Zoya's Perspective in Chapter 20: Summary and Analysis

⚠️ 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

The chapter opens at the lakeshore of the Little Palace, where David Kostyk’s body is being cremated in a traditional Grisha funeral. Inferni ignite the flames, Squallers shield the fire from the elements, and Durasts will later fashion a brick from his ashes. Zoya stands beside Genya, who is trembling and barely able to hold herself upright. Nikolai delivers a eulogy, speaking of David’s genius and his habit of communicating through numbers and blueprints. His voice is raw, not the rallying tone of a king but the grief of a friend. Genya manages only a few words—she loved him, and he loved her—before breaking down and asking Zoya to speak in her place.

Zoya addresses the gathered soldiers, Grisha, and palace guards. She admits that she once believed strength meant ruthlessness and that she resented her Triumvirate colleagues when she was chosen to lead. She credits David with teaching her the power of silence and Genya with showing her what kindness could do. She describes David as a different kind of soldier, one whose strength came from brilliance, listening, and the belief that every problem had a solution. She urges the crowd to face the new enemy together, as they grieve together, and to aspire to be the kind of soldier David was—driven not by revenge but by the desire to know more and do better. The Grisha respond with the traditional reply, “As he returns, so will we all.”

After the speech, Genya asks Zoya to help her cross the lake to the pyre one last time. Zoya, using the power granted by the dragon Juris, creates a shimmering path of ice across the water. Genya walks to the flames, kisses a small notebook—David’s journal, filled with notes on how to make her happy—and tosses it into the fire, saying she wants him to remember when they meet in the next world. Zoya hears the words with the dragon’s senses and feels the weight of Genya’s loss.

When the ceremony ends, Genya refuses to be left alone and insists on joining the war council. In Zoya’s sitting room, the group gathers: Nikolai, Tolya, Nadia, Leoni, Adrik, and Genya. Nikolai reports that Poliznaya was hit hard—over half the flyers and most airships are lost, and the stores of titanium are destroyed. Without titanium, the missile shells cannot be built, and using another metal would make them too heavy to be effective. Zoya notes that Os Kervo will likely be Fjerda’s next target, though Nikolai has already issued blackout warnings. They discuss the Darkling’s possible moves. Tolya mentions that his sister Tamar’s spies are watching for newcomers, and that the Shu queen’s council has ratified the alliance with Ehri’s support. Genya argues that the Darkling will not ally with the Apparat because of pride—the priest turned the people against him, and the Darkling punishes rather than forgives.

Tolya raises a moral objection to using rockets, asking at what point they become as bad as the Fjerdans. Zoya counters that mercy means nothing if they cannot protect their own. Genya, speaking for David, says they must build the rockets to give the Fjerdans a choice—to show them what Ravka can do and let them decide whether to continue the war. Nikolai reveals that they will obtain titanium by stealing it from the Kerch, using his privateer connections. Genya warns of diplomatic disaster, but Nikolai is resolute, saying Ketterdam is the right place to gamble.

Key Events

David’s Grisha funeral takes place at the lakeshore, with cremation and the promise of a brick made from his ashes.
Nikolai delivers a eulogy; Genya speaks briefly and then asks Zoya to address the crowd.
Zoya gives a speech honoring David as a different kind of soldier and urging unity.
Zoya creates an ice path across the lake so Genya can approach the pyre and burn David’s notebook.
Genya insists on joining the war council despite her grief.
Nikolai reports the losses at Poliznaya: half the flyers, most airships, and all titanium stores.
The group debates the Darkling’s likely moves; Genya argues he will not side with the Apparat due to pride.
Tolya questions the morality of rocket warfare; Genya insists they build the missiles to give Fjerda a choice.
Nikolai reveals the plan to steal titanium from the Kerch using his privateer connections.

Character Development

Zoya is the emotional center of this chapter. Her grief is compounded by shame—she was not present when David died, and she blames herself for letting the Darkling escape. Her internal monologue reveals a deep vulnerability beneath her usual armor. She reflects on her mother’s saying, “This is what love does,” and recalls her Suli uncles’ attempt to take her away from a loveless home. She sees love as a destructive force that leaves only grief in its wake. Yet her speech shows growth: she admits her past arrogance and acknowledges that David and Genya taught her what true strength looks like. Her creation of the ice path is both a practical act and a personal gift, a way to honor Genya’s need. The dragon’s eye, which Juris gave her, forces her to perceive the enormity of loss, making her feel more mortal than ever.

Genya is devastated but determined. She cannot bear to be alone, yet she insists on fulfilling her duty as a member of the Triumvirate. Her brief eulogy—reduced to “I loved him and he loved me”—is heartbreakingly simple. Her decision to burn David’s notebook is a private act of letting go, but her insistence on joining the war council shows that she will not let grief paralyze her. She also becomes a moral voice, arguing that building the rockets is not about revenge but about giving the enemy a choice.

Nikolai appears weary and defeated, a contrast to his usual charisma. He delivers a eulogy that is personal and raw, and later reports the losses with little emotion, but Zoya sees the defeat in his eyes. His decision to steal titanium from the Kerch reveals his willingness to cross ethical lines, harking back to his privateer past. He is a king who will gamble when necessary.

Tolya serves as the moral counterweight, questioning whether the use of rockets makes them as bad as the Fjerdans. His concern about the future of warfare is a central tension in the chapter.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Grief and mourning: The funeral ritual, the brick-making, and the gathering of soldiers all emphasize the communal nature of loss. Zoya’s reflection on who will speak for her highlights the personal fear of being forgotten.
Love as a destructive force: Zoya’s memory of her mother’s bitter saying, “This is what love does,” frames love as something that brings ruin. Yet Genya’s love for David is also a source of strength, complicating the theme.
War ethics and moral compromise: Tolya’s question about rockets versus traditional warfare raises the issue of whether technological distance makes killing easier and whether Ravka risks becoming like its enemy. Genya’s answer—that they must give the Fjerdans a choice—suggests a pragmatic but principled stance.
Legacy and memory: David’s notebook, filled with notes on how to make Genya happy, becomes a symbol of his love and his legacy. Burning it is an act of release, but the memory endures.
The dragon’s eye: Zoya’s enhanced perception forces her to see the scale of grief, making her feel small and mortal. It also allows her to hear Genya’s private words, deepening her empathy.
Leadership and choice: Zoya’s speech redefines what it means to be a soldier, and the council’s debate about rockets and theft highlights the difficult choices leaders must make.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 20 is a turning point after the devastating bombing of Os Alta. It serves as both a eulogy for David and a strategic pivot for the war effort. Zoya’s character arc deepens as she confronts her shame and grief, and her speech redefines heroism in terms of intellect and compassion rather than raw power. The chapter also sets up the next phase of the conflict: the decision to build missiles, the plan to steal titanium from the Kerch, and the ongoing threat of the Darkling. Genya’s insistence on participating in the war council despite her loss underscores her resilience and her role as a leader. The moral debate between Tolya and Genya about the ethics of rocket warfare introduces a central question that will likely shape the remainder of the novel: can Ravka maintain its humanity while fighting a ruthless enemy?

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Zoya create an ice path for Genya instead of summoning a Tidemaker?

Zoya wants to be the one to hold Genya in this moment. She has the power granted by the dragon Juris, and she feels a personal need to give Genya this gift. The act is both practical and emotional—it allows Genya to reach the pyre, but it also represents Zoya’s desire to support her friend in a tangible way, even as she struggles with her own grief.

2. What does Genya mean when she says they must build the rockets to “give them a choice”?

Genya argues that by developing missiles, Ravka can demonstrate its military capability without immediately using it. The choice is for the Fjerdans: they can continue the war and face devastating retaliation, or they can choose peace. This is a strategic and moral position—it aims to deter rather than destroy, giving the enemy an opportunity to avoid catastrophe.

3. How does Zoya’s speech redefine what it means to be a soldier?

Zoya contrasts her old belief in ruthless strength with David’s example. She describes David as a soldier whose strength came from his brilliance, his willingness to listen, and his conviction that every problem has a solution. She urges the crowd to aspire to that kind of soldier—one driven by curiosity and the desire to do better, not by revenge or rage. This redefinition challenges traditional notions of martial valor and elevates intellect and compassion as forms of courage.