Netflix's fantasy series Shadow and Bone is based on Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse book series. The Grishaverse comprises ten books, including the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the Six of Crows duology. The Grishaverse takes its title from the Grisha, who, in this world, are humans who practice the Small Science. Some can control water or the wind, while others can heal a person or fabricate incredible new technology. Netflix's Shadow and Bone combines the two book sagas into one TV show and takes place around two imaginary countries. Shadow and Bone also features dozens of complex characters who live in a universe similar to the European landscape of the late 19th century.

On one side of the map, there's Ravka, the Grishaverse's equivalent of Imperial Russia, cut from the world by the monstrous Shadow Fold and besieged by enemies. The Grisha form Ravka's Second Army. On the other side of the map, there's Kerch (inspired by the Dutch Republic of the 18th century), a tiny, prosperous, neutral, yet incredibly corrupt merchant island ruled by the Merchant Council. Kerch is also known as the financial capital of the Grishaverse's world, where the Grisha are sometimes forced into slavery. Throughout this intriguing tale, the main characters of Netflix's Shadow and Bone's have a profound impact on the story's direction.

Updated by Florencia Aberastury on December 27, 2023: This article has been updated with more information about each character from Shadow and Bone, as well as to bring the article to current CBR standards.

Jessie Mei Li Gives Life to Shadow and Bone's Alina Starkov

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Alina Starkov is the main protagonist of the Shadow and Bone book trilogy. She was one of the many orphans of Ravka, a hard-working girl with no apparent talents for the Small Science. She joined the First Army as a cartographer to follow in the footsteps of her childhood best friend, Mal. However, things take a turn when Alina tries to save Mal during a mission, and realizes she has an incredible power. Alina is a Sun Summoner, the very last one of her kind, a manipulator of light who could destroy the Shadow Fold.

  • Shadow and Bone was Jessie Mei Li's first starring role.

Jessie Mei Li plays Alina in Netflix's Shadow and Bone. Jessie Mei Li also plays the role of Lara in 2021's Last Night in Soho and is currently working on the upcoming British-American action film Havoc, alongside Tom Hardy.

Archie Renaux Plays Alina's Best Friend Malyen Oretsev

Archie Renaux as Mal Oretsev, Alina's best friend in Shadow and Bone

Malyen Oretsev is Alina's best friend and first love in Shadow and Bone, but his incredible talent as a tracker propelled his career in the First Army, which distanced him from Alina. When Alina is spirited away by the Second Army to train her in Grisha techniques that might set their country free, Mal receives a very special mission: hunt a mythical beast that will magnify Alina's power.

  • Archie Renaux is currently working on the upcoming standalone film in the Alien franchise, Alien: Romulus.

Malyen Oretsev, also known as Mal, is portrayed by Archie Renaux. Renaux is probably best known for his work on BBC One's Gold Digger. Archie Renaux also had roles in films like Voyagers and Morbius and made his television debut in Prime Video's Hanna, a series based on the 2011 film of the same name.

Ben Barnes Stars as General Kirigan, the General of the Second Army

The Darkling General Kirigann Ben Barnes Shadow and Bone
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General Aleksander Kirigan is the talented and charismatic leader of the Second Army and one of Grisha's most vocal advocates and protectors. Kirigan is also known as the Darkling, a Grisha who can manipulate shadows and darkness. Kirigan's lifelong dream has been to control the Shadow Fold, which legend states was created by one of his ancestors. He has every hope Alina will become the ultimate weapon to achieve this.

  • One of Ben Barnes' early acting successes includes his starring role as Prince Caspian in The chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, based on the fantasy books by C.S. Lewis.

Ben Barnes stars in Netflix's Shadow and Bone as General Kirigan. Many might recognize Barnes for his starring role in HBO's Westworld, where he portrayed Logan Delos. Others might know Ben Barnes for his role in The Punisher, where Barnes played Billy Russo / Jigsaw.

Daisy Head Portrays the Grisha Tailor Genya Safin

Daisy Head as Genya Safin in Shadow and Bone

Genya Safin is a Grisha and the Queen's personal tailor, a type of Grisha who specializes in shaping and changing the appearance of people. When Alina arrives in the capitol, Genya quickly becomes her friend. Genya tailors Alina and gains her trust. Genya's first benefactor was General Kirigan and her allegiance was to Grisha first and country second. She also has a massive crush on David Kostyk, a Grisha Fabrikator who specializes in research and development.

  • Daisy Head landed her first on-screen role (Feather Boy by BBC) when she was 14.

Daisy Head portrays Genya in Netflix's Shadow and Bone. Head began her career in television shows like Rose and Maloney, and Trial & Retribution, before landing her first main role in Patrick's Planet. Daisy Head continued starring in other shows, including BBC One's The Syndicate and the British period drama Harlots. On the big screen, Daisy Head played Sofina, the Red Wizard, in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

Freddy Carter is the Leader of the Crows, Kaz Brekker

Kaz Brekker is the main protagonist of the Six of Crows book duology. Kaz, also known as Dirtyhands, is the whiz kid of Kerch's criminal underworld, despite having no magical gifts to speak of. He relies on his brain, ruthlessness, and leadership skills to guide his gang, the Crows, through the most outrageous heists and cons Ketterdam, Kerch's capital city, has ever seen. However, like every good antihero, Kaz is also on a quest for revenge that might put everything he holds dear at risk.

  • Kaz is always seen wearing gloves.

Freddy Carter, who made his on-screen debut in 2017's Wonder Woman, gives life to Kaz. On television, Carter starred as Peter "Pin" Hawthorne in the British drama series Free Rein. He currently stars as Gideon Fletcher in Paramount+'s The Doll Factory, a period thriller series.

Amita Suman Plays the Wraith, Inej Ghafa

Inej from Shadow and Bone walking in Ketterdam with bags
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Inej Ghafa is the best spy of Ketterdam, a silent and deadly member of Kaz's crew, the Crows, who carries over twenty knives. Her abilities aren't magical, but the product of her training as an acrobat. However, Inej was later kidnapped and taken to Kerch to work in the Menagerie, a high-end brothel. She would love to see her family again, but they are across the sea, and she knows that her best chance is to stick with Kaz's crew for the time being.

  • Amita Suman also appeared as Nora in Netflix's adaptation of The Sandman.

Inej is portrayed by Amita Suman, who made her debut in the British medical drama Casualty. Suman also appeared in an episode of Doctor Who, where she portrayed the character Umbreen. In 2019, Amita Suman joined The CW series The Outpost as Naya, a recurring character.

Kit Young Plays the Sharpshooter Jesper Fahey

Jesper Fahey from Shadow and Bone, smiling and leaning on a door frame

Like Inej, Jesper Fahey came to Ketterdam from across the sea to become a student. He's a fearless sharpshooter with an enviable set of guns, a warm sense of humor, and a flirty demeanor. Jesper joins the Crows and is part of the gang tasked with kidnapping Alina, the Sun Summoner. However, Jesper has kept a huge secret hidden from Kaz, which might turn him into an enormous liability when the heist goes down.

  • Kit Youung portrayed Octavious in National Theatre Live: Julius Caesar, a stage production performed at the Bridge Theatre.

Kit Young plays the role of Jesper in Netflix's Shadow and Bone. Best known for his stage work, Young has also appeared in a few television series before Shadow and Bone, including the British crime drama series Endeavour. Kit Young also stars in the Netflix film The School for Good and Evil as Rafal / Rhian.

Calahan Skogman Gives Life to the Fjerdan Drüskelle Matthias Helvar

Matthias Helvar from Shadow and Bone, imprisoned and looking through the prison bars

Matthias Helvar is a Drüskelle, a word that means witch hunter. Matthias is a Grisha hunter from Fjerda, one of the countries that surround Ravka. He was the witch hunter who captured Nina and planned to execute her, at least until things went extremely wrong for both of them. At the beginning of Shadow and Bone, Matthias is imprisoned in Hellgate, one of Ketterdam's prisons. However, despite his thirst for revenge and prejudices, he might prove to be the key to the most ambitious heist that Kaz and the Crows have ever planned.

  • Calahan Skogman obtained a Master of Fine Arts in acting from the University of Southern California.

Calahan Skogman plays Matthias in Netflix's Shadow and Bone. Skogman is a former collegiate basketball and football player. Before Shadow and Bone, Calahan Skogman had roles in a few short films, including G.I. Jose and Catch.

Danielle Galligan Plays Nina Zenik, a Grisha Who Was Part of Ravka's Second Army

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Nina Zenik, like every Ravkan Grisha, was part of the Second Army as a Heartrender and Tailor until a witch hunter from a neighboring country trapped her in an ambush. She escaped her captors and now lives in Ketterdam, using her tailoring abilities to pay her way through. Nina's very extroverted, and constantly hungry, and her joie-de-vivre is contagious. She's also a skilled linguist and actress who feels personally threatened by a mysterious new drug that enhances Grisha's abilities to destructive levels.

  • Danielle Galligan's television debut was in Game of Thrones, where she played Sarra in the episode "The Last of the Starks."

Danielle Galligan portrays Nina in Shadow and Bone. Danielle Galligan currently stars as Molly in the Irish television crime drama Kin, and had a small role in the satirical comedy-drama series The Great.

Shadow and Bone Poster
Shadow and Bone
TV-14
Action
Drama
Adventure

Dark forces conspire against orphan mapmaker Alina Starkov when she unleashes an extraordinary power that could change the fate of her war-torn world.

Release Date
April 23, 2021
Cast
Jessie Mei Li , Ben Barnes , Archie Renaux , Freddy Carter
Main Genre
Adventure
Seasons
2