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 … 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.”
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After reading book 1 and watching the tv show. I was in a rush to read book 2! I loved all the new characters including Gallowglass. The drama kept me on the edge if my seat!
Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness is the second book in her All Souls Trilogy . The sensationally magical story of an American witch with no desire for her powers and the centuries old vampire that irrevocably changes her life. Diana Bishop is a witch with limited skill and prefers to think of herself as the scholar she is. In this continuation of their story, Diana and Matthew embark on a perilous journey through time to locate the highly coveted, most sought-after, and elusive tome that Diana has touched once, in the Bodleian at Oxford, and now believes holds all the answers to the questions of origins and magic.
The powerful and descriptive writing truly immerses the reader into 17th century London and all the perils that a modern woman might face in the misogynistic world where men rule and women follow. A trip to France provides even more light into Matthews past and cements a bond that no one ever anticipated forging.
Addictive! This series is quite possibly as addictive as Matthew’s attraction to Diana! Now also a wonderful TV series on Sundance Channel, I was blown away with how entranced I was with these characters. The main characters, the secondary characters, the world-building. Definitely one of my best reads of 2019! Enjoy!
The second book in the All Souls Trilogy picks up where the other left off with our heroes traveling back in time. Most of the story takes place around 1590 but the future (or present) is never too far away. I liked that most about this story; it never let you forget that everything happening in the past was connected to the current or present struggle.
Before I dive in further, I will say that I was perplexed by the possible existence of werewolves after reading the first book, but the second book clarified it for me. Not a big deal to some, this clarification helped me enjoy this story much better.
So, we have Diana and Matthew taking on vampire clan relatives, the School of Night and other London societies, witch covens, and even creation. There’s a lot happening in the story, but not a lot happening for long periods of time. This story seems to focus on the universal theme of relationship drama, which usually boils down to communication issues. Diana with all her magic and Matthew with all his might, these two get caught up in a lot of drama that could have been avoided. But, that’s the story being told and if you love these characters, it all sucks you in.
In this book, I found that many of the side and supporting characters were my favorite parts. Being the cultural and theological enthusiast I am, I loved the collaboration of like minds despite their faiths. Seeing the cooperation between Pagan, Christian, Jewish, and more was refreshing.
Where the first book teased you with sensuality without leaving you wanting, the second book takes you into the bedroom of a deeply committed couple and holds nothing back. While not suitable for teens and below, this isn’t an explicit romp of ‘how much can the author get away with?’
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, but there was still something, not quite tangible, that kept me from loving it. In any case, I must finish this series at some point. Just like the first, this is a good read for an adult couple as long as they are both into dark themes.
Love all her books
Wonderful continuation from the first book. So much history!! So many new characters to fall in love with!!
Much of this book is set in 1591 London, and it is phenomenal. Deborah Harkness is a Goddess!
Love this book and the entire series. Such fun to read!
Great series!
Probably one of the best love stories I’ve ever read. Also, one of my all time favorite series.
One of my favorite series of all time
This is the second book in the trilogy and I had wondered how it could compare to the first, which I loved. I wasn’t disappointed.
We start with Diana and Matthew travelling back in time to London, and from the get go, the author builds the world around them with such detail that I felt like I was experiencing that time with Diana. The history, detail, and historical figures that feature in this book fascinated me as much as the story of Diana and Matthew.
Diana comes into her own in this book, and doesn’t shy away from challenges with the Matthew of this time period, but also trying to conceive, get a handle on her magic and deal with her past. Matthew shows some ugly sides as well, but my commitment to him being the only one for Diana remained.
We also get to meet some new characters, namely Phillippe and Gallowglass both of whom became favourites of mine.
You need to read a Discovery of Witches first, but as far as sequels go – this one was as good if not better.
The All Soul’s Trilogy by Dianna Harkness is probably the best book series I’ve ever read. It has all the most wonderful things: vampires, witches, power, magic, love, loss, conflict, resolution. It’s simply amazing.
First book ended in a fairly significant cliffhanger but this one is relatively minor in hanging you until next book. The couple travels to medieval times…lots of adventure, twists and turns, romance, little more heat, and suspense continues. A page Turner…
Excellent second book in a series. You must have the third book at the ready when this ends.
I absolutely loved all 3 of the books. They are awesome.
My
5 Stars
Shadow of Night is the second book in the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. I am so in love with this series…. GAH!!! As with the first book this is a wonderful fantasy, with paranormal elements, witches, vampires, daemons, magic, time travel, history, espionage, action, adventure, danger, drama, mystery, and so much more. As I said in my review for the first book, this is a little like The Vampire Diaries meets The Da Vinci Code.
It is an original take on the Witches/Vampire/Daemon lore- full of interesting ‘history’ and is beautifully detailed and descriptive. Ms. Harkness has a knack for storytelling, with exceptional world-building skills that brings everything to life right before your eyes.
This book picks up where book one left off, Diana and Matthew travel through time- and so this adventure begins. This book has a slightly different feel to it than the first book, but is just as intriguing. I loved the historical/time travel element to this story. This story kept me on the edge of my seat, devouring the pages to keep up with what was happening.
Another spellbinding instalment to the series. This is a set of books that I will be quite happy to explore many times again in the future.
A must read for any fantasy/ paranormal addict!
Thank you, Ms. Harkness!
I’m just loving this series!
I feel like I both flew through this book and yet I took forever to read it.
This book definitely had a different feel to it from the first one. But that makes sense. Diana and Matthew are going back to the 1590s as opposed to being in the…”current time” (I’m honestly not sure what the year is supposed to be here except current time). So obviously, things are going to be different. Because of the change in time, this book had an almost Outlander feel to it, and I loved that. Similar to Outlander, Diana and Matthew get caught up in the politics and issues of the time, but unlike (book 2) of Outlander, I didn’t feel like this one dragged (don’t hate me! I absolutely love Outlander and the series is awesome and I simply adore Jamie and Claire but parts of book 2 were a chore to get through, and I say that as someone that love history )
I’ll admit, I really missed the secondary characters from book 1. And I wasn’t too fond of most of Matthew’s friends. Don’t even get me started on Kit. I was equally unsure about Matthew’s father, not sure if I liked him or not but I came to love him, and hate that in the present day he’s not around. I would have loved to see Philippe and Ysabeau together. I also came to love the little rag-tag family Diana and Matthew created for themselves in the past. And this is a total spoiler and honestly, I don’t care because I have to talk about it, but I loved that Diana got to spend some time with her father. That was the sweetest time and I teared up when they parted ways.
This book was fantastic and I can’t wait to finish out the trilogy!
“Shadow of Night” earns 5++/5 Magical Manuscript…Compelling and Engaging!
INTRIGUING. SENSUAL. SUSPENSE-FILLED. EPIC. The decision is made. Their needs outweigh the dangers, revelations are enlightening, and things foretold make their path imperative. Diana needs help to unbind her magic and find intact Ashmole 782, so timewalking may be the answer. It is 1590, Elizabeth I is on the throne, and Diana has discovered living the history of which she thought she was an expert is very much a challenge. Matthew lived this time, but he is not the man that originally held this place. His close friends are themselves creatures, and although they learn of Diana’s true nature and knowing the importance of Matthew and Diana’s quest, they willing provide any assistance needed, but there are serious problems that erect roadblocks to discovering the book: jealousies, relationships, royal intrigue, and family dynamics. From England to France back to England, then to Prague and a last visit to England, Matthew and Diana’s epic journey is fraught with excitement, discovery, pain, and hope.
I was never so absorbed with a literary series as I am with Deborah Harkness’s second book in her All Souls Trilogy. I was immersed in the first-person perspective as Diana’s detailed description of the Elizabethan culture, fashion, and environment became real. Incorporating historical figures and events sparked my inner historian, and spurred me on to Google and learn more about the School of Night, Berwick witch trials, and life in the sixteenth century. Harkness’s research must have been extensive; her methods and anecdotes of her personal journey would be interesting. I greatly enjoyed Harkness’s take on the witch and vampire mythology; hers giving a more realistic interpretation…just another version of human? I worried how the time paradox was handled, but who would truly stop themselves from interacting in their past’s present? Would you really worry how your actions effect your future’s present? It’s much like the line “if I knew then, what I know now.” Matthew’s conundrum is one he tried so hard to reconcile. I enjoyed how the story was organized with pieces of their actions in the past creatively revealed. I looooved every bit of this story, and am racing off to begin the final installment, “The Book of Life.” What is the truth behind Ashmole 782? Who will survive in the fight with the Congregation? What does the future hold for Matthew, Diana, and their union?
It can seem a bit slow for readers who like a lot of action, but it is wonderfully written with complex characters, paranormal creatures suspicious of each other, for good reason.