Fans are enjoying a return to the Grishaverse, as Shadow and Bone season 2 is out, and it's been taking the Netflix TV rankings by storm.
If you're not already a Shadow and Bone fan, it's a Netflix Original fantasy series based on a popular series of books by bestselling author Leigh Bardugo. It's about an orphan called Alina Starkov who is revealed to wield an awesome magical power as the prophesied "Sun Summoner".
We've got a guide on the Shadow and Bone season 2 cast to help you appreciate the new eight-episode second season, as well as an explainer on how to read the Shadow and Bone books in order.
This article will run you through everything else you need to know about Shadow and Bone.
Shadow and Bone season 2 release date
Shadow and Bone season 2 returned to Netflix on Thursday, March 16, 2023, with each of the eight hour-long episodes dropping at once.
Since then, Shadow and Bone has remained a stalwart entry in Netflix's top 10 streaming shows list.
Shadow and Bone returns March 16!Here's your first look at Season 2: pic.twitter.com/EBOavYy4sbDecember 8, 2022
Who's in the Shadow and Bone season 2 cast?
Here's our rundown of the Shadow and Bone season 2 cast list:
- Jessie Mei Li (Last Night in Soho) as Alina Starkov
- Ben Barnes (Westworld) as General Kirigan/ The Darkling
- Zoe Wanamaker (Britannia) as Baghra
- Archie Renaux (Morbius) as Malyen Oretsev
- Freddy Carter (Free Rein) as Kaz Brekker
- Kit Young (The School For Good And Evil) as Jesper Fahey
- Amita Suman (The Outpost) as Inej Ghafa
- Calahan Skogman as Matthias Helvar
- Danielle Galligan (The Great) as Nina Zenik
- Patrick Gibson (Before We Die) as Nikolai Lantsov
- Julian Kostov (A Discovery of Witches) as Fedyor
- Sujaya Dasgupta (Casualty) as Zoya Nazylensky
- Jack Wolfe (The Witcher) as Wylan Hendriks [known as Wylan Van Eck in Six of Crows]
- Lewis Tan (Mortal Kombat) as Tolya Yul-Battar
- Anna Leong Brophy (Traces) as Tamar Kir-Battar
- Daisy Head (Harlots) as Genya Safin
As you can see, all our major players are set to be back in action, though Galliganm Head and Skogman have all been promoted to series regulars, so we should be seeing a little bit more of them this time around.
There are also four new faces on that cast list: Anna Leong Brophy, Jack Wolfe, Lewis Tan and Patrick Gibson.
✨ Let's give a warm Grishaverse welcome to your new cast members ✨@TheLewisTan will play Tolya Yul-Bataar.@LongBrophy will play Tamar Kir-Bataar.@PatrickGibson00 will play Nikolai Lantsov.@JackTWolfe will play Wylan Hendriks. pic.twitter.com/XaAEg2GgkRJanuary 13, 2022
Shadow and Bone season 2 plot
Here's the official synopsis for Shadow and Bone season 2: "Alina Starkov is on the run. A beacon of hope to some and a suspected traitor to others, she's determined to bring down the Shadow Fold and save Ravka from ruin. But General Kirigan has returned to finish what he started. Backed by a terrifying new army of seemingly indestructible shadow monsters and fearsome new Grisha recruits, Kirigan is more dangerous than ever.
To stand a fighting chance against him, Alina and Mal rally their own powerful new allies and begin a continent-spanning journey to find two mythical creatures that will amplify her powers. Back in Ketterdam, the Crows must forge new alliances as they contend with old rivals and even older grudges that threaten not only their place in the Barrel, but their very lives.
When a chance at a deadly heist comes their way, the Crows will once again find themselves on a collision course with the legendary Sun Summoner. Based on Leigh Bardugo's worldwide bestselling Grishaverse novels, Shadow and Bone returns for a second season of new friendships, new romance, bigger battles, epic adventures — and a shocking family secret that could shatter everything."
Which books is Shadow and Bone season 2 based on?
While the series does deviate somewhat from the books in places, season 2 is seemingly drawing from the events from Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising — the second and third books of the main Shadow and bone trilogy—Six of Crows, the first part of the spin-off Six of Crows duology. At least, that's based on who's in the line-up, and what went down in season 1.
The summary for Siege and Storm reads: "Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can't outrun her past or her destiny for long.
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka.
But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling's game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her — or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm."
Going by what Leigh Bardugo told Collider, though, it's very possible that elements from other Grishaverse books could be cropping up in season 2. Bardugo said: "There are currently seven novels in the Grishaverse, not counting the short stories. And I don't believe it takes seven seasons to get through that story, because we've created this alternate timeline. But I'm not the showrunner, so we'll see what Eric [Heisserer] has in mind."
Is there a trailer?
The official Shadow and Bone season 2 trailer arrived in mid-February, and all focus is on the Darkling's army, and Alina's need to stop them. In it, we get a glimpse at monsters, magic and more from our band of heroes.
At Tudum 2022, Netflix gave us a sneak peek at what we can expect to see in season 2. Whilst this short clip didn't give much away about the plot, it does make it clear that there's more action on the way. Check it out below...
At the same event, Netflix also gave us our first look at the four newcomers in costume and gave us our first look at Nikolai, Tolya, Tamar and Wylan in action ahead of their debut in Shadow and Bone season 2.
