Tired of the ways Grisha are treated, and looking to weaponize the fold and take Ravka for his own, The Darkling has been slowly amassing an army of Grisha—and no one has been any the wiser, because who would question the General of the Second Army? Using his position of power, the Darkling is looking to use the fold, as well as a collective of Grisha power, to take over Ravka for himself, starting by overthrowing the Lantsov family.