Shadow and Bone

by

Leigh Bardugo

David Character Analysis

David is a young Fabrikator at the Little Palace. He’s Genya’s crush, but he’s uninterested in anything that isn’t metal or glass—including girls. David crafts the mirrors that Alina uses to fight, as well as Morozova’s collar. However, David regrets helping the Darkling make the collar: he believes he helped bring about the end of the world.
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David Character Timeline in Shadow and Bone

The timeline below shows where the character David appears in Shadow and Bone. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 8
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Class and Privilege Theme Icon
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
...workshops. They approach a reedy man in need of a haircut. Genya greets the man, David, but he barely acknowledges her. When Genya says Alina is the Sun Summoner, David says... (full context)
Chapter 13
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Class and Privilege Theme Icon
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
...heroes. They discuss the two princes—one of whom might be illegitimate—and Alina assures Genya that David will come around soon. Alina never mentions Mal to Genya. (full context)
Chapter 14
Desperation, Leadership, and Corruption Theme Icon
Class and Privilege Theme Icon
...the room. Then, Alina summons a beam of light and directs it toward a mirror David put on the balcony. The light zigzags through the room, bouncing off of mirrors, and... (full context)
Chapter 19
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Desperation, Leadership, and Corruption Theme Icon
Greed vs. Mercy Theme Icon
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
...promptly slits the stag’s throat and tells an oprichnik to cut off the stag’s antlers. David appears, unwilling to meet Alina’s eyes—of course, the Darkling would want his best Fabrikator to... (full context)
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Greed vs. Mercy Theme Icon
...Darkling’s hands. He places them around her neck and seems angry when Alina flinches away. David fuses the ends of the antlers together—and doesn’t create a clasp. Everything is quiet for... (full context)
Chapter 20
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Gender, Sex, and Power Theme Icon
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
...says that in that case, “it has to be done.” Alina just stares. Genya says David feels like he’s destroyed Ravka, but Alina says hollowly that they’ve all helped “bring about... (full context)
Chapter 21
Desperation, Leadership, and Corruption Theme Icon
...there and then raised her out of it. Genya doesn’t seem to have regrets, but David does—and maybe there are more people like David. Ivan appears, interrupting Alina’s thoughts, and says... (full context)