The Shadow And Bone Netflix Adaptation Has Its Cast

If you’ve been keeping up with the latest bookish news online, then its no surprise to you that Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse has officially gone through its first round of casting!

Posted on See What’s Next (Netflix’s news Twitter account) October 2, were six of the main characters for Netflix’s upcoming adaptation Shadow And Bone. All of who were revealed via a special photo shoot.

Shadow And Bone Cast (Round 1) via See What’s Next

• Jessie Mei Li is cast as Alina Starkov
• Archie Renaux is cast as Malyen Oretsev (Mal)
• Amita Suman is cast as Inej Ghafa
• Freddy Carter is cast as Kaz Brekker
• Kit Young is cast as Jesper Fahey
• Ben Barnes is cast as General Kirigan (aka The Darkling confirmed by Bardugo & Barnes via their Twitters)

The upcoming adaptation, originally announced back in January, will bring together the novels of Bardugo’s Grishaverse with the two main titles being Shadow And Bone and Six Of Crows.

Throughout the day, other characters were revealed as well from Nina Zenik and Genya Safin, first mentioned in SyFy’s Wire Buzz article, to Zoya Nazyalensky and Simon Sears as Ivan via Variety (who was confirmed by Bardugo via Twitter).

Barnes, playing General Kirigan, shared a video through his Twitter on October 2, revealing that the team was officially on day 1 of filming for the show.

The adaptation is being filmed in Budapest and the cast has already kept fans updated with photos and various Instagram stories together.

There is no set release date and Bardugo has yet to confirm actors mentioned in various articles such as Danielle Galligan who will play Nina Zenik and Daisy Head who will be Genya Safin.

According to Deadline Bardugo said “I was so wary going into this process because these characters have lived in my head for so long. Turns out I had nothing to fear. Watching these actors begin to inhabit these roles has been pure magic…”

Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Orphaned and expendable, Alina Starkov is a soldier who knows she may not survive her first trek across the Shadow Fold–a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters. But when her regiment is attacked, Alina unleashes dormant magic not even she knew she possessed.

Now Alina will enter a lavish world of royalty and intrigue as she trains with the Grisha, her country’s magical military elite–and falls under the spell of their notorious leader, the Darkling. He believes Alina can summon a force capable of destroying the Shadow Fold and reuniting their war-ravaged country, but only if she can master her untamed gift.

As the threat to the kingdom mounts and Alina unlocks the secrets of her past, she will make a dangerous discovery that could threaten all she loves and the very future of a nation. 

Welcome to Ravka . . . a world of science and superstition where nothing is what it seems. 

Shadow & Bone Netflix Highlights During Leigh Bardugo And Erin Morgenstern’s SDCC 2019 Panel

During the first day of San Diego Comic Con 2019 on Thursday, fantasy authors Leigh Bardugo and Erin Morgenstern took part in a “Spotlight” panel from noon to 1 pm!

Based on Tor’s write-up of the panel, it was revealed that Bardugo shared some info about the upcoming Netflix adaptation of her Grishaverse, Shadow And Bone!

Moderated by NPR’s Petra Mayer, they discussed ” world-building, writing tips, and the inspiration for their latest works…”

With many readers worried whether Shadow And Bone and Six Of Crows won’t get equal screen time, according to the write-up the show will be “a 50/50 split” stated by Bardugo.

It was also revealed that language director, David Peterson, who’s also worked on the languages for Game Of Thrones, will be working on the languages for Shadow And Bone.

The adaptation of Shadow And Bone is set to start filming in Budapest in “less than two months…” according to Bardugo (added July 19 via the SDCC panel now available on YouTube).

Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Orphaned and expendable, Alina Starkov is a soldier who knows she may not survive her first trek across the Shadow Fold–a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters. But when her regiment is attacked, Alina unleashes dormant magic not even she knew she possessed.

Now Alina will enter a lavish world of royalty and intrigue as she trains with the Grisha, her country’s magical military elite–and falls under the spell of their notorious leader, the Darkling. He believes Alina can summon a force capable of destroying the Shadow Fold and reuniting their war-ravaged country, but only if she can master her untamed gift.

As the threat to the kingdom mounts and Alina unlocks the secrets of her past, she will make a dangerous discovery that could threaten all she loves and the very future of a nation. 

Welcome to Ravka . . . a world of science and superstition where nothing is what it seems. 

We Hunt The Flame Sequel Title Reveal By Hafsah Faizal

As of June 1, debut fantasy author Hafsah Faizal revealed the title to the sequel and finale to We Hunt The Flame!

According to her twitter, the sequel will be titled: We Free The Stars

Faizal mentioned that not only will Sands Of Arawiya be a duology, but also that“It is the hardest book I’ve ever written—and I’m not even done writing it—but I love the title, and hope you do too!”

In addition to the title, a graphic was also shared mentioning a May 2020 release date!

People lived because she killed.
People died because he lived.

Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the king. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. 

Both are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya—but neither wants to be.

War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the king on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds—and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.

Set in a richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia, We Hunt the Flame is a gripping debut of discovery, conquering fear, and taking identity into your own hands.

We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal is out now!

*For those in the UK, We Hunt The Flame is releasing in August (w/ a slightly different cover design!)

Heart Of Flames by Nicki Pau Preto Cover Reveal

The sequel to Nicki Pau Preto’s debut fantasy novel, Crown Of Feathers had its cover reveal via Paste Magazine on June 24.

Heart Of Flames is set to be released in 2020 and Paste Magazine pitched Crown Of Feathers as “a thrilling a fantasy empire where warriors ride phoenixes into battle…”

Alongside the cover reveal was a full jacket poster and an excerpt.

Kekai Kotaki is the cover artist for Crown Of Feathers and this upcoming sequel Heart Of Flames!

I had a sister, once…

In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders—legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire—until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart.

I promised her the throne would not come between us.

Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders—even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks.

But it is a fact of life that one must kill or be killed. Rule or be ruled.

Just as Veronyka finally feels like she belongs, her sister turns up and reveals a tangled web of lies between them that will change everything. And meanwhile, the new empire has learned of the Riders’ return and intends to destroy them once and for all.

Sometimes the title of queen is given. Sometimes it must be taken.

Heart Of Flames by Nicki Pau Preto is set to be released February 2020!

Shadow And Bone Netflix Adaptation Updates

On June 21, Christina Strain, one of the writers/producers on Netflix’s adaptation of Shadow And Bone shared tweets stating the “wrap on the writers room for season 1 …”

The featured photo of the first tweet is a shot of various knives in a circle.

In the second tweet, Strain shared information about the knives and stated:

For those of you asking if these are Inej’s knives: They are…”

Christina Strain (@christinastrain)

In addition to this photo of Inej Ghafa’s knives, creator, writer and showrunner Eric Heisserer shared in a quote tweet, “Hard to tell in this pic, but each knife is inscribed with the name of a saint. #SanktaAlina #NoMournersNoFunerals…”

The news of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse being adapted for Netflix was originally announced January 10, 2019 via Deadline.

As of June 17 & 19, Bardugo and Heisserer answered tweets in regards to casting. Both shared that Alina’s casting was the only “open call” they could “afford.”

Other recent news in regards to the adaptation also came from Bardugo’s newsletter from May 28, 2019 which states:

” Location scouting has begun! I’d love to be there but, y’know, books to write, and I still get to wake up to exciting new images on my phone every morning. We’ve also had some major developments in casting. I can’t say more just yet, but I’m truly over the moon. And I have to admit . . . Watching auditions for this show has been overwhelming in ways I never anticipated. The reality of seeing someone embody a character that began in my head and heart ten years ago is so crazy and incredible…”

Thoughts on this news for the Grishaverse Netflix adaptation?

Young Adult Book Cover Reveals For June 17 & 18!

Throughout the these past couple days, there have been tons of cover reveals for upcoming Young Adult & crossover fantasy titles!

1. The Silence Of Bones by June Hur

Via the Fierce Reads website, on June 17 the cover for June Hur’s historical murder-mystery set in 1800’s Korea, The Silence Of Bones was revealed! The article also shared a note from Hur on the cover and her inspiration for her novel.

The Silence Of Bones by June Hur is set to be released April 21, 2020!

2. A Phoenix First Must Burn edited by Patrice Caldwell

This upcoming anthology features 16 stories featuring “prominent authors of color”and Bustle revealed the cover alongside the introduction to the anthology from Caldwell!

A Phoenix First Must Burn is a science fiction-fantasy anthology that will spotlight Black girls and non-conforming teens.

The anthology will feature authors such as Elizabeth Acevedo, Somaiya Daud, Rebecca Roanhorse, and more!

A Phoenix First Must Burn edited by Patrice Caldwell is set to be released March 10, 2020!

3.Empire Of Dreams by Rae Carson

Revealed through Carson’s twitter on June 17, was the cover for her next fantasy novel Empire Of Dreams!

Carson will return to the world of The Girl Of Fire And Thorns in this standalone fantasy.

Empire Of Dreams by Rae Carson is set to be released February 4, 2020!

*Date to be confirmed b/c Carson’s twitter says April 2020, while Goodreads and other retailers say Feb. 2020!

4. Realm Of Ash by Tasha Suri

On June 18, Book Riot revealed the cover for Tasha Suri’s upcoming epic fantasy novel, Realm Of Ash which is the sequel to Empire Of Sand!

This upcoming sequel is set to focus on Arwa, Mehr’s sister from Empire Of Sand.

Suri shared on twitter that Realm will feature “politics, betrayal, curmudgeonly old women, gentle ravenclaw princes (1), blood, fury, pigeons (mostly pigeons), and finding your way home…”

Realm Of Ash by Tasha Suri is set to be released November 12, 2019!

5. Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan

The sequel to Duncan’s gothic fantasy debut, Wicked Saints had its cover reveal through Paste Magazine on June 18!

Alongside the reveal to Ruthless Gods, an excerpt was also revealed.

Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan is set to be released April 7, 2020!