Leigh Bardugo said that she is “heartbroken” over the cancelation of Shadow and Bone, the Netflix series based on her Grishaverse fantasy novels.
The series, which starred Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, and Freddy Carter, and aired for two seasons, was canceled earlier this week. Variety reports that the cancelation was due to the impacts of the writers’ and actors’ strikes that brought Hollywood to a virtual standstill this year. Additionally, a planned spinoff of the show, Six of Crows, will not be moving forward.
Shadow and Bone received largely positive reviews and earned an Emmy nomination. Kirkus’ David Rapp called Season 1 of the show “truly impressive in its scope,” naming it one of his favorite book-to-screen adaptations of 2021.
Bardugo’s Grishaverse novels, which include Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising, follow Alina Starkov (played by Li in the Netflix series), an orphan who discovers that she has a special gift that allows her to control light.
In a post on Instagram, Bardugo wrote, “The news hit me hard. I’m heartbroken and deeply disappointed, but I’m also trying to hold on to my very real gratitude. Most authors never get to see their work adapted. Many who do end up regretting the experience.…Now, I’m going to go have a cry, and maybe a drink, and then see where the story takes us next.”
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
