We all love a good fan theory, right? The more out-there, the better. But sometimes, even when we're convinced that we've heard every possible way to interpret a movie or show, there are still so many things we don't know about it—and that's where the best fan theories come into play.
The Shadow and Bone series has a passionate fanbase, and it's easy to see why: the story is sweeping and heartbreaking, the characters are complex and endlessly fascinating, and the worldbuilding is breathtaking.
If you're a fan of Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone series, you probably already know that there are plenty of theories out there about how the books and the Netflix adaptation play out. But which ones are worth paying attention to? Well, that's what we're here for: to help you sort through all those theories and find the ones that are actually worth your time. Here are 10 theories to keep you up while waiting for season 2:
1. Darkling Love Triangle
It was love at first sight for Alina Starkov when she met the Darkling in Shadow and Bone. But it wasn't meant to be—he is a villain, and she is just a girl from the country. Or is she? It turns out that maybe Alina Starkov's destiny lies in more than just being a soldier.
This theory explores the possibility that Alina Starkov will fall in love with both Mal and the Darkling as they fight over her affections. Think of it as Romeo and Juliet meets The Hunger Games! This is actually one of the theories that we are most excited about because not only do these characters have such great dynamics but hey, they also look so good together too!
2. All of The Characters Meeting
The second shadow and bone theory is all the characters of the Grishaverse meeting. This is a theory that we have been waiting for since book one was released. The idea of all the characters meeting and thickening the plot is so exciting! The idea is that they're all connected by their powers, so it's only natural that they'd find each other eventually.
It's hard to imagine how this would happen without being corny or contrived, but we think Leigh Bardugo could pull it off. She's proven herself to be incredibly talented at world-building and character development!
3. More Amplifiers That Alina Should Acquire
The amplifiers are a set of special items that help give Alina more control over her powers. They help her to focus them on specific targets, which will make things a lot easier for her in battle. And the second season might just also explore just that - the amplifiers that will help Alina with her powers. This is one of the theories that completely makes sense as there were scenes from the first season that foreshadowed this!
4. Mal Might Just Also Also Have Powers Too!
In our forth Shadow and Bone Theory, fans are exploring the idea that Mal has powers. Well, sort of. The thing is, Mal never got tested when they were kids because he was injured. While we never really know what may happen, there were definitely a lot of scenes from the first season that implied his strong connection with Alina. Imagine how powerful they'd be if he actually had some powers of his own too, don't you think?
5. The Crows’ Backstories Might Be Revealed!
At this point, we've all got our theories on how The Crows came to be. Some say they're figments of Nikolai's imagination, while others think they're ghosts. One theory even suggests they may be a manifestation of his father's spirit. But there's one thing that has always been clear: we don't know where they came from, and it is very likely that we will find out anytime soon. It’s been a long time coming, but we finally might be getting some answers about The Crows in Shadow and Bone. In fact, we might even get some backstory on just what they are!
We're really excited for this theory because it means we might finally get some answers to questions that have been burning in our minds since we read Shadow and Bone.
6. Inej Naming One of Her Knives After Alina
It's no surprise that Inej might name one of her knives after Alina Starkov. Alina is a sun saint, and as you may know, Inej has a tradition of naming her knives after saints.
In our opinion, naming a knife after someone you care about is a beautiful gesture—it shows that you are always thinking of them, even when they're not with you in person. Let us know what you think about this theory!
7. The Backstory of How The Crows Met
Season 2 of the hit TV show Shadow and Bone might reveal the backstory of how The Crows met. It's unclear what their backstory is, but it's clear that they have been trained since birth to be warriors.
What if The Crows had a different name before they joined together? What if one of them was betrayed by someone else in the group? What if one of them has a dark secret? And is there another traitor among them? In Season 2 of Shadow and Bone, we might finally get some answers about how they met each other and what happened in their pasts before they all became Crows!
8. Diving in Deep with Kaz and The Dregs
After the success of the first season of Shadow and Bone, the show's writers might just be looking to the future. And in the future, fans are speculating that season 2 might dive deep with Kaz and The Dregs.
Kaz has always been a bit of an enigma. He's super smart, and he's even got a few good morals: he doesn't like killing kids, for example, and he seems to have an almost-friendship with Inej Ghafa. But he also runs his crew like it's some kind of cult—and in fact, we see him use his magic powers or whatever they are on them at least once during the first season. So what does this all mean? Is he just another villain? Or is there more going on here?
9. The Revenge Plots of Kaz and Pekka
Season 2 of The Shadow and Bone might focus on Kaz's revenge plot. In the first season, we saw how Kaz was seeking revenge against Pekka for killing his father and burning down his home. Now that we know about this plot line, it would be interesting if season 2 explores Kaz's new plan for revenge against Pekka and what will happen if their paths cross again.
We're pretty excited about this, because we think it will give us a chance to see how Kaz has grown since the beginning of the story. What do you think?
10. Introducing Wylan!
The Crows are going to need a new member in Season 2! We've had a lot of fun speculating about who this new character could be, but we think that Wylan might be the most likely candidate. Wylan's introduction would make sense for a few reasons: it would help fill out the story, giving us more information about how the world works and introducing us to an important new character!
Read Shadow and Bone With Our Magnetic Bookmarks Today!
We hope you've enjoyed our list of the 10 Shadow and Bone fan theories that you certainly can't overlook. If you've got any other theories that we missed, let us know! And if you still haven't read the books, this is your sign to read it with our magnetic bookmarks!
These handy items help keep your place in your book, which is something we all need when our attention wanders. The bookmark has a durable grip that will hold onto the page when you turn it, and it's magnetic so it doesn't slip out of place. Plus, you can use it as a bookmark or as a paperweight—it's up to you! Whether you're enjoying this book for yourself or giving it as a gift, these bookmarks are sure to bring some extra fun into your reading experience. Check out IdleStuff today!
