Shadow & Bone: What Happens Next To Each Character (Based On The Books)

Spoiler warning: Spoilers for the finale of Shadow and Bone season 1, and for the novel Siege and Storm.

Content warning: Brief discussion of sexual abuse.

Newly adapted for Netflix, Shadow and Bone is a fantasy series based on Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse. A series of novels surrounding the author’s original universe, the Grishaverse thus far consists of three series: the Grisha Trilogy, the Six of Crows duology, and the King of Scars duology. The Grisha trilogy follows Alina Starkov, a young woman living in the kingdom of Ravka who discovers extraordinary abilities she never knew she possessed. The Six of Crows duology focuses on a street gang known as the Crows, who operate out of the criminal underworld of Ketterdam. Finally, the King of Scars duology focuses on a character not yet introduced to the Netflix series named Nikolai Lantsov. Uniting several beloved characters, the worlds of the Grisha trilogy and the Six of Crows duology are combined for the Netflix series, which has become a hit since its release.

Netflix’s Shadow and Bone shares its title with the first Grishaverse novel, and also follows Alina Starkov as she discovers her power as the Sun Summoner. An orphan who grew up to become a part of Ravka’s First Army, Alina has always felt like an outcast, largely due to her half-Shu heritage. She and her best friend Mal dealt with many bullies growing up in Keramzin in the estate of a Duke he turned into an orphanage. When the two are put in a life-threatening situation in the Shadow Fold, a dangerous sea of darkness that divides Ravka, Alina unleashes an unknown power, which draws the attention of General Kirigan, the leader of the magical Grisha Second Army. Alina is swept away to discover the scope of her power and potentially save Ravka from the dangers of the Shadow Fold and the monstrous volcra within.

Meanwhile, the Crows, a band of thieves and rogues based in Ketterdam, find themselves tasked with capturing the newfound Sun Summoner for a hefty bounty of 1 million kruge (Ketterdam’s currency). Though this plotline is a prequel to the events of Six of Crows, it provides an interesting chance for the leading characters of the Six of Crows duology and Grisha trilogy to meet. By the end of season 1, the Crows have helped Alina and Mal to escape General Kirigan, who has revealed his villainous intentions and actually expanded the Shadow Fold, destroying the West Ravkan city of Novokribirsk. No longer intending to kidnap Alina, the Crows move on to their next adventure, and Alina and Mal are forced to go on the run. Here is what happens next to each Shadow and Bone character based on Leigh Bardugo’s books.

Alina and Mal

Having left the Darkling for dead in the Shadow Fold, the show’s heroes are now on the run. Shadow and Bone ends with Alina and Mal on a ship bound for Ketterdam. In the book Siege and Storm, Alina and Mal go on to make a home for themselves in Novyi Zem. Both of them take on work in the city of Cofton, hoping to eventually make enough money to travel far from Ravka and live out their lives in peace. In order to avoid detection, Alina does not use her Grisha powers, which negatively affects her health, much like it did in her childhood. Though the two discover an uneasy peace, it does not last for long. The Darkling, having survived the Fold, has been hunting for Alina and soon catches up with the pair again.

The Darkling/General Kirigan

As viewers witness in the season 1 finale of Shadow and Bone, General Kirigan survives his brush with the Shadow Fold. As he emerges, scarred but alive, he utters a single harsh command: “Follow.” Gnarled, indistinct creatures emerge behind him as he staggers forward, and audiences get their first glimpse of the nichevo’ya. In Siege and Storm, readers learn that the Darkling created the nichevo’ya by using merzost, a corrupted sort of magic that perverts the physical laws of nature (which the Grisha’s normal practice, the Small Science, does not). Though Alina notes that calling up the nichevo’ya is draining for the Darkling, the creatures are made of pure shadow and thus incredibly deadly, only able to be defeated by Alina’s Sun Summoner powers. In the second book, the Darkling is fixated on claiming the second of Morozova’s creatures, the Sea Whip, in order to make the amplifier the Sea Whip’s Fetter.

Baghra

Audiences unfamiliar with the books were likely shocked at the revelation that Baghra is General Kirigan’s mother, especially considering that she helped Alina to escape his clutches. In Siege and Storm, when Baghra’s part in Alina’s escape is revealed, she suffers the Darkling’s wrath. When Alina sees Baghra again, she realizes that the Darkling, Baghra’s own son, has blinded her and Baghra’s eye sockets are now filled with writhing shadows where her eyes used to be. Further, she is furious with Alina for seeking out Morozova’s Stag instead of disappearing like she was supposed to. Even so, people shouldn’t count Baghra helpless or out of the game.

Zoya

In the Netflix series, Zoya deviates slightly from her plotline in Leigh Bardugo’s novels, so it is unclear what path she will follow in Shadow and Bone season 2. In the novels, it is not until Siege and Storm that Zoya turns against the Darkling, having discovered the death of her family in Novokribirsk. She remains at the Little Palace with several other Grisha who chose not to follow the Darkling, and eventually declares allegiance to Alina. While they still initially do not like one another, Zoya ends up becoming one of Alina’s most loyal allies by the third book. However, in the Netflix adaptation of Shadow and Bone, Zoya has already defied the Darkling and lent her aid to Alina, so it is unclear what her next major steps will be. Viewers do know that she plans to travel to Novokribirsk to assess the scope of the damage done and to mourn the loss of her family.

Genya

Having suffered abuse at the hands of both the Queen and King of Ravka for so many years, Genya does not hesitate to don the red Grisha kefta of a Corporalnik when given the chance. After Genya poisons the king, she becomes a reluctant ally of the Darkling, feeling she has nowhere else to go. While Alina initially feels betrayed by Genya, she eventually forgives her as she understands what drove Genya to do what she did. At the beginning of Siege and Storm, Genya is still loyal to the Darkling, though she still fiercely misses Alina’s friendship and is uneasy about the Darkling’s plans. As readers know, at a crucial moment Genya allows Alina and Mal to escape the Darkling’s clutches in the second book – and has already been shown, the Darkling is not one to forgive a mistake or betrayal. If her arc follows the books, Genya is in for dark times ahead.

David

David’s fate is up for debate in the Netflix adaptation of Shadow and Bone. In Siege and Storm, David, like Zoya, remains at the Little Palace after the Darkling departs, but it’s possible that the Darkling (aka General Kirigan) will force David to stay by his side, given that David plays a much larger role in the series than he does in the Shadow and Bone novel. Because the series has made David much more important to the Darkling, his fate may change, though his future is sure to be fascinating either way. Though he’s barely in the first novel, David really comes into his own in the second and saves the day more than once with his brilliance and his daring inventions, so it’s entirely possible he’ll have an expanded role moving forward.

Ivan and Fedyor

Though these two men only work together briefly in the novels, their partnership becomes a romantic one in the Shadow and Bone series. Ivan’s role remains much the same in both versions of the story: as one of the Darkling’s most trusted Heartrenders, he will surely remain loyal to General Kirigan. In the novels, Fedyor initially disappears but then deserts from the Darkling’s army and comes to find Alina, bringing other Grisha who have defected with him. Fedyor, also a Heartrender takes on a larger role in the Shadow and Bone series, tasked with tracking down Nina Zenik after she goes missing during a mission for General Kirigan. Fedyor’s relationship with Ivan will certainly complicate his feelings when he returns from Fjerda, but it is possible that Fedyor will still side against the Darkling when he learns of the expansion of the Shadow Fold.

Marie and Nadia

Like many others, Marie and Nadia remain at the Little Palace after the Darkling’s departure in Leigh Bardugo’s novels. While it is likely that Nadia will remain on the same trajectory in the Netflix series, viewers bid a sad goodbye to Marie, who was killed at the Winter Fete by Arken, a.k.a. the Conductor. Marie’s death marks a major change from the Shadow and Bone books, where she dies in the second novel after an attack on the Little Palace by the Darkling and his forces. As for Nadia, she survives that attack and goes on to come into her own in the second and third novels as an ally of the Sun Summoner. She also gets a bit of a romance of her own in the third book with a character who hasn’t yet been introduced.

Kaz, Inej, and Jesper

The Crows’ story in Shadow and Bone so far has been a prequel to the events from their source novel, but with the resolution of their season 1 adventure, it seems as though the show is ready to tackle the events of Six of Crows. The last audiences see Kaz, Inej, and Jesper, they’re on a boat headed back to Ketterdam, planning on how to navigate the city with Dreesen expecting them to return with a bounty they don’t have and rival gang leader Pekka Rollins out for blood. Kaz says he has a plan but they will need a Heartrender to pull it off. Heartrender Nina Zenik, seated nearby, overhears. This brings the Crows closer to their final lineup from the books, and suggests the band of criminals may be ready to take on their Six of Crows heist of the Fjerdan Ice Court. In their own story, they’re given the impossible task of breaking into the Fjerdan Ice Court for an impossible heist and, along the way, uncover an enormous conspiracy. In Six of Crows, as well, they also gain a new member by way of Wylan Van Eck, the son of the wealthy merchant who hired them and who ends up becoming their demolitions expert. Showrunner Eric Heisserer has already teased Wylan for Shadow and Bone season 2.

Nina and Matthias

Nina and Matthias are the only Six of Crows characters to follow a plotline established in the novel during their appearances in Netflix’s Shadow and Bone. By the end of the series, Nina and Matthias find themselves aboard the same ship as the Crows, where Matthias is imprisoned because Nina reported him as a slaver. In Six of Crows, this part of their story was all told in flashback sections, and the story picks up where it appears the Netflix series might, too. Nina agrees to help the Crows with their Ice Court heist – but first, they have to break Matthias out of prison. Along the way, Matthias learns to trust Nina again – eventually. It’s likely audiences will see this rescue in season 2 of Shadow and Bone when she joins up with the Crows.

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