Top 10 Differences Between Shadow and Bone Books & TV Show

As we dive into the world of this story one of the first things we learn about is the existence of the Shadow Fold. It’s a wasteland swathed in a terrifying supernatural darkness, and it splits Ravka, the primary setting of the plot, in half. In the show we see how the existence of this divider has manifested into political division as well. In West Ravka a separatist movement is rising. Though it’s not a major plot point, it could play into future seasons in a big way. Especially given the view General Zlaten where the Sun Summoner is concerned. None of this features in the books at all, but it’s a smart expansion on the material that makes the world feel more complex.

For readers of the book, the character known on screen as General Kirigan has, and needs, no identifier other than the title of The Darkling. The use of his name is a departure, but more so is the backstory the show gives him. Flashbacks take us into Kirigan’s long-ago past, at a time when Grisha were hunted and despised. When the woman he loves is killed by the king’s men, Kirigan’s rage and grief drive him to create the Shadow Fold. This is a far more sympathetic origin than the one written in the books. That Darkling is concerned for the safety of the Grisha, but is ultimately more driven by an unquenchable thirst for power.

Probably the single biggest difference between “Shadow and Bone’s” book and screen versions is the addition of Kaz Brekker and his gang. The Dregs, as they’re called in the books, exist in their own duology, “Six of Crows” and “Crooked Kingdom,” both set after “Shadow and Bone.” Here they are bought in with an agenda that requires them to cross the Fold for a high stakes kidnapping job. The addition of the Crows to the story obviously alters elements of the original “Shadow and Bone” plot. They’re a welcome addition though. They help to flesh out the universe and provide some fun heist-style adventure. It’s the Crows themselves we like best though. Kaz, Inej, and Jesper are dynamic characters who are addictive to watch on screen.

Nina Zenik is another character from “Six of Crows,” and when we meet her there she is already a member of Kaz’s gang on a mission to break Matthias Helvar out of prison. It ends...poorly. Nina and Matthias’ story isn’t ultimately altered much from its book counterpart, the difference is that we see it happen in real time as opposed to learning about it in past tense as we do in the books. In the first season Nina and Matthias didn’t seem to connect much with the main plot. It was still interesting to watch their relationship grow from enemies to friends, and then into more complicated territory. We look forward to a more central role for this pair going forward.

Both of these powerful Grisha play significant roles in Alina’s story. However, Genya is more prominent at first. She is one of the few genuine friendships Alina is able to form among the Grisha at the Little Palace. The series reduces the development of their relationship, making Genya’s eventual betrayal carry a bit less weight. Zoya, on the other hand, was little more than Alina’s antagonist in the first book. The series elevates her character’s importance earlier. Zoya also turns against The Darkling sooner than her page counterpart, though she does so for the same reason. It was a smart idea to accelerate Zoya’s plot a bit, we just wish we hadn’t had to sacrifice more of Genya in the bargain.

Alina gets a nasty shock when she learns the truth of Kirigan’s plans for her. It would be a bombshell no matter what, but the series makes it bigger by revealing elements of his background to Alina for the first time. In contrast, the Darkling of the books is open with Alina about his past. He uses his professed guilt and desire to correct his mistakes as a means to create a bond of trust with her. By cutting this plot point the show creates a more shocking moment. That said, the layered head games of the book make the Darkling seem even more sinister. It also made Alina’s hurt feel more personal. This is one case where we prefer the original take.

If there’s one character who got a giant upgrade on the journey from page to screen it’s Mal. Alina’s best friend is a fellow outsider in the TV series, making the bond between them even tighter. The pair are also shown to be mutually in love with each other, if mutually clueless, from the beginning, whereas Alina’s feelings initially seemed stronger in the book. Mal loses some of his more problematic qualities as well. While his book counterpart is bitter about Alina’s powers and the changes she goes through as a result, Mal of the series is a much more accepting character. Free of his personal hang-ups from the book, Mal’s love story with Alina becomes one we want to root for.

The mousy Alina Starkov we meet in the books doesn’t really fit in, but it’s partly because she doesn’t really stand out either. The show takes a different tack. This Alina is noticeably different from others around her. Shu Han is a neighbor country of Ravka, and relations between the two are not the best. As a result Alina’s mixed race makes her subject to a lot of suspicion and outright bigotry. Fantasy is a genre bursting with unassuming orphans with big destinies. Tying Alina’s low social status to issues of race not only lends the character some uniqueness, but it gives further dimension to the world she lives in. It’s a strong choice that makes ‘Shadow and Bone” more interesting all around.

Designed to increase a Grisha’s power, amplifiers play a key role in the story. They’re also one of the elements with the biggest departure from the source material. Amplifiers in the book, usually pieces of animal bone, are made into jewelry and worn by the few Grisha lucky enough to gain them. In the series, amplifiers are a little more...gruesome. It adds a heightened level of horror when Alina is collared for the first time. What’s more, in the book it’s believed that merely killing the animal is enough to gain its amplifying abilities. The series requires a physical connection for Kirigan to control Alina’s abilities through the stag. Creepy, but it makes sense given the transition from written to visual media.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Alexei’s Role
His Early Death in the Books is Forestalled Long Enough For Him to Link the Two Plots

Arken Visser
Known as “The Conductor” This Significant Character is an Invention of the Show

Gloves Off
Alina’s Custom Mirrored Accessories Are Happily Accepted in the Books

On screen, like on the page, everything comes down to the final crossing into the Fold. With all of our heroes onboard the doomed skiff, the series makes this climactic moment a much more dramatic one. Where the book sees Alina abandoning everyone to the volcra while she runs off to save Mal, the show gives us a tense battle between Kirigan and Alina’s allies. The Crows do their part, and Mal gets a more active role in the showdown. Most importantly, Alina’s reclamation of her power comes off less like desperation over Mal and more like a moment of personal strength. We see her fully owning her power for her own sake, and we’d be lying if we said it didn’t give us goosebumps.