Netflix has now officially pulled the plug on Shadow and Bone, crushing the hopes for season 3. Even worse, the spinoff Six of Crows also won't happen, leaving Netflix shadow- and boneless. That doesn't mean you have to wonder how the story continues – the Grishaverse lives on, and here's how where to find it.
Tale as old as time: Netflix has yet again canceled a widely popular show before the series' finale, leaving fans devasted and frustrated with the streaming service. Shadow and Bone's last season back in March 2023 left off on a cliffhanger, so officially not getting a conclusion to the story on Netflix hurts even more.
And that's not even it: Netflix originally announced a Shadow and Bone spinoff, namely Six of Crows, that also won't happen, making the Grishaverse by author Leigh Bardugo one of the biggest losses from the Hollywood strikes. But who would I be if I left you with only bad news? I'm not Netflix, so here's where you can still explore the gripping fantasy world by Bardugo without streaming services that are only out to break your heart. (Do I seem bitter? Good. Because I am.)
The "Grishaverse" consists of all of the stories set in the same universe by Leigh Bardugo – a universe with Grisha, hence Grishaverse. That includes the Shadow and Bones trilogy, the Six of Crows duology the newest King of Scars duology, as well as some companion books.
Shadow And Bone: No Season 3, But Who Needs Netflix For The Grishaverse?
I'm not gonna sugarcoat anything, because the ending of season 2 pretty much screamed for a renewal of Shadow and Bone. There are just so many plot points that still need a conclusion, it feels like a bad joke that Netflix just won't deliver on that.
But what Netflix doesn't do has already been done by the author Leigh Bardugo – the original creator of Shadow and Bone and the whole Grishaverse. And she, in contrary to Netflix, has finished her work. Thanks for that!
While the show obviously takes some different routes than the books, the overall plot largely stays the same – so it's my honor and pleasure to advise you to get the books asap. I promise it lessens the pain that Netflix has brought upon us.
If you want to dip your toes into the written Grishaverse first and see if it's up your alley, here's the first book Shadow and Bone. It's only ten bucks and, if you're asking me, money well spent. Personally, I'd recommend getting the whole trilogy. It's basically a steal, you can get it under twenty bucks.
And if you've already read those books, there's even more. The canceled spinoff Six of Crows is also written by Leigh Bardugo and graces the world with characters like Kaz and Inej and their very own heist. Their story consists of two books, and you can get them right here for not even twenty dollars.
And for a completely new adventure set in the Grishaverse, I highly recommend the newest addition: the King of Scars duology. You know the drill – under twenty dollars. If you're intrigued by Nikolai and Zoya, you should definitely check it out.
#SaveShadowAndBone & Leigh Bardugo's Goodbye
While you're waiting for your book order to arrive, you might want to join the new #SaveShadowAndBone movement on Twitter/X. What worked with Warrior Nun could work again, right?
this fandom isn't going anywhere without putting a fight first#SaveShadowAndBone #SixOfCrowsSpinOff #ShadowAndBoneSeason3 #socspinoff pic.twitter.com/zo7kHkUWjN
— kanejstetic (@kanejstetic) November 16, 2023
Or, if you feel like leaving some love and support in the form of a comment to the author herself, you can do so on Instagram. In a heartfelt post, she shared her feelings about Netflix's decision ("I'm heartbroken and deeply disappointed" – I'm not crying, you are), but she also made sure to have a positive message at the end of the day. And that's what it's all about, right? "Imagining that magic can be made real."