Shadow and Bone

by

Leigh Bardugo

Etherealki/Summoners Term Analysis

Etherealki, or Summoners, are an order of Grisha who can manipulate either fire (Inferni), air and wind (Squallers), or water (Tidemakers). Alina is a rare Summoner in that she can manipulate light (she’s a Sun Summoner), while the Darkling can manipulate the darkness. Summoners wear midnight blue kefta, except for the Darkling, who wears black.

Etherealki/Summoners Quotes in Shadow and Bone

The Shadow and Bone quotes below are all either spoken by Etherealki/Summoners or refer to Etherealki/Summoners. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
).
Chapter 7 Quotes

“I…If it would be alright, I’d prefer to have blue robes, Summoners’ blue.”

“Alina!” exclaimed Genya, clearly horrified.

But the Darkling held up a hand to silence her. “Why?” he asked, his expression unreadable.

“I already feel like I don’t belong here. I think it might be easier if I weren’t…singled out.”

“Are you so anxious to be like everyone else?”

My chin lifted. “I just don’t want to be more conspicuous than I already am.”

The Darkling looked at me for a long moment. I wasn’t sure if he was thinking over what I’d said or trying to intimidate me, but I gritted my teeth and returned his gaze.

Abruptly, he nodded. “As you wish,” he said. “Your kefta will be blue.”

Related Characters: Alina Starkov (speaker), The Darkling (speaker), Genya (speaker)
Related Symbols: Alina’s Kefta
Page Number: 110-11
Explanation and Analysis:
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Etherealki/Summoners Term Timeline in Shadow and Bone

The timeline below shows where the term Etherealki/Summoners appears in Shadow and Bone. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2
Desperation, Leadership, and Corruption Theme Icon
Class and Privilege Theme Icon
...sandskiff, silent sleds that blow over the sands in the Fold. There are two Grisha Etherealki at the front; they control winds and will fill the sandskiff’s sails. Mal and the... (full context)
Chapter 4
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Class and Privilege Theme Icon
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
Ivan drags Alina to the Darkling’s black coach, which is surrounded by Etherealki guards. He tells her to get in, but Alina refuses: there’s been a mistake and... (full context)
Chapter 6
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Class and Privilege Theme Icon
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
...with Grisha, all of whom are unnervingly beautiful. A Corporalki named Sergei Beznikov and a Summoner named Marie argue about who Alina will walk with. Alina suggests she walk with Genya,... (full context)
Chapter 7
Desperation, Leadership, and Corruption Theme Icon
Class and Privilege Theme Icon
Gender, Sex, and Power Theme Icon
...the Grisha arrange themselves into a line two abreast, with the Materialki first, then the Etherealki, and the Corporalki—the highest ranked Grisha—last. He then approaches Alina and says she looks well... (full context)
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Class and Privilege Theme Icon
Gender, Sex, and Power Theme Icon
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
...fit her for her kefta—which will be black. Horrified, Alina asks if she can wear Summoners’ blue instead. She already feels like she doesn’t belong. The Darkling gives in and walks... (full context)
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
...Genya hesitates but asks the servant for dinner for two. Then, Genya explains that Corporalki, Summoners, and Fabrikators don’t mix. She says she’s happy to stay and eat, but other Grisha... (full context)
Chapter 8
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
...arrives to take Alina to breakfast. As soon as they enter the lavish hall, two Summoner girls swoop in. Marie introduces herself and Nadia and, turning her back to Genya, invites... (full context)
Class and Privilege Theme Icon
Alina endures Summoners questioning her about her life until Genya appears to rescue her. Genya notes that pickled... (full context)
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Class and Privilege Theme Icon
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
...the man, David, but he barely acknowledges her. When Genya says Alina is the Sun Summoner, David says the glass disks he’s working on are for her. As Genya leads Alina... (full context)
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
Genya leads Alina out to a lake, where the Summoners’ pavilions are. When Alina notices small children playing, Genya points out the school, where Grisha... (full context)
Chapter 9
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
...day is just as disastrous. Tutors assign Alina a stack of books to read and Summoners talk at lunch about the advanced subjects they’re studying. Alina tunes out until Marie invites... (full context)
Class and Privilege Theme Icon
Gender, Sex, and Power Theme Icon
Greed vs. Mercy Theme Icon
...her things will get better. He notes, though, that she’ll have a difficult path, as Etherealki usually pair up to work—but she’s the only one of her kind. With this, he... (full context)
Chapter 10
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
...and isn’t hungry, which leads Baghra to think Alina is purposefully fighting her power. The Etherealki often practice by the lakeside together, but Alina never joins them. Because the Darkling fears... (full context)
Chapter 11
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Gender, Sex, and Power Theme Icon
...that she’s wildly jealous. After all, she’s just a Squaller, while Alina is the Sun Summoner: Alina is the Darkling’s favorite. Alina can tell Nadia is jealous too, and she wonders... (full context)
Chapter 13
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
That afternoon, Alina joins the other Etherealki and summons light for them. Suddenly, life is easy. Alina sleeps well and has an... (full context)
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Class and Privilege Theme Icon
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
The holiday season passes pleasantly, and Alina feels more comfortable with her fellow Summoners. However, she prefers spending time with Genya in her room, listening to Genya’s tales of... (full context)
Chapter 14
Class and Privilege Theme Icon
Gender, Sex, and Power Theme Icon
...approaches, all anyone can talk about is the fete at the Grand Palace. The Grisha Summoners are supposed to put on a demonstration, though Genya warns Alina to not call it... (full context)
Chapter 16
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Desperation, Leadership, and Corruption Theme Icon
Class and Privilege Theme Icon
...church to hear Mass one day. The priest offers a prayer for Alina, the Sun Summoner who’s going to save Ravka. Alina hurries away, feeling terrible. The people will have every... (full context)
Chapter 20
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Desperation, Leadership, and Corruption Theme Icon
Gender, Sex, and Power Theme Icon
Greed vs. Mercy Theme Icon
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
A while after Ivan leaves, a Summoner and a Heartrender duck into the tent and go to sleep. Alina sits awake, thinking... (full context)
Chapter 22
Identity and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon
Gender, Sex, and Power Theme Icon
Greed vs. Mercy Theme Icon
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
...Darkling clearly brought them to witness his new power, but how far will he go? Summoners send wind into the sails and the sandskiff moves into the Fold. Alina isn’t afraid... (full context)