Shadow & Bone: How The Characters Are Different From The Books

Netflix’s Shadow & Bone makes for a mostly faithful adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse novel, but just do the characters compare to the book?

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Netflix’s Shadow and Bone is proving to be every bit as popular as the books it is based on, but how much does the series change about its characters? Released on Netflix in April 2021, the show is based on author Leigh Bardugo’s “Grishaverse,” which is made up of several novels all taking place in the same universe, but following different characters. Shadow and Bone takes its title from the first book in the “Grisha Trilogy,” which follows the life of Alina Starkov, a mapmaker in Ravka’s First Army who discovers an extraordinary power that may change the fate of the world as she knows it.

Netflix’s Shadow and Bone also includes characters from Bardugo’s follow-up duology Six of Crows, which details the exploits of a gang called The Dregs, operating out of the bustling city Ketterdam. While Six of Crows takes place after the events of the Grisha trilogy, the Netflix adaptation includes an entirely new storyline that acts as a prequel to the events that take place in the novel. The Dregs are fan favorite characters, and introducing them into the world of Shadow and Bone is not only a wise choice, but one that greatly expands the scope of the series.

Though the Shadow and Bone books have an enthusiastic and loyal fanbase, fans and critics alike have reacted positively to the changes made for the Netflix series. In many cases, these changes flesh out characters that previously did not have much backstory, or existed mostly as foils to protagonist Alina. While many characters develop further as the series goes on, the Shadow and Bone series has given these characters the opportunity to flourish earlier in the chronology, making the show more vibrant and exciting. With many calling Shadow and Bone the new Game of Thrones, it makes sense for the series to create a more expansive, inclusive, and complex world to draw audiences in and create higher, more engrossing stakes. Here is how the on-screen characters in Shadow and Bone differ from their portrayal in the novels.

Alina Starkov

While Jessie Mei Li expertly portrays Sun Summoner Alina’s stubborn and headstrong nature from the books, Netflix’s Shadow and Bone makes some major changes in her backstory. While Alina experiences social isolation in the source novels, it is often attributed to her frail appearance or lack of an outgoing disposition. In the Netflix adaptation of Bardugo’s novels, however, Alina is part Shu Han, and experiences not only social isolation, but withstands constant racial discrimination from those around her. Racism follows Alina wherever she goes: from her childhood home of Keramzin, among the ranks of the First Army, and to the Little Palace in Os Alta. This experience doesn’t change the heart of who Alina is, but enriches her story by grounding it in more concrete, real-world circumstances.

The Shadow and Bone series also improves upon Alina’s relationships with her fellow Summoners Nadia and Marie. While in the novel, Alina judges them for their more carefree personalities, the Netflix series portrays the three women as sharing a genuine bond. Alina’s character deals with some internalized misogyny in the books, as is evidenced by her strained relationships with Marie, Nadia, and Zoya. Though she works through it over the course of the series, it is refreshing to see her forge healthy relationships with the women around her earlier on in the series.

Malyen “Mal” Oretsev

Mal Oretsev also goes through numerous changes between the novel and the events of Shadow and Bone season 1, which flesh out his character in interesting ways. Though he is a more typical “alpha male” type in the novel, Mal has a softer side in the Netflix series. His charm and confidence remain, but they appear to be more hard-won. Flashbacks to Keramzin show Mal dealing with a great deal of fear in his youth, unlike his book counterpart, who has seemingly always felt at home in his own skin. While in the novel, Mal’s confidence seems in-born, in the series his confidence is earned. Viewers have responded well to Mal’s new characterization, which disposes with several traits of toxic masculinity that Mal exhibits in the books.

Another addition that comes with the Netflix series is the fact that Mal may never have been Grisha-tested. Because he was injured on the day that the Grisha visited Keramzin, Mal could not undergo the test. This detail leaves the door open for Mal to potentially discover Grisha power of his own. Finally, while Mal often stands up for Alina in the novel, the reverse is true in the Shadow and Bone series, where it is revealed that Alina was Mal’s protector at the orphanage.

General Kirigan/The Darkling

Shadow and Bone’s General Kirigan is a little bit more physically imposing than his novel counterpart; played by Ben Barnes, he is not the pale and thin man described by Leigh Bardugo in the original novel. While he is no less fearsome, he is somewhat more morally grey. While the Darkling of the novel is motivated by sheer hunger for power, General Kirigan’s original drive was to protect Grisha from persecution. His motives, of course, become corrupt as the years go by, and by the time viewers meet him in Shadow and Bone, his main goal is solely to gain power first over Ravka, then over the rest of the world. Viewers get a unique glimpse into General Kirigan’s past in Shadow and Bone season 1, episode 7: “The Unsea,” where he is hunted by the Ravkan king for attempting to gather and train Grisha. Though his ambitions become corrupt, viewers get to see his more honest beginnings, making General Kirigan a more well-rounded and complex villain.

Zoya Nazyalensky

While many of the supporting characters of Shadow and Bone remain true to their origins, Zoya’s characterization has some tweaks that make her story even more interesting. Of the Grisha at the Little Palace, Zoya has changed the most from her novel counterpart, allowing her to be a more fleshed out and complicated character. In the novel, Zoya starts out as little more than an antagonist to Alina: both women compete for both Mal and the Darkling’s attention, putting them at odds. In the Shadow and Bone series, however, Zoya is allowed to expand beyond her animosity for Alina (even though it is still present). Rather than simply pining after him, Zoya is revealed to have actually had a relationship with General Kirigan, but she betrays him after he expands the Shadow Fold to destroy Novokribirsk, killing several members of her family. This allows Zoya to take on a larger role in the series earlier on.

Kaz Brekker

Six of Crows characters like Kaz Brekker don’t change very much when compared to their book counterparts: a wise choice for such fan favorite characters. Kaz is the leader of the Ketterdam gang the Dregs, and retains his ruthless and cold demeanor in the Shadow and Bone series. Though the series follows a different plot than the novels, Kaz proves himself to be every bit the criminal mastermind author Leigh Bardugo originally created him to be. His past traumas are not addressed like they are in the books, but because the deadly events of Shadow and Bone season 1 serve as a kind of prequel to the events of Six of Crows, it stands to reason that Kaz has other things on his mind.

Inej Ghafa

Inej also remains much the same in Shadow and Bone as she is in Six of Crows, as silent and deadly as ever. Still armed to the teeth with knives named after the saints, Inej is deeply connected to her faith. This makes for some exciting new moments in the series when she comes face to face with Sun Saint Alina. The Shadow and Bone series also makes reference to Inej’s past training as an acrobat when she, Kaz, and Jesper pose as performers to gain entrance into the Little Palace. Inej shows off her skills on aerial silks; a visually impressive feat that connects splendidly to her roots and helps the Crows get closer to completing their mission.

Jesper Fahey

Jesper, like Kaz and Inej, remains much like his novel counterpart: an excellent shot with wit to spare. His gambling tendencies and gift of gab get him into trouble just about as often as they get him out of it. Though the show doesn’t explore his relationship with Kaz too in-depth, he does become closer with Inej. Jesper often provides some comic relief, his bravado leading to many funny moments, and fans truly enjoyed his deep bond with Milo the goat. As the Crows continue their journey, audiences will hopefully get to explore more of Jesper’s character that readers know and love from Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows.

Nina Zenik and Matthias Helvar

Nina and Matthias, a Grisha Heartrender and Fjerdan drüskelle, respectively, appear in Shadow and Bone, allowing audiences to explore their backstory as it happens in Six of Crows. Though their history is told mostly in flashback in the novel, Shadow and Bone, depicts the events in the real time. Rather than explaining their relationship as backstory when the two become involved with the Crows, the show portrays it in in the correct chronology, as it occurred during the events of the Grisha trilogy. The details of their relationship and first meeting remain much the same, as do Nina and Matthias’ characters. Nina is still her vivacious and witty self, while Matthias is the staunch soldier the Fjerdans have trained him to be.

While some of the Shadow and Bone characters have undergone major changes, others stay closer to the source material. This creates an expansive and interesting Shadow and Bone universe that feels at once fresh and familiar to both new viewers and fans who previously enjoyed the book series.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/shadow-bone-characters-book-show-differences-comparison/