Can Grisha have children?

Grisha are a group of people in the Grishaverse who possess magical abilities. They are divided into different orders based on their powers – Corporalki, Etherealki, Materialki, and Merzost. The big question is – can Grisha have children? Let’s take a deep dive and find out.

Table of Contents

Introduction to Grisha

In the fantasy world created by Leigh Bardugo, known as the Grishaverse, Grisha are people who can practice “the Small Science” – magic. They are born with these powers and are then trained to hone their abilities at school. Grisha are organized into orders based on their abilities:

Corporalki – The Order of the Living and the Dead. They have powers related to the human body.
Etherealki – The Order of Summoners. They can manipulate natural elements.
Materialki – The Order of Fabrikators. They can manipulate materials.

Merzost – The Dark Arts. This is not considered an official order but is forbidden magic involving flesh manipulation.

Each Grisha order has specialized roles. Corporalki consist of Heartrenders who can control bodies, Healers who can mend flesh, and Tailors who can alter appearances. Etherealki have Squallers who control air, Tidemakers who control water, Inferni who control fire, and Durasts who control glass. Materialki consist of Alkemi who make chemicals, Durasts who alter materials, and Fabrikators who make things out of raw materials.

Can Male Grisha have Children?

There is no reason why male Grisha cannot have children. Grisha men seem to be physically like regular men, so they should be able to produce sperm and father children. Having magical powers does not affect their fertility or sexual function. Several examples indicate male Grisha do have kids:

The Darkling (Aleksander Morozova) is confirmed to have fathered a child with Baghra. Their son was Ilya Morozova.
Ivan’s father was a Grisha Inferni who abandoned his mother.
Harshaw from the Second Army had a Grisha Fabrikator father.

Grisha characters such as Fedyor Kaminsky and David Kostyk also had Grisha fathers.

So there is strong evidence in the books that male Grisha are able to produce offspring like ordinary men. Their magical abilities do not affect their virility or fertility in any visible way. As long as they are sexually active, male Grisha can certainly father children.

Can Female Grisha have Children?

Female Grisha also do not seem to have any trouble conceiving or carrying children. Nowhere in the books is fertility mentioned as an issue. Several important female characters have had children:

Baghra and the Darkling had a son together, Ilya.
Zoya’s mother was a Grisha Squaller and her father was presumably otkazat’sya.
Genya Safin’s parents were both Grisha.

Nina Zenik comes from a long line of Grisha, implying her female ancestors had children.

Additionally, the existence of Grisha schools and orders implies that Grisha women have been having daughters with powers for generations. If female Grisha were unable to have kids, the system would not be so well-established. So there is no evidence that being Grisha affects a woman’s fertility negatively.

Challenges for Grisha Parents

Though Grisha can definitely have biological children, there are some unique challenges they face as parents:

Passing on powers – There is no guarantee a Grisha will pass their powers to their child. The child may be born otkazat’sya without any magic at all.
Raising magical children – Grisha parents have to teach their children to control abilities from a young age to prevent accidents.
Grisha prejudice – Children may face discrimination for having magical powers in some societies.

Balancing family and duty – Grisha who serve military orders may have difficulty balancing parental responsibilities with their obligations.

So while biology does not prevent them from having offspring, social and cultural factors make parenting harder for some Grisha couples. But overall, they face the same basic challenge as any parents – how to raise children in a complex world.

Grisha Powers Inheritance

Now the question is, if Grisha have children, will those kids inherit Grisha powers? And how does the passing of abilities between generations work?

The inheritance of Grisha abilities is somewhat unpredictable. Some basic patterns have been observed:

Having one Grisha parent greatly increases the chances a child will be Grisha.
Having two Grisha parents makes it very likely, but does not guarantee Grisha offspring.

The child’s powers are not always the same as the parent’s abilities.
Occasionally, even two Grisha produce a child with no powers at all.

So genetics and family history influence the odds, but there are no firm rules. Each child is born with random abilities. The different Orders also seem to run in certain bloodlines.

Here are some examples of Grisha parents and children from the books:

Parent 1	Parent 2	Child
Harshaw (Inferni)	Grisha Fabrikator	Harshaw (Inferni)
Morozova (Shadow Summoner)	Baghra (Non-Grisha)	Ilya (Shadow Summoner)
Zoya’s Mother (Squaller)	Otkazat’sya Father	Zoya (Squaller)

Based on such examples, it seems the biggest factor is having at least one Grisha parent. But even then, the child’s Order and precise abilities are random. There’s no predicting the combination they might inherit.

Can Grisha and Non-Grisha have children?

Grisha can definitely reproduce with non-Grisha “otkazat’sya” people. Many Grisha have children with ordinary human partners without powers. In these cases:

The child has 50% chance of being born Grisha.
50% chance the child is otkazat’sya.
If Grisha, the child’s abilities are unpredictable.

Some examples of mixed couples and offspring:

Parent 1	Parent 2	Child
Inferni Father	Otkazat’sya Mother	Harshaw (Inferni)
Fabrikator Father	Otkazat’sya Mother	Ivan (Durast)
Non-Grisha Father	Grisha Mother	Genya Safin (Tailor)

So Grisha and non-Grisha couples seem to have about a 50-50 chance of having a child with powers. The child can inherit abilities from a Grisha parent.

Why do some Grisha-Otkazat’sya couples have non-Grisha children?

With one Grisha parent, there is a 50% chance the child will be Grisha. But sometimes two Grisha parents still have an otkazat’sya child. Why does this happen?

There are a few possible explanations:

Recessive non-Grisha genes – The non-Grisha partner may contribute recessive genes that override Grisha powers.
Spontaneous non-magical mutation – A random mutation may block the development of powers.

Not enough magic passed on – Children may not inherit enough magic from parents for abilities to manifest.

The exact mechanism is unclear. But occasional non-magical offspring do occur, proving factors besides genetics also play a role.

Challenges of Mixed Grisha-Otkazat’sya Families

For couples where one parent is Grisha and one is otkazat’sya, they face unique challenges raising children:

Possible power imbalance if only one parent can use magic.
Disagreements over raising Grisha vs non-Grisha kids.
Pressure on child if born without powers.

Culture clash between Grisha and non-Grisha values.

Additionally, in places like Ravka, mixed families may face stigma. But many happily adapt to having both magical and non-magical members.

Famous Examples of Mixed Families

Prominent mixed Grisha/otkazat’sya families include:

The Darkling’s mother was possibly non-Grisha, while his father was a Grisha.
Baghra and the Darkling had a Grisha son.
Zoya’s Squaller mother and otkazat’sya father.

Genya Safin’s Tailor mother and non-Grisha father.

So despite challenges, many Grisha and non-Grisha couples have raised magical offspring successfully.

Grisha Sterility Myths

There are some myths about Grisha being unable to have children. However, these stereotypes are false:

Myth: Using Grisha magic causes infertility. False – Many powerful Grisha have children.
Myth: Corporalki cannot have babies. False – Heartrenders like Ivan’s father have kids.
Myth: Childbirth kills Grisha women. False – Many have multiple children.

Such stereotypes probably arose from superstition and prejudice. In reality, there is no evidence Grisha powers affect fertility differently than regular people.

How Grisha Powers Develop in Children

In children born with Grisha abilities, their powers develop gradually over years. The process includes:

Early signs – Odd behaviors and incidences indicating powers.

Schooling – Formal training begins around age 5-8 at Grisha schools.
Puberty surge – Abilities grow stronger in early adolescence.
Order induction – Around age 16, the Order is officially chosen.

Life-long growth – Skills continue developing with practice.

Controlling and honing abilities takes a lifetime. But the biggest leaps occur during a Grisha’s early years. Nurturing children’s talents is key.

Challenges of Raising Young Grisha

Young Grisha children pose unique parenting difficulties:

Accidental use of uncontrolled power.
Isolating experiences if unable to relate to peers.
Risk of injury before learning limits.

Emotional toll of being different and special.

That is why early guidance at Grisha schools focuses on discipline and ethics. Proper support nurtures children’s talents positively.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Grisha can absolutely have children – both with each other and with non-Grisha partners. There are many examples of Grisha parents and offspring throughout the books. Female and male Grisha seem to have normal fertility. Passing on magical abilities to children is unpredictable, but having one Grisha parent increases the chances. Grisha face unique challenges raising young Grisha, but overall can have families like anyone else. So the answer is yes, Grisha can and do have children!