#that Mal fell completely out of love with her when he died and crushed her heart | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

gwynpool · 3 years

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it’s 2AM and i just finished Rule of Wolves (spoilers definitely up ahead)

first, to inform everyone, i read the spoilers when it got leaked in twitter cuz i can’t help myself. (it’s a sickness, i know) i think this is important since it definitely influenced my perspective upon reading the book. also, this is my first time being early in a party so yay me! going in ROW was easy for me because i started King of Scars the day before book 2’s actual release date so everything’s fresh.

secondly, this is really long so i’m sorry. i just have a lot of feelings and need to write it all down. on with the rant.

King of Scars was wonderful to me since it gave me my favorite Shadow and Bone character and the girl who i used to hate for being a mean girl but who I now admire with every ounce of my being. It also introduced a new ship that I am now obsessed with and is ruling besides my love for Jude&Cardan. Not to mention, it gave us Nina, whom though i’m not entirely a fan of due to all my love focusing on Kaz and Inej, allowed the connection between Shadow&Bone with SixofCrows.

Moving on, ROW was a ride and whirlwind of emotions. unfortunately, it wasn’t always the best kind.

I love the fantasy elements of it (tho it was a huge leap especially with the saints power thingy) and the politics because i am a sucker for scheming and stealing thrones.

the zoyalai teasing and angst was painful but in the best way since slowburn is what keeps me going.

nina finding comfort (and attraction, apparently) from hanne made my heart flutter because i haven’t gotten over matthias but this allowed a sort of closure and next chapter for our waffle-loving queen.

the promised wedding by leigh wasn’t what i expected but i’m not complaining since david&genya deserved nothing but happiness.

almost everything seems going well (aside from the fact that aleksander was ressurected apparently)and then everything crashes and burns and i just have to wonder why?

so the promised funeral alongside the wedding one, immediately comes after two? three? chapters as they were attacked during the afterparty of the wedding. and guess what? leigh killed the fcking groom.

the thing is i already knew he was going to die (with the spoilers and all) but i did not expect it to come immediately after the freaking wedding. not even halfway through the book!

being spoiled, i think, took most of the pain from the event but it doesn’t lessen the fact that it was completely unnecessary??? like though the characters grieved, nothing much was affected from his death? also, don’t talk to me about the character development for the survivors from this tragic event because there. was. absolutely. NONE.

and then we have the fricking darling ressurected. i love him in the first book of the grishaverse though i knew he was still a villain, don’t get me wrong. and my heart ached but was also relieved with his death in the third. he also inspired one of my all-time favorite fantasy villain(antihero?) in the form of Adelina Amouteru in the Young Elites series.

Ceased to be a Darklina fan and am now shipping Aleksander with Adelina because their power tho? like clings to like and they are both imbued with unfathomable darkness. somebody write fics please.

but bringing him back was what for exactly? leigh bardugo preached on how toxic the darkling character was and how we really shouldn’t like him in terms of agreeing with his ideals and yada yada. and yet she brings him back because apparently, he’s the only one paying her bills.

his conversation with alina tho had me expecting some darklina crumbs with fan service on the side since the stans were all raving about it on twitter *vomiting noises from toxicity* but i was surprised since it just further reminded us of how he truly is a villain in his very core and would do anything to get what he wants. so all in all it wasn’t entirely awful and it actually made me like Mal a bit. (never was a fan of him but that’s my issue, not the character’s)

setting aside the darkling issue a bit, the POV from Mayu was skippable. i mean obviously it still needs to be read for the Shu politics and the khergud existence but it just made me want to go to the next pov. Same goes for the “the monk’s” POV since you all know how i feel about him and the cult with it’s assembly and shit ended up also being unnecessary towards the end. honestly, i could do without the journey of the starless saint and his cult.

i truly enjoyed the fjerdan plot to my surprise and i like how nina kind of went through the last of us 2 circle of hate journey. it was definitely difficult knowing her pain and all that she went through and still choosing to be the better person. and yet, i can’t help but be more proud of her development. also, the supposed death of hanne got me going for a second and was actually ready to storm leigh’s home to fix her mistake. thank god it was plot twist. that’s all i have to say on the nina POV because i don’t wanna ruin my good feeling on this.

the crows cameo gave us a mini heist and it just made me miss reading their adventures. also the suli scene tugged at my heart.

imma skip zoya’s transformation but it utterly made me feel amazing and i have never been more glad that she’s kind of overpowered. she deserves it so fck all them haters. you can choke.

nikolai’s revelation and decision for the ravkan throne was not all that surprising, even without my knowledge of the spoilers. i honestly had a feeling that he was always his best self when he was strumhond and he only chose to fulfill the duties of the king because at that time, there was no other choice. so him giving up the throne to his beloved soldier, summoner and saint was a quite satisfying choice of route. there has been some others who would contest nikolai’s decision to step down as something unnecessary in the grand scheme of things but i would stand by my belief that nikolai made the best choice for ravka and for himself. not to say that i didn’t want to see both the queen and king side by side ruling but what are fanfictions for?

zoyalai is canon and endgame. finally. i can die now.

now the last two chapters was a toss up. for the first one was the darkling’s sacrifice. okay, so i was also spoiled by this from twitter but when i was reading the book, i keep expecting it to be brought up and it wasn’t. so i honestly thought that maybe that spoiler was a prank. lo and behold it was not and it wasn’t until the very last end. so the buildup was goddamn awful. the whole concept of the thorn wood and sort of atlas moment was just no. like you’re just springing this up now? when we’re supposed to be tying up loose ends but making sure it had history and buildup to well, back it up.

also leigh outright writing genya saying it was not a redemption for the darkling and him being unapologetic about his crimes (basically being a truly evil asshole) doesn’t remove the fact that it still comes off as a redemption arc especially with what is now the synopsis of SOC 3 but ill get to that. he still was the one who did a heroic deed and that fucks me up because it was just devastating to me after making peace with his end in ruin and rising. not because i was hurt that he died yet again boohoo but because it kind of invalidates everything that alina, genya, zoya and countless other victims went through.

on a side note, the darling stans on twitter who keeps defending his actions, i would really advise you to reflect on your decisions cuz it is honestly unhealthy. also, you lot talking smack about nikolai and zoya refusing to sacrifice their lives? stop twisting the story to suit your toxic admiration, nikolai was even first to offer up his life and would do so if it was actually possible. so just go hide in your darkling cocoon and stop hating on other characters to justify your favored aleksander.

the very last chapter aka coronation was good because it gave us inej ghafa cameo as captain of her ship and bonding with our resident privateer and also genya, alina and zoya bonding. but it was bad because apparently the darkling chronicles is still not over and now we’re supposed to grant him death like that’s going to make everything okay? i know forgiveness and breaking the circle of hate and revenge is a huge theme in this duology but honestly, this is just too extreme. with nina it was understandable and the people she hated were born of twisted mindset and circumstances but the darkling? hahahah no. he is a literal immortal who was delusional so now that he’s paying for his crimes, you want to allow him death because you have nightmares? zoya, goddamit no! same to you genya and alina. and so this will be the plot for the third six of crows? why can’t we just stop making this about him. now he gunna steal kaz’s thunder? over my dead body.

in the end, i gave this book 4 stars in goodreads because if i ignore the darkling plot, it was a really good use of politics and fantasy merging in a storyline. i can’t fault leigh for choosing to do this since it’s still her book so i definitely don’t have a right to dictate what i expected from this. also, i have a half a mind to believe that she fell in love with ben barnes and had him in mind writing this so i really cannot blame her because i have been under that man’s charms since prince caspian came out. the spoilers i read made me more open in reading this (backwards thinking but eh that’s how i roll) so i’m not at all crushed by what transpired. it was just weird and was lackluster in its attempt to give ravka some sort of peace. frankly, i just want to read the third six of crows book to maybe find some sort of calm in all this craziness and also delve in some zoyalai fanfiction because it was a long time coming.

shameless promotion but if you guys want to check out my nikolai duology spotify playlist, here’s the link:

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hitchell-mope · 5 years

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First film. After the date. Ben’s room. He’s dancing about in a thick towel robe drying his hair. Radios on full blast. Ben’s singing along to bohemian rhapsody loudly. He isn’t noticing Doug standing the doorway looking thoroughly unimpressed

Ben: 🎶I’m just a small boy from a small family save me my life from this monstrosi🎶 AAAAAAAAAAH. Didn’t see you there. Hey.

Doug: I take it the date went well. (He passes Ben’s fish tank) hey goldenrod

Ben: ooh. Can you feed him please. I missed the last one and I don’t want him to die. He’s lasted ten years

Doug (under his breath): that’s because Mrs Potts keeps switching out the dead ones with new one every month

Ben: hm?

Doug: nothing. So how did your date go

Ben: it was amazing

Jay and Carlos’s room. Mal’s still soaked to the bone and her hairs dripping onto the carpet but she’s positively giddy

Mal: I almost died but I didn’t

Evie: why do you incessantly get my hopes up like that?

Carlos: I’m sorry you what

Jay (overprotective mode): I’m gonna kill him

Mal: no wait no no. No. I nearly drowned trying to save him because I thought he drowned.

Back in Ben’s room

Ben: she was trying to save me.

Doug: really?

Jay and Carlos’s room

Mal: yes really. I tried to save him.

Jay: but you can’t swim

Mal: I know

Ben’s room

Ben: the point is she tried to save me even though she couldn’t swim.

Jaylos’s room

Mal: I. I tried being a hero. And it felt good helping someone other then Carlos. Oh also

The kings room

Ben: there’s a chance I came out to her

Doug: how big a chance?

Ben: 100%

Doug: and

Jaylos’s room

Jay: you have a crush on Jane?

Mal: yeah I mean who wouldn’t.

Kings room

Doug: that’s good. But I still think

Ben: I know. I know. But you know how they’d take it. (He starts taking off his robe). Dad would start rabbiting on about propriety and how I have to make a respectable marriage to a princess “lest the sins of the male flesh overcome me” Cogsworth’s words not his. And mom. Oh god that prospect is even worse somehow. I do not want to have the talk with her. Lumiere covered that with me when I was 14.

Doug: I know. I was there

Ben (to Doug) and Mal (to Jay): sometimes I feel like you’re the only one I can talk to about these things

Doug and jay: I’m always gonna be here. I promise

Ben and Mal: thank you.

Ben (snapping out of his self worry): but enough about me. What can I do you for

Jaylos’s room. Evie’s in a bright mint green sixties style dress.

Evie: how do I look

Mal, Jay and Carlos: with your eyes E

Evie: oh ha ha. Seriously though. Do I look contrite and apologetic

Carlos: why?

Evie: because I’m going to find Doug and apologise for not believing him about chad

Jay: if I were you I’d take protective headgear

Carlos: he’s not gonna hurt her. Do you see way he looks at her?

Mal: I’d hit her

Evie: because your a vindictive cruel bitch that’s wearing Ben’s shir...why are you wearing Ben’s shirt?

Mal: relax “mom” it’s a duplicate.

Jay (with a gleam): and?

Carlos: hey Mal. Do I wanna hear what you have to say next?

Mal: probably not.

Carlos: its time for his highnesses walk anyway. Cmon sweetie

(He carries Dude our if the room)

Jay: I don’t think that dogs feet have touched the floor since it started living here

Mal: I know. It’s endearing but at the same time a little creepy.

Evie: awww look at it this way Mal. You have a grandson now and jay has a stepson

Mal: I swear to you. I WILL start complimenting chad.

Evie (getting a deer-in-the-headlights expression): ok I’ll shut up.

Jay: we’re on the details I care about now. Evie get the ice cream. We have a long night ahead of us.

Ben’s room. He’s just noticed Doug’s looking very intently at the ceiling. It’s only then he realises he’s only in underwear and socks

Ben: SHIT. SORRY. I forgot. Sorry.

Doug (still looking at the ceiling): don’t worry. I’m just admiring the dragon nightlight stickers. Do they still work?

Ben (putting a pair of slacks on): I think one still does. It’s nice and eerie and it AHHHH

There’s a crash and a squelch. Doug looks down to see Ben tripped on the pants leg and fell to the ground

Doug: Oh shit. (He helps Ben up) you ok?

Ben: yep nothing wounded. Oh man

Doug: what

Ben: I must have landed on the breakfast burrito I forgot to eat this morning. Ooh it’s still warm.

Doug (slightly sickened): uhhhh

(Ben looks at him innocently)

Ben: yes?

Doug: nothing. Um the reason I came here was because your ex is in my room with the wannabe Casanova

Ben (not knowing that chad essentially ghosted her): aw. Poor Evie.

Doug: well you know he’s a bastard and please get out of those damn pants.

Ben (looking like a sad puppy): hm

Doug: I have this thing. I I have this thing. I am, retentive. I like things to be clean. You are my best friend in fact you are probably the only guy in the school I don’t have a burning hatred for. You are. You’re my best friend. And yeah. You outrank me but I cannot, and I mean I PHYSICALLY cannot have a conversation with you when you have an almost 24 hour old still warm uneaten breakfast burrito stuck to yoUR LEFT ASS CHEEK.

(Ben looks like he’s about to cry but then he bursts into laughter)

Ben: sorry. I forgot

Doug: stop apologising. I. I shouldn’t have yelled. Your the prince. I’m not. You have the authority in this room

Ben: but you’re gonna be my advisor. It’ll be your job to slap me when I’m being an asshole.

Doug: I. I can’t bring myself to slap you

Jaylos’s room

Evie: don’t be crude jay

Jay: that wasn’t crude you wanna hear crude? Then alright. Mal if he looks like what I imagine he looks like under those suits then you need to get out there and d

Evie: develop! An honest emotional connection with him

Mal: yeah jay. You’re my best friend. I respect you. I admire you. But right here, right now. I think I should listen to her.

Evie: HA!

Mal: that said I think you’re wrong E.

Evie: heh?!?!?!?!

Ben’s room

Doug: the love rat and Audrey are gonna be there the entire night. Can I stay here. Please?

Ben: of course (He starts putting in emerald green slacks and a thin mottled purple and black cashmere sweater) as long as you need. I can take the floor

Doug: you realise there’s been a camp bed in your closet since we were ten?

Ben: ok then I can take the camp bed

Jay’s room

Evie: how the hell am I wrong this time

Mal: if Doug actually cares about you then you could rock up in a dress made out of jay’s month old gym socks and he’d forgive you. If he doesn’t. Then. He ain’t worth it.

Evie: ok

(She leaves for Doug’s room)

Doug (helping Ben set up the camp bed) and Mal: I have a confession to make

Jay (who’s digging into a pint of rum and raisin Haagen Dazs) and Ben: yeah

Doug: I may have set you up

Mal: I think Doug set us up

Ben and jay: what.

Doug: Don’t get me wrong. Mal’s awesome and I’m glad you’re happy

Jay’s room

Mal: I’m a villain. Who he knows was sent here to bring down the kingdom

Ben’s room

Doug: I wanted to make sure that Mal was t trying to use you just to get the wand. So I suggested the enchanted lake. If you swam and came back happy. She’s genuine. If you swam and cane back pissed.

Jay’s room

Mal: We’d be sent back to the island

Ben and Jay: Oh

(They both start laughing. Ben drops his side of the camp bed on Doug’s foot)

Jay’s room

Jay: oh ho ho. I like that guy.

Mal: why are you laughing?

Jay: cause it’s what I would do. It’s what Evie would do. It’s what Carlos would do. It’s what you would do. It’s shrewd manipulative underhanded villain thinking

Ben’s room

Doug (feeling the weight of the bed on his foot. High strained voice): so your not mad?

Ben (still laughing): no. You did it to protect me. (He stops laughing and puts his weight on the bed. Still warm and friendly) please don’t do it again though. If you do this again I’m sorry but you won’t be allowed in my room and chad will be my advisor

Doug (in more then a little pain now): I completely understand.

Ben (immmediatly picking up his end of the bed): let me get some ice for that foot

Doug (relieved): thank you.

They set the bed down and Ben goes to his mini fridge

Ben: hey um. Did you by any chance see the uhh

Doug: floor to ceiling autographed poster you have admiral Hawkins?

Ben: yeah?

Doug: would me saying that I did make me be kicked out of here?

Ben: why would it. Then you’d be telling the truth. If you said no and you had seen it then you’d be lying.

Doug: then yes I saw it. It’s pretty hard not to. Personally I think it’s cute you still admire him.

Ben (both relieved and slightly embarrassed): I’ll be getting that ice now

Doug: thank you

Outside Doug and chads room. Evie, still wearing the mint green dress, knocks excitedly not the door. Audrey answers it in a lurid pastel pink summer dress.

Audrey: yes?

Evie: where’s Doug?

Audrey: hmmmm. Don’t know. Don’t care. Now please leave. I’m on a date with my new boyfriend. Seeing as that thing you share a room with stole Ben from me

Evie: hey! Mal may be a bitch but she is not a “that”. And she is far. FAR. More powerful then you. Or have you forgotten what her mother did to yours?

Audrey (rightfully worried): she wouldn’t do anything to me. Ben would never forgive her.

Evie: true. True. But. Jay and I have no such obligation to Ben. And combined. We could bring this whole school down if you mess with any of us. Understood?

Audrey: yes.

Evie: yes what? Cmon. You know the word. P p p prin...?

Audrey: princess?

Evie: go on. Almost there (sickly sweet smile)

Audrey: princess Evie?

Evie: that’s a good mortal.

Audrey: why do you stick up for her. You hate each other

Evie: because she bitchy mean vindictive and dismissive of everything I take a interest in. And she’s the closest thing I have to a sister. She’s family. And she’s allowed to be all that after what I did to her

Audrey: what did you do?

Evie (smiling): none of your concern. But I will tell you how I curried their favour. I stabbed a maniac in the leg to save Carlos three years ago. Now jay won’t let me get hurt and Mal has no choice but to let me be lest she makes Carlos upset. I’m veritably untouchable. Especially against the likes of you

Chad (arriving with two full plastic bottles): they didn’t have grape so I got limeade-oh um move your in my way

(Evie takes a bottle from him whaps him around the head with it then pours their entire contents on him)

Evie: I’m case you’ve forgotten. My name is Evie.

She stalks off in search of Doug

#disney descendants #ben florian #doug son of dopey #mal bertha #bal #evie grimhilde #devie #carlos de vil #jay son of jafar #zendaya!mal #a small bit of #jaylos #audrey daughter of sleeping beauty #chaudrey

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