Reading Time: 2 Minutes
Title: Starry Night
Author: Lalaith Quetzalli
Fandom: Shadow and Bone
Genre: Angst, Fantasy, Pre-Relationship, Romance, Time Travel
Relationship(s): The Darkling | Aleksandr Morozova/Alina Starkov, Background Relationships
Content Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Violence-Graphic, Racism, Murder, Implied Hate Crimes, Referenced Domestic Abuse, Referenced Child Abuse, Referenced Kidnapping, Minor Character Death, Referenced Slavery, Violence – Canon Level, Religious References, Brief Implied Suicidal Intention/Ideation.
Author Note: On the last warning listed. In the end of the Prologue the female lead participates in a ritual. It’s never fully specified what would happen to her, though the implications are clear. It’s also made clear that she’s doing it willingly. No suicide actually takes place (also, that word is never used in the story itself).
Word Count: 69,261
Summary: Aleksandr was right and Alina’s not even surprised. She once thought that it was cruelty, evil, that made ‘wanting to destroy’ his first choice for everything; now she knows the truth: it was sadness, and defeat, and loneliness. It was losing so much and so many. Alina’s tired of losing. She knows now, she’d do things so differently, if she had another chance. But it’s not like it’s possible to change the past. Time-travel just doesn’t exist… right?
Artist: Librarycat9
Artist Appreciation: I loved the art so, so, so much! Thank you my dear! The pieces are so beautiful!
Story
Cast
Glossary
Glossary
Grisha: Humans who practice the Small Science.
Small Science: The ability to manipulate matter at its most basic form.
Merzost: The power of creation. It’s considered magic and an abomination.
Otkazat’sya: (lit. ‘the abandoned’) Used to refer to people without Grisha powers.
Corporalki: (singular: Coporalnik) Grisha whose power focuses on the human body. Traditionally divided into heartrenders (who manipulate the body to cause harm) and healers.
Etherealki: (singular: Etherealnik) Grisha who can manipulate different natural elements. Referred often as Summoners. Divided into Squallers (manipulate air), Inferni (manipulate fire) and Tidemakers (manipulate water). The Shadow and Sun Summoner are typically considered Etherealki as well.
Materialki: (singular: Materialnik) Grisha Order that focuses their power on composite materials like metal, glass, textiles, chemicals. Commonly referred to as Fabrikators. Divided into Durasts (who deal with solids) and Alkemi (who handle liquids).
Kefta: Garment worn by Grisha in the Second Army (the Grisha army). The color of the kefta itself and the embroidery are determined by their Order.
Oprichniki: (singular: oprichnik) Elite non-Grisha soldiers who make up the Darkling’s personal guard.
Volcra: Creatures living in the Shadow Fold.
Nichevo’ya: (lit. ‘nothings’) Shadow creatures created by the Darkling through merzost.
Sarafan: a peasant dress.
Drüsje: witch.
Drüskelle: Holy soldiers from Fjerda who hunt Grisha, considering them demonic and evil. Basically witch-hunters.
Babya: Formal address for a grandmother, old woman (informal: baba).
Malen’kiy: Little one. (lit. little, small, tiny).
Narodnaya printsessa: Princess of the people.
Moi tsar: My tsar.
Moi soverenyi: My sovereign (used by the Grisha to address their General/the Darkling).
Milaya: Sweet girl.
Lapushka: Darling, honey, sweetie.
Moya lyubov’: My love.
