The most shocking book-to-show changes in Shadow and Bone season 2

The second season of Netflix’s Shadow and Bone surprised fans by often diverging from the books by Leigh Bardugo, especially by changing the endings for almost every character.

This season had an even more complex structure than the first, so we knew not to expect a completely faithful adaptation. The new season takes material from at least four different novels and blends it together with (mostly) decent results. We thought we’d walk through some of the biggest changed, ranked from least shocking to most.

SPOILER WARNING: Be aware that, in discussing every episode of season 2 of Shadow and Bone, we will be digging into important plot points from the following books by Leigh Bardugo: Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising, Six of Crows, Crooked Kingdom, King of Scars, and Rule of Wolves.

Inej quits the Wraith life to go hunting for slavers

With Inej, Shadow and Bone season 2 skipped all the way to the book Crooked Kingdom, at the end of which Inej bids the Crows goodbye and embarks on a new journey, joining a crew whose purpose is to fight human trafficking.

While this occurs earlier than expected on the show, it’s by no means shocking. Show!Inej is now free, she has helped her beloved Sankta Alina save the world (twice) and can now go on her own path to hunt slavers and free hostages.

She’ll always love the Crows, but she won’t settle for a half life as a spy in Kerch, not now that she has the freedom to fight injustice elsewhere. She knows Ketterdam is well-looked after. “Was there never another dream?” she asked Kaz in their last heart-wrenching confrontation, a scene perfectly adapted from Six of Crows. Hope is not enough; she’d rather have opportunity.

It’s a bold choice for a girl so young. We also know we’ll see Inej again if Netflix renews Shadow and Bone for a third season. The Crows will surely ask for Inej’s help for their next life-changing job. More on this later.