As they arrive at Ravka’s capital city, Os Alta, Alina is thrust into a world of decadence, power, and royalty.Īlina struggles to feel she belongs as a Grisha and can’t seem to use her powers. The Darkling tells Alina that together, they can destroy the Shadow Fold and save Ravka. Alina’s abilities are unique, comparable only to the Darkling, who is a Shadow Summoner and most powerful Grisha to ever live. The Darkling sends Alina to Ravka’s capital under his protection to begin training. Grisha are elite soldiers with the ability to control matter. The Darkling is a living amplifier, and his touch makes Alina’s power stronger. After it is discovered that Alina is a Sun Summoner, she is brought before the Darkling-the ruthless and powerful commander of the Grisha army. When Mal is critically wounded, Alina unknowingly releases strange powers and sends the volcra away with a burst of light. While crossing the Fold, a large flock of volcra descend on the group. His flirtations with other girls are a source of pain for Alina, who has been in love with Mal since she was 15. In contrast, Mal is charismatic and popular. Plain, sickly, and not even a great mapmaker, Alina has a spunky personality that covers up her insecurity and loneliness.

Though crossing the Fold is necessary for trade, survival is not guaranteed. The Fold is home to monstrous volcra, gruesome winged creatures that prey on human flesh. They are both preparing for their first trip across the infamous Shadow Fold, an expanse of impossible darkness cutting off the nation from essential supplies. Her childhood best friend and fellow orphan, Malyen “Mal” Oretsev, has also joined the army as a talented young tracker. Having grown up in the Duke’s orphanage in Ravka after the border wars ravaged her hometown, first-person narrator Alina Starkov is a junior cartographer’s assistant with the King’s Army.

The grisha trilogy books