Series at a glance
Shadow and Bone is the first book in a trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, set in Ravka, a Russia-inspired country divided by a monster-filled band of darkness called the Shadow Fold. The heroine, Alina Starkov, is a mapmaker who discovers she can summon light, a power that could be the key to destroying the Fold. The trilogy is complete, and it sits at the start of a larger shared world known as the Grishaverse.
Spoiler warning: the sections below summarize the plot, and the section on Alina’s love interest reveals the ending. For opinions without spoilers, see our Shadow and Bone book reviews.
Shadow and Bone books in order
- Shadow and Bone (2012)
- Siege and Storm (2013)
- Ruin and Rising (2014)
After the trilogy, many readers continue with the Six of Crows duology (Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom) and then the King of Scars duology (King of Scars and Rule of Wolves). Those are separate stories in the same world.
Book summaries
Shadow and Bone
Alina serves in the Ravkan army as a cartographer. While crossing the Shadow Fold with her regiment, creatures attack, and Alina reveals a dormant power that saves her friend Mal. She is taken to the royal court to train with the Grisha, the magical elite, under the Darkling, their commanding figure. As she learns what her power means, she discovers that nothing about the court or her mentor is as simple as it seems, and she must decide whom to trust.
Siege and Storm
Alina and Mal flee, hunted by the Darkling, who proves more dangerous and more determined than before. Alina looks for ways to become strong enough to resist him, which draws her into a search for powerful objects that could amplify her ability. New allies enter the story, and Alina is forced to confront how much her growing power is changing her.
Ruin and Rising
Weakened and in hiding, Alina and her allies prepare for a last attempt to stop the Darkling and break the hold of the Fold. The book is about cost and sacrifice as much as it is about battle, and it brings the trilogy’s central relationships to a conclusion.
Who did Alina Starkov end up with?
Spoiler: by the end of the trilogy, Alina’s story concludes with Mal, her childhood friend. Not every reader loves the way the book reaches that point, and the Darkling’s role in the romantic tension is a frequent topic of debate among fans.
Are the Shadow and Bone books finished?
The trilogy itself is finished. The Grishaverse is not limited to it, though. Bardugo has continued the world in later books, including the duologies mentioned above, so the answer depends on whether you mean the original three books or the broader universe.
Will there be a Shadow and Bone season 3?
The Netflix adaptation ran for two seasons, from 2021 to 2023, and was cancelled in late 2023. The show combined characters from the Six of Crows books with Alina’s story, which is one reason its plot differs from the novels. Netflix has not renewed it, so a third season is not expected based on what has been reported; check current news if this matters to you.
Where to start if you are new
Start with Shadow and Bone if you prefer to read the story in publication order. If you came for the heist-style adventure from the show, some readers jump to Six of Crows, which is often described as readable without the trilogy, though reading the trilogy first adds context. Our reviews page explains how each book is received and who the series suits.