Chapter 35 Summary: Queen Malina's Stand

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Despite her superior riding skills, Queen Malina is compelled to share a horse with the assassin Dommik as they descend from the mountain into Highbell. His nearness distracts her, and the horse nearly slips off the icy road, causing a moment of terror. After they reach the city, Malina dismounts and addresses the market square, warning the people that the fae army is marching on them. She pleads with them to prepare, but the crowd dismisses her as a liar and turns away. Rejected and desperate, Malina realizes that no one will listen to her—not the guards, not Queen Kaila, not her subjects. She decides to act alone. Kneeling at the bridge leading to the castle, she prays to the magic inside her, begging for power to save Highbell. Her wounds—gashes on her palms—begin to produce ice. The frost coalesces into a solid ice brick the color of her hair and eyes. With this brick, she forms a plan: she will build a wall to defend the city, brick by brick, without waiting for anyone's permission.

Key Events

Dommik insists on sharing a horse with Malina, keeping her close despite her protests.
Their descent nearly ends in disaster when the horse slips on ice, but Dommik regains control.
Malina enters the city square and proclaims the fae threat to the gathered people.
The crowd reacts with hostility and disbelief, turning their backs and dispersing.
Alone and panicked, Malina resolves that she must act because Highbell needs her even if it does not want her.
She kneels at the bridge and prays to the ice magic, begging for power to defend the city.
Her magic responds: a block of ice forms from the shards in her palms, solid and usable.
Malina commits to building a wall brick by brick.

Character Development

Malina undergoes a profound shift in this chapter. Earlier in the story, she was a queen accustomed to being obeyed; now she faces the full weight of her people's rejection. Her desperation forces her to confront her past failures: she regrets allowing her father and Midas to control her, regrets ignoring her subjects, and regrets her complicity in cruelty. This regret becomes fuel for action. Rather than wallow or flee, she decides to take responsibility for Highbell's defense herself. Her reliance on Dommik also deepens—though she resists his closeness, she uses his presence as a distraction from her fear. In the end, she discovers a new aspect of her identity: not a queen who commands, but one who serves through sacrifice, using the very magic she once feared.

Dommik's role remains that of a silent enforcer. He does not interfere with her plan but watches her pray, offering no judgment. His earlier question—"So what are we going to do?"—is answered by Malina's brick.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Regret and Redemption: Malina's litany of regrets—failing to stand up to her father, marrying Midas, allowing a woman to be caged—shows that she is willing to change. Her prayer is an act of atonement. Rejection and Isolation: The people's dismissal mirrors her previous isolation as a queen. She is physically alone in the square, then spiritually alone as she prays. Yet this isolation propels her to independent action. Forbidden Magic as Salvation: Malina's ice magic came from a wound inflicted during an attack; it is something she "shouldn't have." Now she embraces it as the only tool she has to protect Highbell, turning a curse into a defense. Building Brick by Brick: The repeated phrase "brick by brick" symbolizes patience, determination, and the slow rebuilding of trust and security.

Why This Chapter Matters

This is a turning point for Malina's arc. She stops trying to convince others and starts acting on her own terms. The creation of the ice brick foreshadows her growing mastery of magic and her shift from passive queen to active defender. It also sets up the conflict of the upcoming siege, as she will need to construct a wall strong enough to hold back the fae army. The chapter reinforces the theme that true leadership sometimes requires acting alone when no one else will listen.

Study Questions and Answers

Question 1: Why does Malina's warning fail to convince the people of Highbell? Answer: The people distrust her because of her past failures as queen. They have already accepted Queen Kaila's rule, and they view Malina's story as a lie designed to regain power. Her previous neglect of them has eroded any credibility she might have had.

Question 2: How does Dommik influence Malina's state of mind during the ride down the mountain? Answer: Dommik's physical closeness distracts Malina from her fear of heights and the dangerous road. His touch generates warmth and desire, which she uses as a coping mechanism. However, this distraction nearly causes an accident, highlighting the tension between desire and danger. After the near-fall, Dommik becomes more focused on safety, allowing Malina to steady herself.

Question 3: What does the ice brick symbolize for Malina's future actions? Answer: The ice brick represents a concrete, actionable plan born from desperation. It symbolizes Malina's newfound determination to use her unwanted magic for good. Building a wall brick by brick implies a slow, steady effort that will require patience and sacrifice, contrasting with her previous reliance on authority and commands.

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