Shadow and Bone season two is getting fans hyped up as the premiere looms ever closer. The first season did phenomenally well on Netflix back in 2021 and the second season is only going to get bigger with the addition of more cast members including a new trio to fall in love with.
Based on the books by Leigh Bardugo, the Netflix adaption combined the main storyline from Shadow and Bone book while also adding in characters from her other novel set in the same Grishaverse, Six of Crows. Though the main focus of the series is Alina Starkov, the Sun Summoner, the escapades of the gang known as the Crows were a welcome addition given how well-loved the characters from the novel are, a smart move by Netflix and showrunner Eric Heisserer.
The Crows may lose their crown as fan favorites though given that there is a new gang afoot, one that also has formidable skills on their side. The trio consists of Nikolai Lantsov, aka Sturmhond (Patrick Gibson), backed by twin Heartrenders, Tamar Kir-Bataar (Anna Leong Brophy) and Tolya Yul-Bataar (Lewis Tan). The show’s Twitter account gave us a quick introduction to the three characters, allowing us a little insight into their characters.
We know from the trailer that these three will be interacting with Alina and her friend Mal. The marketing has already given away one of the twists that readers would have experienced, which is that Sturmhond, who we thought to be only a privateer and a ship’s captain, actually turns out to be a prince of Ravka, Nikolai Lantsov.
Two key members of his crew are Tolya Yul-Bataar and his twin sister, Tamar Kir-Bataar, who, on top of their heartrending abilities, are both able to expertly handle weapons to assist their captain. All three are a very welcome addition to the Netflix adaption of the Grishaverse, with fans of the book having a particular soft spot for the rogue Prince Nikolai it would seem.
The Crows story will be a mixture of original writing, just as it was in the first season, as well as adding elements from the Six of Crows novel without going into the story fully. The end of the last season saw the Crow’s story perfectly poised to jump into where readers find them at the beginning of the book, however, Heisserer told Entertainment Weekly, “We aren’t actually using the plot of Six of Crows in season two,” adding, “That is a beefy and robust story that requires its own lane.” Something fans may be very excited to hear.
We can find out just what plans Netflix has for these two teams in Shadow and Bone season two when it premieres on Netflix on March 16.