Shadow of Night
by Deborah Harkness
Series: All Souls Trilogy #2
Series Rating:
Published by Viking Adult on July 10, 2012
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Romance
Pages: 584
Format: Kindle
Goodreads
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Book Depository
Also in this series: A Discovery of Witches
The #1 New York Times-bestselling sequel to A Discovery of Witches, book two of the All Souls Series. Look for the hit TV series “A Discovery of Witches,” streaming on AMC Plus, Sundance Now and Shudder. Season 2 premieres January 9, 2021!
Picking up from A Discovery of Witches' cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night takes reluctant witch Diana Bishop and vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont on a trip through time to Elizabethan London, where they are plunged into a world of spies, magic, and a coterie of Matthew's old friends, the School of Night. As the search for Ashmole 782--the lost and enchanted manuscript whose mystery first pulled Diana and Matthew into one another's orbit--deepens and Diana seeks out a witch to tutor her in magic, the net of Matthew's past tightens around them. Together they find they must embark on a very different - and vastly more dangerous - journey.
"A captivating and romantic ripping yarn,"** Shadow of Night confirms Deborah Harkness as a master storyteller, able to cast an "addictive tale of magic, mayhem and two lovers."**
Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness is an amazing, fantastic story that collides with history, science, and Ms. Harkness’s imagination. It gives us rich places, fabulous scenes, and characters that made even my background of basic knowledge of history wake up and pay attention. I adore this series, and although this isn’t my first time reading it, I doubt that it will be the last.
Will Diana figure out how to use her magic? Will Matthew be alright dealing with what happens in the past? Will they both make it back to the future alive?
Diana Bishop
Diana is such a strong, viable, curious and determined character. There are so many people offering advice and trying to instruct her on how to live her life, yet she finds the strength to do what is needed. Diana stays true to herself and the love that she shares with Matthew.
In the 16th Century, Diana must find herself literally as she has no money, no worth, and is dependent on Matthew. When she first arrives, she can’t even protect herself. Yet, under Philippe’s care and a few good witches, Diana figures out how to be herself and how to handle her magic. She also has to deal with some issues from the present time visiting her.
I love the character, Diana. She is filled with power, yet she chooses to be this caring individual with an open heart who takes in strays and helps those she cares about.
Matthew Clairmont, Roydon, de Clermont…
Matthew has lived many years, and yet once he finds Diana, he must go into his past and face the demons that he has somehow buried. He is a complicated man, with lots of secrets that threaten his sanity and rage that fills him at times. Matthew can handle his rage in the present time, but in the past, things are different, and there are so many others in control of him. Matthew must juggle between his identities, his past self, and his present self. No matter which person he must be at the time, Matthew remains in love with Diana and the life that they are building with each other.
My Favorite Creatures of the 16th Century
Gallowglass
Gallowglass is the vampire son of Hugh de Clermont and Matthew’s nephew. I was immediately drawn to the Gael with his sense of humor. I laughed when he would compare Diana to Ysabeau in a ‘no worrying’ fashion. He is reliable and loyal to Matthew and Diana. I love the way that he calls her “Auntie.”
Phillippe de Clermont
Philippe is a force to be reckoned with. He seems to know your thoughts, anticipate your reactions and test your very being all at the same time. Yet, he has presence and charisma. He makes even the smallest and weakest person feel cared for and understood. Philippe would make a wonderful politician.
I found Philippe mesmerizing. He is such a well-defined larger than life character that I felt he could walk right out of the book. I see why so many people declared their loyalty to him and stood by his side in battle or did the assigned tasks without argument. Philippe seems to find the right person for each task, and they complete the task even though it might cause them discomfort.
When I had first seen Matthew, my instinctive response had been to run. But Matthew—large and brooding as he’d been that September night in the Bodleian Library—hadn’t appeared half so otherworldly. And it wasn’t because Philippe de Clermont was a monster. On the contrary. He was, quite simply, the most breathtaking creature I had ever seen—supernatural, preternatural, daemonic, or human. No one could look at Philippe de Clermont and think he was mortal flesh. The vampire’s features were too perfect, and eerily symmetrical. Straight, dark eyebrows settled over eyes that were a pale, mutable golden brown touched with flecks of green. Exposure to sun and elements had touched his brown hair with strands of gleaming gold, silver, and bronze. Philippe’s mouth was soft and sensual, though anger had drawn his lips hard and tight tonight.
Harkness, Deborah. Shadow of Night: A Novel (All Souls Trilogy, Book 2) (p. 106). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Goody Alsop
Goody is a weaver and windwitch in 16th century England. She is Diana’s mentor. Goody has heard the prophecy of Diana’s arrival in their time and has been looking for her since. She believes in Diana, and they form a strong friendship. Diana learns as much as she can from Goody.
I felt this instant charm from Goody. She is friendly and knows her mind. I like the way that she teaches Diana with positive feedback and hope for the future.
A quote that gives reference to the best descriptions of the de Clermont family.
“Stand down, Matthew,” Philippe growled. The sound was as leonine as the rest of him. The de Clermont family was a menagerie of formidable beasts. In Matthew’s presence I was always reminded of wolves. With Ysabeau it was falcons. Gallowglass had made me think of a bear. Philippe was akin to yet another deadly predator.
Harkness, Deborah. Shadow of Night: A Novel (All Souls Trilogy, Book 2) (p. 106). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Five Stars
My rating for Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness is five stars. She does a marvelous job of keeping up with all the characters in both times, multiple places, and including enough history, mystery, and romance to keep you invested. I truly enjoy reading her books so much. I hope that she is off researching and writing another story, be it in this world or another that has formed in her outstanding imagination.
If you have read this series, I recommend it. If you have time, there is a brilliantly created television series available.
The All Souls Series
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness.
Until the next time,
We have more Discovery of Witches Reviews and a Cast List, just a click away.
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About Deborah Harkness
The story of my life? It can be summed up in three words: history, books, and libraries.
My career in fiction began in September 2008, when I started to wonder “if there really are witches and vampires, what do they do for a living?” A Discovery of Witches was the unexpected answer to that question….
Fictional Books
A Discovery of Witches debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, and was also a bestseller in the UK, France, and Germany. In total, more than thirty-seven foreign editions and translations of volumes from the trilogy have been published. The story of Diana and Matthew continues in Shadow of Night (2012) which debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and The Book of Life (2014) which debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, the Sunday Times bestseller list, and The Globe and Mail bestseller list. In 2018, I published Time’s Convert, a “prequelly sequel” to the trilogy, which debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list (for combined print & e-book fiction).
Professional Life
Before that, I spent more than a quarter of a century as a student and scholar of history, with degrees from Mount Holyoke College, Northwestern University, and the University of California at Davis. For my doctoral degree, I researched the history of magic and science in Europe, especially during the period from 1500 to 1700. The libraries I’ve worked in include Oxford’s Bodleian Library, the All Souls College Library at Oxford, the British Library, London’s Guildhall Library, the Henry E. Huntington Library, the Folger Shakespeare Library, and the Newberry Library—in other words, I know my way around a card catalogue or the computerized equivalent. These experiences have given me a deep and abiding love of libraries and a deep respect for librarians.
Currently
Currently, I teach European history and the history of science to undergraduates and graduate students at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Prior to that, I taught medical history at the Northwestern University Medical School, the history of science and medicine at the University of California at Davis, paleography at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Oxford, and early modern European history at Colgate University.
Taken from Deborah Harkness’ Website
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