In Shadow and Bone, Nina Zenik is a loyal Ravkan Heartrender and spy for the Darkling (General Kirigan) at the start, believing in him and working to bring rogue Grisha back to Ravka for his cause, though she becomes disillusioned by his betrayal later, aligning more with the Crows and seeking redemption for her past actions, especially concerning Matthias Helvar, whom she initially helped capture but later fell for, leading to complicated loyalties and a shift from the Darkling's side.
Ulla is a half-sildroher songcaster and the half-sister of The Darkling via their late mother, Baghra. She is also known as Sankta Ursula of the Waves. Ulla spent her childhood feeling like an outcast, having heard rumors of her being part human.
Danielle Galligan: Nina Zenik.
The Darkling loves Alina, is in love with the idea of being with her, but is not IN LOVE with her. The Darkling has existed for many centuries, life dull and boring, and has no one to love him, not even his mother. He is terrified of that, of the thought of being alone forever.
Nina was tasked with finding those aiding in the escape of rogue Grisha from Ravka. Her last report before being captured by the drüskelle was that she was crossing the Fold with the Conductor and three Grisha defectors from Ketterdam.
Squallers: Suborder of Grisha who can manipulate wind. Sun Summoners: A suborder of Grisha who can manipulate light. These are the rarest type of Grisha, which is why Alina (Jessie Mei Li) is so important.
While his desire for Alina is not a healthy one and is obsessive, he truly does develop feelings for her. She is the one person who can bring balance to his life. The one person who will understand the weight of eternity and never leave him behind.
In Leigh Bardugo's novel, Kirigan (Ben Barnes) stuns Alina (Jessie Mei Li) with an unexpected first kiss. Later, after they demonstrate Alina's abilities to the king's court, the two passionately make out and the narrative suggests they come very close to having sex before they're interrupted.
The only real difference in behaviour is that Mal doesn't sleep with Zoya when they meet in the first episode (episode 1 minute 17:59), which we are told that he does in the book. 5.
Like most wildly popular YA tales, there is a love triangle at the center of Netflix's Shadow and Bone.
Nina is a Heartrender who survived the drug jurda parem. This changed her power, leaving her able to manipulate the dead.
Alina has spent two months in the underground tunnels of Ravka. She is controlled by the Apparat, who leads a cult convinced that Alina is a saint. As a result of her battle with the Darkling, Alina's hair has turned white and she is weak from being away from sunlight and her powers for so long.
The other half of the season is spent with a group we'll know as the Crows, a band of thieves led by Kaz Brekker, who are tasked with kidnapping the newly revealed Sun Summoner. The most interesting of the Crows (to me) are Jesper, a bisexual sharpshooter, and Inej, a spy on a mission to find her brother.
Inej Ghafa
Amita Suman in 2021. Inej Ghafa is a 16-year-old Suli girl from Ravka known as the Wraith. She is a spy for the Dregs, and considered the best spy in Ketterdam. Her family were travelling performers and her act was the tightrope, so she is extremely agile and lightfooted.
After Alina finally accepted her powers, the Darkling visited her again during a training session. He had still not found Morozova's stag whose antlers he had promised her but he asked that she have faith in him, and then he kissed her to both of their surprise.
Zoya has long, black, wavy hair, brown skin, and dark blue eyes. She is half Suli through her father's ancestry.
But in Ruin and Rising, Mal cannot deny his love for Alina, making the ultimate sacrifice at the end by giving his life so that Alina can use his amplifier powers to stop the Darkling. Thankfully, he is healed, and he and Alina live happily ever after, running a Grisha orphanage.
They both survive, and a few days later, Zoya admits to Nikolai that she loves him. The two begin a romantic relationship after that. It is implied that they intend to marry in the future.
To Ravka's government, the Shu are known for their scientific advancements and inhumane treatment of Grisha.
Four months after Alina Starkov discovers she's pregnant, the father of her unborn child finds her hiding place.
Luda was a Grisha Healer and the Darkling's partner until her untimely death.
In the books Aleksander was regularly called the Darkling, but in the show, it was changed to General Kirigan.
Ulla is a half-sildroher songcaster and the half-sister of The Darkling via their late mother, Baghra. She is also known as Sankta Ursula of the Waves.
Alina and Nikolai Lantsov: In Siege and Storm, despite fleeing together, Mal and Alina begin to drift apart. Enter Nikolai Lantsov, younger son of the King of Ravka. He loves Alina, and even proposes marriage.
Sun Summoner. A powerful Grisha who can form and summon sunlight. Alina Starkov is the first and only known Sun Summoner.