The Darkling

Please be aware that the follow includes spoilers of Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising.

“Fine. Make me your villain.”

The Darkling is one of the most powerful Grisha to have ever lived and the primary antagonist of the original Grishaverse trilogy. Known publicly as General Kirigan, he leads Ravka’s Second Army and commands the Grisha with quiet authority and fear. Behind that name, however, stands something far older; Aleksander Morozova, a man who has lived for centuries, shaping nations from the shadows. He is a shadow summoner, able to manipulate darkness itself, a power long believed to be extinct. His presence is often described as unsettling yet magnetic; he moves with control, speaks with precision, and rarely reveals more than he intends. To Ravka, he is both protector and weapon. To his enemies, he is something far worse.

Early Life

Aleksander was born centuries before the events of the books, the son of Baghra, another Shadow Summoner, and daughter of Ilya Morozova. From an early age, he learned that power made him a target. Grisha were feared, hunted, and often killed, and those with rare abilities even more so. Baghra raised him in secrecy, teaching him not only how to wield his power, but how to survive a world that would never accept him. Over time, Aleksander adopted countless identities, never aging, never staying in one place long enough to be discovered. It was through these centuries of war and persecution that his central belief took root: Grisha would never be safe until they held power over those who feared them.

Rise to Power

Eventually, Aleksander established the Second Army in Ravka, creating a structured force of Grisha soldiers. Under the name General Kirigan, he became indispensable to the Ravkan monarchy. His existence alone shifted the balance of power in the region. He also played a role in shaping the Shadow Fold, a swath of darkness filled with volcra that split Ravka in two. While the Fold was created in a moment of desperation, Aleksander later came to see it as a necessary tool: a weapon that ensured that Ravka and the Grisha could not be ignored.

“They are not monsters,” he said. “They are soldiers.”

To many Grisha, he was a savior. He offered them purpose, safety, and a place where they would not be hunted. But his methods were never gentle, and his vision left little room for mercy.

Shadow and Bone

The Darkling’s path changes when he meets Alina Starkov, a Sun Summoner, the first of her kind. Where he commands darkness, she controls light, making her the only person capable of destroying the Fold. At first, he positions himself as her guide and ally, encouraging her power and offering her a space among the Grisha. Their connection is immediate and complicated, built on shared isolation and understanding.

“You and I are going to change the world.”

However, his true intentions are revealed when he uses Alina to expand the Fold rather than destroy it, turning it into a weapon against his enemies. He places a collar made from Morozova’s stag around her neck, gaining control over her power and binding her to his will. From that moment on, he fully steps into the role of antagonist, not because he sees himself as evil, but because he believes the end justifies every cost.

Siege and Storm

Now hunted and feared, the Darkling begins to build an army of his own, enhanced by creatures known as nichevo’ya; shadow soldiers born from merzost, the making at the heart of Grisha power. These creatures reflect the cost of his ambition. The more he uses such power, the more unstable and inhuman his abilities become. Still, he continues forward, convinced that absolute control is the only path to safety for his kind. His connection to Alina remains central. He does not simply want her power; he wants her to understand him, to stand beside him willingly.

“I have been alone so long. I have no one left.”

Ruin and Rising

By the final book, the Darkling is both less and more than he once was. His physical form weakens, but his influence spreads. He wages war not only for Ravka, but for his vision of a world ruled by Grisha's strength. In the end, he is defeated by Alina and Mal. Stripped of the myth that surrounded him, he dies not as an untouchable force, but as a man, one who spent centuries trying to escape fear, only to become its embodiment. Before his death, he asks for one final thing:

“Don’t let me be alone.”

It is a rare moment of vulnerability from someone who built his entire existence on never needing anyone.

Abilities

The Darkling is the most powerful known Shadow Summoner. His abilities include:

Manipulation of darkness into tangible forms
Creation of the Shadow Fold
Summoning of nichevo’ya through merzost
Amplification of power through Morozova’s amplifiers

Unlike most Grisha, his power is not bound by ordinary limits, largely due to his unnatural lifespan and repeated use of forbidden magic.

Personality and Themes

The Darkling is defined by control, patience, and an unwavering belief in his cause. He is not chaotic or impulsive. Everything he does is calculated. What makes him compelling is not just his power, but his reasoning. He does not see himself as a villain, but as someone willing to do what others cannot. His actions are rooted in fear, survival, and the desire to create a world where Grisha will never again be powerless. At the same time, he is deeply isolated. His long life has stripped him of connection, leaving him unable to relate to those who do not share his perspective.

“Power is a cycle,” he said. “You either have it, or you don’t.”

Relationships

Alina Starkov: The only person who truly mirrors his power. Their relationship is a mix of alliance, manipulation, and something that borders on understanding. She represents both his greatest hope and his ultimate failure. Baghra: His mother and first teacher. Their relationship is strained, marked by betrayal and opposing beliefs about power and morality. The Grisha: To them, he is both protector and ruler. He gives them purpose, but also demands loyalty without question.

Quotes

“I’ve been making friends for centuries.”

——The Darkling, Shadow and Bone

“You might make me a better man.”

——The Darkling, Shadow and Bone

“Power belongs to those who will use it.”

——The Darkling, Siege and Storm

“You and I are going to change the world.”

——The Darkling, Shadow and Bone