Chapter 22: Nina — 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.

You can return to the book hub or the previous chapter at any time.

This page is a companion for readers who have already finished the chapter.

If you are looking for a spoiler-free overview, please see the book hub.

This chapter is told from Nina's point of view and is a turning point in her spy mission in Fjerda.

The following summary and analysis are based on the text of the chapter.

All events are described in chronological order.

The chapter opens with Nina lying in bed, unable to move, after learning that Fjerdan bombers have struck Os Alta.

Hanne has told her parents that Nina is ill from oysters, but the real cause is grief and shock.

The news arrived during a party held days after the royal hunt, when cheers erupted in the ballroom.

Jarl Brum announced the bombing and said that Nikolai Lantsov survived, though he mentioned reports of monsters in the sky.

Nina forced herself to appear composed, but she begged Hanne to get her out of the room.

Back in the Brums' chambers, Nina vomited and collapsed.

She demanded that Hanne weaken Prince Rasmus, and Hanne reluctantly agreed.

Nina then remained in bed through the night and the following day, sinking into a state of numbness.

Brum insisted that she see Queen Agathe, who sent a litter to bring Nina to the throne room.

Hanne tailored Nina to look saintly, giving her a radiant, otherworldly appearance.

In the throne room, Nina claimed she had fallen into a trance and said that Djel was angered by the attack on Os Alta.

She revealed the queen's hidden past: that Agathe had secretly used a Grisha Healer named Pavlina to save her son and herself, and that she had promised Pavlina freedom but never granted it.

Nina implied that Grisha are Djel's children and urged the queen to choose peace over war.

After leaving the queen, Nina resolved to use the Drokestering celebration—a drüskelle victory ritual held in the woods—to free Magnus Opjer from the drüskelle sector.

She sees this as a way to strike back at Fjerda and give Ravka a small advantage.

The chapter ends with Nina determined to make trouble.

Key Events

Nina learns of the bombing of Os Alta during a party, and Brum announces that Nikolai survived.
Nina suffers a physical and emotional collapse, vomiting and unable to stand.
She asks Hanne to weaken Prince Rasmus, and Hanne agrees.
Nina stays in bed for over a day, ignoring food and water.
Brum forces Nina to see Queen Agathe, who sends a litter.
Hanne tailors Nina to look saintly, enhancing her appearance.
In the throne room, Nina claims to have been in a trance and delivers a message from Djel.
She reveals the queen's secret use of a Grisha Healer, Pavlina, and implies that Grisha are Djel's children.
Nina urges the queen to choose faith over fear and to stop the war.
After the audience, Nina plans to use the Drokestering celebration to break Magnus Opjer out of the drüskelle sector.

Character Development

Nina is pushed to her emotional limit by the bombing of her homeland. Her grief is raw and physical, but she forces herself to function as a spy. Her manipulation of Queen Agathe shows her growing ruthlessness and her ability to use religion as a weapon. She also demonstrates a pragmatic streak: despite her personal pain, she immediately looks for a way to strike back at Fjerda.
Hanne continues to evolve. She shows genuine care for Nina, helping her recover and agreeing to weaken Rasmus, even though it troubles her. Her earlier defiance of her father in the ballroom reveals a growing sense of self-worth. Hanne's tailoring skills also improve, and she uses them to aid Nina's deception.
Queen Agathe is revealed to be a more complex figure than previously seen. Her secret reliance on a Grisha Healer exposes her hypocrisy and her desperation. Nina's manipulation forces her to confront the contradiction between her faith and her actions.
Jarl Brum remains a menacing presence, dismissive of Nina's illness and eager to celebrate the attack. His coldness toward Hanne and his contempt for Rasmus highlight his ruthless ambition.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Grief and guilt: Nina's collapse is driven by guilt over not understanding the consequences of the bombing. She feels complicit because she saw the map of Os Alta but did not grasp the destruction.
Religious manipulation: Nina uses Djel's supposed anger to influence the queen. She twists the queen's own faith to serve her agenda, showing how religion can be a tool for political ends.
Faith vs. fear: Nina explicitly presents this choice to the queen, echoing a line from a Saints' story. The theme underscores the moral dilemma of leadership.
War's civilian cost: The bombing of Os Alta is described as hitting homes and markets, emphasizing the human toll of war. Nina's grief is tied to the loss of innocent lives.
Deception and disguise: Hanne's tailoring transforms Nina into a saintly figure, and Nina's trance is a performance. The chapter highlights the necessity of lies in espionage.
Revenge vs. peace: Nina's plan to free Magnus Opjer is an act of revenge, but she also pushes the queen toward peace. The tension between these impulses is central to her character.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a pivotal moment for Nina's mission and her personal arc. It marks the first time she directly influences the queen of Fjerda, planting seeds that could shift the war's course. The revelation of the queen's secret gives Nina leverage, and her manipulation of Djel's authority shows how far she is willing to go. The chapter also deepens Nina's grief, making her more human and vulnerable. Her decision to free Magnus Opjer sets up a major action sequence and demonstrates her commitment to Ravka even in the face of personal loss.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Nina's grief affect her decision-making in this chapter?

Nina's grief initially paralyzes her, leaving her unable to move or eat. However, it also sharpens her resolve. After the initial collapse, she forces herself to act, using her grief as fuel for revenge. Her request to weaken Rasmus and her plan to free Magnus Opjer are direct responses to the bombing. Her grief makes her more ruthless, but it also makes her more determined to protect Ravka.

2. What is the significance of Queen Agathe's secret about the Grisha Healer?

The secret reveals that the queen's anti-Grisha stance is hypocritical—she owes her son's life to a Grisha. Nina uses this to undermine the queen's moral authority and to suggest that Grisha are blessed by Djel. This revelation gives Nina a powerful tool to influence the queen's policies and potentially steer Fjerda toward peace.

3. How does Nina use religion as a weapon in her conversation with the queen?

Nina claims to have received a message from Djel, saying that the bombing angered him. She implies that Grisha are Djel's children and that the queen's warmongering has displeased the god. By framing the argument in religious terms, Nina taps into the queen's fear of divine punishment. She also presents a choice between faith and fear, urging the queen to listen to Djel rather than her generals. This manipulation is effective because it exploits the queen's existing beliefs.

Continue to the next chapter or return to the book hub.

If you missed it, you can read the previous chapter.