#Ravkan servitude

[stromuprisahat]

Ever thought about how addressing the Darkling as Moi soverenyi has a bit of mockery in it?

While the Darkling might be placed "above" other Grisha in Ravkan society, he's hardly anyone's supreme leader. Quite contrary- he's no less serf, than the least of them.

Grisha are even expected to follow the King, when he doesn't bother to protect them from his own subjects:

"Grisha or not, their first loyalty should have been to the King. They left their posts. Technically, they’re deserters."

Nikolai Lantsov; Siege and Storm- Chapter 11

[stromuprisahat]

theweeklydiscourse:

Now that you mention it, “He turned on his own Grisha” is so silly because what else is he supposed to do when his soldiers turn on him? Just let them kill him? The moment they decided to switch sides was the moment they decided to become his enemies and last I checked, generals tend to not spare their enemies. Also, trying to spin the Grisha draft as him stealing Grisha children might be the funniest charge of all. The text discussed it as though he was throwing children into a sack and sneaking off into the night with nefarious intent. Oh the horror! How will the children cope with regular meals, training, and socialization with members of their community? Obviously a draft isn’t ideal, but the Grisha are dealing with threats to their lives from multiple sources which makes the draft at least a better alternative to being kidnapped by the druskelle

Nikolai's political moves very likely support further rise of hatred towards Grisha. When he abolished their draft, either he "only" leaves them without protection if they're just "unchecked", or the otkazat'sya serfs have another reason to despise them for their sudden freedom, when ordinary servitude remains.

There's also the teeny-tiny fact the same country that was actively organizing hunts of Grisha is suddenly "run" by a King openly favouring people belonging to the very same group. If nothing else, his known weakness for Zoya should be a huge issue, since "Grisha can cast spells on men", and Genya... well, she might've poisoned the previous Tsar, but the new one conveniently deposed him in his secret private military base, then freed the poisoner in (staged) trial... That's nothing anyone might argue with, right?

But hey- I'm totally buying even the nobles let him sit on the Throne for three plus years... No revolt, naaaaah!

And no, the Darkling hardly turned on his own people, when the majority of them was either slaughtered by the ruling regime or followed him.

Why Nikolai is more of a villain than Aleksander

This post is an inspiration from one of anon asks.

Time and time again antis have accused Aleksander of several hideous crimes without understanding the monarchy of 19th century Feudal Russia and what serfdom entails. Due to this lack of understanding(or willful ignorance), Aleksander is studied under a harsher light than Nikolai and other characters. I blame the author entirely for this, as she never gave Aleksander a voice until much later. In books 1-3, he is only projected to us through Alina who had nothing but disdain for him.

On the other hand, we see Nikolai, who was a prince and then a king, who did not do much for the country or Grisha. However, his actions are softened by LB and antis. He is considered a 'flawed' human who did his best. His manipulative actions are treated as an act of strategic brilliance while his mistakes are treated as an act of desperation/helplessness.

So, let me first start by explaining some of the vile accusations thrown at Aleksander and then contrast it with some of Nikolai's actions.

He sex-trafficked Genya.

In Book 1, the author herself says two key points 1) Grisha are no better than serfs and 2) After their training, Grisha are either posted in the borders or sent to serve in affluent households. So Genya was not a unique case. This, again, is the price Aleksander had to pay for the Grisha to live. Genya had to be sent as a child because an adult Genya could not get as close to the Queen as a child would and it worked for a while until the Queen turned on her. This were an understanding of serfdom is needed. A serf can be released only by the master not by anyone else. Aleksander cannot take her away and relocate her somewhere else. And if the antis had read the 'The Tailor' they would know that in spite of the challenges, Aleksander did give her a choice- to disappear forever or exact her revenge and it was Genya who chose to stay.

He committed genocide in Novokribirsk.

Even if we ignore Alina's unreliable POV, Zoya's POV tells us that only a part of the city, near the docks was destroyed. So what Aleksander did was just a warning and not a 'genocide'. Antis keep forgetting that Grisha's enemies were not just Fjerda and Shu Han but Ravka itself. Had the coup had succeeded, he not just wanted Fjerda and Shu Han to back off but the First Army soldiers as well. Book 2 shows how his paranoia were not unwarranted. Through Fedyor's story we learn how they were attacked in their sleep and how First Army conducted sham trials and slaughtered them. This alone shows how Ravka's sentiments about Grisha was not much different from Fjerda or Shu Han. So in the event of the coup, Aleksander had no choice but to issue a warning all of his enemies.

He is a predator/abuser.

This is the one that makes me laugh the most. Girl, he is an immortal. He has no choice. All his age-appropriate past lovers are long dead and buried. What is he supposed to do? Remain celibate? They often bring up the kiss near Baghra's hut as an example of his predatory nature. But what manipulation happened? That dummy fell for Alina and high-tailed from there.

Let me draw a comparison to show what actual manipulation and predatory behaviour looks like. (1) Nikolai who is about 7-8 years older than Alina, forcibly kissing her, against her will, in front of hundreds of people just to better his chances for the throne. (2) Mal who punishes Alina for flinching at his advances by getting it on with Zoya. (3) Baghra, who preys on Alina's fears/insecurities and turns her son's one true immortal companion, against him. These are actual manipulations, not the one Aleksander did.

A predator/abuser needs to have constant access to his victims. In LB, own words, Aleksander rarely stayed at the Little Palace. Compared to him, Nikolai, Mal and Baghra had more access to Alina and they did actually succeed isolating her.

The Stag amplifier

Then the stag incident is treated as a sign of his manipulation and perversion. This where we need to apply our critical thinking and ask the important question who benefits from this act? It certainly was not Aleksander.

Let's rewind the clock a bit, Alina who was the Sun Summoner and a key political figure ran away from the Little Palace. Aleksander did not know if it was an enemy attack or something more sinister. He lies to King, who would have his head for this mishap and, searches for her only to learn that she run away on her own violation. So the girl, he hoped to be his ally became a threat. He was forced to reveal his hand sooner and speed up the coup. People need to understand that Aleksander is not an ordinary, lovesick boy, he is a war general and Alina has proved herself to be unworthy of his trust. So he put a leash on her. This not a question of morality but a question of ethics, much like the trolley problem.

He turned on his own Grisha.

They were deserters for god's sake! and was fighting opposite him. They forfeited his protection the moment they joined hands with the enemy. So he was treating them as a normal enemy.

He stole Grisha children.

He did what Charles Xavier did in X-Men. Grisha powers were tied to emotions and are instinctive. Without proper training they are bound to hurt normal people. Not to mention, if the Grisha were born outside they were either killed or sold to pleasure houses. And considering Ravka's anti-Grisha sentiments, he did what he had to do to keep them safe from actual predators.

Now let's talk about some of Nikolai's actions and let's not forget that he was the King/Prince of Ravka.

Sent his father on a luxury retirement instead of punishing him for his crimes.

Used Genya's trauma to make himself the king instead of offering her justice.

Did not care or investigate the genocide of the Second Army soldiers even if the said soldiers were serving the crown. He punished none of the First Army soldiers and was happily brown-nosing them.

Was happy to start a Civil war even after knowing the kind of king his father was. For a 'peace-loving' person (we have seen him in KoS and RoW ass-kissing useless feudal lords instead of using his authority), he did not attempt to negotiate with Aleksander.

Starved his people so Aleksander would have no choice but to use his Grisha to cross the Fold to get supplies. Again for the antis crowing about Novokribirsk, what do you call this?

Stole Grisha inventions like corecloth etc in the name of unification and supplied it to First Army. Read point 2 once more to understand the cruel nature of this act. He felt Grisha were hoarding better supplies but did not question why the First Army were having subpar things because if he did then the blame would rest on his father and his corrupt noble supporters. So he chooses to steal using the unification propaganda. How noble!

Sent Grisha who were not of age to war fronts and missions. Why not send the First Army? Are there no highly skilled people in the First Army for such things?

Manipulated and used Alina to establish himself. Atleast Aleksander 'manipulated' her for the betterment of Grisha, Nikolai did it for himself.

Destroyed everything Aleksander did for Grisha in the name of unification. Or should we call it erasure? He erased centuries of progress and left them without protection.

He claimed Aleksander used his Grisha selfishly for 'his' wars and then shamelessly sends his minions to recruit them from other countries.

If Nikolai was indeed a just and kind king as the antis claim him to be, why didn't he announce Grisha as a protected class? Why didn't he offer them equal rights as a Ravkan citizen? Through his own spies he knows what is happening to them in Fjerda, Shu-Han and Kerch and yet knowingly he lets Zoya abolish the rule of finding and securing the Grisha children (which mind you, saved Zoya from child marriage).

Aleksander was not just a person, he carried the history of the Grisha that was rapidly being erased. He built a place to pass down that knowledge, their culture and practices. If Grisha were not tested and found, who would save them if they died from wasting sickness, who would offer them protection from slavers and Fjerdans? Once again in the name of 'liberation' Nikolai had truly pushed them into hiding. Without these laws what happens when anti-grisha sentiments raise again after a few centuries? He removed every true protection and erased a targeted group's shared history in the name of liberation.

In the end, Nikolai did not protect his country nor the Grisha. He is in no way the hero of this story nor is his echo chambers whom he calls friends. I could go on and on. Truth is, it is not my intention to minimize things like SA or genocide. These are heavy topics and should be treated as such. Readers or antis who throw around such words should know the weight of such words. I hope this sheds some light on the hypocrisy that resides in this fandom.

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk!

[oakthcrn-a]

Tendrils of shadow had been following behind her for a while now. She couldn't recall when they appeared, but they kept to themselves, and she wasn't afraid. How could she? She wasn't alone.

She sighed inwardly as she walked along the rural dirt road. Ravka still stood under the Lantsov regime and even celebrated three years of bliss.

Not all celebrated, there were still Grisha that needed to be saved; to be protected and while the crown seemed more inclined to safeguard Grisha, Lark had a distinct feeling it was only for the benefit of the nobility.

The mere idea of servitude to another bratty prince left a bad taste in Lark's mouth. Frowning, she sidestepped into the grass to allow a merchant's cart to pass by. She took the time to readjust her dark cloak. It was furred at the collar and warm. A lucky find.

She ran a hand through her thick coppery waves, as she tried to make sense of where she was going.

❛ It is another five miles or so to the next town. We'll stay the night and continue forward. I need rest. ❜ Her voice echoed through the ambiance of her mind, and she was sure that he would hear it.

The reluctant guest. General Kirigan, or as it is spoken in infamy; Aleksander Morozova--The Darkling.

How he came to reside in her head was still a mystery. The chaos of the battle in the fold left more questions than answers and when she had fled, she hadn't fled alone.

Her stomach growled then, and a sickening ache began to settle within it; knotting up her insides. She needed rest, and more importantly...food.

❛ This is terrible. ❜ she grumbled into her mind. She ate more, got exhausted quicker, and was all around miserable. Yet, she was fortunate that she managed to escape; A Ravkan dungeon was not a place she wanted to be. If she would make it to the cells under the palace; she probably would've been killed outright if Zoya Nazyalensky had her way.

❛ I need a bath. ❜

@starlsssankt

[marvelmusing]

Aleksander dealing with Fae Queen!Reader...

Oh yes yes yesssssss

This idea has not left my head since you dropped it into my ask box, and it has slowly grown out of my control

I started it as headcanons, then a little drabble, and now we have a fic with a moodboard, so I hope you’re pleased with yourself

The Tale of the Queen and the General

The Darkling x Fem!Fae!Reader

»»---------------------►

“Once upon a time, there was a beautiful Queen, who ruled over the Fae kingdom.” Aleksander smiles fondly over at you as he smooths his hand over your daughter hair. Her dark eyes widen, and she looks over at you with her lips parted in recognition as she realises what story her father is telling her.

Your foot knocks against Aleksander’s affectionately as you settle into the comfort of your daughter’s bed, her tiny body nestled between you both as he continues his tale.

“She was clever and brave and strong, but her advisors wanted her to marry to strengthen their country.” Eliza’s brow furrows as she interrupts,

“But, but you told me you should only marry someone that you really love.” Aleksander nods sagely at her words, a small smile curling at his lips.

“That’s very true solnyshko.” His eyes flicker to you, his expression softening even further as he drinks in the sight of you looking so content. “So, she agreed that she would only marry the man who could bring her a rose.”

Her small face crinkles once again as she frowns,

“But we have roses in Mama’s garden.” Your face glows with the smile that adorns your lips, and Aleksander’s heart flutters at the sight.

“We never had roses, not until the handsome General swept the Queen off her feet.” You tell her. Eliza turns her head back and forth a few times, looking between both of her parents.

“Papa found them!” You nod, your smile widening.

“Yes he did my little blossom.”

You still remember the first time Aleksander had visited your court.

“You’re a long way from Ravka, General Kirigan.” You remark from your seat on the throne. He reaches the foot of your dais, before dropping into a respectful bow.

“My King seeks to forge an alliance with your kingdom, Your Highness.”

“And the King did not wish to see me himself?” Despite the centuries that have passed, you are still wary of humans. Being cast out from your village as a child is not easy to forget.

“I believe he thought I might make a more suitable bridge between our countries.”

There’s something hidden in the General’s words, a dislike of the situation, or perhaps of the man issuing these orders. You knew of what happened to Ravkan Grisha - a life of servitude to the King in exchange for more safety than the Grisha of past could have dreamed of. You can still remember the days when Grisha and Fae hunting parties raided towns and villages.

“And how will you attempt to create this bridge?”

“I have heard you are searching for a suitor, and would like to offer myself as a contender.”

Your heart flutters briefly. All of Ravka knew of the Black General, the fearsome Darkling that led the Second Army. Now that you had finally met him, you had to admit he was handsome. His dark eyes were almost Faelike, and his face had a sharpness that demanded attention.

He had followed the rules of your court, keeping a respectful distance from you, something that members of your own council often forgot. You’re almost upset that you set such an impossible task for a man for win your hand.

“Do you know of the terms set for my prospective suitor to adhere to?”

“Yes, Your Highness.” You raise a brow at him.

“And yet you come to me empty handed?”

“Perhaps I wanted to ask Her Highness if she had a particular colour in mind for her rose?”

The corner of your mouth twitches, your lips nearing a smile and your gaze softens as you look down at the floor. You’re quiet for a long moment before you say,

“Yellow.” You meet his eyes briefly, finding him studying your expression intently. “But not a bright yellow. Like the pale, creamy yellow of the morning sun.” There’s a flicker of vulnerability in your tone, and you clear your throat quickly before standing and approaching the General. “If you succeed, I will accept Ravka as my ally, and you as my consort.”

He nods slowly.

“I will return before the next full moon.”

“Don’t get my hopes up General.”

You smile fondly as you join in on the storytelling, Eliza staring up at you.

“It’s too cold in Fjerda for roses, and too dry in Shu Han. They were almost impossible to find.”

Your daughter listens intently, her gaze mirroring her father’s as you continue.

“Men continued to visit the Queen, trying to win her hand. Some brought all manner of flowers in an attempt to impress her. Some enchanted sticks or rocks, to look like a rose. But the Queen saw through their tricks, because no one knows trickery better than the Fae.”

“Then the General returned.”

As the days before the full moon passed by, you became more and more distracted. Thoughts of the General filling your mind. Every time you considered him never returning, your heart ached. You felt foolish, waiting for a man you had only met once. But you couldn’t deny that the Black General had made an impression on you.

You’re sitting through a council meeting, where yet again your advisors are vying for you to marry. Some of them are even bold enough to make some suggestions. Then a messenger arrives.

“General Kirigan has requested an audience with Your Highness.”

You dismiss your advisors immediately.

The hallway is quiet as you make your way towards the expansive balcony which overlooks the courtyard of your palace. It’s there that the General waits for you.

His hands are folded behind his back, and he’s almost hidden in the shadow of a nearby tree as you approach him.

“I believe I told you not to get my hopes up General.” You’re a little disappointed that he’s empty handed, but you’re surprised by how happy you are to see him again.

He pulls his gaze from the horizon, his dark eyes twinkling as they meet yours. He nods in greeting, before his lips curl into a smile.

“And I believe I assured you I would deliver, Your Highness.”

Then he pulls his hands from behind his back, revealing a rose in full bloom. You stop breathing for a moment, utterly starstruck. Your fingers trace over the petals delicately. He even got the colour right.

“When I was a little girl,” you begin quietly, and the General watches your face carefully. “My mother had roses in her garden, the same colour as this one.” A faint smile touches your lips, but it soon fades. “She was just a quiet village girl, seduced by the evil Fae King - my father. She told the villagers my father was a merchant, always away travelling. Which they believed at first.” Your gaze hardens as you stare down at the gravel beneath your feet. “But they soon found out what I was. A changling child, with too much darkness in me for my age.”

You lift your eyes to meet his, and you know he sees it. The wrongness. You’re at home in your kingdom, surrounded by the Fae, but your time of living quietly amongst humans is long passed.

“The villagers gave my mother an ultimatum. Abandon me in the forest, for either the wolves or the Fae to take me, and they would let her stay. She refused.”

The General remains still, considering every word you say with great care.

“My last memory of her, is her telling me to run. I did. And I didn’t look back. One of my father’s advisors, Lenard, found me and took me to the Fae Court. It wasn’t long after that I make The Change.”

“The Change?”

“I told you I was changeling child. Meaning I could make The Change. I gave up my humanity to join the Fae Court, and it made me into this.”

You gesture to yourself, encouraging him to take in your inhuman features - the pointed ears, sharp nails that curl like claws, and the pitch black eyes devoid of irises. He doesn’t stare, his gaze doesn’t linger on any of these features. You would almost say he was simply admiring you.

Then he says,

“I have something else for you.” You regard him with surprise in your eyes. You have prided yourself on being romantically unapproachable, no man has ever dared to attempt courting you. You find yourself feeling almost shy under the attention of the General.

He unbuttons the front of his kefta, slipping a hand under the fabric to reach into a pocket hidden in the garment. From there he pulls out a black, silk handkerchief, and you frown as he offers you the piece of material.

Taking it in hand, you realise there’s something concealed between the folds. You unwrap the object carefully, your frown deepening when you see what is hidden amongst the silk. It appears to be a stick, with a clump of mud clinging to one end of it. You look back up at the General with puzzlement in your eyes. He only smiles softly at you.

“For you to create your own rose garden.”

Then your heart stops. It’s a rose stem, with an entact root. Meaning that you can plant it. Meaning that you can grow your own roses.

“The General brought the Queen a stem which grew into the most beautiful rose garden the kingdom had ever seen.”

“And they lived happily ever after?” Eliza asks, her eyes becoming heavy as her bedtime approaches. Aleksander chuckles softly, encouraging her to rest her head on her pillow.

“Yes they did solnyshko.” You hum in agreement, tucking the blanket over her small body.

“They had the most beautiful wedding, the General was made the King of the Fae, and they ruled alongside one another.”

Eliza’s eyes flutter closed, and you lean forward to press a kiss to her forehead.

“And it wasn’t long before the princess was born.”

“S’that me?” She asks, her voice filled with sleep as her dark eyes blink up at you. You smile at her.

“Yes little blossom, that’s you.”

She smiles, closing her eyes as she mumbles,

“Love you Mama, love you Papa.”

Aleksander leans forward, pressing a kiss to her forehead, and tenderly smoothing her hair from her face. Then he responds in a whisper,

“We love you too, very much.”

She smiles softly, hearing his words even as she drifts into her dreams. Her fingers curl around his wrist as she begins to fall asleep, just as she used to cling to his finger when she was a baby.

The two of you share an affectionate look, and Aleksander carefully removes her fingers. He stands and checks the curtains are closed, and you pick up the candle from her bedside cabinet. Once you reach the doorway, you stand and wait for your husband. His hand settles at your waist as he stands beside you, and the two of you take one last look at your daughter.

You blow out the candle, discarding it on a table in the hallway as Aleksander closes Eliza’s bedroom door.

There’s a twinkle in your eyes that Aleksander recognises, and a smirk curls at his lips as he steps closer. He curls an arm around your waist, pulling your body flush against his, and kisses you deeply. A thrill runs through you, as his lips move against yours, and the two of you are breathless when he pulls away. Pressing your foreheads together, you can’t help but breathe out his name in a soft sigh. He responds by whispering your own name back, and you smile widely.

Names have power in the Fae kingdom.

Only two living people know your name. Lenard - the Fae that took you in after you escaped the village of your childhood. And Aleksander. Living for centuries means that Aleksander had to be careful with who to trust with his name. Meaning that you were the only one blessed with the gift of his true name.

“Aleksander, I have something for you.” He raises a brow in curiosity, and you offer him your hands with he takes instantly. With a smile, you guide his hands to rest against your stomach. “We’re having another baby.”

His smile nearly dazzles you, and he looks so young, his face full of boyish delight as he picks you up, twirling you in his arms. He presses a series of kisses over your face and you giggle at his antics. He cups your face tenderly, his eyes misty,

“My darling wife, you brilliant, beautiful thing.” He kisses you again.

“I did have some help.” You remark playfully, nudging his chest gently and he smiles again.

From the giddy expressions on your faces, no one would be able to tell there was more than a thousand years worth of life between you both. That you had fought countless wars, and merged countries to protect your people.

Aleksander kisses you again.

[stromuprisahat]

LB's trying so hard to avoid making Nikolai openly selfish or "malevolent", he's purposefully ignorant hypocrite in the end, weak of character and politically incompetent, leaning on his plot armour and harridan dragon of a wife(-to-be).

What do you mean Nikolai Lantsov was a morally grey character? He was a selfless hero!

Literally Nikolai Lantsov:

Befriended and convinced already disoriented and ignorant Alina that the Darkling was a bigger issue than the First Army and the people turning on Grisha and executing them, a brewing civil war that would most likely happen even if they killed the Darkling, Fjerda and Shu-Han casually invading their territory, etc. That they should abandon negotiations with the Darkling and prepare for war even though the country can't take it. Also, his reasoning that he should become the King? Nikolai: Oh yeah, I'm a bastard with no claim to the throne who has never actually done anything to change Ravka for the better, I was too busy playing pirates. And I just gave the rapist King who doomed this country a nice retirement and more servants to rape, while your friend Genya who he raped gets a trial for attempted regicide, be grateful she will be spared.

"Fouche did not miss the boat: Befriending the revolutionary leader Robespierre, he quickly rose in the rebel ranks. When Fouche arrived in Paris to take his seat at the convention, a violent rift had broken out between die moderates and the radical Jacobins. Fouche sensed that in the long run neither side would emerge victorious.

While Alina and Darkling were watching each other, Nikolai was watching the throne. Darkling got rid of the King and the only legitimate heir for him, so all Nikolai had to do is march into a disbanded army and declare himself a war hero and the King. Nikolai: Maybe we should just abolish absolute monarchy in Ravka because it's 20th century already, some of the countries no longer have it and no one even wants it anymore? Don't be ridiculous. My mother was an oyster and I'm the pearl or something.

Power rarely ends up in the hands of those who start a revolution, or even of those who further it; power sticks to those who bring it to a conclusion. That was the side Fouche wanted to be on.

At a certain moment, however, he called a halt to the killings, sensing the mood of the country was turning, and despite the blood already on his hands, citizens of Lyons hailed him as a savior from what had become known as the Terror."

Nikolai to the remaining Grisha after the civil war: Right, so I know I used my big guns to slaughter you, the oppressed minority, because you sided with a man who gave you shelter, saved you and was your respected general instead of a girl who was prejudiced against you, never trained, and abandoned you, BUT I need an army. So, here's your pardon and you can once again become serfs to the monarchy who failed you for centuries. Also, the drafting age has been lowered for Grisha and now we're sending unprepared children to missions. Freedom for Grisha? Letting them buy land? Don't be ridiculous. Can't you see I have more important problems to deal with? The Darkling still exists trapped somewhere in the form of a ghost!

[black-rose-writings]

What happens to Grisha in each of the different countries we’re introduced to in the books:

Fjerda:

Grisha are not considered human in Fjerda, they’re viewed as witches. In teh most basic terms, being Grisha is considered a crime in Fjerda.

There is state-sanctioned and funded persecution going on, which bears striking resemblance to the Holocaust, including mass murder, forced labor and experimentation.

One of the branches of the Fjerdan military is basically a cult which believe Grisha genocide to be their holy duty and they also regularly travel to other countries to capture foreign Grisha as well.

While killing Grisha for anyone other than Drüskelle is technically illegal, this law is rarely if ever enforced.

Shu Han:

There is state-sanctioned and funded persecution going on. Grisha are being captured and subjected to gruesome human experiments.

Their Grisha hunters can recognize the signs of a Grisha supressing their powers. They’re so effective it’s rare for any Grisha to escape the country.

Kerch:

Vast majority of the Grisha living in Kerch (or at least those who are open about their powers) are in indentured servitude. If that is the case, they are considered expensive goods, rather than people.

Even already indentured Grisha daily face the threat of being captured and sold into more open slavery (because much of Kerch indentures appear to be slavery under a different name).

In Kerch, Grisha are only protected by their owners, and that is the protection of being very expensive property.

While slavery is technically illegal in Kerch and the government is known to make a show of enforcing this law, majority of slavers and slave-owners are rich and powerful enough to avoid prosecution.

The Wandering Isle:

Because of their natural resilience to illness, Grisha blood is believed to be basically a panacea.

The Kaelish government appears to tolerate this tradition and murders of Grisha for their blood.

Novyi Zem:

The Zemeni term for Grisha is zowa, meaning “blessed”.

It does appear that the culture is accepting of Grisha, however, there don’t appear to be any legal protections from hate crimes or capture by Drüskelle or slavers, so most Zemeni Grisha hide who they are.

Southern Colonies:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Ravka (pre-Fold):

From what we know about this era, it appears that for most of it, Grisha were viewed as witches.

It’s likely witch hunts would happen and they were most likely tolerated by the government at the time.

Towards the creation of the Fold, the Grisha were actively hunted and killed by the King’s forces.

Ravka (pre-series):

The Grisha form Ravkan Second Army.

Military service is mandatory. Grisha are drafted in childhood and spend their childhood and portion of their teen years studying and training their powers. Most join the active service at the age of 16 (which also appears to be the draft age for non-Grisha), while a small group of them goes into basically officer training, which includes a mandatory second language.

It’s heavily implied that the education Grisha recieve is on par with the education of nobles and royals, and they are taught combat by the best fighters in the world.

They live in luxury compared to the average Ravkan (probably on par with wealthy merchants or lower nobility) and their families are given a lot of money, when the child is taken for training.

All of this thanks to one man (officially, one family), who had built these protections for Ravkan Grisha.

Despite how much Ravka relies on the Grisha (for crossing the Fold and as a weapon to help balance out Ravka’s technological inferiority), they are generally disliked and distrusted by the population and their greater resources compared to the First Army breed resentment within the non-Grisha soldiers as well.

It is not uncommon for people to not consider Grisha true Ravkans and prejudices are rampant.

Many Grisha are not in contact with their non-Grisha family members and consider the other Grisha their family and the Little Palace their home.

Because of the safety system set up and despite the cultural prejudices against them, Ravka is a place of refuge for foreign Grisha.

Ravka (after TGT):

There is portion the Ravkan Armed forces, called the Second Army, which consists of Grisha. They are led by three leaders (The Grisha Triumvirate). At the time of their appointment, none of the named members were over 20, two of the original three members were non-combatants and the only member with combat experience was in the field for presumably less than two years. The original three members were also appointed by a 17/18-year-old girl, who had been in the military for less than two years, good half of that time being a mapmaker, and not even a very good one, another quarter was spent on the run and/or captured, leaving her with total of 3(ish) month of leadership experience.

Some Grisha are given training and education at the Little Palace, however, because their numbers have been cut drastically in the civil war, many are forced to go in the field far too young and with incomplete training. Despite this lack of people, the Grisha are no longer drafted.

Many older and more experienced Grisha fled Ravka in the aftermath of the civil war, because they were on the losing side, and while most of them are being pardoned when they return, large portion are unable to return due to debts and indunture their escape had gotten them into.

What little people are left in the Second army are being kidnapped and experimented on by neighboring countries, as well as being drugged and turned against their own people. Presumably because of this, at some point, the members of the Second Army are given poison pills, which they are expected to swallow in the event they are captured.

[sheikah]

Hi I'm a show only person and tbh I'm confused whether Grisha is a ravka thing only? Like are Grisha not born in fjerda or Novi zem? Or is it only a rare occurrence?? help

Hi! Grisha are not unique to Ravka at all. The reason there is a focus on Ravkan Grisha in the story is that 1. the story takes place there and 2. Ravkan Grisha are protected and have more freedoms and autonomy than any other Grisha. But, much like in the Harry Potter universe with wizards, Grisha can be born anywhere and their powers manifest at a young age. In Kerch they are usually sold into indentured servitude, in Shu Han they are captured for experimentation (which later leads to issues like jurda parem), and as you saw glimpses of in the show, in Fjerda they are hunted as witches and executed. Only in Ravka are they part of such an organized system that gives them power and some level of independence. And not to be a stan but it’s literally all because of the Darkling and the work he did through the centuries to establish the Little Palace, the Second Army, and to show non-Grisha Ravkans how useful Grisha can be.

[dwellordream]

A Six of Crows Review: Kaz I

This is my second installment of a Six of Crows in review (Part One Linked Here). 

Tonight I am looking at Kaz I.

What immediately differentiates Kaz’ first chapter from Inej’s first chapter is that Bardugo spends much more time developing Kaz (who also has a longer chapter, which helps), and seems much more comfortable writing his POV.

He is much more fleshed out in terms of personality in the span of one chapter than Inej was, and I would not be surprised if Kaz was the first character for the novel that Bardugo came up with. There’s a lot more care put into making him not just a ‘walking camera’ as opposed to Inej, who barely gets a word in edgewise other than neutrally reporting the events to the reader.

What is immediately obvious is that Kaz is condescending, quick witted, and arrogant. He views the rest of his gang, the Dregs, as little more than violent overgrown children, with a few exceptions such as Inej and Jesper. His priorities are equally split between making sure his gang spreads increasingly violent and wild tales about him to the rest of the city, and making sure the gang itself also fears him and doesn’t get too close.

It seems clear that at least part of this obsession with his public image is due to the vulnerability Kaz feels due to his bad leg. Because of this he seems intent on always making sure he projects an untouchable and intimidating aura. The downside of this is that Kaz is terrible at communicating, and it seems obvious that his biggest immediate flaw is both his high opinion of himself (even if it hides some serious self loathing), and his inability to ever swallow his pride and play nice.

Despite feeling gratitude towards Jesper, he chooses to condescend to and mock him instead, even as he acknowledges he could have thanked Jesper for being his loyal second in command during the parley and watching his back.

This does not exactly a great leader make, but Kaz seems to view the Dregs less as a family that looks out for one another and more as his own personal kennel of attack dogs to be deployed at will. He has no interest in socializing with them casually or in showing much in the way of friendliness and affection. 

He rationalizes this by reminding himself (and them, presumably), that in the span of several years he has been instrumental in the gang rapidly gaining power and territory, so he doesn’t need to be friendly with them, only to keep them on the up and up.

We also learn that Kaz was bluffing about threatening Geels’ girlfriend; while this is clearly foreshadowing some future events, I personally find it disappointing. It would add to his character (not necessarily in a good way, but it would be interesting, at least) if he had seriously been prepared to harm an innocent women to get her boyfriend out of his way. 

On the other hand, his improv skills are certainly impressive. Maybe he should take up a career in theater on the side. He’s got the dramatic chops and passion for hearing himself talk.

Ironically, we learn more about Inej through Kaz’ chapter than through her own POV, which is not ideal, but maybe Bardugo is trying to hint at how… depersonalized Inej feels as a result of her trauma? I don’t know. I suspect it’s just that when she started writing this book, she didn’t really have Inej’ character nailed down all the way.

Kaz’ interest in irritating Inej is actively getting in his own way, though; he risked his own life and hers that night by not giving her any forewarning of his plans. I’m not sure if this is supposed to leave the reader impressed with him, or to hint at how impulsive and reckless he is as a teenager, despite what he tells himself about always having a plan.

We also learn that Kaz paid off Inej’ indentured servitude at the Menagerie, which I assume means what was left of it is now owed to him, or whoever the Dregs owe their money to. It’s not really clear how they make their money, besides gambling, bookmaking, and petty thievery. Kaz later insists in the chapter that they don’t ‘run whores’, and they don’t seem to deal any kind of drugs or black market materials.

The most interesting and welcomed twist of this chapter is that after a few pages of very self congratulatory praise, Kaz is overwhelmed and caught off guard and abducted.

The second half of Kaz’ chapter is extremely exposition heavy, and introduces another fairly dull and rote antagonist in the incredibly bland businessman Van Eck, who wants to hire Kaz, but it is better handled than Inej’s in that we actually get Kaz’ input on things, instead of him entirely disappearing from his own narrative.

We also learn the fate of poor catonic (then dead) Joost. Joost, we hardly knew thee. Oh well.

One interesting bit of worldbuilding is that the indentured grisha in Ketterdam are mostly refugees from the Ravkan war, which I guess is the big link connecting Six of Crows to Shadow and Bone. 

Honestly, the worldbuilding in Six of Crows works much better because it’s on a much smaller scale, though it is a little ridiculous that Bardugo has Fjerda (which seems Scandinavian based), Shu Han (which seems Chinese based), and Ravka (which seems Russian based) all essentially right next to one another, practically on top of each other on the same small continent. But that’s besides the point.

I also think it shows Kaz’ naivety despite his insistence to the contrary that he does pretty readily agree to the job. He pushes back (once) as to why Van Eck would want to hire a random 17 year old up and coming gangster, but it satisfied enough with Van Eck’s frankly thin excuse of ‘oh, you haven’t been arrested in three years, so we know you can handle it’.

Really? Kaz is the best Van Eck could get? It seems extremely obvious to the reader that this is a massive set up and Van Eck will throw Kaz and his allies to the wolves, but I’m not sure if Bardugo intends for us to already be able to guess that or not.

The focus on the gloves is also a little odd. In a cold and wet climate like Ketterdam, especially when it’s late winter, it seems obvious most people would wear gloves.

So it’s a little hamfisted to have Van Eck randomly comment on Kaz’ gloves, just so Kaz can get in one last snappy one liner and reference to how feared he is; apparently there are rumors his hands are deformed or diseased? Why? That would be like claiming every man who wears a hat has leprosy. It just seems a bit forced.

All that aside, Kaz I is I think a superior chapter in many ways to Inej I, and hopefully the trend continues.

[stromuprisahat]

Because serfs always wear rags, right?!

Either the material fits, or it's just pretending to be something...

I see it as harsh reminder of what they are, softened by what they deserve or could have.

Like Genya's white kefta.

Grishaverse canonically has serfs 😬 the moment I thought I can't hate the Lantsovs more they prove me wrong. did Bardugo ever address it or did she just throw that in, for flavouring?

Most of Ravka is feudal, from what I understand. They haven’t felt the pressure to industrialize since they use the Grisha for everything. However, the Darkling does mention in the first book it will only be a matter of time before the Kerch and Novyi Zem invent weapons and industrialize faster than them.

But yes, realizing this is a feudal absolute monarchy does make the whole Nikolai “return of the true king” plot and throwing the Darkling under the bus seem a bit out of touch 😬

[cto10121]

@aquitainequeen replied to your post:

To be fair I think it's the Wandering Isle where they drink Grisha blood (thanks SO MUCH for having the magical equivalent of Ireland/Wales doing that, by the way, Bardugo :( ) I think in west Novyi Zem they have training schools for Grisha, but it's never really elaborated on. I would have loved to have seen an alliance between the zowa and Ravka...

Thanks for that, I always get some of the finer details confused with this series (gee, I wonder why). But that raises interesting questions in the show at least with Nadia being Zemeni (I suppose) and the West Ravkan mother smuggling her Grisha daughter out of the country for some unnamed reason...and going to Kerch instead (kidnapped into servitude?). Also Jesper hiding (not acknowledging? Evading?) his Grisha-ness in the show.

[stromuprisahat]

Six of Crows- Chapter 30 (Leigh Bardugo)

Are they free-range serfs now?

Or did that well-intentioned idiot in charge free GRISHA, but not otkazat'sya serfs?!

Second Army was a structure established to protect Grisha among other things. Do they have a different kind of organisation with that function, since the draft is abolished?!

How do they keep track of all Ravkan Grisha?

How do they keep them employed?

[kingjesperfahey]

What Jesper says: I’m fine :)

What he means: Racial exploitation is so inextricably entwined with the rise of nationalism and illusions of the alleged innate superiority of the ravkam economic system that, one can easily see that it is this very same racial exploitation that is the root cause of ravkan economic growth. Or more accurately it is due to the theft of labor and resources and the blatant proselytizing of the world at large that the lie of superiority can even exist. This lie is further fulfilled by the purposefully flawed economic plans implemented solely on Zemeni land with the express purpose to fail and lead the people into a state of servitude to the colonizing nation. To even identify this link puts at risk the very foundation by which the ravkan monarchy subsists on, thus threatening their legitimacy as a world power. It is for this reason that any attempt to address these topics on even the most surface level is met with immediate retribution via the state’s vast propaganding war machine. Therefore, there is no justification for the continued existence of the state and hence why the King of Ravka and all of the many members of leadership must be called to an international stage to answer for their war crimes against the Zemeni people and-

[stromuprisahat]

Since you seem like rather reasonable person:

The Darkling:

· Didn't send a girl off to be a sex slave, but the Queen's servant (and future spy). Position of honour! Lowly Grisha girl got to be the Queen's closest companion! This is monarchy! Serving the royals is great honour! Plenty of NOBLES would kill for that opportunity! The thing is- in absolute monarchy, the king can have ANYONE. Just look at powerful men these days! And they only have MONEY, not “power bestowed upon them by God/Saints/Ancient magical animal”. Funnily enough the Queen should be able to offer certain amount of protection to her subjects. She just decided not to. Placing Genya- extraordinarily beautiful since childhood- directly into Queen’s service was a brilliant move and the safest place for her to be, even if the Darkling knew the King is a perv before doing it. (x,x)

(There are also hints the Darkling himself might have been sexually (ab)used, but since he was taught to use sex as a tool, it probably “doesn’t count”... Plus he’s evily sexy man, and those can’t be raped, so...)

· Didn't free a single girl from being a sex slave. He’s the only person fighting world-wide opression of a whole minority, which includes slavery, probably of all kinds. Just the promise of his protection is enough for people to join him. He’s fighting alongside his soldiers, he has spy networks (Hringsa) to help Grisha get to Ravka. Yes, life of servitude isn’t ideal, but it’s a life. We’re not shown democracy or other equalitarian system, so you’re either very rich and well-born, or not even your life really belongs to you. (x, x)

· Manipulated young women? I've read this very often, yet no direct quote to support that. There’s this fascinating part at the end of Shadow and Bone, where he totally annihilates Alina through psychology when she’s standing against him. Yes, there is manipulation there, but she’s his enemy at the time, so kudos for avoiding raw power and physical violence.

He’s lived very long and has plenty to lose, not only for himself, but a single wrong information could destroy all his achievements for his people, yet he’s trying to avoid lying to Alina, the one person he truly wanted to trust him.

I’m not gonna talk about the “You and I are going to change the world” retcon, because it’s obvious one. And I’d just make myself angry again.

If I wanted to be mean, I’d mention Kaz threatening a little girl as an example of even worse manipulation than a bunch of teenagers, but I love that scene, partly for it’s ruthless effectivness.

· Didn't "torture" his mum. He blinded her with darkness as punishment, when she ruined his life-long plans to save his people and turned his "only equal" against him. The issue is much more deep-rooted. Baghra is a textbook abusive parent, who spent his whole life trying to alienate him from others. Saying he tortured her makes her into some innocent victim, which she never was. To be quite honest- it’s quite admirable he lasted this long AND he kept taking care of her up until that. (x, x, x, x, x, x Yeah, it’s a lot and there’s more. I really hate the way she treated him and how it’s ignored and she’s worshipped as some selfless heroine.)

· Didn't kill hundreds of people as "just a show of power". He did it to end two dragging wars that were draining his country for over hundred years, meanwhile his side ran out of options AND resources. "The show of power" was nuclear option, the last ditch effort:

“I think you understand me now. There are no Ravkans, no Fjerdans, no Kerch, no Shu Han. There are no more borders, and there will be no more wars. From now on, there is only the land inside the Fold and outside of it, and there will be peace.”

No, Kaz Brekker isn’t worse than the Darkling. They’re both morally bad people for different reasons. Both are looking out for their own, for the more realistic one it’s a group of outlaws, the idiotic idealist picked a whole minority, had much more time and worked on a greater scale.

"KaZ bReKkEr Is WoRsE tHaN tHe DaRkLiNg BeCaUsE tHe DaRkLiNg JuSt WaNtEd ThE bEsT fOr RaVkA"

let's review:

The Darkling Kaz Brekker sent a girl off to ✅ ❌ be a sex slave

freed a girl from ❌ ✅ being a sex slave

tortured someone ✅ ✅

manipulated young ✅ ❌ women

tortured his mom ✅ ❌

killed hundreds of people as just ✅ ❌ a show of power

traumatized as child and forced ✅ ✅ to survive Now I'm not saying that Kaz is a saint who's never done anything wrong, nor am I saying the Darkling didn't want the best for Ravka.

[kateandherstories]

Shadow and Bone Fanfiction Prompt

So I've started reading fanfiction from Netflix's Shadow and Bone (which if you haven't watched yet you need to watch) and this idea just popped up and demanded attention. I'm nervous about writing this, so I thought I'd throw this idea out to any writers out there who love Shadow and Bone. Please feel free to share your writing with me and others. I'd love to see how you interpret this prompt!

In a Ravka where the Fold was never created, the Grisha were forced to flee and create a new home in the western territories that bordered Novyi Zem. Any Grisha that remained or were found in Ravka was sentenced to a life of servitude. The slave trade for Grisha stretched to the western coast of Ravka and spilled over into Kerch. The True Sea and Novyi Zem are all that keep Ravka from invading the Grisha's home. And with Ravka waging wars at the Fjerdan and Shu Han borders, they can’t afford an invasion by the Grisha to liberate their kin that remain in chains. Though rumors spread that the Grisha will only go to war once they find the Sum Summoner, a mythical Grisha that can manipulate light, the mirror half of the Shadow Summoner, General Kirigan.

Alina Starkov discovers this ancient power when Fjerdan mercenaries invade her regiment’s camp. Knowing that her power means a life sentence in chains, Alina flees Ravka in search of the rumored Grisha homeland. But the Ravkan army, along with her dear friend Mal, is hunting her down.

If the Sun Summoner reaches the Grisha in the far West, Ravka will lose a war that has yet to begin.

World-Building Notes

Grisha escaping slavery use an escape route similar to the Underground Railroad of the American Civil War period. There are safe houses and “conductors” set up along the path who use secret code to guide the Grisha (I don’t have a name for the Grisha homeland, so if you guys think of something, please feel free to use it.) However, Alina manages to make the trip without any help.

Nina Zenik is a conductor for escaped Grisha, and she meets Alina at the port of Os Kervo, where she sends a messenger bird to alert General Kirigan (Aleksander) of the Sun Summoner’s arrival.

When Alina and Nina arrive in Novyi Zem, Aleksander and several Grisha are waiting to meet Alina.

Alina learns at some point that Aleksander is the “Black Heretic”, the Shadow Summoner who led the Grisha from Ravka to the West.

After escaping Ravka, Alina decides to become a conductor to help Grisha reach the west, much to Aleksander’s horror. Despite his objections, Alina joins as a conductor.

Being a former cartographer is extremely useful since Alina can map safe routes for Grisha to take to safety, which is useful for other conductors.

The Grisha of the West has spent the last four hundred years establishing a new home and creating an army that rivals the Ravkans and is almost on par with the Fjerdans and Shu Han. All Grisha are trained in combat, and they trade frequently with the people of Novyi Zem. About a hundred years ago, Novyi Zem became an official ally of the Grisha people, which gives another reason for Ravka not to invade.

I don’t know how the story will end, but it is Darklina endgame. I did imagine some kind of huge confrontation between the Grisha army and the Ravkan army, and something with Mal realizing how powerful Alina is.

Please feel free to write anything related to this prompt and feel free to share with others. I'd love to see what stories you create in this exciting world.

P.S. Please make sure you give credit when writing about this prompt.

[stromuprisahat]

Liliyana, one hand pressed to her bleeding head, cried, “You cannot sell her off now! She’s Grisha. It’s against the law. She is the property of the king and will go to school to train.”

King of Scars- Chapter 25

I completely forgot it's clearly stated in books, that yes, indeed, GRISHA ARE SERFS.

So no, it's not just the Darkling whining to Alina to look more sympathetic. Once you're discovered, you don't belong to yourself, your life doesn't belong to you, you have no future outside of what the Crown deems appropriate.

Now how exactly does that work with Nikolai's reforms? Servitude isn't abolished yet, but Grisha draft is. Does that mean there are lists of Grisha outside of military service and Grisha get "appointed" elsewhere?! Are Grisha no longer serfs? Are they (on paper) free citizens now?

If so, the last two should earn them plenty more hatred from both "oridnary" otkazat'sya serfs, who weren't freed yet AND a lot of free otkazat'sya, whose jobs, land and living space will those Grisha now "take". Hell, look into history- any time a new group enters job market, there's a wave of resentment and fear that they'll steal work from locals.

If Nikolai truly freed Grisha before the rest of Ravkan serfs, his actions are counter-productive and likely to work against wide-spread acceptance.

[stromuprisahat]

Isn’t the status of Grisha much worse after TGT. How are the Righteous Gang claiming to be victors/heroes who made others lives better. From my pov, grisha are much worse off while the otkazatsya are in status quo. Also what was wrong with the grisha coming to LP to live. From the books, it seems that none of them had any connection to their parents/relatives. If so that can also mean that their family did not care enough to reach out to them after they left.

Or did the Darkling ban all communications.

I’m sure the Righteous Gang think that all the cons of their dumb decisions are in fact the Darklings fault. You know because he did this or he did that. They do bot think for a single moment that he was the only one doing anything for them. While the soldat sol (shouldn’t they have been doing some charity work in name of their Saint?) and all other grisha did not lift a single finger to elevate the position of grisha in Ravka through ANY means.

Ironically, the Gang's decision to abolish Grisha draft should serve to further alienate Ravkan commoners and destabilize Nikolai's reign.

"... His serfs will get a taste of money and education and start thinking about building lives and businesses of their own instead of praying for their master’s patronage. ... "

King of Scars- Chapter 11

Nikolai had abolished the practice of separating Grisha from their parents. There was no mandatory draft to pull children from their homes.

Rule of Wolves- Chapter 9

The fact they aren't able to offer protection to any Grisha in Ravka, therefore hardly to children scattered all over the country, AND there's no system of home education, therefore these children might either hurt someone by accident or suffer from wasting sickness, aside...

This should be a gigantic legal issue.

(Although there's plenty of questions regarding servitude in general.)

Pre-KoS Grisha automatically became serfs. Their families were compensated financially.

Let's say Grisha are no longer required to move to Little Palace, otherwise everything stays the same. Are there lists of Grisha serfs to keep track of them? And how do they serve? Why should a family that keeps the amount of pairs of working hands get any money? Does it mean that a family of free- albeit poor- peasants, suddenly include a child serf with obligations of their own? Do these "free-range" serfs get personal assignments? That sounds like a whole lot of extra bureaucracy.

The other option is much more disasterous. If Grisha are no longer serfs, there's no reason to pay their families. They should be recorded the same way other free Ravkans are, and these records don't seem to be particularly meticulous:

Another [Ravkan Grisha] had been hidden in a root cellar when the Grisha Examiners arrived to test her. “My mother told them I’d been killed by the fever that had swept through our village the previous spring,” the Tidemaker said. “The neighbors cut my hair and passed me off as their dead otkazat’sya son until I was old enough to leave.”

Siege and Storm- Chapter 7

A year here, a year there... who'll know if the missing Grisha moved away, died or got kidnapped? But don't worry, the worst is yet to come- otkazat'sya (serfs). Why are Grisha freed as soon as three of theirs start whispering their advices into young King's ear (One of them rumoured to be his mistress to boot!), while common Ravkans keep bending their backs under nobility's jeweled slippers!

This is a starving, war-torn country, through which a wave of pogroms swept only a few years back! The hatred won't disappear only because a dead Saint allegedly appointed three of Grisha to what exactly? Represent? Or rule in the puppet-King's stead?

Sure, Nikolai's (strange, innovatory) reforms lead to more food for the poor... BUT- serfs are still property of their owners, unlike Grisha. West was somehow forced to remain with the East- feeding them, losing money to them. Nobles lost some privilages and whoever's not a complete baffoon will figure out they're losing power. Church should be pissed, because their leader got deposed, religious cult with Crown-appointed head took over and Nikolai cut their incomes too! Anyone even slightly distrustful towards Grisha- and that means all through Ravkan social strata- has every reason to believe they are running the country, which no longer means one black boogeyman, but a Suli whore with the King-killer.

_____

Members of Second Army weren't discouraged from staying in touch with their families, quite contrary. To make it more... well, to make it more KoS-ish, we get some specific data from Zoya:

She’d written every week to her aunt and every week received a long, newsy letter back with drawings of chickens in the corners and tales of the interesting traders who came through Novokribirsk.

King of Scars- Chapter 25

Ivan doesn't mention his family in present time, but I'd like to imagine he used to visit his widowed, almost childless mother until she died of old age.

_____

The only reason all those barely adult Grisha are even theoretically allowed to be teenagers, is that they're safe enough, thanks to Aleksander's work.

He was thirteen, but he’d had a hundred names, a new one for every town, camp, and city ... He would have lived next door to a garbage gully if it meant a roof over his head, hot meals, waking up in the same room every morning without his heart hammering as he tried to remember where he was. ... Grisha living in camps and broken-down mines, hiding out in tunnels. ... No safe place. No haven. There will be, he promised in the darkness, new words written upon his heart. I will make one.

Demon in the Wood

If Grisha are faring better at the beginning of Shadow and Bone, it's his doing:

... though it was smaller than the Grand Palace, the “Little” Palace was still huge. It rose from the trees surrounding it like something carved from an enchanted forest, a cluster of dark wood walls and golden domes. As we drew closer, I saw that every inch of it was covered in intricate carvings of birds and flowers, twisting vines, and magical beasts. ... We passed door after door, until finally we reached a chamber where another uniformed maid stood waiting by an open doorway. Dimly, I registered a large room, heavy golden curtains, a fire burning in a beautifully tiled grate, but all I really cared about was the huge canopied bed. “Can I get you anything? Something to eat?” asked the woman.

Shadow and Bone- Chapter 5

While I can "excuse" some of the "heroes"- victim of otkazat'sya brainwashing institution, unloved privilaged kid with saviour complex, bigoted religious fanatics due to questionable parenting, universal punching bag... LB's new best girl's somehow coming out of it as the worst one.

Just the fact Zoya was saved by the very law she didn't mind abolishing, going from starving asset of her own mother to well-fed, respected soldier, who knows what do sable and silks look like... what a horrible life to lead! Such deterioration! If only the Darkling didn't bother trying, she'd be free to scrape along as she pleases!

Centuries worth of Aleksander's efforts are the reason Zoya gets to whine about her suicidal aunt instead of being maritally raped by some ancient creep, or outright dead after getting pregnant way too young.