In this fantasy television series, Alina Starkov discovers she is a Sun Summoner, a Grisha with the power to conjure light, and is believed to be the only one who can destroy the Shadow Fold, a swath of darkness dividing the Russia-inspired land of Ravka.

The television series that features Alina Starkov, a cartographer who discovers she is a Sun Summoner with the power to conjure light, is *Shadow and Bone (Review)*. This fantasy drama is based on Leigh Bardugo's popular Grishaverse novels and premiered on Netflix in 2021. The narrative plunges viewers into a world inspired by Tsarist Russia, where extraordinary abilities, known as the Small Science, are wielded by a group of people called Grisha.

A central element of the series is the formidable Shadow Fold, also known as the Unsea, a vast and desolate expanse of impenetrable darkness that literally cleaves the nation of Ravka in two. This ominous region is home to terrifying, flesh-eating winged monsters called Volcra, making passage through it incredibly perilous. The creation of the Fold centuries ago by a powerful Grisha, the Black Heretic, has left Ravka fractured, hindering trade and communication and fostering political instability.

Alina Starkov's emergence as a Sun Summoner is a pivotal moment, as her rare ability to generate light is believed to be the only force capable of destroying the Shadow Fold and reuniting Ravka. Grisha possess various powers, categorized into orders like Corporalki (manipulators of the body), Etherealki (summoners of elements), and Materialki (manipulators of materials). Alina's power, as an Etherealki, is exceptionally rare, positioning her as a potential savior for her war-torn country. Her journey is one of self-discovery, grappling with her newfound abilities and the immense responsibility that comes with being the legendary Sun Summoner.