History Characters / TheGrishaTrilogy

Click [[Characters/TheGrishaVerse here]] for a listing of characters that appear in ''Literature/SixOfCrows'' by Creator/LeighBardugo.

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[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Alina Starkov]]
->''"I'm the Sun Summoner. It gets dark when I say it does.''"

The protagonist of the series and TheChosenOne, one of the most powerful Grishas who has ever lived and the only one capable of destroying the [[AnimalisticAbomination volcra]] and the [[{{Mordor}} Shadow Fold.]]

* AcheyScars: In Siege and Storm, [[spoiler: Alina gets one from the Darkling's shadow soldiers. It itches whenever the Darkling is near.]]
* TheAgeless: What Alina supposed to become, considering the amount of power she wields. [[spoiler: [[BroughtDownToNormal She looses it later.]] ]]
* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: The Darkling has this appeal for Alina, encouraged by her belief that Mal has forgotten about her. [[spoiler:She comes to despise him after the events of the first book, [[EvilIsSexy but a very strong attraction is still clearly there.]]]]
%%%%* AmbitionIsEvil: She begins to show aspects this when she receives the second amplifier.
* BroughtDownToNormal: [[spoiler: Ultimately Alina's fate at the end of Ruin and Rising is to lose all of her powers.]]
* TheChosenOne: Happens when you're the world's only Sun Summoner and the only Grisha with the power to destroy The Shadow Fold.
* CharacterDevelopment: She's a sickly and naive girl when we first meet her but soon proves to be a lot more competent over the course of the trilogy.
%%%* ChildhoodFriends: With Mal.
%%%* ClingyJealousGirl: Alina shows this in regards to Zoya's interest in Mal.
* DeadpanSnarker: One of Alina's most defining traits is her dry wit.
-->'''The Darkling''': What are you smiling at?
-->'''Alina''': Myself.
-->'''The Darkling''': Are you that funny?
-->'''Alina''': I'm hilarious.
* DifferentlyPoweredIndividual: She's a Sun Summoner, an exceptionally rare Grisha who manipulates light. She's the only one in existence, and furthermore the only one born in ''centuries''.
%%%* DrunkWithPower: This happens to Alina [[spoiler: when she combines two amplifiers]] early in the second book.
%%* EurekaMoment: Has one in Shadow and Bone.
%%%* GoodIsNotSoft:
* HeartwarmingOrphan: Alina starts out as an orphan working as a cartographer in the First Army, and not only saves her best friend's life, but also saving the world from [[BigBad the Darkling]].
%%* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Genya.
%%* ImStandingRightHere: Alina is often victim to this, mainly when Mal and Nikolai are involved.
* IllGirl: She's introduced as a frail, sickly being. It's revealed this is because neglect of one's Grisha powers taxes one's health; once Alina starts using her Sun Summoner powers more, she becomes haler.
* ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne: Her belief. She feels alone during her Grisha training because she's one of a kind and can't relate to anyone but the Darkling.
%%%* TheLeader: [[spoiler: Of the Second Army.]]
* LightEmUp: The gist of her abilities is light manipulation.
* LoveTriangle: Between Mal, Alina, and The Darkling. In the second book, this becomes a love square between Mal, Alina, the Darkling, with the addition of Nikolai.
* TheMarvelousDeer: Alina's first amplifier is taken from the horns of a great stag.
%%%* MentorsNewHope: For Baghra,
* MessianicArchetype: She's [[TheChosenOne the Chosen One]], has a group of loyal followers, gets betrayed by someone she trusted, defeats a great evil, [[spoiler:figuratively dies and is resurrected]].
%%%* NotSoDifferent: What [[spoiler:The Darkling]] insists, before she shoots him down.
* PentUpPowerPeril: She was constantly sickly growing up due to subconsciously suppressing her powers. Once she starts using them regularly, her health improves greatly.
* PleaseIWillDoAnything: Threatens to [[spoiler:fight against The Darkling for the rest of her life if he harms Mal. But if he spares him, she promises to spend it "proving [her] gratitude."]]
* ThePowerOfTheSun: Her abilities derive from sunlight, which means it's more difficult for her to use her powers at nighttime or underground.
* ReluctantWarrior: She honestly ''doesn't'' want to be TheChosenOne.
* SecretKeeper: Becomes one for [[spoiler:the Darkling regarding his name.]] Worth mentioning that it was never explicitly stated that she wasn't allowed to tell anyone, but she never does.
* SlaveCollar: [[spoiler:The first amplifier goes around her neck and can't be removed; Baghra tells her it was created with the intention of chaining her to the Darkling.]]
%%%* TookALevelInBadass:
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Malyen Oretsev]]

Alina's childhood best friend, a former soldier of the First Army and a gifted tracker.

* TheAce: Mal is handsome, an unbelievably good tracker, and makes friends very easily. Alina muses that you could drop him any where in the world and before long he'd fit in perfectly.
%%%* ChildhoodFriends: With Alina.
* BettyAndVeronica: There's a subversion here. While the Darkling is definitely the Veronica, being handsome and seductive stranger in contrast to Malyen's status as Alina's childhood friend, Malyen isn't much of a Betty besides being a childhood friend given how much sleeping around he does.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: At the climactic confrontation of ''Ruin and Rising'', Mal, having realised that he's the third amplifier, guides a badly-wounded and utterly broken Alina into driving a knife to his chest, [[ExactWords taking her power to its logical conclusion.]]]]
* {{Hypocrite}}: He flirts and sleeps with women as much as he wants while in the First Army, but when he sees Alina wearing signs of the Darkling's favor, gets furious and accuses her of being a whore.
* LikeBrotherAndSister: Mal sees Alina as his sister instead of a potential girlfriend, much to her silent torment. [[spoiler:He comes around.]]
* LoveEpiphany: [[spoiler:Mal comes to realize just how much he loves Alina back while they are in hiding from The Darkling.]]
* LoveTriangle: Stuck in one for the bulk of the series, with Alina and the Darkling, and later, Alina and Nikolai.
* MrFanservice: Mal is described as a very handsome man, turning heads wherever he goes, much to Alina's annoyance.
* ReallyGetsAround: Implied hook up with many women during his time in the First Army.
* ScarilyCompetentTracker: It's said of Mal that he can "turn rocks into rabbits." He's so good he can even track a sea-serpent ''on the open ocean''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Darkling/[[spoiler:Aleksander Morozova]]]]
->"''Fine, make me your villain.''"

The mysterious force that leads the Grisha.

* TheAgeless: The Darkling states that he is 120 years old, but it's implied that [[Really700YearsOld he's much older.]]
* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: The Darkling has this appeal for Alina, encouraged by her belief that Mal has forgotten about her. She comes to despise him after the events of the first book, but a very strong attraction is still clearly there.
* AmbitionIsEvil: He wants to make the world a safer place for Grisha, so he'll just conquer the world. The Shadow Fold was also brought about by him experimenting too much and too darkly with magic.
%%%* AnimalisticAbomination: [[spoiler:What happens when he starts messing with real magic, accidentally creating the volcra.]]
%%%* AxCrazy: He always this but it becomes most prominent in ''Ruin and Rising''.
%%* BeautyIsBad
* BettyAndVeronica: There's a subversion here. While the Darkling is definitely the Veronica, being handsome and seductive stranger in contrast to Malyen's status as Alina's childhood friend, Malyen isn't much of a Betty besides being a childhood friend.
* BigBad: Revealed to be the Black Heretic, the one who created the Shadow Fold, halfway through the first book. His goals are further revealed to be expanding the Fold to consume Ravka, and he even declared Alina can make him the villain if she wants.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: For the majority of ''Shadow and Bone'' he seems like a good and even kind man who only wants the best for his country and encourages Alina in her training. By the end of the book he sheds this mask to [[BigBad reveal his]] [[ManipulativeBastard true persona.]]
* CastingAShadow: His main ability; he wouldn't be called the ''Dark''ling if he didn't manipulate shadows.
* TheChessmaster: He is a master at manipulating people and events to serve his purposes.
%%* ConsummateLiar
%%%* TheCorrupter: Acts as this to Alina.
%%%* CrazyJealousGuy: towards Alina.
%%%%* DarkAndTroubledPast: Explored in ''The Demon in the Woods''.
%%%%* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: Dabbled with this. [[spoiler:Accidentally created the Shadow Fold this way.]]
%%* DarkIsEvil
* DiagonalCut: Possesses the rare ability called "The Cut", which is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.
* TheDreaded: Even the Grisha feel uneasy around him in ''Siege and Storm''.
* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: He's pale-skinned and dark-haired and very creepy. Even before he's revealed as evil, people are scared and unnerved by by virtue of his [[CastingAShadow powers]].
* EternalLove: He believes eventually as Alina [[spoiler:comes to accept her immortality]], they will share this.
* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: Played with. Darkling sees his mother as someone who can share his immortal life, but blinds her when she helps Alina. But then later when she [[spoiler: commits suicide]], he not only tries to ''stop'' her, but Alina feels him grieving through their link.
* EvenEvilCanBeLoved: Despite all the terrible things he's done, his mother still loves him and Alina still feels ''something'' for him, [[spoiler:to the point she cries when she kills him]]. This helps the narrative humanize the Darkling.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: He's addressed as "the Darkling", and apparently has been for centuries. We don't find out his real name until the end.
* FauxAffablyEvil: He is very suave and seductive in nearly all his scenes, which only serves to increase his cold and manipulative aura.
%%%* ForcefulKiss: A few with Alina.
%%* FromNobodyToNightmare
* GoodScarsEvilScars: His face is faintly scarred by a volcra attack.
* HatesBeingAlone: Seems genuinely troubled by the prospect of spending the rest of his long life by himself.
--> '''The Darkling''': Don't let me be alone.
* HobbesWasRight: He certainly seems to believe that without him as its sole ruler, Ravka will never be a great power again.

* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: When he captures Alina after she attempts to escape with Mal in ''Shadow and Bone''.
* IJustWantToBeLoved: In ''Ruin and Rising'' Alina concludes: "For all his crimes, the Darkling had loved Ravka, and he'd wanted its love in return."
* IfICantHaveYou: Towards Alina and Ravka both, preferring to destroy them rather than see anyone else have them.
* ItsAllAboutMe: He claims his actions are for the good of Ravka, but as Alina points out only as long ''he'' is the ruler.
* LackOfEmpathy: One of his most prominent qualities. ''The Demon in the Woods'' and ''Ruin and Rising'' seem to imply this developed as a survival and coping mechanism.
--> '''The Darkling''': If I still felt as you do, if I ached as you do, I could not have borne this eternity.
* LifeIsntFair: He exasperatedly espouses this philosophy to Alina in ''Shadow and Bone''.
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: Given his level of obsession with Alina and the more irrational he becomes at her rejection, she seems to become this to him.
* LoveIsAWeakness:
--> '''The Darkling''': The problem with wanting is that it makes us weak.
* LoveMakesYouCrazy: He certainly seems to act more irrationally when it comes to Alina.
* LoveMakesYouEvil: All his wicked deeds are rooted in his love for Ravka. And if his claims to love Alina are true, a few can be attributed towards his feelings for her.
%%%%* LoveRedeems: Baghra hopes that this can be the case with him.
* LoveTriangle: In one with Mal and Alina.
* ManipulativeBastard: He plays with Alina's emotions to get what he wants.
* MindlinkMates: [[spoiler:At the end of ''Siege and Storm'' he and Alina become a romantically one-sided version of this.]]
* MoralityChain: He tells Alina she could become this for him eventually. She counters that he would corrupt her.
--> '''The Darkling''': You might make me a better man.
--> '''Alina''': And you might make me a monster.
* MoralSociopathy: The Darkling seems to have a kind of moral structure, but it is incomprehensible to all but himself.
* MurderTheHypotenuse: Repeatedly threatens to kill or attempts to kill Mal in order to have Alina all to himself.
* NotGoodWithRejection: Cannot take being turned down by Alina.
* NotSoDifferent: One of the main things he uses to try to convince Alina they belong together is pointing out how similar they are.
* NotSoStoic: His usual demeanour is cool and distant, but he's highly selective of what emotions he shows and who he shows them to. How much of it is genuine is up for interpretation.
* PowerIsSexy: This combined with his looks makes the Darkling a much-desired man among women. [[spoiler:He himself has this for Alina to the point of obsession.]]
%%* RavenHairIvorySkin
* SayMyName: Asks this of Alina [[spoiler:as he's dying]].
--> '''The Darkling''': Once more. Speak my name.
%%%* StalkerWithACrush: Really begins to come across as this, especially in ''Siege and Storm''.
* ThousandYardStare: Almost exactly how Alina describes the expression in his eyes when she comes to him at Keramzin.
%%* TheSociopath:
%%%* [[{{Ubermensch}} Ubermensch]]:
* UsedToBeASweetKid: [[spoiler: Baghra]] says he used to be just a brilliant, talented boy.
* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Claims he wants to use the Shadow Fold to make Ravka a safe place for Grisha.
%%%%* VillainousCrush: Has a ''severe'' case of this for Alina.
* VisionaryVillain: His goal is to make Ravka a great nation and a haven for other Grisha.
%%%%* WeCanRuleTogether:
* WhatBeautifulEyes: His grey-colored eyes are frequently described in loving detail by Alina's narration.
* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: Certainly comes off as this in ''The Demon in the Woods''. This however is debatable by the time of ''Shadow and Bone''.
* {{Yandere}}: Very much so towards Alina. By the time of ''Ruin and Rising'', he's so far gone he declares that he'll destroy everything she loves so she has no shelter but him.
[[/folder]]


[[folder:Nikolai Lantsov/[[spoiler:Sturmhond]]]]

The younger Ravkan prince. He's probably prettier than you.

* AnimalMotifs: He's often associated with dogs and foxes.
* ArrangedMarriage: With Ehri-Kir Taban
* BadassLongcoat: He wears a teal frock coat, extremely gaudy, but extremely dramatic.
* BlackSheep: Compared to the rest of the royal family, [[spoiler:HeroicBastard: it's hard to see the resemblance.]]
* ButHeSoundsHandsome: When someone mentions that the prince isn't bad looking, he's compelled to put in that he's 'damnably handsome', among a long litany of other inflated qualities.
* DeadpanSnarker: Arguably more than Alina.
* DemonicPossession: [[spoiler:it is revealed in King of Scars that the darkness inside of him has it's own mind.]]
* TheCharmer: Clearly knows his way around others, is beloved by the court and his people. Constantly flirts with Alina, and uses his charms to manipulate his way through social situations.
* ConsummateLiar: about almost anything. He lies to Alina about his true intentions, then his true identity, and continues to lie in various small ways throughout the books. Most of the time, no one suspects a thing.
* TheEngineer: Helped to invent the world's first flying craft, machine guns, and several other devices.
* FateWorseThanDeath: Played with in ''Ruin and Rising'', when [[spoiler:his body becomes merged with one of the Darkling's shadow soldiers]].
* ForcefulKiss: Kisses Alina against her will in order to convince his people she is his 'Sun Queen'.
* CommandingCoolness: Sturmhond's official title on board the Volkvolny.
%%* GuileHero:
* ItsAllAboutMe: Has a very carefree attitude, and tends to make things about himself as a joke. He's playing off his own arrogance.
* LoveableRogue: You want to hate him, but you just can't.
-->'''Nikolai''': I have several ships. The Darkling wanted a whaler, so I got him one.
-->'''Alina''': You mean you stole it.
-->'''Nikolai''': Acquired it.
* MeaningfulName: An in-universe example. His childhood nickname was ''Sobachka'', which he plays on to create [[spoiler:his later alias, Sturmhond.]]
* The Mutiny: [[spoiler:He and his crew overthrow the Darkling and his men from their ship, thereby mutinying against a superior officer.]]
* NonAnswer: Notorious for this.
-->'''Alina''': Do you ever answer a question directly?
-->'''Nikolai''': Hard to say. Ah, there, I've done it again.
* Omniglot: Albeit not a very good one. He knows Zemnian, Ravkan, Kerch, and some Shu, though he's not perfect.
* Privateer: Operated as one under the name Sturmhond for several years.
* ReallyRoyaltyReveal: [[spoiler:After the Hummingbird crashes, Sturmhond is revealed to be Nikolai.]]
* ResisttheBeast: Nikolai attempts to prevent himself from changing, and warns others of it in King of Scars.
* RoyalBrat: [[spoiler:Was this when he was much younger, before the castle decided to enforce discipline by punishing one of his friends rather than Nikolai himself.]]
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Nikolai left court as soon as he could, insisted on doing his military service in the infantry, apprenticed to a gunsmith, and then later went to study shipbuilding. This turns out to be useful when he [[spoiler: becomes a pirate, er, privateer.]]
* ScrewtheRulesIHaveMoney!:He's not above bribery, and he's very willing to disregard rules.
-->'''Nikolai''': Pauper or Prince, every man can be bought.
* SpareToTheThrone: Next in line to the throne after his brother, Vasily.
* TooCleverByHalf: He screams it. He's extremely intelligent, and he knows it, and is thus unafraid to remind others of it.
* TransformationofthePossessed: [[spoiler:his body morphs and changes significantly with the darkness in control.]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Baghra]]

A short-tempered woman who teaches Alina how to summon her power.

* AntagonisticOffspring: She spends the whole trilogy trying to find ways to redeem the Darkling. Lampshaded by Nikolai:
-->'''Baghra''': The little Saint, returned to save us all.
-->'''Nikolai''': Well, she did almost ''die'' trying to rid us of your cursed spawn.
* CynicalMentor: Baghra is ''not'' impressed with Alina's progress.
* DarwinistDesire: A particularly cold example.
-->'''Baghra''': I wanted a child, so I sought out the most powerful Grisha I could find. He was a Heartrender. I don't even remember his name.
%%%* DrivenToSuicide [[spoiler: In ''Ruin and Rising''.]]
%%* IWasQuiteALooker
%%* MyBelovedSmother: Shades of this.
* OldMaster: She's Alina's mentor. She's the Darkling's mother, so as old as he is, [[Really700YearsOld she's even older.]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Genya Safin]]
* BeautyToBeast: She receives horrible disfiguring scars in ''Siege and Storm''.
* BestServedCold: Her revenge on [[spoiler: the king]] was designed to be as slow and painful as possible.
* FaceHeelRevolvingDoor: It's hard to keep track of who's side she's really on.
%%* FemmeFatale:
%%* MenAreStrongWomenArePretty:
%%%* SoBeautifulItsACurse: The reason why the King takes such an interest in her.
* TheMakeover: Her main superpower is Tailoring, altering someone's appearance. While this can be used for disguises, at court Genya is mostly called upon for make people prettier.
%%%* WorldsMostBeautifulWoman: At least until ''Siege and Storm''.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tolya and Tamar]]

* AnAxeToGrind: Tamar's [[WeaponOfChoice weapon of choice]], though she has several other concealed weapons to choose from and even Alina once referred to her as a 'walking armoury'.
* HalfIdenticalTwins: Both are ruthless Shu Han Heartrenders who rely more on their physical combat skills than blood-bending to disable their opponents. They also believe in the Sun Saint and agree on most things.
* HugeGuyTinyGirl: What the twins look like standing side by side.
* WarriorPoet: Tolya with his recitation of epic poetry.

[[/folder]]

* DemonicPossession: [[spoilers:it is revealed in King of Scars that the darkness inside of him has it's own mind.]]

* TransformationofthePossessed: [[spoilers:his body morphs and changes significantly with the darkness in control.]]

* It'sAllAboutMe: Has a very carefree attitude, and tends to make things about himself as a joke. He's playing off his own arrogance.

%%* TookALevelInBadass

* DemonicPosession: [[spoilers:it is revealed in King of Scars that the darkness inside of him has it's own mind.]]

* ScrewtheRules,IHaveMoney!:He's not above bribery, and he's very willing to disregard rules.

* BlackSheep: Compared to the rest of the royal family, [[HeroicBastard it's hard to see the resemblance.]]

%%%%* DeadpanSnarker:

%%* SpareToTheThrone
%%* TheCharmer

* AmbitionIsEvil: Defines it. He wants to make the world a safer place for Grisha, so he'll just conquer the world. The Shadow Fold was also brought about by him experimenting too much and too darkly with magic.

* BettyAndVeronica: The Veronica to Mal's Betty for Alina's Archie.

* TheAgeless: What Alina supposed to become, considering the amount of power she wields. [[spoiler: [[BroughtDownToNormal She gets better.]] ]]

* AmbitionIsEvil: She begins to show aspects this when she receives the second amplifier.
* [[spoiler:BroughtDownToNormal: Ultimately Alina's fate at the end of Ruin and Rising.]]

* ChildhoodFriends: With Mal.
* ClingyJealousGirl: Alina shows shades of this in regards to Zoya's interest in Mal.
* DeadpanSnarker: One of Alina's most defining traits.

* DrunkWithPower: This happens to Alina [[spoiler: when she combines two amplifiers]] early in the second book.

* GoodIsNotSoft: Part of her [[TookALevelInBadass character development]]

* ItGetsEasier: Alina is told this several times during her Grisha training, but she refuses to believe it as she barely improves. It is only when [[spoiler:she psychologically releases herself from Mal that she finally realizes her full power,]] and it certainly gets easier from there.

* TheLeader: [[spoiler: Of the Second Army.]]
* LightEmUp: The gist of her abilities.

* MentorsNewHope: For Baghra, though heaven forbid she admit it.

* NotSoDifferent: What [[spoiler:The Darkling]] insists, before she shoots him down.

* ScarpiaUltimatum: Can be an interpretation of her promise to the Darkling if he [[spoiler:spares Mal]]
* TookALevelInBadass: When she manages to get her priorities in order.

* TheAce: Mal is handsome, an unbelievably good tracker, and makes friends very easily. Alina muses that you could drop him anyway in the world and before long he'd fit in perfectly.
* ChildhoodFriends: With Alina.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: At the climactic confrontation of Ruin and Rising, Mal, having realised that he's the third amplifier, guides a badly-wounded and utterly broken Alina into driving a knife to his chest, [[ExactWords taking her power to its logical conclusion.]]]]

* LikeBrotherAndSister: How Mal sees Alina, much to her silent torment. [[spoiler:He comes around.]]

* ReallyGetsAround: Implied to be the case during his time in the First Army.

* AnimalisticAbomination: [[spoiler:What happens when he starts messing with real magic, accidentally creating the volcra.]]
* AxCrazy: He always had shades of this but it becomes most prominent in ''Ruin and Rising''.

* TheCorrupter: Acts as this to Alina.
* CrazyJealousGuy: Has some strong shades of this towards Alina.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Explored in ''The Demon in the Woods''.
* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: Dabbled with this. [[spoiler:Accidentally created the Shadow Fold this way.]]

* ForcefulKiss: A few with Alina.

* GreyEyes: Frequently described in loving detail by Alina's narration.

* ICanChangeMyBeloved: Tries to invoke this in another attempt to bring Alina to his side.
--> '''The Darkling''': You might make me a better man.
--> '''Alina''': And you might make me a monster.

* LoveRedeems: Baghra hopes that this can be the case with him.

* StalkerWithACrush: Really begins to come across as this, especially in ''Siege and Storm''.

%%* TheSociopath: He has strong shades of this.
* [[{{Ubermensch}} Ubermensch]]: He tries to impress on Alina that they are this.

* VillainousCrush: Has a ''severe'' case of this for Alina.

* WeCanRuleTogether: He offers this to Alina multiple times.

* DeadpanSnarker: Practically every other line out of his mouth.

%%* GuileHero: And ''how''.

* AntagonisticOffspring: She spends the whole trilogy trying to find ways to redeem him. Lampshaded by Nikolai:

* [[spoiler:DrivenToSuicide:]] In ''Ruin and Rising''.

* OldMaster: She's the Darkling's mother, so as old as he is, [[Really700YearsOld she's even older.]]

%%* FemmeFatale: Shades of this.
%%* MenAreStrongWomenArePretty: Averted.
* SoBeautifulItsACurse: The reason why the King takes such an interest in her.

* WorldsMostBeautifulWoman: At least until ''Siege and Storm''.

* TheMakeover: Her main superpower is Tailoring, altering someone's appearance. While this can be used for disguises, at court Genya is mostly called upon for make peopel prettier.

* ActionGirl: Part of Alina's character arc has her becoming this.

* DifferentlyPoweredIndividual

* EurekaMoment: Has one in Shadow and Bone.

* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Genya.
* ImStandingRightHere: Alina is often victim to this, mainly when Mal and Nikolai are involved.

* ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne: Her belief.

* LoveTriangle: Between Mal, Alina, and The Darkling.
** In the second book, this becomes a love square between Mal, Alina, the Darkling, with the addition of Nikolai.
* TheMarvelousDeer: Alina's first amplifier.

* [[spoiler:MessianicArchetype]]: She's [[TheChosenOne the Chosen One]], has a group of loyal followers, gets betrayed by someone she trusted, defeats a great evil, [[spoiler:figuratively dies and is resurrected]].

* SlaveCollar: [[spoiler:The first amplifier.]]

* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: The Darkling has this appeal for Alina, encouraged by her belief that Mal has forgotten about her. [[spoiler:She comes to despise him after the events of the first book, but a very strong attraction is still clearly there.]]
* AmbitionIsEvil: Defines it

* BeautyIsBad

* [[spoiler:BigBad]]

* CastingAShadow: His main ability.

* ConsummateLiar

* DarkIsEvil
* DiagonalCut: Possesses the rare ability called "The Cut" which is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.

* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette
* EternalLove: He believes eventually as Alina [[spoiler:comes to accept her immortality]] they will share this.

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: We don't find out his real name until the end.
* EvilIsSexy: Even after she discovers his true intentions in ''Shadow and Bone'', Alina is still obviously attracted to him throughout the trilogy.

* FromNobodyToNightmare

* HobbesWasRight: He certainly seems to believe that [[spoiler:without him as its sole ruler]] Ravka will never be a great power again.

* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: When he captures Alina [[spoiler:after she attempts to escape with Mal]] in ''Shadow and Bone''.

* LawfulEvil: Of the Type 1 variety.

* LoveRedeems: [[spoiler: Baghra]] hopes that this can be the case with him.

* ManipulativeBastard: [[spoiler:He plays with Alina's emotions to get what he wants.]]

* NotSoStoic: His usual demeanour is cool and distant but he's highly selective of what emotions he shows and who he shows them to. How much of it is genuine is up for interpretation.

* RavenHairIvorySkin
* SayMyName:

* TheSociopath: He has strong shades of this.

* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Claims he wants to use [[spoiler:the Shadow Fold]] to make Ravka a safe place for Grisha.

* [[{{Yandere}} Yandere]]: Very much so towards Alina.

* GuileHero: And ''how''.

* SpareToTheThrone
* TheCharmer
* TookALevelInBadass

* [[spoiler:AntagonisticOffspring:]] She spends the whole trilogy trying to find ways to redeem him. Lampshaded by Nikolai:

-->'''Nikolai''': Well, she did almost ''die'' trying to rid us of your cursed [[spoiler:spawn]].

* IWasQuiteALooker
* MyBelovedSmother: Shades of this.
* OldMaster: Implied to be [[Really700YearsOld really old.]]

* BeautyToBeast
* BestServedCold: Her revenge on [[spoiler: the king]]

* FemmeFatale: Shades of this.
* MenAreStrongWomenArePretty: Averted.

* TheMakeover: Her main superpower.

* BerserkButton: Don't try to hurt Mal. Or Genya. Just don't.

* AnimalMotifs: He's often associated with dogs.

* JerkassFacade: She spends most of her time chewing out Alina or the Darkling, but underneath it all, she really does care.

* FateWorseThanDeath: Played with in ''Ruin and Rising'', when [[spoiler:his body becomes merged with one of the Darkling's shadow soilders]].

* FateWorseThanDeath: Played with in ''Ruin and Rising'', when [[spoiler:his body becomes merged with one of the Darkling's shadow soilders]]

* AlasPoorVillain

* WellIntentionedExtremist: He genuinely doesn't seem to think of his actions as evil and is disappointed by Alina's rejection of his view of Ravka's future.

* CrazyJealousGuy: Flips out if Alina speaks to anyone else and loathes Mal for being in the way.

* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: Subverted. Darkling sees his mother as someone who can share his immortal life, but he has little real care for her, blinding her when she helps Alina.

* LoveMakesYouEvil: He claims that his love for Ravka and Alina is what motivates him.

* NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist: As Alina points out, Darkling doesn't actually care about making Ravka strong--he cares about creating a strong nation for ''himself'' to rule. He's more than willing to burn the country down if he can't have it.

* CrazyJealousGuy: Has some strong shades of this towards Alina.

* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas

* LoveMakesYouEvil: All his wicked deeds are rooted in his love for Ravka. And if his claims to love Alina are true, a few can be attributed towards his feelings for her.

* MagnificentBastard

* NotGoodWithRejection

* TheChessmaster: He is a master at manipulating people and events to serve his purposes.
* TheCorrupter: Acts as this to Alina.
* TheDreaded: Even the Grisha feel uneasy around him in ''Siege and Storm''.
* TheMasochismTango: His relationship with Alina over the books develops into this.
* TheMagnificent: [[spoiler:The Black Heretic.]]

* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Claims he wants to use [[spoiler:the Shadow Fold]] to make Ravka a safe place for Grisha.

* WellIntentionedExtremist: He genuinely doesn't seem to think of his actions as evil and is disappointed by Alina's rejection of his view of Ravka's future.

The Protagonist of the series and TheChosenOne, one of the most powerful Grishas who has ever lived and the only one capable of destroying the [[AnimalisticAbomination volcra]] and the [[{{Mordor}} Shadow Fold.]]

* [[spoiler:BroughtDownToNormal: Ulimately Alina's fate at the end of Ruin and Rising.]]

* [[spoiler:MessianicArchetype]]: She's [[TheChosenOne the Chosen One]], has a group of loyal followers, gets betrayed by someone she trusted, defeats a great evil, [[spoiler:figuratively dies and ressurects]].

* TheAgeless: The Darkling states that he is 120-years old, but it's implied that [[Really700YearsOld he's much older.]]

* AnimalisticAbomination: [[spoiler:What happens when he starts messing with real magic, accidently creating the volcra.]]

* WarriorPoet: Toyla with his recitation of epic poetry.

[[folder:Toyla and Tamar]]