Chapter 33: The Monk — Summary, Analysis, and Key Themes

⚠️ 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

Aleksander, disguised as the monk Yuri, surveys the camp of his followers north of Adena. The pilgrims insist on journeying into the Fold to pray and train, and he reluctantly obliges, though he finds the lack of shelter and supplies impractical. Brother Chernov is brimming with pride, while Aleksander privately doubts their readiness, thinking they are eager to die. He asks about weapons, and Brother Azarov mentions a cache at an old fort east of Ryevost. That night, they travel there, and Aleksander uses shadow to cloak their movements. The weapons turn out to be decrepit and useless, but the pilgrims trust that the Starless One will protect them.

While riding back, Aleksander recalls his past as Leonid, the first Darkling to serve King Yevgeni Lantsov. His mother warned him that once he was known, he could not be unknown. He went to the capital, demonstrated his power, and was sent to the border to fight the Shu. After a victory, he refused gold and instead asked for permission to gather Grisha and build the Second Army. He traveled across Ravka, promising Grisha a home without fear. The Second Army grew, but despite victories, Grisha were resented and hunted. Kings died, wars repeated, and Aleksander sought an end to the cycle, leading to the creation of the Fold. He reflects on his long life, the many identities he has shed, and the parts of himself he may have left behind.

Back near Adena, Brother Azarov wakes and begins to suspect that Aleksander is not Yuri. He confronts him, accusing him of being an impostor, a charlatan, or an agent of the king. Aleksander tries to explain, but Azarov calls for Chernov. Aleksander grabs him, and when Azarov says he knows evil when he sees it, Aleksander summons a nichevo'ya, which kills Azarov. Yuri's voice protests in his mind, but Aleksander silences him. He hides the body under the weapons in the cart.

Suddenly, a blight—the kilyklava—sweeps through the town. It moves like a shadow, consuming everything in its path. The pilgrims dive for cover, but the blight parts around Aleksander, sparing him while destroying half of Adena, the cart, the weapons, and Azarov's body. The pilgrims see his survival as a sign of the Starless One's blessing. Chernov declares that when the Darkling returns, the blight will trouble them no more. Aleksander wonders why the blight spared him, speculating that it recognized his power or sensed something unnatural in him.

He spends the rest of the day on the Fold, planning to release his nichevo'ya on the battlefield at the right moment. He observes the pilgrims and realizes they are outcasts, just as the Grisha once were. He recalls Alina's words—or perhaps his mother's—that it is not too late for him. He lies down, letting the dead sands of the Fold drift through his fingers, and vows to give people salvation until they beg him to stop.

Key Events

Aleksander leads his followers on a pilgrimage into the Fold, where they pray and train.
He and Brother Azarov travel to an old fort to retrieve weapons, but the cache is decrepit.
Aleksander recalls his past as Leonid, building the Second Army for King Yevgeni.
Brother Azarov accuses Aleksander of being an impostor; Aleksander kills him with a nichevo'ya and hides the body.
The kilyklava blight sweeps through Adena, destroying half the town and the cart, but spares Aleksander.
The pilgrims interpret his survival as divine blessing, strengthening their faith.
Aleksander spends the rest of the day planning to release his nichevo'ya on the battlefield and reflecting on his legacy.

Character Development

This chapter deepens Aleksander's internal conflict. He is outwardly confident as a false prophet, but his thoughts reveal doubt and weariness. He is frustrated by the pilgrims' blind faith, yet he also recognizes their vulnerability—they are outcasts, like the Grisha he once gathered. His memory of building the Second Army shows his original idealism, which has curdled into a desire for absolute power. The blight sparing him unsettles him; he cannot explain it, and it forces him to question whether he is truly in control. His final vow to give salvation until they beg him to stop reveals his determination to reshape the world, but also his isolation. The chapter also shows his callousness: he kills Azarov without hesitation and dismisses Yuri's protest, demonstrating how far he has fallen from the man who once sought sanctuary for his people.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

False prophet and religious deception: Aleksander exploits the pilgrims' faith, using shadow play to appear blessed. The chapter highlights how easily belief can be manipulated.
Blind faith versus skepticism: Brother Azarov represents skepticism, but he is silenced. The other pilgrims accept Aleksander's survival as a miracle without question, showing the danger of uncritical devotion.
Immortality and legacy: Aleksander reflects on his long life and the many identities he has shed. He wonders if his legacy is the Fold—a wound where nothing grows—and seeks to redefine it through conquest.
Grisha persecution and sanctuary: His memory of building the Second Army underscores the historical persecution of Grisha and his original goal of providing a home. The pilgrims, as outcasts, mirror that earlier struggle.
Power and corruption: Aleksander's use of merzost to create nichevo'ya is painful and abominable, yet he is accustomed to it. His pursuit of power has corrupted his original purpose.
Martyrdom and sacrifice: Azarov is willing to die for his faith, and Aleksander kills him, turning his death into a supposed act of the blight. The pilgrims' willingness to die for the Starless One is a recurring motif.
Identity and disguise: Aleksander's disguise as Yuri is fragile, and Azarov's suspicion nearly exposes him. The chapter explores the cost of shedding past selves.
Merzost and its cost: Creating the nichevo'ya is described as painful, a tearing of life. This reinforces the theme that unnatural power has consequences.
Cycle of history and war: Aleksander reflects that kings die, wars repeat, and Grisha are never truly accepted. His desire to end the cycle leads to the Fold, but the cycle continues.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 33 is pivotal for Aleksander's arc. It reveals his backstory as Leonid, showing his original idealism and the gradual corruption that led to the Fold. It also establishes his current plan: to use the pilgrims as a facade and release his nichevo'ya on the battlefield, making himself appear as the returned Starless One. The blight's inexplicable sparing of him adds a layer of mystery, suggesting that even Aleksander does not fully understand the forces he has unleashed. The chapter also deepens the theme of religious manipulation, as Aleksander's survival is twisted into a miracle. This sets up the coming conflict, where his deception may either succeed or unravel.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Aleksander feel uneasy despite the pilgrims' faith in him?

Aleksander is uneasy because he recognizes that the pilgrims are eager to die, and he does not intend for them to fight. He also questions whether his manipulation is sustainable. His memory of building the Second Army reminds him of a time when he genuinely sought to protect Grisha, and he wonders if he has lost part of himself in his many identities. The blight sparing him also unsettles him, as he cannot explain it, which undermines his sense of control.

2. How does the kilyklava blight affect the pilgrims' perception of Aleksander?

The blight destroys half of Adena and the cart with the weapons and Azarov's body, but it parts around Aleksander. The pilgrims interpret this as a sign of the Starless One's blessing, believing that Aleksander is protected. Brother Chernov declares that when the Darkling returns, the blight will trouble them no more. This strengthens their devotion and makes them more willing to follow him into battle.

3. What does Aleksander's memory of building the Second Army reveal about his character?

It reveals that he once had a genuine desire to provide sanctuary for Grisha, offering them a home without fear. He refused gold and instead asked for permission to gather Grisha, showing his commitment to his people. However, the memory also shows how that idealism was eroded by the endless cycle of war and persecution, leading him to seek absolute power through the Fold. This contrast highlights his tragic transformation from protector to tyrant.