PRETTY LITTLE LIARS - "Pretty Little Liars" author Sara Shepard and the cast of the upcoming series were at Barnes & Noble to celebrate the 8th and final PLL book, Wanted. Sara read a short passage from the book and signed books with the cast for fans. (ABC FAMILY/RICK ROWELL) LUCY HALE, ASHLEY BENSON, SARA SHEPARD, TROIAN BELLISARIO, SHAY MITCHELL

You don’t have to tell Troian Belisario and Shay Mitchell they’re entering new territory on ABC Family with their new series Pretty Little Liars.

“It’s a very risqué show,” Belisario begins. “A little bit darker then their other shows,” Mitchell finishes.

Those elements were what attracted the women to the series in the first place they tell us. As a matter of fact, once Belisario got over the initial shock that it was going to air on ABC Family, she was hyped up to take on the role of Aria in the drama.

“I read the material and said, ‘Are you kidding,’ I would love to play this part,” she says.

But, it went even further for Mitchell, who is hoping her role as Emily as well as the series itself prompts families to talk.

“It can open a conversation with their parents more easily because they’re watching it on TV,” she points out.

And, wow, are those parents in for an eye-opener. Pretty Little Liars begins with four estranged best friends who reunite after the queen bee of the group goes missing. As the stories progress we’ll learn all about their secrets.

Click onto media bars for:

The initial surprised reaction from Troian Belisario and Shay Mitchell.

The honest assessment of the characters in Pretty Little Liars from Troian Belisario and Shay Mitchell.

Pretty Little Liars debuts tonight, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC Family.