (yes, from Six of Crows :D) but Genya doesn't get to be around Etherealkis as apparently there's racism, and a certain category of Grisha's don't get involved with others? 

And Genya is a unique Grisha. She's a tailor. 

And like how Grishas wear these coloured Kefta to symbolize who they are:

Etherealki:

• Silver for Air Summoners/Squallers
• Red for Fire Summoners/Inferni
• Blue for Water Summoners/Tidemakers

Corporalki:

• Black for Heartrenders
• Grey for Healers

Materialki:

• Purple for Fabrikator 

Genya wears White and Gold, which Alina later notices are the same color worn by servants. 

Since Genya doesn't really fall into any of these categories, she was asked to wear that color. 

How.. Barbaric 😕

Anyway. Marie and Nadia seemed bit selfish to Alina, but Genya has been a gem. She shows her around and answers whatever questions or doubts Alina has. She became her best friend there.

After a day full of rest, Alina's classes start. Big challenge for Alina is to tolerate Baghra's classes. And it's a most crucial one as Baghra will be teaching her how to call and use her own power. But.. Alina is not able to do so. 

Baghra is an amplifier herself, so with her help Alina is able to use her power. But calling it herself is still seeming as a big challenge. 

Another Grisha comes from Kribirsk. The beautiful Grisha who had her eyes on Mal. She's called Zoya, and she's one of the most talented Squallers there is. 

Since Darkling is giving Alina quite the attention, Zoya is not liking it. She's almost jealous by it. 

And in Botkin Yul-Erdene's class, she almost breaks Alina's bones because she managed to take Zoya down for a moment. 

And Zoya heard quite an earful from Darkling then, haha. 

Coming to Darkling, again. 

The mysterious Darkling. 

While Alina's classes are going on, and Alina does not show any progress. She feels Darkling must be very disappointed with her. 

But he's not. He's very patient with her. And he tells her the entire story of how it all started. 

Darkling is descendant of someone called Black Heretic, who was responsible for creating this Shadow Fold. But he did not see what came with it, which is the Volcras. 

Volcras was a mistake. Something they did not foresee. 

And now Darkling wants to do everything to make things right. To undo, what Black Heretic had done out of greed. 

“I’ve spent my life searching for a way to make things right. You’re the first glimmer of hope I’ve had in a long time.”

Darkling is some 200 years old. (But looks more or less the same age as Alina).  He's relying on Alina's powers, yes, but there's no rush. As she's the glimmer of hope he has had in a looooong time that he has lived. As there was no sign of existence of any Sun Summoner before. 

And when she's losing faith in herself, Darkling makes her believe otherwise. 

“There is something more powerful than any army. Something strong enough to topple kings, and even Darklings. Do you know what that thing is?”

I shook my head, inching away from him.

“Faith,” he breathed, his black eyes wild. “Faith.”

And this was not just it, Darkling starts showing interest in her. He's concerned for her well being.

This reminded me of twilight. Remember when Edward noticed how Bella folds her hands and holds her waist tight whenever she's stressed? Yeah, that. 

I don't know, I'm impressed whenever these small details of yours are noticed by others. Specially when it's something you never noticed yourself. 

I almost had a crush on Darkling myself. Almost. 

But there's more to the story. 

As the story progresses, Alina is agitated. She writes letters to Mal but receives no answers. And her power is not showing any sign of willingness to show up when called. 

She gets more agitated, distressed, upset. 

She's missing Mal so much. How is he? Why is he not answering to any of her letters? 

Is he embarrassed by them? Does he not want to do anything with this friendship anymore? Is he deliberately stacking up those letters somewhere and not answering, hoping there won't be another one coming anytime? Has this been on his mind? Is Mal really forgetting her? Does Mal not need her anymore? 

With these thoughts she marches to Baghra's hut. She's tired of it. Tired of everything. And shouts the same to Baghra when she was asked what's wrong. She wants to leave this place. Wants to give everything up. Wants to stop trying hard to call the power which will supposedly save the world. 

And she wanted to ask whyyy

"Why was I different? Why had it taken so long for my power to reveal itself? And why couldn’t I access it on my own?"

And with which the mystery question was answered, about why her power was revealed so late, and why she couldn't access it on her own... Blew my mind. 

Left me speechless. 

It was so—

Exactly. This. I'm still speechless.

Let me tell you how. 

Remember me mentioning at the start regarding both Alina and Mal being tested for being Grishas' when they were kids? They both turned out to be normal, according to the test. But much more had happened that day. 

Mal was being taken away to test separately, and Alina remained where she was. In her memories, she remembered how they both were calling out to each other, and Alina tried resisting the hold which the Grisha (one with red kefta) had on her. 

With the hold so tight, Alina felt a tug of something inside her, which she couldn't understand. 

The present Alina understood that the Grisha was an amplifier. 

But the kid Alina didn't. Although, she understood one thing. Whatever she felt inside her, this feeling or thing rising above as if swimming upwards trying to reach the surface, will make her different. Will make her special. 

And in case Mal is not a Grisha, this will make her different from Mal. This will make her a Grisha. 

That would mean she will be separated from him to be with all the other Grisha's around. 

So in the spur of a moment, she doesn't let that happen. While trying to resist the hold of amplifier Grisha, she commands the thing to subside, she tries to subdue, she wills for it get buried deep within her, inside her. And her will was so strong, so powerful, it was able to overpower even the strength of the amplifier, which was trying for her power to rise above the surface and show itself. 

But Alina didn't let that happen. 

All because she didn't want to be away from Mal. 

"So I’d made my choice. I’d pushed my power down and held it there each day, with all my energy and will, without ever realizing it. I’d used up every bit of myself to keep that secret."

When the present Alina recalls all this, realization hits her. She had not even realized what she had done, as she did it all in the adrenaline rush. She wanted to be with Mal. 

And that's it. 

She didn't realize she had a power which she suppressed, and she also didn't realize that took so much of her energy, that it left her with eternal dark circles under her eyes, and unexplained lethargy which didn't leave her side since that day. Everything made sense to her now. Why she was so tired all the time. 

And also why her power surfaced that day at the Fold. The Volcras were closing in on her and Mal to kill both. And she unknowingly reached out and called that power, that last shred of hope, which could save their lives. 

And it did. 

As Alina realised all this, she pressed her forehead against the door of Baghra's hut and cried.

She had done it for Mal. So that she could be with him. 

The same Mal, who now refuses to acknowledge her letters, refused to maintain the tie of their friendship which lasted so long. Why had she done this? What for? 

And as she realised, as everything suddenly made sense to her. She knew, she just knew how to call her power which she had so strongly commanded and suppressed it deep inside her. 

As she still had her forehead on the door, still had tears in her eyes, it didn't take her any effort to summon the power inside her. She simply could bring it outside this time, asking it to reach the surface of herself. 

And when it did, she was filled with light, and it spread outside, spreading it in the Baghra's hut and well outside the boundaries of it too. Spreading it until the entire place was filled with her light. 

She had done it. 

She freed her power. Called it. Did it. 

And from this moment, everything changed. She didn't look tired anymore. In fact, she was more vibrant and energetic than ever. Zoya almost assumed Alina is possessed. 

Alina seemed different to everyone with her energetic self. Of course, no one knew she couldn't call her own power before, that she made it possible for herself now. That part, Alina wished would remain a secret always. 

But here we are. The Sun Summoner is finally able to call and use her power on her own, without any aid from an amplifier. 

But this wasn't enough for Darkling. He wanted to make use of an object amplifier for Alina, so that she can amplify her existing power, and make it powerful enough to destroy the Shadow Fold. 

Alina is confused. Isn't this enough? Isn't she enough? 

“I’ve been waiting for you a long time, Alina,” he said. “You and I are going to change the world.”

“No, Alina. I told you that you were my answer. And you are.”

This is how Darkling convinces her otherwise. And tells her about this Stag, which can be a used to create a very, very, very powerful amplifier for Alina. 

But the only catch here is that it's difficult to find this herd, as hardly anyone has ever spotted it before. 

But guess who makes it possible for Darkling? 

Mal. The Mapmaker. 

He's so talented, that he can find almost anything in the world. So Darkling specifically chooses him for this task. 

But when does Alina knows about this? During the ball which is held yearly at The Little Palace. When Darkling announces the good news to her that his "men" have finally traced the location of the herd, and we are now one step closer to destroy the Fold. 

And that's when Alina sees Mal come out of Darkling's office. 

She squeals, she's surprised, she runs and throws her arms around him. But he doesn't return her enthusiasm. 

And suddenly it dawns on her. And she confronts him about not needed her anymore. Since he has not shown any interest in responding to her letters either. 

"What letters?", he asks. 

She's confused, he didn't get any letters? That was because he kept moving for his different missions. 

But Mal, he seems like a different person now. He didn't seem like the cheerful one she remembered, but is now a tired one, who has seen quite a lot. Been through a lot. Before she could ask where he had been all this time, he talks about how HE had been worried for her, hearing the bad and assuming the worst about her, when she had been enjoying her life here all this time. 

Alina is hurt hearing this. This was not easy for her at all. How could she tell Mal how lonely she felt all the time she lived here. Things aren't same without him. 

But Mal thought otherwise. 

They both fight and separate on bad terms. 

Alina returns to her room and cries her heart out. 

(This almost reminded me of Hermione and Ron's fight in Goblet of Fire Ball) 

There was a knock at her door. 

Alina is scared. Is it Darkling? After their brief make out session (yes) Darkling had wanted to come to her room tonight. Is it him? She didn't want to face him. 

Specially with teary swollen eyes like this. 

But when she opens the door, it was not Darkling. It was Baghra. And she seemed very, very impatient. 

She wants to take her somewhere. This moment. Right now. 

And that's when, everything is revealed. 

Let me bring it upfront, we all saw this coming. 

Darkling lied. 

About everything. 

He doesn't want Alina's power (amplified power)  to destroy the Fold, but want to use to steer Volcras away as he spreads the Fold across regions he wants to conquer. 

And how can he spread the Fold? 

Because he created it. 

He's the Black Heretic. 

And not some descendant he claimed to be. 

And why is Baghra telling her all this?

She answers this by showing her power, which was creating swirls of darkness through her fingers.

Baghra, The old woman, is Darkling's mother. 

I DID NOT see that coming!! 🤯

And why is she telling this now???

Because her son (or her son's men) have found the Stag's location, which is making him reach one step closer to accomplish his mission, which is to doom the world. 

Baghra loves her son. But she knows how dangerous and greedy her son has become for power. And she wants to do everything she can to stop that from happening. 

She wants Alina to run away. Head towards the Fold, cross it and reach West Ravka. Baghra had been training her for this day, so that she can travel and defend herself alone when she'll have to cross the fold. And now the day has come, she wants Alina to vacate this place right now, and travel far, far away so that Darkling never finds her. The only way is to cross the other side of Fold to have a good chance of escaping him. 

And that's what Alina does. 

She manages to escape with a group of entertainers who had come for the ball. Travels for days, worrying every moment that at any time, there would be soldiers and Darkling's men searching for her. And eventually they do, she tries her best to run away from them, hide from them, but it only buys her some time. 

How long can she hide? 

And she's finally spotted by one of them. 

And he was Mal. 

But Mal is not here to take her to Darkling. He's here to save her. At first they don't talk, not until they are good distance away for his men. 

And when they do, they clear all their misunderstandings. 

When Alina was taken away, there was no way of Mal knowing where she's being taken to, and what's being done with her. All he knows is that she's with The Darkling. 

And when he came to know about the mission to find the Stag's location, he knew, since it's Darkling's request, it would lead him to Darkling and then to Alina. 

But this was a suicide mission. As they had to go near the border where Fjerdans would kill them on spot if found. 

They were 8, only 2 returned. 

Even Mal's friends Mikhael and Dubrov couldn't make it. 

That's why even Mal thought Alina has forgotten him, and him finding Alina so happy with Darkling in the ball, added salt to his injuries. 

They change their plan, they were no longer heading towards west to the Fold, but decided to go north to find the stag themselves, as it shouldn't go into hands of the Darkling.

And in between Alina makes Mal promise one thing. If she's caught before they get to Stag, or they get to Stag first before them, then Mal has to kill her.

It's the only way.

Mal didn't agree at first, but when he unwillingly makes that promise, he's more aggressive to find the Stag, as he don't want to even consider the option of killing her before it.

All goes well.

But all, cannot go well.

The moment comes. After lots of hardships. They see the stag. Mal is very happy, he holds the Stag for Alina, asks her to make the kill. They are here. So close.

But Alina simply looks at the eyes of the Stag, and drops her weapon.

She can't do it.

Even this is a life after all. How can she kill it?

Though this simple act will save thousands and millions, possibly the whole world.

But she still couldn't bring herself to kill such an innocent creature.

But it was too late. An arrow gets shot from far and hits the Stag. 

Darkling is here.

He laughs at Alina's stupidity. Her mercy will now be a doom to the world. It's too late, they watch with defeat how Darkling approaches and slays the stag, making him the owner of the amplifier which will be made.

Alina looks at Mal with pleading eyes.

Please, please, kill me.

But Mal, despite promising cannot bring himself to kill the woman he loves.

They watch helplessly how Mal is captured, and the amplifier locket is bound to her neck with the help of David - The Fabrikator, crush of Genya at the Little Palace.

Darkling steps back and demonstrates the power of this locket. He wills for the light to come, and Alina watches and feels how there's no control of hers to her own power now. 

No matter how much she tries to suppress it like she once did, it made no difference, the light still comes, brighter than ever before, stronger than ever before, lighting the entire place with her brightness. 

Such was the intensity of her power now. 

Which will lead to the end of the world. 

They return to Palace. Mal is taken to prison. 

Alina finds out, the reason there were no Ravkan soldiers searching for her and only Darkling's men was because The King was never informed about this. 

No one knew she ran away. 

They were told she's stressed out about this and practising her power in isolation. 

And Alina also comes to know things have changed. 

The King has fallen ill, and the creepy Apparat has taken his place. Who is also one of the Darkling's men. 

That mean, Darkling is ruling them all. 

Genya is now wearing the colorful Keftas and not the White and Gold colors of the servants. Alina comes to know Darkling has promoted her as she has done some considerable part in making the king ill. 

Alina doesn't know what to say. 

Even Genya seemed guilty, but she believes this is all for Grisha's good. 

If only it is! 

But it's too late. They all know nothing can be done. 

Alina sleep and wakes up everyday, wondering why Darkling is delaying his mission to doom the world. 

And for some reason, ever since that day, Alina gets the same dream 

"Every morning, I woke with a fresh sense of guilt and shame, but also with the frustrating feeling that I was forgetting something, some message that had been clear and obvious in the dream but that hovered just outside of understanding when I woke."

Darkling calls her. Alina assumes the worst, but to her immense relief he hints that Mal is still alive. 

She cries and begs him, begs him to show mercy and let Mal stay alive.

Spare him, free him, and she'll willingly do what he wants her to. And if he does not, she's going to live every single day finding ways to kill herself. 

But Darkling laughs. And drops the bomb, telling her today's the last day Mal will remain alive.

As they are going to the Fold tomorrow and he'll be fed to Volcras. No amount of Alina's crying and begging would make Darkling change his mind. 

And as a way of his "mercy", he allows Alina to meet him one last time. 

She goes. Sits down beside his cell and cries. And Mal understands what's going on.

He had told her before, that he's not afraid of death, but he cannot stand thinking what might happen to her without him. 

When Darkling had caught Alina with Mal that time, he asks her how could she leave "him" and go to Mal. 

Alina clarifies now, that she had never truly loved him. Nothing happened between them. There was nothing going on. 

"I love you, Alina, even the part of you that loved him.”

They both stayed there the entire night, holding hands, crying to each other and waiting for the inevitable tomorrow. 

The day had come, where Darkling would do what he intended to do for lifetime. The entire Palace was rejoicing, but only Alina know what he truly plans. 

When she boarded the boat, she understood what took Darkling so long to execute his plan. In the boat, not only there were Grisha's and Ravkans present, but delegates of Shu Han, Fjerda and Kerch were present too. 

Alina understood he brought them here, to make them see what all he's capable of now. 

Alina helplessly watches it all. Them entering the Fold. The silent beats of Volcras approaching, Darkling commanding the light to come and the scaring the Volcras away. 

It was a sight to see for the beholders. But they did not anticipate what they will see next. 

They were nearing the West Ravka region, Novokribirsk. Alina could see people were Novokribirsk, stopping whatever they have been doing and curiously taking a look of the oncoming boat. 

The children seemed excited. They have never seen something like this happen before. 

They were all excited, curious, and there was fear in some too. 

That fear turned to horror, both for people of Novokribirsk and Alina, when she saw what's happening. Using his power, Darkling spread the Fold's darkness towards the people, while letting Alina's brightness remain with them. With horror they saw the Volcras approaching the people, and heard them trying to run away to save their lives. Alina could hear them screaming, as they are being taken away and eaten alive by Volcras. 

Alina, and everyone onboard heard it all. 

The delegates started shouting, "They are your people!", they said. 

"But tomorrow, they could be yours", he replied. 

Everyone remained silent, as they waited for Darkling to explain all this. And he does. 

Justifies by telling, using this power, he's going to establish peace among all regions. Anyone who defies this, anyone who rebels and still chooses to wage a war against Ravka will end up being in the position like they had just witnessed now. 

While the delegates heard it all with fear in their eyes, to Alina's surprise, the Ravkans acknowledged whatever was being said. 

They agreed to it all. 

Alina wished they understood that this is so much worse. 

It got worse for Alina when Darkling saved his best moment for the last. Execution of Mal. 

She thrashed and resisted, trying to reach to Mal, but to no avail. 

He was going to be thrown off the boat, into the darkness and Alina was going to hear his screams while his life slips away from her. 

Though Alina was prepared for this moment, she could not let this happen. She cannot let Mal die. 

She cannot let her love die. 

She tries and wills to control her power, but to no avail. 

She feel she's forgetting something, something very important and crucial. She couldn't remember what. 

Until she remembered her dream. Her dreams wherein the Stag appeared, all drenched in its blood, with eyes staring at Alina. 

Alina had assumed the Stag kept staring at her, as she could do nothing to save its life. 

But no, not quite. 

What if the Stag was trying to give her a message? 

The owner of the amplifier, becomes the owner as they had power over the animal's life which they slayed. 

But

"I had spared the stag’s life. The power of that life belonged to me as surely as it belonged to the man who had taken it."

Realization dawns on Alina. 

What if? What if Alina had more right to this Amplifier's power than The Darkling? 

What if she's the one who can reallyy claim its power? 

There was only one way to find out. 

While Mal was thrown off the boat, and Alina saw the Volcras closing in on Mal once again

She calls her power. 

"Once more, I stood in Baghra’s hut, calling the light for the first time, feeling it rush toward me, taking possession of what was rightfully mine. This was what I had been born for. I would never let anyone separate me from it again."

And then, Alina uses her light, her power and spread it over Mal. The Volcras back off, but Alina could see Mal was hurt. 

Darkling is confused, surprised, he tries to command her light again. But this time, Alina easily thwarts it.

He commands his men to catch her, but before they do, Alina does something with her power which she never could do before. She slices one of Darkling's men in half, just like Darkling could do with his power. 

Now her power was not only for spreading light, but it can be used as a weapon too. 

Everyone, including the Darkling, silently watch her. 

Before she does what everyone feared her to do, she gives the people and everyone onboard one last chance.

Tells them that what they have seen could easily happen to them tomorrow. 

Be against the Darkling, because he is not what he seems. He wants to rule the world with this power. 

He's greedy for it. 

He won't spare anyone who stands against him tomorrow. 

This brings doubt to some people's minds, but nobody moved an inch. They doubted her more than they did Darkling. 

But Alina had no time to spare. If she stays, Darkling would kill Mal and try stopping her one way or another. 

So she does what she had to do, even though she did not want to do. She jumps off the boat towards Mal, and withdraws her light from everyone. And uses her flash of brightness to steer Volcras away from both while they run away across the barren dry land of the Fold towards West Ravka. 

Alina could hear shots around her, some closely missing her, and Darkling shouting to his men that he wants Alina alive, not dead. 

Darkling shouts to Alina too, tells she can't leave everyone to die there. 

But she doesn't listen, she runs and runs because now the only thing which matters to her is Mal's life. 

They both run for their life.

And they don't look back.

They reach the West Ravka. Area just ahead of Novokribirsk. 

They change clothes, Alina attends to Mal's injuries. They don't speak of what happened, neither do they tell people where they have come from. 
The people of West Ravka are mourning. Now knowing what really happened, and why it happened.

She hides her amplifier, not letting anyone know there's Sun Summoner amidst them. 

Few days pass by. Alina doesn't know what happened out there. How many died, how many survived. 

She doesn't believe Darkling has died. But she wants to be prepared for it. 

Mal wanted to destroy the amplifier, and confusion flashed across his face when Alina was desperate to keep it. 

This is the only thing which will help her defeat Darkling one day. She doesn't want to let this go right away. Not right now. 

Mal agrees to that.

They both have very little with them, with the help of gold jewelry, which Darkling had made her wear, they were able to buy themselves tickets for a boat which heads away from West Ravka. 

They want to travel as far away as possible. 

At least for now. 

The End.

And.. that's it.

The most wonderful part in the book would be Alina' s realization of her power.

It has been so beautifully described. 

What happened to Genya, Zoya, Darkling, Baghra? 

There's so much to know! 

Looking forward for the next one :')

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