Shadow of Night (All Souls Trilogy #2) 

“Together we lifted our feet and stepped into the unknown”—the thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestseller A Discovery of Witches

Deborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel,A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.

Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending,Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.

Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season.



From Me… *Spoilers*


First I want to share the intense sadness I experienced by reading this book.  If you have ever experienced this, I am so sorry!!!


Moving on from this tragedy was difficult, but with my trusty hair dryer, I made it through and could read the book–and I am so glad I did!!!  


This book had something for everyone.  If you enjoyed the first book, then you will love the character development.  For instance, Matthew and Diana finally have sex!!!  After 700 pages in the first book, and a couple hundred more in the second, they finally figured it out!  Yay!!!


If you enjoy historical fiction, then this is the book for you. This book is almost entirely set in the 16th century.  Matthew and Diana time travel to 1590 so that Diana can learn to become a witch and they can both find Ashmole 782.


If you like supernatural books, this one is great!  We have vampires, witches and demons galore, plus famous literary giants who are supernatural as well.  For instance, Sir Walter Raleigh and Shakespeare are not human.  Delicious!  Especially for someone with a degree in English, like me.


There  is so much to love in this book, but I do have some criticisms.  I wish Ms. Harkness had focused Matthew and Diana more.  I did not understand why the characters kept getting distracted!  We are talking about a life and death situation so dire that they had to go back in time to fix it!  Yet, they travel to multiple courts, placated multiple rulers, and take in children?!?!  I mean it was sweet to see Matthew help Jack with his nightmares, but it felt entirely superfluous.  


Otherwise, I really loved the book.  Then again, I am attached to the characters.  I can’t wait to see Diana be pregnant with a growing belly.  I bet that will change her magic like crazy!  Plus, I want to know how Deborah Harkness is going to answer the one question that plagues vampire and non-vampire romances…will she become a vampire?  I mean right now everything is great, but give it ten years, or twenty, or fifty!  He will continue unchanged but she won’t.  What will happen?  Guess I have another two years to wait.  Start the Clock!!!


Let me know what you thought about this book, the first book, or anything else you feel like saying!