Shadow of Night: A Novel

Written by Deborah Harkness

Narrated by Jennifer Ikeda

The #1 New York Times bestselling sequel to A Discovery of Witches, book two of the All Souls series. 

Look for the hit series “A Discovery of Witches,” now streaming on AMC+, Sundance Now, and Shudder!

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.”*



*Chicago Tribune

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Audio
• Release date: Jul 10, 2012
• ISBN: 9781101564202

Deborah Harkness

Deborah Harkness is the number one Sunday Times bestselling author of A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, The Book of Life, Time's Convert and The World of All Souls. A history professor at the University of Southern California, Harkness has received Fulbright, Guggenheim, and National Humanities Center fellowships. She lives in Los Angeles. Follow Deborah Harkness on Twitter @DebHarkness and Instagram @debharkness, and visit www.deborahharkness.com and www.facebook.com/AuthorDeborahHarkness

Reviews for Shadow of Night

[acargile-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I never think there's much to say with second or third books because I never want to give anything away.

Book one ends with Diana and Matthew leaving modern day behind and traveling to 1590 with the goal of finding witches to help Diana learn her powers, but the plan doesn't go smoothly. Matthew and Diana get caught up in living. They spend a lot of time talking to people and meeting up with famous people in history: Walter Raleigh, Queen Elizabeth, Doctor Dee, Marlowe, and William Shakespeare is mentioned. Those are merely a few of the people. I kept wanting them to focus on their goals, but they were living their lives. Matthew has to take on the job he had at this time in history, as the Matthew of this time period disappears because they can't both be in the same place. This problem is never really explained. Where does he go? Does he know? Matthew leads a complicated life as a spy and a member of the Conference (the group that makes decisions for the demons, vampires, and witches--can't recall the actual name). Eventually, Diana actually meets some witches that can train her, but these are very short scenes. How Diana will be this amazing witch with so little training is beyond me. Matthew and Diana get married, they meet family that vows to protect Diana, they meet the vampire who rules London, they get closer to each other emotionally, they take care of two stray children, and they journey about a lot. You see a lot of this time period as they look for Ashmole 782.

Overall, it was fine. They're moving about with lots of characters you wonder how it will all flesh out in the end. There are some chapters in the modern period that only show that Matthew and Diana are changing the past. It ends with their return.

[danielle.desrochers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I just love these characters!
The way she takes real people and her own characters and puts them into such fantastical situations is so mesmerizing. Love this series!

[mickyfine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In the second book in the All Souls series, follows Matthew and Diana as they travel back in time to 1590s London. Their main goals are to attempt to access the magical Ashmole 782 manuscript that is inaccessible in modern Oxford, as well as to find witches who can help Diana to understand her magic. But life in the past is more complicated than Mattthew and Diana anticipated and the longer they stay, the more ripples they cause in the present.

I abandoned this book the first time I tried it several years ago. I do think it benefits from being read closely to the first book. There are a lot of details and world rules that benefit from still being fresh in my memory. I also found that Matthew was less annoying when his major character flaws were still freshly familiar from the first book. I will say that the draw for me with these books is the plot and the world-building and that the romance between the two main characters isn't the draw that normally would be for me. I still find reading the series highly enjoyable but unusually it's not the characters or the relationships that keep me invested.

[rekki-281232 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There are a TON of characters to keep track of in this series, but overall I am enjoying it. Lots of history here, you can tell the author really did her homework~

[sensory-376444 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was a bit disappointed. It was just okay, too much romance and not enough adventure. Best part was the presence of some historical figures.

[kittycunningh-815148 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Romance novel wrapped in a time travel story. Not interested in reading more of the series. Harkness writes well . I just don't care for the story.

[LettyMrtz · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I finally finished it!!!
I liked the first one in the trilogy much more, perhaps due to the novelty of the story and because it had a good pace, but with this one, everything goes slow, very, very slow, to the point that there came a moment when I forgot the purpose of the plot until it was mentioned again much later in the reading ?, and reading the third one is out of the question ?‍♀️ (Translated from Spanish)

[bookczuk · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

2022 pandemic read. I resisted reading this for so long, but got sucked into the TV Show, and wanted to see where book one went. This had moments of interest, but not enough to make me rush out to get book 3. I'm still lukewarm on the series.

[swbesecker · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My book club friends liked this second book of Harkness' trilogy more than I did. Lots more fluff and detail unnecessary to the story than I like. I found myself skimming paragraphs where no one was speaking. Still a wonderful story as we see the two main characters grow individually and as a pair. I look forward to watching the series.

[Estefania s · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Entertaining and enjoyable. It is easy to read, although at times it gets a bit heavy. Very good character and plot development. I can't wait to start the third one!!!! (Translated from Spanish)

[bookconcierge · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Digital audiobook performed by Jennifer Ikeda

Book two in the All Souls Trilogy picks up where book one left off.

SPOILER ALERT – if you haven’t read book one, you might not want to read any farther.


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Diana has successfully transported herself and Matthew back to 16th-century England, where they hope to find a witch to help Diana learn her craft, and, perhaps more importantly, find the original Ashmole 782 manuscript. Matthew, having been here before, has an easy enough time fitting in, but Diana is pretty obviously “not from here” and that causes some issues. There is much political intrigue, not only that related to witches vs vampires vs daemons, and Matthew and Diana are mired deep into the muck quickly.

I was not so caught up in this book as I was with the first one. I felt it dragged in places and I didn’t feel the same passion between Diana and Matthew so evident in Discovery of Witches. I did enjoy the appearances by famous real-life 16th-century figures (Shakespeare, Marlow, Queen Elizabeth I, etc), as well as learning a bit more about the various kinds of witches and following Diana’s quest to find her roots and learn her craft. And I loved her familiar!

Diana cannot seem to let go of her modern sensibilities and has a tendency to interfere in ways that put them in danger. (Sounds familiar to anyone who’s read the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.) Matthew continues his usual brooding and protective behavior. As a result, their relationship hits a few bumps but they do manage to work things through. There are times when I want to slap Matthew and tell him to just explain in detail, but I suppose that would lessen the suspense and the tension between him and Diana. Harkness also includes a couple of touching scenes involving parental love as well.

The puzzle continues in book three, which I’ll read – eventually. I don’t feel a pressing need to do so, however.

Jennifer Ikeda did a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She really brings these characters to life.

[xbooksandmagicx · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story has been entertaining and at several points exciting, but most of the time I had to force myself to continue because I was getting bored. I liked it less than the first one, although I do want to know the outcome that will be seen in the third part. (Translated from Spanish)

[Cris ¿Qué libro leo? · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The truth is that I don't really like the story, the characters, and their clichés, but at the same time, I can't stop reading the books; I want to know what happens next. (Translated from Spanish)

[m_mozeleski · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This installment, while trying to continue the utter wonder and novelty of the first, fell somewhat flat for me. Not horribly, but there was a little too much dwadling between the characters. The sole reason Diana and Matthew went where they did was to find a teacher for Diana...not relive a who's who of the time and place. It was altogether too much. There were high points that should have shone more.

But also, the time and place they were was pretty nice, so, fine. Also, people procrastinate on important stuff all the time when they're getting used to a new location and manner of comportment.

[paulagalvan-323293 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The entire first half of the second book is more about Matthew de Clermont and his vampire family than about Diana Bishop, the witch. After they timewalk together to the sixteen century, Matthew (who is known then as Matthew Roydon) reunites with old friends and family. We meet his father, Philippe de Clermont—the fierce lord of Step-Tours—who is still alive in 1590. We also learn of Matthew's history as a member of the famous School of Night (or Atheism), which includes Sir Walter Raleigh, Christopher (Kit) Marlowe—a daemon, George Chapman, and Thomas Harriot—also a daemon. These are not the only historical figures we meet. William Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth I, and King Rudolf II also make an appearance. While Diana tries to fit in and cope with Matthew's compelling need to possess and protect her, she learns that vampires have complicated rules and traditions, and also a fierce loyalty to their own. Still searching for the allusive Ashmole 782, Matthew and Diana travel from England to France, then to Prague, and back to England again. During this time, Diana learns to blend in but still attracts the attention of every creature she encounters. Finally, she finds a group of witches that take her under their wing, and she begins her training as a weaver—a rare and special witch. As I read this, I felt emerged in the smells, tastes, and traditions of life as it must have once been in this long-ago century. This second book in the series was definitely a time-walk to another place filled with history, danger, and unsettling liaisons. The author has laboriously included the tiniest details of life in Elizabethan England. I almost forgot I was sitting in my 21st-century living room.

[stephanie_m-868484 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This novel is a mess. Shadow of Night suffered most from it's almost obsessive focus on detailing every aspect of the historical period in which it was set.

Diana and Matthew travel to the 16th century, and craziness ensues... Not. It is not apparent that Diana's 20th century American mannerisms, speech and personality are out of place in Elizabethan England, to anyone. Not even Diana and Matthew. WTH?
The story line is impossibly complicated, totally unbelievable, and very hard for even the characters IN IT to remember. HOW can someone with Diana's "impressive intellectual abilities" struggle to remember her own life story, even though it had to keep changing, when her very life depended on it?? And how can a witch be so VERY bad at being a witch, when her "spellbound talents" have started coming out?
Matthew is not only a vampire extraordinaire, he is also a member of the Congregation (bad guys), a member of the Order of Lazarus (a knight), and a spy....? I'm a little foggy on the spy stuff because the explanation made no sense to me--something about Protestants and Catholics. And I am a HUGE fan of historically correct fiction and non-fiction.


Another issue with this novel is that the primary characters were constantly meeting historically famous people, and the author doesn't take time to make them mesh with the plot-line at all. EVERYONE famous from this time was involved with Matthew, in his house, and in his life. But the dialogue between the primary characters and the famous, historical figures was as boring as could be... these were real people, Harkness, couldn't you have at least tried to make them more believable? Making Christopher Marlowe a daemon and Walter Raleigh a knight in the Order of Lazarus added nothing to the novel. In fact, the addition of all the historical figures did nothing for the novel whatsoever. They didn't move the plot forward, and these historical people popped up so often it became a game of Historical Who's Who. I hated how Harkness tied these people into her characters' lives. Like much of the novel's contents, there was no need for it.

The whole time-traveling thing was really badly done as well. The two main characters go back in time, into a point in time where one of them has already lived through. Matthew's other "self" from that time period just vanishes - and to where?? Vampire Limbo? Even worse is, when these two go back to the present day, where they are from, that other self that's just been hanging out with other 'vanished people' in People Limbo, just comes back... and doesn't evolve into the Matthew that lived through the past however many months. Doesn't have a memory of it, at all. Doesn't even notice the changes that went around him....?
Friends: "Hey Matthew, what happened to your witchly wife?" Matthew: "wut....?" 0.o

Yeah, right. Also, if they did go back to the past, when they returned everything would be dramatically different for the both of them. The two time-travelers proceed to do countless things that would seriously alter the future, but despite this, nothing appears wrong when they return way too late in the book. Also, the fact that they could have time traveled to another period in time, the second the first place they went to no longer seemed favorable. But they didn't. Instead, they proceed to do a massive number of unnecessary things that could have been avoided if any character in the story had simply been smart enough to remember that Diana can time travel whenever she wants to.

The character development was pretty poor, the story would drag slowly through some times, and then suddenly fast-forward through others, and the plot just meandered around all over the place. Too many characters were introduced, way laid, and then forgotten. And too many cliches were used in the couple's relationship, to the point where it was all too predictable.

Matthew becomes very annoying with his constant desire to keep secrets, and he treats Diana like she is incapable of understanding what he is going through, or what life is like then. What happened to her immense knowledge of the past? Her degree? What made her - or Matthew for that matter, keep Christopher Marlowe around, when he'd obviously gone completely around the bend, in his hatred for Diana, and his jealousy?? He was nothing like this in real-life, I am sure, even though some report him to have been some kind of spy. IF Matthew was that jealous of anyone showing Diana any kind of attention, even the famous Christopher Marlowe would not have been alive for long - especially after their (Diana and C.M.'s) last scene. Christopher Marlowe is the least likable character I have ever encountered, and I lost all (of what little) respect I had for Matthew, for repeatedly forgiving him for unforgivable acts. Why, just because he became famous, later on in history??

Also; do you mean to tell me that Matthew's father somehow manages to silence ALL of the village at Sept Tours, and then ALL of London, and then ALL of Matthew's friends, about the fact that Matthew is married, so when Elizabethan Matthew returns he never finds out everything that transpired while he was in limbo? Harkness should have just proposed that Matthew and Diana were creating an alternate history. Instead she dumbly has their friends discovering traces of them in the future, which just makes no sense at all. Or she could have just had them keep a lower profile in the past. Totally amateurish and insulting to the fans, which is a shame because there is a great sequel in there somewhere

Diana herself may have tried to grow stronger in controlling her power, but she still remained mentally weak. What was with all the dizziness and fainting, also? WHY was her magic so completely different in the past, than it was in their home-time? Did the author really need this development, in order to extend the weak plot a little longer? Diana couldn't possibly be preggers, because they didn't have sex until more than half-way through the second book. And, the sex scene was rather boring.

On top of that, the whole damn plot didn't make sense. There was NO reason for them to stay in the 16th century, which the author didn't really research, obviously. (Re: Diana asking why the carriages in London didn't look like the ones in her Jane Austen films, when Austen's books took place at a time 200 years in the future? Ummm, progress?)

Anyway, this isn't some kind of novel where the portal to the past is only open on THIS particular day, at THIS particular time, and only for so long, a la "Kate & Leopold". Diana can time travel whenever she wants to! To whatever time or place she wants to, if she has the right items! The fact that they didn't leave when things got creepy or weird, or even a little dangerous, makes about as much sense as the fact that she cannot time travel to the present DAY that she had left, so as to avoid any time from passing in the present. Instead, when they've returned, roughly a year has passed... did anyone in her life notice? Is her job still there? Who knows. But I guess that this does enforce the trend of the author being consistent in her attempts to make sure that time travel makes absolutely no sense at all, in this novel.

The first book in this series had at least a story of SOME sort, and kept me interested enough to keep reading it. At first, Diana and Matthew were interesting characters, before he became controlling, possessive, and super-jealous. But this sequel is terrible. Nothing really interesting happens in it. Not one of the main characters take charge, or make anything happen in their lives. They just kind of... go with the flow. I didn't see any character change, progression, or development. Diana didn't know much more magic-stuff then she did when she left for the past. Their marriage was supposedly stronger, but I could not tell this, for myself (Harkness said so, so I should believe her...?) They didn't learn anything from that oh-so-imperative-to-find book, which WAS the reason for the time traveling to begin with. In fact, no knowledge or experience worthwhile was gained, the whole time they meandered around in the past... and this book just becomes one LOOOOONG description of clothes, food, and smells, with some boring convo's thrown in, some shopping, and moving from city to city. Oh, and another wedding. Which I could have cared less about.

So I stopped reading this novel, and went on to something much more interesting... somewhere in the middle, and skimmed the rest. Time is too short to punish myself with bad writing and editing. I am sorry I spent so many a rainy night on it, already... and I have NO idea how this novel got so many 4 star ratings. I have NO idea how this novel got the "Goodread's 2012 Choice Winner" award. And I am SO glad I got this book from the library, and didn't pay for it. And I have no desire to read the third novel in this series, either.

In short, if you want to read this novel, you have been warned.

[melrailey-412132 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well, I did manage to contain myself and take an entire 2 1/2 days to reach this book instead of reading it in one sitting like I did A Discovery of Witches. I loved this book. I liked the meetings with the historical figures. I thought Harkness did a great job of describing what living in that time period would be like for a modern day girl. Speech, writing and just carrying on a conversation with other people took some getting used to for Diana. Yes, we all know about the dangers of disrupting the space-time continuum and how we must beware of any actions we make in the past because of how they might disrupt the future but I really don't analyze my books that much. I'm interested in a good story and Harkness provided that. Matthew and Diana's relationship continued to grow stronger. We are introduced to some new characters and still get to see a little bit of what's going on with our old favorites back in the modern timeline.

A funny aside, I was trying to describe this book to a friend of mine and found it almost impossible to classify into a specific genre - there's time travel (fantasy?), romance, historical, paranormal . . . Finally, I told her that it was in the same class as the Outlander books.

[mrnattania72 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Though this didn't have the suspense or action that the first book had, it gave way to a lot if necessary history and explanation of our favorite blood sucker and how he came to be the Camp we all love and cheerfor. Besides that you find out the real truth if the manuscript and how easy time travel is for metahumans.

[linyarai · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found the first half to be a bit slower, and was a bit overwhelmed by all the characters thrown at me all at once. But after she meets the other witches it really picks up and I quite enjoyed it.

[mary_beth_robb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely loved this book but then I'm a big fan of the Elizabethan period and of the School of Night.

I was amused by the Kit Marlowe character since it seems to fit with all I've read about him. Go look at some Hilliard miniatures for a look at art of the period. if you have no interest in this period of history you will no doubt be bored but if you like history and this time period you should be highly entertained.

Deborah Harkness knows her history and her time period and makes it come alive.

[Lilix · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Second book of the "All Souls" trilogy by Deborah Harkness. Just as captivating as the first, with magic, love, history, and familiar characters from the past. I've already started the third one. Spectacular trilogy. (Translated from Spanish)

[polywogg · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

BOTTOM-LINE:
A slow middle book with no ending
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PLOT OR PREMISE:
A witch and a vampire hide out in 1590 Europe while she learns to control her powers.
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WHAT I LIKED:
After timewalking from present day, Diana has to learn to live in Elizabethan England, adapt to the customs of the day, and attempt to blend in. Lots of historical figures pop in and out, friends of Matthew in the "School of Night", and she feasts on the living history. But it is only when she is at Sept-Tours that the book really brings the same sense of place that the first book did. She learns about the nature of her witch powers from a coven, and her family grows in size, including a nephew named Gallowglass.
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WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
The sense of place that was so common in each of the locales in the first book is not as vivid, except in Sept-Tours with Philippe (Matthew's father). In addition, the book drags on and on in places with hardly anything happening relative to the mystery of magic, rather than just politics of the day, yet there are two fairly important events regarding children that are practically ignored as commonplace (with seemingly no emotional impact at all). There are also major happenings that happen elsewhere in time, and you only hear about them as throwaway news, including the death of a significant character.
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DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.

[fbswss · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fascinating imagery but jumpy, disjointed, messy... but leaves you wanting more detail, more depth. Great characters and premise, fantastic imagination. Needs to be better writing.

[phyllis2779 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Terrific sequel to Discovery of Witches. It more than kept up to the first volume, it even surpassed it. I loved the historical accuracy and authenticity of the volume. I can foresee re-reading the trilogy sometime in the future. Although the TV series is not as good as the books, I hope they do have another season which covers this book.

[SophieLiber · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic like the first one, filled with fictional and real characters, many travels through different countries in the Elizabethan era, tons of characters, and the plot twists and untwists at times, waiting for the conclusion in the third book, back to the present. (Translated from Spanish)

[RocioAnahi · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The second book has not changed my perspectives: good plot but told in a not very intelligent manner, with characters who do not fully define their personalities, with superfluous parallel stories that receive too much emphasis and poorly developed parallel stories that have a lot of loose ends. I do not deny the story itself, although I have felt I saw "my Henry" from "The Time Traveler's Wife" in much of the last part of the book, and I celebrate the author's use of the story to play with the plot, but I still criticize a slow development too adorned with details that detract from the central axis. (Translated from Spanish)

[starknits_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

WOW, this book was wonderful. At first I was annoyed at how Diana let Matthew Treat her but then I realized it was them getting to know each other as a married couple and learning how to live together. Not to mention they were back in 1590. and what a douche Marlowe turned out to be. (though I could see that coming from the first book) I really loved Henry and Mary they were great friends. I can not wait till the next book. Though I do wish I could see what happened to little Jack. He was such a darling!

[roses7184_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Oh look, a review! I finished a book! Granted it was an audio book, and it took me over a month to finish, but I finished a book. On to the review.

So despite a few rather dense portions of the first book, A Discovery of Witches ended up garnering 4 stars from me. I was drawn in by the wide cast of characters, and specifically by Diana's vibrant personality. Jennifer Ikeda's narration of that book stole my heart, and I couldn't wait to get to the second book. Which is why I was so surprised at how long it took me to make it through Shadow of Night. Same amazing narrator, yet it was much harder to sink into the story.

This book takes place in the the past, Elizabethan London to be exact. I think that this was the first big nail in the coffin for me. It's not that I don't love this setting. I absolutely do! However the need for Diana to blend in completely squashed everything about her that I loved. Her fire was tampered. Her wit was under wraps. She was an obedient and terrified woman, and nothing more. Worse yet, the relationship between Matthew and Diana that I fell in love with in the first book suffered massively here. The tension between them, Matthew's tendency to act the part of dominant male, and the fact that they wouldn't communicate, all drove me mad. For the entire first half of this story, I was annoyed.

Then, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Without warning, things suddenly became much more interesting. The Diana that I fell in love with started to come to the surface again. She confronted Matthew, and things stopped being so sad. Suddenly there was magic in the world again. Things were vivid, characters were fascinating, and I couldn't stop reading. If only I had known that this was coming, I would have read much quicker. It's sad that the beginning bogged me down so much.

Final verdict? This is definitely a book that suffers from middle book syndrome, in my eyes. It isn't bad, it's just extremely dense. Lots of events need to take place to make sure that things are set up for the future (or present from book one), and so there's not as much attention paid to many of the items I became attached to at the beginning of this series. Do I have high hopes for book three? Absolutely! The ending of this book was perfection, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

[Sylviabcn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In this second part, the journey to the Elizabethan era is very interesting. The good thing about books that talk about history is that you can look for what is true in them, and the "School of Night" indeed existed. Searching online, reviews of practically all the characters that appear in the book come up, and even the supposed portraits of Matthew and Diana with the names they had at that time. (Translated from Spanish)

[TheReadingWitch · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I simply loved it!
The story of Mathew and Diana is just wonderful, the simple fact that their love is so strong, the trust they have, and their determination to fight together! I adore all the characters, how I love some, hate others, but that’s life!
100% recommended.
I will immediately start with the Book of Life.
Best regards!

#CostaRica (Translated from Spanish)