'Six of Crows' Meets 'The Departed' in This Addictive Fantasy Saga That Demands a Streaming Adaptation

Published Sep 20, 2026, 1:58 PM EDT

Kendall Myers is a Senior Author with Collider. As part of the TV and Movies Features team, she writes about some of the most popular releases before, during, and after they premiere. In three years, she has written over 900 articles with topics ranging from classic sitcoms to fantasy epics.

Adaptations have become a staple of the fantasy TV genre, with some of the best shows having come from books. Even as some longtime favorites make it to the screen, new stories that deserve their own adaptation are released. L. K. Steven's dark fantasy novel Silvercloak combines the undercover aspects of The Departed with the magical crime of Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows (which is still waiting for a proper adaptation after Shadow and Bone's cancelation). While Silvercloak is a relatively new addition to the fantasy genre, its thrilling story makes it an ideal choice to join the list of books that would make a perfect TV series.

Published in 2025, Silvercloak introduces a new series unlike any other. With its newly released sequel, Turncloak, building on the adventure, Steven's saga has plenty of material to stretch over multiple seasons. In fact, an adaptation of Steven's books could fill a rare niche by combining fantasy and crime drama into one exciting show.

What Is 'Silvercloak' About?

Serving as Steven's transition from YA to adult fantasy, Silvercloak follows a determined mage named Saffron Killoran, who seeks revenge for her parents' deaths at the hands of the Bloodmoon criminal organization. To achieve that goal, she lies her way into the elite Silvercloak Academy, but when she is caught, her director offers her a risky lifeline. Saffron has been publicly disgraced, which allows her to join the Bloodmoons while secretly working as an undercover Silvercloak agent. Saffron is uniquely qualified for the task because she not only has a personal vendetta against the organization, but her rare immunity to magic allows her to defy the Bloodmoon's loyalty brand, allowing her to hide her true intentions.

Once embedded with the Bloodmoons, Saffron learns more about their leader, Lyrian Celadon, uncovers a magical drug ring, and even discovers why her parents were killed. Yet, not every member of the organization is who they seem to be. Saffron gets to know Celadon's son, Levan, and realizes their lives have always been linked. As she navigates her disguise, her deteriorating relationship with her old friends, and the limits of her own humanity, Saffron discovers a few truths about herself that leave more questions than answers.

'Silvercloak's Unique Fantasy World Deserves a TV Show

While Silvercloak's story is exciting on its own, the fantasy saga sets itself further apart with its expansive world and unique magic system, ranging from healing to the ability to compel others. Each mage has specific talents and has learned to use their power in different, often creative ways. More interestingly, all magic is powered by pleasure or pain, creating an indulgent society. Pleasure adds more magic to a mage's well, while pain makes what remains more potent. With these sensations as the source of magical abilities, Silvercloak features distinct battles as mages use different tactics to refill their depleted energy.

On a wider scale, Silvercloak's world has plenty of potential for any streamer. While the corrupt Bloodmoons are the initial focus of the story, Steven's novel also devotes focus to a sprawling world involving ancient prophecy, dragon lore, forbidden time magic, star-crossed romance, and many more avenues for an adaptation to explore. This expansive worldbuilding results in a complex, and ultimately flawed, society that feels surprisingly realistic despite its fantastical elements. With an action-packed story, morally complex characters, and shocking twists, Silvercloak would make a perfect dark fantasy TV series for fans of Six of Crows and The Departed alike.