The second season of Shadow and Bone finally came to Netflix in March 2023, and viewers couldn’t get enough of Alina Stark, the Darkling, and the Crows. The magical world came to be thanks to Leigh Bardugo’s books of the same name. The cast and the creator of the show continue to tease fans of the stories that they would like to tell along with a spin-off with our favorite band of thieves.
Shadow and Bone Season 2 has brought the Grishaverse to a stand-still as fans everywhere are waiting for a Season 3 announcement. However, there are plenty of fantasy shows that can keep someone occupied until then. The diversity of the cast in Shadow and Bone was one of the main reasons why so many people fell in love with the show — in addition, of course, to all the magic, knife fights, and flying ships. The fantasy genre has many shows that break through the stereotypical plot lines and characters like Shadow and Bone. Here are nine show suggestions that even Kaz Brekker would tip his hat to.
9 The Outpost
The Outpost streamed on The CW, and fans of Shadow and Bone will really be able to get into this show if they loved the mystery behind the Fold. Talon is the lone survivor of a race called “Blackbloods.” Her entire village was destroyed many years ago by violent mercenaries. Talon makes her way to a lawless fortress on the end of civilization called the Outpost, where she tracks down those who killed her family. On her journey, Talon discovers that she has mysterious powers that she needs to learn how to use in order to save herself and the world from a religious dictator.
8 Half-Bad: The Bastard Son and the Devil Himself
The new Netflix series was not able to get renewed, but Half Bad: The Bastard Son and the Devil Himself was an extremely gory and intense story about witches at war. The United Business Journal says the show is based on the book series of the same name by Sally Green, and follows Nathan, the son of a Fairborn witch and a Blood witch. His fate is to become evil just like his father, which is why decides to leave.
Half Bad really gets into the choice between good and evil when violence can come from both sides. Plus, there is plenty of gore and romance to keep viewers watching, especially if they just finished the latest season of Shadow and Bone.
7 Lockwood & Co.
Netflix
Lockwood & Co. is another Netflix original based on a book series created by Jonathan Stroud. The show is set in a parallel universe in Britain, where ghosts are real and only children can see them. Lucy Carlyle is one of those gifted teenage ghost-hunters, who finds herself on the run after her best friend gets killed on a job. She heads to London and starts working for a startup business with two boys. Lockwood & Co. is a spooky good time that does the book series justice, and gives Shadow and Bone viewers the magic they are looking for.
6 Once Upon a Time
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Any and all Disney fairy tales come to life in ABC’s Once Upon a Time. Storybrooke, Maine is filled with princes, princesses, fairies, and many more magical creatures that come straight out of story book. TV Tropes details how Emma Swan is the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, but does not remember until she makes it to town because of the son she gave up. Her son tells her that the town he grew up in is filled with fairytale characters, but they don’t remember who they are since their minds have been wiped by the Evil Queen. Once Upon a Time gave viewers a diverse cast with strong female leads that ran for seven seasons, and that fans of Shadow and Bone will appreciate watching.
5 The Magicians
The Magicians is the perfect amount of magic and mystery with an adult tone for fans of Shadow and Bone. The show aired on Syfy and followed a group of students at a magical school. Quentin and Julia are best friends and completely inseparable — until they are torn from one another. The Magicians has a packed cast filled with diverse storylines that tend to gear towards darker themes during the five seasons that it ran for.
4 Shadowhunters
Shadowhunters is based on the popular book series written by Cassandra Clare, and follows Clary Fray who finds out she has certain abilities on her 18th birthday. She accidentally slips into the Shadow World, which is invisible to all mundanes, and only magical creatures are able to see and live inside of it peacefully. However, there is war being fought between demons and half-angel/half-humans called Shadowhunters. Fighting alongside Jace, Alec, and Isabelle, Clary quickly finds herself in the middle of the war and must master her abilities to save both worlds. Shadowhunters and Shadow and Bone are built on the backbone of a young girl trying to save the world.
3 The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time brings elements of the real-world to build its universe, according to Entertainment Weekly. The show follows Moiraine, who’s in an all-women organization that’s on the hunt for the Dragon Reborn. The Prime Video original is based on the book series of the same name, and gives Shadow and Bone fans a new dangerous journey to get completely enthralled in. The villain of the show will even remind viewers of the Darkling, and has plenty of in-fighting and mystery that one might even forget this isn’t Shadow and Bone.
2 Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
The Archie comics brings Netflix another hit series with Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Sabrina Spellman is a half-human/half-witch that has to come to terms with her dark family heritage all while trying to attend high school like a normal teenager. Sabrina is a force to be reckoned with and does everything she can to pave her own path while trying to outsmart some powerful beings. She may not always do the right thing, and at times can be selfish, but she needs to learn quickly from her mistakes if she wants to save her family and friends. Shadow and Bone fans will enjoy watching Sabrina as a badass witch beating the bad guys through each season of the show.
1 His Dark Materials
BBC
His Dark Materials is an HBO Max original based on Philip Pullman’s books. The show really delves into the idea of multiple realities with the primary storyline being set in a world where humans have companions named daemons. Lyra is the main character of the show and discovers that she is the only one who is able to read the coveted compass without years of studying it. Her ability will change the realities as they know them and destroy political machines that are beyond her control. His Dark Materials is an experience, but fans of Shadow and Bone can see how Lyra and Alina are a lot alike as characters.
