65 pages • 2-hour read
Darkstalker
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Themes
The Triumph of Free Will Over Fate
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and emotional abuse.
Darkstalker explores the complicated relationship between fate and free will in a world where some dragons can see the future. Darkstalker and Clearsight possess extraordinary powers of prophecy, allowing them to glimpse countless possible futures. This raises the question of whether the dragons even have the power to change their destinies since they can already see what will happen. Through the rise and fall of Darkstalker, the novel shows that while fate offers glimpses of potential outcomes, it is a dragon’s choices that ultimately determine reality.
The novel shows that Darkstalker does not have a fixed fate at birth. Instead, he faces a series of choices that shape who he becomes. From the very beginning, Darkstalker appears destined for a dark future. His incredible powers—mind reading, prophecy, and animus magic—set him apart from other dragons. Even Clearsight, who loves him, sees many futures in which he brings destruction to Pyrrhia. However, she also sees paths where Darkstalker becomes a hero, a wise king, or a beloved husband and father.
One of the strongest examples of this theme appears when Darkstalker hatches under the light of three full moons, granting him overwhelming powers. At that moment, he chooses not to help his sister, Whiteout, hatch under the same moonlight, keeping the full strength of the magic for himself. This selfish decision is important, as “a thousand futures drop[] away before him as he ma[kes] his first choice […]. [H]e s[ees] them blink out, and although he d[oes]n’t know exactly what it mean[s], he fe[els] somehow a tiny bit safer, a tiny bit bigger and stronger” (43). From the start, Darkstalker’s choices—not his fate—truly shape his destiny.
Clearsight’s arc reinforces this theme. Obsessed with preventing disaster, she believes that she can control Darkstalker’s path through perfect foresight. However, her constant worrying and distrust end up pushing Darkstalker further away. Clearsight’s flaw is believing that she can control the future by controlling Darkstalker, but in doing so, she forgets that trust and free will are necessary for real change.
Darkstalker himself struggles between fate and free will. Although he sees visions of futures where he hurts others, he believes that he can escape this simply by removing his animus magic. However, he does not realize that his abilities do not make him good or evil—rather, morality stems from his choices, and Darkstalker often acts out of fear, pride, or anger. Each violent or manipulative decision he makes shows that he is not trapped by fate; instead, he crafts his own downfall with each choice.
Through these characters, the novel argues that while prophecy can show possibilities, it is the power of choice that shapes destiny. Darkstalker’s tragedy is not that he was doomed but that he chooses the path that leads to fear, anger, and loneliness. Though he had the potential to be a hero, he becomes a villain through his own decisions.
The Corrupting Influence of Power
The battle between good and evil—and the gray area in between—creates much of the tension in Darkstalker. Readers know from the outset that Darkstalker will become Pyrrhia’s most feared villain. This dramatic irony adds weight to every choice he makes as readers follow his moral decline. The novel explores how even good intentions can turn corrupt when combined with unchecked power.
At the beginning of the novel, Darkstalker is not evil. He is curious, intelligent, and loving toward his family and friends, and he even uses his animus magic to help others. For instance, his first spell is a harmless enchantment: He makes Whiteout’s favorite toy always return to her bed at night. Later, he uses his magic to create gifts for his mother, his sister, and Clearsight. These thoughtful actions show that Darkstalker is compassionate and caring.
However, there are early warnings of his flaws, particularly his desire for control and power. At the instant of his birth, Darkstalker chooses not to help Whiteout hatch under the moonlight, thereby keeping the full power of the moons for himself. This signals his willingness to take from others to secure his own power.
His trajectory toward corruption is symbolized by the soul reader, which is one of Darkstalker’s own inventions; it is an hourglass-like device that measures good and evil. When he uses it on himself, it shows that he is mostly good, but specks of white—symbolizing evil—appear. This reflects how corruption grows gradually, through small, accumulative choices. His early motivations, like protecting Whiteout, avenging his mother, and proving himself worthy, start as noble goals, but they become twisted as he gains more power. Eventually, he stops questioning the morality of his actions, focusing only on results. His increasing reliance on magic and influence reveals how he begins to use his power as a tool for controlling others rather than serving them.
Darkstalker’s downfall is incremental, not sudden. His use of magic steadily erodes his sense of right and wrong. Each time he uses his power to rob someone of choice, manipulate someone’s mind, or punish a perceived enemy, he steps further into darkness. Importantly, he continues to believe that he is acting righteously. Fathom captures this complexity, saying, “Sometimes [bad guys] don’t know they’re bad guys […] They think what they’re doing is the right thing” (336). The novel argues that Darkstalker’s vast and unchecked power becomes extremely dangerous when combined with his unexamined motives. His transformation shows that his protectiveness becomes twisted into domination.
The Dangers of Arrogance and Domination
Darkstalker explores how arrogance—the belief that one “knows best”—and the drive to control others can lead to corruption and tragedy, whether through animus magic, prophecy, political authority, or personal manipulation. While power can be used for protection and connection, the novel shows that it can become dangerous when used as a tool for domination, especially when paired with arrogance.
Darkstalker is the clearest example of this theme. Born with three rare powers, he quickly becomes the most powerful dragon in Pyrrhian history. However, from his earliest days, he lacks control over his life. His father, Arctic, despises him. The NightWings whisper about his mixed heritage and blame his entire family for the NightWing-IceWing war. His home is full of conflict, especially between his parents, and the only person Darkstalker truly trusts is Whiteout, whom he vows to protect. His initial enchantments aim to comfort and help the people he loves.
However, over time, his desire to shield and guide shifts into a need to dictate. He comes to believe that it is up to him to shape the future for everyone’s benefit, so he takes away others’ choices. For instance, he enchants earrings for Clearsight that dull her ability to see dark futures, and he bewitches a goblet to make Fathom forget Indigo and embrace his animus magic. These acts, while not immediately violent, strip others of agency. They reflect Darkstalker’s growing belief that he alone can determine what is best for others.
Sutherland emphasizes that this desire to dominate does not always seem malicious at first. Like many of the queens in the novel, Darkstalker justifies his actions as necessary for the greater good. Queen Lagoon, for instance, forces Albatross to use his animus powers incessantly, disregarding the damage to his soul. Her abuse of power ultimately results in Albatross’s murder of the SeaWing royal family. Similarly, Queen Vigilance fears Darkstalker’s potential and orders an assassination attempt rather than engaging with him honestly. In both cases, leaders use authority and substitute domination for dialogue, ultimately causing great harm.
Even characters that are portrayed as sympathetic are not immune to this flaw. Clearsight, though wise and well-intentioned, loses her equilibrium when she becomes obsessed with her prophecies and her attempts to control Darkstalker’s future. Her fear-based control ultimately damages their bond and exacerbates the very danger she hopes to prevent. Thus, Sutherland highlights that the desire to control others is always dangerous. Animus magic, prophecy, and political influence are all tools, but what matters is the intent and restraint behind them. Dragons like Fathom, who use their abilities with caution, offer a contrast to characters like Lagoon or Darkstalker, who push past moral boundaries to impose their vision of the world.
Darkstalker warns that domination and arrogance, even when disguised as love or protection, lead to ruin. True strength lies in humility and in respecting others’ freedoms.
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