How are Mal and The Darkling related in Shadow and Bone season 2? (spoilers)

Shadow and Bone season 2 has arrived and brought lots of revelations fans of the series have been waiting to see unfold. Because of these revelations, there’s no doubt that the second season will rank the fan-favorite show as one of the best Netflix shows of the year.

In the new season, Alina (Jessie Mei Li) continues her search for the final two amplifiers that will increase her Sun Summoner powers and help bring down the Shadow Fold, and its creator The Darkling (Ben Barnes), in order to save Ravka.

While looking for the second and third of Morozova’s three amplifiers, some startling truths come to light about a few of our beloved characters, including expert tracker and Alina’s boyfriend Mal (Archie Renaux). So, what is the real connection between Mal and The Darkling?

WARNING: Major spoilers ahead from Shadow and Bone season 2!

How is Mal related to The Darkling in Shadow and Bone season 2?

Shadow and Bone season 2 reveals that even though the Firebird exists, it’s not an actual bird as they once believed and had been tracking. Baghra reveals she’s the daughter of Morozova and that she had a sister, who she’s responsible for killing. Morozova used merzost to bring back her sister, making Baghra’s sister the third amplifier. She ended up passing down her power as the third amplifier through generations to Mal.

Since The Darkling is Baghra’s son, Mal and The Darkling are distant cousins. The Darkling goes as far as calling Mal his cousin in a tense scene between the two once the family connection is revealed. There’s still questions about Mal’s parentage, but we now know his heritage lies with Morozova. Unfortunately, that includes a relation to The Darkling.

Are Mal and The Darkling cousins in the Shadow and Bone books?

Even though the story might play out a bit differently in the Shadow and Bone books, it’s revealed in Ruin and Rising that Mal is the Firebird and that he’s distantly related to The Darkling through the Morozova bloodline. However, he’s described as The Darkling’s “great-nephew.”

The show’s description of Mal and The Darkling being cousins makes much more sense than great-nephew since Mal isn’t directly related to a sibling of The Darkling. (And as far as we know, Baghra didn’t have any more children.) Briefly in the book, Alina worries that she could have been a descendent of Morozova’s second daughter, but her worries proved false.

If you didn’t read the books, did you see Mal and The Darkling’s family connection coming? Share your thoughts in the comments, and make sure to watch Shadow and Bone season 2 on Netflix!