Zoya Nazyanelsky - Tumblr Posts

So I made this animatic about Shadow and Bone because.

Some blink and miss Fivan because I love them.

You can find all my SAB themed illustrations here, if you’d like to support me or make a drawing request you can use my ko-fi.

Ok so

I was reading a text for my Russian class (thank you Gogol) and a new au was born

Artist!Nikolai

It doesn't have to be full time, can be just a hobby but. He's new to painting, he's pretty good, but still figuring things out

So at some point he and Zoya meet, casually hook up but then it ends up being a not one time thing (shocker!) but still "casual" (and I'm a unicorn)

So at some point either Zoya asks him to paint her ("like one of your French girls") or he asks permission to paint her as practice (haven't decided which one I like more yet)

Long story short, Zoya is used to (and at this point expects) people only noticing her looks and is absolutely speechless when she sees the end result and how little emphasis Nikolai put on her looks (he was experimenting with colors, lighting etc. and "painting" his feelings for her, if you will). At first he thinks she hates it because of her expression but Zoya is just but at emotions so she just kisses him instead

And yeah that's basically it

Disappears back into the void

Ok

Take 3

This better work or I’m going to lose it

Sort of AU but set in canon

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19836166

Old (like really old) but gold

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12239031

Really good writing? I think?

https://archiveofourown.org/works/29494683/chapters/72456966

Post canon but they’re just reminiscing about the past? If I remember correctly

https://archiveofourown.org/works/31328003

Slightly angsty times

https://archiveofourown.org/works/28782564

Post canon, with some sexual content (I think it was like one scene. Don’t remember how graphic it was though)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/30625934

Ok this is pure crack but it was very entertaining

https://archiveofourown.org/works/31147079

Well the tag says row compliant? Again, the only thing I do remember is really good writing

https://archiveofourown.org/works/31620557

Post canon

https://archiveofourown.org/works/31625426

The only reason why I remember the plot of this one is because of that one cat in Puss in Boots that goes “ooooooooohhh!”. Slight AU, set pre kos

https://archiveofourown.org/works/46273867

Post canon I think? Also really good writing maybe?

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32473549

This is a series with a bunch of drabbles. Most are canon compliant I think. Some AUs are tagged as such but I’m not sure if all of them are

https://archiveofourown.org/series/2284442

Multi chapter, post canon, ongoing (hasn’t updated since April)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/33695833/chapters/83744593

Edit because I forgot to add some final notes: if you want more fics (and have lots of time to kill) I reccomend going into the Zoyalai tag on ao3 under "The Grisha Trilogy" and "Nikolai Series" (that's where most Zoyalai fics are)

Also if you change your mind about AUs, let me know (boy do I have some AUs >:3)

Anyone have some good Zoyalai fic recommendations?

Ok

AU fics, take 2 because mobile didn’t like take 1

Librarian!Nikolai and actress!Zoya AU

https://archiveofourown.org/works/30970139/chapters/76490573

Flower shop AU

https://archiveofourown.org/works/44740930

Some sort of AU, not sure which even though the tags say cottagecore. Also, prepare for P A I N

https://archiveofourown.org/works/37782880/chapters/94335085

Boxing AU

https://archiveofourown.org/works/38815320

Accidental marriage AU

https://archiveofourown.org/works/24040321

Seven minutes in heaven game, drunken confession

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22377853

Assassin AU

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22017052

University AU

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21984988/chapters/52461406

Set before the Uni AU

https://archiveofourown.org/works/25365238

Set after the Uni AU

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22421014

Also set after the Uni AU

https://archiveofourown.org/works/25724800

Modern AU, baby fic, ongoing. This one is a bit weird but it made me laugh my ass off so I’ll drop it here anyway

https://archiveofourown.org/works/45772441/chapters/115186696

Sort of soulmates AU? But set in canon

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32363722

Fake marriage AU (sort of). This is one of my favorites but am incredibly sad this isn’t a multi chapter fic

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32001565

Vampire!Zoya and vampire hunter!Nikolai

https://archiveofourown.org/works/48430513

Mafia AU

https://archiveofourown.org/works/30101895

Set after the mafia AU. This little duology here is one of my absolute favorites, despite the absolute PAIN at the end

https://archiveofourown.org/works/31214414

And now, for my absolutely favorite one; fantasy AU, ongoing. Even though Zoyalai isn’t the main ship here (or has even appeared yet) this thing has me in a chokehold (as you’ll see from the comments)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/47124508/chapters/118728424

PS: this list was supposed to be shorter. But alas

PPS: I hope I din’t get any links mixed

PPPS: All links are correct!

PPPPS: Just realised I forgot to link one so here, have another Uni AU:

Anyone have some good Zoyalai fic recommendations?

Ok so

I was looking through my history for a very specific Zoyalai fic but I found a bunch of deleted works in there and it may have been one of them

So maybe (by some fucking miracle, even though my luck is terrible) someone on here downloaded it (or if it isn't deleted and I'm fucking blind someone recognizes this). It's an extremely long shot, I know

So

I know almost nothing about the fic (author, title or plot)

What I do remember is maybe the secret relationship trope because I remember the scene towards the end where Zoya and Nikolai were still in their night clothes and people started barging in one by one finding out about them. Also there was a bet involved (the only reason why I remember this is because I thought as I was reading it "hey this would have been infinitely times better with a bet" and then there was a bet. Also I'm 99.9% sure I left a comment on there along those lines)

So yeah

That's it

It's 2 am, I've been binging Adrian Berenguer's music since 23:00 so I decided to assign a song to s&b/soc (will put the Crows in a reblog because apparently there's a limit on everything) characters. Don't ask why, idk

I know I didn't include quite a few but I don't think I know them well enough to do so. Feel free to add them yourselves

Alina: Sun

Mal: Deer

Darkling: Timelapse (I'm actually surprised how perfectly this fits. Probably the most accurate from the whole list, alongside Alina)

Genya: Beyond

David: Stars

Zoya: Reborn

Nikolai: Constellation

Istg I love these two together so much-

Shadow and bone season 2

Contains spoilers.

 Shadow and Bone was never going to be a perfect adaptation of the books; we knew that from the start, when they put together the S&B and SOC storylines/characters. LB herself has said that it’s basically high-budget fanfiction. Let’s stop expecting 100% book accuracy. Thank you.

Also, I haven’t actually read the S&B trilogy, only SOC and KOS. So I can’t speak for those characters.

Let’s start with the cons and end on a positive note.

Purely from a writing standpoint, shadow and bone season 2 was way too rushed. There’s very little time to sit with things as they are; you just have to kind of go with it. There’s no suspense, because you know you’re just going to be rushed on to the next thing. I know we were all expecting them to go with the Siege and Storm storyline, but I know they defeat Darkles at the end of RUIN AND RISING. So they just threw two books together and it’s...rushed.

As for the Crows...no.

Listen, the actors are all the literal embodiment of their characters. Freddy Carter this season? AWARD-WORTHY. BOOK!KAZ IN FULL FORCE. But these moments hit so hard in the books because of their build up! We had two books to learn about these characters, their backstories, their motivations, etc. To build up their relationships with each other, Ketterdam, the world around them, Grisha powers, their pasts, etc. We had two books of seeing why Kaz and Inej want each other, why Nina and Matthias want each other, why Jesper and Wylan want each other. Why Kaz wants revenge on Pekka Rollins. In the show, we don’t even really know who the hell Per Haskell is. Why should anybody cheer for Kaz taking the Dregs the way we did in the books? In the books, Kaz gave everything to the Dregs (for his own gain, but still), and they turned their backs on him until he showed up to take them back by force. “I recommend a cane” SLAPS partly because we’ve seen people sneer at Kaz for his disability--including members of the very gang that profits so greatly from his reputation, which includes his limp and cane. They should’ve either given them the season to build up to the Pekka Rollins stand-off, or waited for the crows’ spin-off.

Also, why is Tante Heleen dead? That revenge belongs to Inej. Wtf.

Matthias’ storyline is boring. Could’ve used less of it.

And another thing--when Nikolai is announcing his and Alina’s engagement and Alina announces that she’ll take command of the Second Army and Zoya’s like “wtf?” and everyone else’s like “SO YOU WON’T FOLLOW HER, THEN? >:( like...I wouldn’t! Alina was a MAPMAKER in the FIRST ARMY. Sure, she watched the Second Army from afar, being jealous of their grape bowls. She doesn’t know how to lead an army!

She definitely should’ve talked to Zoya after the feast and been like “hey, yo, want to help me out?” Zoya was the Darkling’s, what, second-in-command, for YEARS. She’s been in charge of at least parts of the Second Army for way longer than Alina’s even known she’s a Grisha for. She’s a commander and General in KOS. She has actual military experience and knowledge of the Second Army, not to mention having actually fought and lived alongside the people within it. It would have been a great way to further utilize Zoya’s character, and provide some bonding between her and Alina. And for the shippers, we could’ve gotten some zoyalai crumbs if they ever needed to discuss strategy and shit. The point is, I would’ve had Zoya’s reaction, too, if I’d been in her shoes.

Oh, and also, why is Kaz’s trauma always what’s being focused on? I know the fandom tends to hyperfixate on it, but Jesper’s ADHD? Wylan’s dyslexia? INEJ’S PAST IS SO IMPORTANT IN THE BOOKS AND HERE IT’S JUST LIKE, “Oh, that sucked for her, anyways” LIKE GIVE THEIR STRUGGLES THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE. MATTHIAS AND NINA TRYING TO UNLEARN THE NATIONALISM THEY’VE BEEN FORCE-FED THEIR WHOLE LIVES?

AS FOR THE GOOD STUFF:

As I said before, FREDDY CARTER AS BOOK! KAZ. RENT WAS DUE. HOLY SHIT.

“Please. I’m begging you.”

“Are you?”

I HAD TO TAKE A BREAK. HOLY F*CKING SHIT.

Also, the scene with Jesper and his mom? I don’t usually cry at movies and shows, but when she called him “little rabbit,” I BAWLED.

Personally, I thought the flashbacks to Kaz’s past could’ve been done less in-your-face, let’s-talk-about-his-trauma, but the transitions were top-notch and the casting was, as usual, amazing.

ALL the casting was amazing, actually. They ARE the characters. We couldn’t have gotten anyone else. We had our reservations about Patrick Gibson, but he NAILED Nikolai. Flawless performance on everyone’s parts.

I know Wesper wasn’t for everyone, but I thought it was a nice, fanfic-y take on a more adult relationship between them. Also, they were cuties, and still seemed to have some emotional depth. Good.

“I will have you without armor, Kaz Brekker. Or I will not have you at all.” Good

Nina sneaking into Hellgate to see Matthias. Good.

Also, the part where we’re led to believe that Nina handed Kaz in to Pekka Rollins, but then we get a flashback to them plotting it out because no way in hell was Kaz Brekker going to be fooled that easily, which is what I was screaming at my scene when I thought he’d just...gotten captured like that? The man who talked himself out of being shot with a loaded gun pressed to his chest?

Yeah, that was great. Really made him feel more like the mastermind he is in the books.

I also loved that they kept Pekka’s son, and Kaz’s bluff about burying him alive, and Wylan’s “you can’t kill him for who his father is.” I LOVED IT ALL.

I also loved Jesper casually referring to Alina by her first name, and Mal casually talking about the Crows like they’re all buddies. We love to see it!

Overall, while this season did have some flaws, it was overall a fun and enjoyable watch, and I hope we do get a season 3 and a Crows spin-off, and that the writers will listen to the fans’ criticism and improve the main problems (which are honestly mostly a result of trying to cram like, 2-3 books into an 8-episode season. If they let themselves slow down the plot just a bit, I really think the quality would go up by like, 90%).

Any other thoughts?

rip shadow and bone. we would have loved to see dark alina. we would have loved to see matthias finally get out of jail. we would have loved to see kaz learn to love. we would have loved to see zoyalai on screen. we would have loved to see wylan's story. we would have loved to see the ice court heist. we would have loved to see colm fahey. we would have loved to meet kuweii. we would have loved to see jesper get over his gambling addiction. we would have loved to see matthias relearn all he knew for nina. we would have loved to see inej find her family again. we would have loved to see mal find out what life is like without alina. we would have loved to see nina learn to live for herself, instead of her country.

we would have loved to see more of the characters we all know and love.

Is it just me who expected Nikolai and Mal to be gay for each other? And Genya and Alina? And Tolya and David? And Zoya to be aroace? And Hanne as transman? I really see Alina and Mal as lesbian and gay man besties.

(pls if anyone has such fanfic send it to me)

Nikolai: My arms are tired! Zoya: Would you like me to tear them off?

imagine being a citizen of ketterdam and one day you hear the entire kerch government was upturned by a bunch of teenagers who drove a tank and broke into the world's most secure prison led by a 17 year old boy who calls the girl he likes his investment

Jesper: if you're happy and you know it clap your hands!

Kaz:

Inej:

Nina:

Wylan:

Matthias:

Jesper: you're meant to clap your hands! Come on Van Sunshine!

Kaz:

Inej:

Nina:

Wylan:

Matthias:

Jepser: well now this is just depressing.

One day Kaz Brekker will become the king of Ketterdam. One day he will have accomplished everything he sought out to do, and become, and conquer. One day he will have moved on past Jordie, past vomiting every time a hand touches his, past his gloves and the label of the bastard. One day he will stare out at the skyline outside his window which he always leaves unlatched and then gather his cane, his gloves, and walk out to the harbour to finally, finally join the girl that was always his home.

Skydiving instructor: we're not letting you leave this plane without a parachute

Jesper, wearing a hat with a little propeller on top: just trust me ok

Imagine if you will:

Years post Crooked Kingdom, Kaz and Inej are married. One day, Inej brings up the possibility of children. Instead of immediately shutting her down like she expected, Kaz agrees. But instead of having kids biologically, he has another plan.

That night they walk the streets of Ketterdam, and they find the children that have lost parents, that are sleeping in the streets, that spend their days searching for work so they can survive.

They offer the children a hot meal, somewhere safe to sleep. Inej can take them away on her ship if they want, back to their home country, or wherever else they want to go. Or, if they don't have anywhere, they can stay.

Kaz teaches those who stay how to pick locks, and how to find good paying (if less than honest) work. Inej teaches them how to climb and where to walk in the city to stay safe from slavers. Together they teach the children to fight.

They spend weeks on The Wraith all together, freeing the enslaved and travelling the world. There are mass sleepovers at the Van Eck mansion, where Uncle Jesper tells stories of the time their parents broke into the ice court, when they took down the biggest Barrel boss (before the biggest boss was Dad, of course) and Uncle Wylan teaches them how to play music.

They travel to Ravka, where they meet the King, who they can't quite believe once struck a deal with their father. They train with Aunt Nina, who tells them about the fjerdan soldier who gave his life to save her, and shows them her unique power.

Then one day, when their oldest children come to Kaz and ask why they were adopted. He'll tell the story of Uncle Jordie, and how Kaz knew he couldn't watch from the sidelines as the same thing happened to other children, now that he had the power to help.

i have just read chapter 18 of "rule of wolves". do not contact me in next 15 business days.

Right, if you want to read about zoyalai specifically then you should read the king of scars duology (King of Scars and Rule of Wolves). If you want crumbs then there's some in the original grisha trilogy (literally only two lines of them mentioning each other, no interactions) and Crooked Kingdom (only in a couple chapters).

So I’m curious about zoyalai ever since I watched Shadow and Bone season 2 and I want to know more about them, can someone who has read all the grisha books tells me which ones I’ll need to read for zoyalai, specifically how they fell in love (crumbs included?)

What’s really funny to me is, Zoyalai used to be my crackship.

Back when I first read the TGT books, I remember thinking, wow. Nikolai is my fave. 

I felt sorry for him because Alina was just not into him, and here I was, wanting this silly little prince to find someone that could match him, that could love him and help him find real companionship untainted by politics. 

And then Zoya dropped that line, telling Alina to break his heart so she could be queen.

At first, I laughed at it, like everyone else did, I’m sure - oh, Zoya. of course you would. 

But then I kinda thought about it and…I couldn’t shake the idea that Zoya WOULD actually be a VERY interesting choice for Nikolai, and probably a decent queen. I remember thinking how entertaining it would be to see that play out - the proverbial mean girl and the annoyingly charming prince. 

Back then I knew it was hopeless, of course. They barely interacted, and Nikolai was still licking his wounds from Alina’s rejection(s). But I still looked for their crumbs because it became a bit of a crackship, lol. 

I never thought it would actually…you know.

HAPPEN.

And then I found out about KoS and it had me immediately interested because, MORE NIKOLAI?! Sign me UP.

But then it came with the bonus of ZOYA.

I was shocked, but even then, I never thought they’d have a romance. Not that it was going to stop me from shipping them, of course, lol. I was going to milk every interaction regardless.

But then, ironically enough, it was truly like Leigh had the EXACT SAME IDEA I had when reading TGT - and she even capitalized on it!

I was truly mind blown that, a ship I figured was only going to be fanfiction, actually became canon, and it was done SO WELL. Leigh’s Zoyalai changed YA romance for me forever (like the Crows did), and nothing has ever compared to this day.