The Darkling Returns in this Sneak Peek at Shadow and Bone Season 2

Get ready to head back into the Fold — Netflix has just released a first-look video for Shadow and Bone Season 2.

It's been almost two years since this lush fantasy adaptation, developed by Arrival scribe Eric Heisserer and based on Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse book series, debuted on Netflix.

Jessie Mei Li leads the series as Alina Starkov, an unassuming cartographer who quickly learns just how pivotal a role she has to play in a global conflict — she's nothing less than the Sun Summoner, a near-messianic figure in Bardugo's Grishaverse. Ben Barnes, whom the internet dreamcast before the show was even in development, stars as General Kirigan aka the Darkling, whose powers may or may not equal Alina's.

Season 1 set the foundation for this intricate fantasy world, ending with a cliffhanger as Alina and Mal Oretsev (Archie Renaux) survived an action-packed confrontation with Kirigan, who ended up only slightly worse for wear.

As part of its Tudum: A Netflix Global Fan Event, Netflix released a sneak peek at Season 2, which will see Alina really coming into her own (she proudly claims the mantle of Sun Summoner) while Kirigan regroups and the Crows — the breakouts of Season 1 — get into more mischief. (Let's hope no goats will be harmed in their upcoming exploits either.)

"Are you willing to sacrifice that which is most precious to you?" asks the Darkling near the end of the preview, which seems to point to higher stakes this go-round. Season 1 drew from multiple Grishaverse books, including the Six of Crows duology, but there's no word yet on what the specific source material is for the new episodes. But Season 2 will consist of eight episodes and will premiere on Netflix in 2023. 

People are talking about Shadow and Bone in our forums. Join the conversation.

Danette Chavez is the Editor-in-Chief of Primetimer and its biggest fan of puns.