A Deep Dive into the Darkling

The Darkling is one of the most captivating characters in the Grishaverse, with a presence and arc which looms large over almost the entire narrative. It’s impossible to imagine this fantastic universe without the role this enigmatic character played within it, but what exactly did that look like?

(Spoilers ahead if you haven’t read or watched Shadow and Bone!)

By definition, the Darkling is a villain, but there’s a complexity to this character which keeps readers fascinated. Why does he do the things he does? What makes him tick? Where did he come from? Join us as we try to unravel the many mysteries of the Grishaverse’s darkest character!

As the Darkling’s Story Begins ...

We Meet General Kirigan

We first meet the Darkling, or General Kirigan, at the beginning of Shadow and Bone, shortly after Alina Starkov explodes with light in the Shadow Fold. This immensely powerful man is a the leader of the Second Army, Ravka’s Grisha military forces; he holds huge sway within the government of Ravka overall. Safe to say he’s a very daunting man for our protagonist, a young orphan from Keramzin, to meet face-to-face!

The Darkling sweeps Alina away to the Little Palace, the base of Ravka’s Second Army training, where she quickly falls under his spell—until she learns in a sudden turn of events that he is not what he seems.

The Black Heretic

We knew from the onset that the Darkling was also an immensely powerful Grisha: not only was he a Living Amplifier, able to amplify a Grisha’s abilities by touch, but he could also summon and manipulate shadows.

The whole time Alina had known him, the Darkling had claimed to want to use these powers to dispel the Shadow Fold, the enormous swath of darkness which broke Ravka in two and was created by the Black Heretic centuries ago. Little did Alina know that the Darkling himself had been the Black Heretic all along, the Shadow Fold being a result of his experimentations with his own power.

And he didn’t want to destroy the Shadow Fold at all: he wanted to expand it.

The Elusive Past of the Darkling

Early Life

It’s hard to look back and think that the Darkling ever even had a childhood, but he was once just a boy who lived a nomadic lifestyle with his mother Baghra, who was also a Shadow Summoner. Then, his name was Aleksander Morosova.

The pair lived in secrecy, travelling to protect themselves from those who sought to harm Grisha. They would adopt different identities—a prelude to the many names Aleksander would later take—and keep from displaying their powers or even touching others in case they were discovered.

Seeds of Corruption

The Start of Ambition

Though he began as a trusting child, Aleksander began to change as he experienced the realities of the world—being persecuted for what he was, having his trust broken, and learning that he needed to make a place in the world for Grisha if he wanted them to be safe within it.
  This would eventually lead to him taking a place within the Ravkan royal court and, after earning power and respect, convincing the king at the time to let him establish the Little Palace and the Second Army.

What Motivates a Villain?

Somewhere beneath the corruption, this desire to keep Grisha safe and ensure they had power and security drives the Darkling to do many of the things he does throughout the narrative. Beneath all of the ambition there remains a desire for positive change, but it’s grown so terribly warped that it can almost no longer be seen by the story’s end.

If you look closely between the pages, though, you can sometimes see glimmers of the driven, hopeful boy who had once roamed through the world with his mother and believed in a better future.

Complex Characterisation

The Psychology of the Darkling

The events of Shadow and Bone tell us that the Darkling is a highly manipulative, secretive person who will go to any lengths to achieve his goals. Charming and clever, he is capable of tricking those around him and earning their loyalties by convincing them of the truth he wants them to believe.

More than Shadow Summoning, what really gained the Darkling the power he exerts throughout the series is his ability to command loyalty, sway people to his side, and use fear to his own ends. He’s not afraid to resort to extreme lengths to get what he wants.

Shades of Grey

Though the actions he takes in the series are undeniably evil, there are times when the Darkling seems to defy easy black-and-white categorisation. Beneath the charismatic facade and enormous powers lies a person who is grappling with his past and his own ambitions.
  As we read more about this enigmatic character, we’re repeatedly confronted with questions of redemption and morality, right and wrong. While the Darkling might be able to manipulate shadows, the series makes it clear that there’s much more to him than simple darkness.

Uncover More About the Darkling

We learn the Darkling’s story throughout the Shadow and Bone series as well as the King of Scars duology. We won’t spoil anything there; you’ll have to read to find out!

You can also learn more about the Darkling’s origins in The Demon in the Wood, the graphic novel which focuses on his early life, and The Lives of Saints.

Confused? We dive into the recommended reading order of the Grishaverse’s novels here!

That's it (for now)!

We loved exploring more about the Darkling's psychology and history, and hope you enjoyed learning more about this enigmatic character along with us! And be sure to keep an eye out for future posts about other characters from the Grishaverse too!

You can also keep an eye on the WoGV Blog and our social media for regular future updates about the site, its development, and the Grishaverse more broadly. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, we're curious! What do you think of the Darkling? What are your thoughts on him and why?
  Until next time!