Characters: Nina Zenik

“She wouldn’t wish love on anyone. It was the guest you welcomed and then couldn’t be rid of.”

Nina Zenik is a 17-year-old Grisha Heartrender, who has the power to damage a person’s internal organs. She also has partial healing abilities and can tailor people to alter their appearance. Due to her education at the Little Palace, she can speak many languages fluently. Nina is described to be bold and loud, but also extremely charming. She is also teasing and hilarious, and loves to indulge in unhealthy food.

Before the Ravkan Civil War, Nina had attended school at the little palace where she was taught to use her powers. Her education was cut short due to the war and she was sent to a mission where she was captured by Druskelle soldiers. She escaped the Druskelle ship with Matthias and was stranded together in Fjerdan territories where the two developed a friendship. Matthias was later put into Kerch prison under false accusation, and Nina stayed back in Ketterdam to free him. There, she worked at a store to calm people down using her powers, and Kaz asked her to join the Dregs.

During the end of the book, Nina consumes Jurda Parem to help the group escape from the Ice Castle. Under the effects of Jurda Parem, she gains the ability to control people’s minds and is able to defeat a whole army single handedly.

Nina Zenik drawn by Sharika Khan

Ravka: a nation that trains Grisha as soldiers

Grisha: humans who have special powers. Divided into Corporalki, Etherealki and Materialki, which are further divided into specific powers.

Druskelle: holy soldiers of Fjerda who hunt Grisha for execution.

Jurda Parem: a highly addictive drug that enhances Grisha power to dangerous heights.