Member Reviews

Shadow of Night is easily my favorite book in the All Souls Trilogy. Deborah Harkness doesn’t just transport us to Elizabethan England—she makes it breathe. From the bustling streets of London to the quieter corners of the countryside, every scene is dripping with detail. You can almost smell the ink on parchment, hear the whispers of spies in shadowed alleys, and feel the chill of Matthew’s world closing in around Diana.

Picking up right where A Discovery of Witches left off, Diana and Matthew dive headfirst into 1590 on their hunt for Ashmole 782, but this isn’t just a treasure hunt. It’s a deep dive into Matthew’s past and a crash course in Diana’s future as a witch. The stakes are higher, the danger more immediate, and the emotional punches? They hit harder.

One of the best things about this book is the growing cast of characters. Gallowglass, Matthew’s nephew, steals the show with his larger-than-life presence and fierce loyalty—he’s the kind of guy you’d want in your corner during a bar fight (or a witch hunt). Then there’s Jack, an orphan who tugs at your heartstrings and adds a softer, more tender note to the story. And let’s not forget the School of Night. Christopher Marlowe, Sir Walter Raleigh, and other historical heavyweights bring a sharp edge to the plot, reminding us just how dangerous this time and Matthew’s past can be.

Diana’s journey is just as captivating. Watching her wrestle with her powers and learn under the guidance of a formidable ancestor is like seeing a phoenix rise—messy, fiery, and absolutely worth it. Her struggles to fit into Elizabethan society lead to moments that are both hilarious (corsets, anyone?) and deeply reflective.

What makes Shadow of Night so special is how seamlessly Harkness weaves it all together. It’s not just a historical fantasy, or a romance, or a mystery—it’s all of those things at once. The historical details are so rich they ground the story, making even the most magical moments feel like they could be real. And the romance? Diana and Matthew’s bond only deepens, balancing tenderness with tension as they face new challenges.

The quieter, domestic moments really stuck with me, too. Whether it’s Diana navigating Matthew’s complicated family dynamics or their little makeshift family growing with Jack and Gallowglass, these relationships give the story so much heart.

If you’re a fan of intelligent fantasy with a hefty dose of history, Shadow of Night will absolutely knock your socks off. It’s the kind of book you want to savor—but let’s be honest, you’ll probably devour it and then wish you could read it again for the first time.

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This second book in the All Souls Trilogy is everything I expected and more...I wasn’t just reading about Matthew and Diana but felt centre stage with them as they danced around the pages of the past in the time of the Tudors...definitely a fantastic and magical way to become so engrossed in the story.

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I forgot to review this, but am coming back to do it because we all very clearly love the All Souls books. It's a long book, but an absolutely fantastic story. It takes a bit of time, and was clearly partially world/plot building for the series. It's a really vibrant world, with supernatural woven through in ways that are surprisingly subtle.

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I love this series. This installment was a little gushy, romance-y for my taste, but I enjoyed meeting the characters in Elizabethan England.

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I love anything written by author Deborah Harkness so I knew I would love this one and I wasn't wrong. I couldn't get enough of this story and it's characters. I honestly couldn't put it down once I started reading this book.

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I really liked it...especially finding out more about Matthew's past. I thought it was a little bit of a slow start. A lot of details and not a lot of action, but once Diana started DOING things, the pace picked up. I had an advanced readers' copy from NetGalley and am wondering how much the novel changed between my copy and the final publishing...that just means I'm going to have to read it again...No hardship there! Thanks for another great read, Deborah Harkness and I look forward to the next volume!

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I've read this book 20 times. I love the series and now it will be on television this winter. can't wait. Diana and Matthew go back in time to find a teacher for her Magic. Also Marcus and Phoebe meet. This is the 2nd book which now has 4 titles. What more could you want, Witches, Vampires, Demons and time travel.

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I love this series and the 2nd book did not disappoint. Magic, mystery, and romance make it a pageturner despite the length. Really the only negative thing I can think of about the book is how long it is, which could turn some people off. But I still felt like there could have been more!

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This follow-up novel picks up right where A Discovery of Witches left off. While the characters are still interesting and well-written, the plot leaves some large holes presumably to fix in the third book.

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It hard to say if I love this more than Discovery of Witches. The romance between Diana and Matthew wasn't even more swoon-worthy. I love that Diana had more control over her powers giving her more agency, and the historical setting was really cool.

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Originally posted on Forever Young Adult 02 July 2012.

BOOK REPORT for Shadow of Night (All Souls Book 2) by Deborah Harkness

Cover Story: For Better and Worse
BFF Charm: The Jury's Out
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talky Talk: Born a Rambling (Wo)Man
Bonus Factors: Time Travel, Magic
Relationship Status: Let's Just Be Friends

Cover Story: For Better and Worse

I've seen worse, but I liked the cover of the first book in the series better. It was cleaner and I liked the imagery better -- there's just something weird in a not-great way about the purply-blue-black astrological/alchemical/anatomical stuff in the center. The drawing of Elizabethan London is cool, and all the artwork fits with the story, but it's too cluttered for me. But! It's still miles and miles better than most YA book covers, and the typeface is cool.

The Deal:

This is the second book in a series, so if you haven't read the first AND you don't want to be spoiled because you plan to read it some day, go no further! Here be dragons (and witches and vampires and daemons), and all that.

So, when we last saw Diana and Matthew, they were about to timewalk into Oxfordshire of 1590 to find a witch who could teach Diana a thing or two, and possibly track down the elusive Ashmole 782. Their friends and family were banded together to form a Conventicle -- that's a counter-Congregation -- and are hiding out at the de Clermont estate, Sept-Tours.

Matthew and Diana have made it to Elizabethan England, but things aren't as simple as just popping down the lane to a local pub called the Witch and Book and ordering up help from the past. They have to avoid the Congregation of the past, the whims of dictatorial monarchs, a very jealous Kit Marlowe, and witch hunts; this doesn't even compare to Matthew's pain-in-the-ass protectiveness and all the secrets Diana and Matthew keep from each other, as well as the fact that they know it's possible for them to make witch-vampire babies (and might have to, in order to save the creatures from extinction).

BFF Charm: The Jury's Out

I gave Diana my BFF charm back with the first book, but her control freak tendencies and stubbornness were too much to bear here. I'd be happy to be her colleague or neighbor, especially if my washing machine broke or I needed some other form of witchy intervention, but she kiiiinda drove me up the wall in this book. By the end, after she had an awesome come-to-Jesus (or come-to-goddess) moment with a family member, she was getting better. I might reconsider rescinding the charm based on personal growth in the third book; we'll see.

Swoonworthy Scale: 3

Like I mentioned in my review of A Discovery of Witches, Matthew is SO not my type. I get it -- vampires are controlling and possessive. Guess that's why I don't like vampires! But the two of them do score a 3 simply because the long cock-tease of the last book is over, and because I think towards the end, there are great strides in marital communication, even if they're of a squicky paranormal nature involving blood-drinking as a method of intimacy. Gross.

You know who I totally want more of? Henry Percy. That guy rocked my socks, and even though most of what I think about him is from my own imagination and historical research, filling in the blanks and backstory Harkness leaves out, I'd give him a 7 at the very least.

Talky Talk: Born a Rambling (Wo)Man

Whoo, boy. Harkness can come up with some great action, but there are times when it seems to take forever for her to do so. A lot of people mentioned thinking the first quarter of the book was super boring, but I actually really liked it. I enjoyed the historical detail and the difficulties Diana had fitting in back in 1590. However, I do think the book is about 20% too long, and I don't think it's because I'm used to reading YA. Luckily, I have no compunction skimming to get to the juicy bits, and there were a few juicy bits here and there.

Bonus Factor: Time Travel

Time travel! I'm totally a sucker for time travel books, and I've been on a bit of a time travel bender lately -- Connie Willis, Diana Gabaldon (shut up!), Stephen King (that one was terrible) -- so it's interesting to see how different authors handle the paradoxes of time travel.

Bonus Factor: Magic

My favorite parts of the book were all the magic lessons. Less vampire posturing and more spell casting, please! I really feel like Diana is in danger of pulling a Bella Swan and completely abandoning her witch family for the de Clermont family, and I super hope that doesn't happen in the last book. More magic!

Casting Call:

Rachel McAdams as Diana

How do you guys feel about Rachel McAdams as Diana? I cast Matthew in my earlier review.

Relationship Status: Let's Just Be Friends

Book, you delighted me but sent up some warning flags on our first date. I agreed to a second date, and while it was fun, I don't think we're meant to be life partners. You talk more than you listen, and I can't quite figure out your opinions on gender equality, which makes me a little uneasy. I do enjoy spending time with you, and am happy to continue to hang out as long as there's no expectation of a romantic commitment. We can hit the beach, or while away a rainy Saturday, no problem.

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Thank you for the opportunity to read and review SHADOW OF NIGHT by Deborah Harkness. Unfortunately, due to a chronic neurological condition (daily migraine headaches that intermittently interfere with my ability to read and/or write reviews), I was unable to provide a timely review of this book. I deeply regret any inconvenience caused by this situation and thank you again for the opportunity to read this book as well as your understanding.

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In the first book of the All Soul’s Trilogy, A Discovery of Witches, Deborah Harkess introduces us to Diane Bishop, historian and witch, Matthew Clairmont, scientist and vampire, and the mysterious, bespelled manuscript known as Ashmole 782 which Diana accidentally calls from the library archives. In this first novel, we watched the romance grow between Diana and Matthew, a romance which is forbidden by a centuries-old covenant; and we saw the growing contingent of creatures, including demons, vampires and witches, who will work together, if necessary, for force Diana to reclaim the manuscript from the archives. As the danger to Diana grows, Matthew and Diana devise a plan to thwart those who want to use Ashmole 782 for darker purposes.

Shadow of Night is the exhilarating continuation of the All Souls trilogy, and we follow Matthew and Diana in their endeavor to discover the secrets of Ashmole 782. Their plan is simple: Timewalk back to 1591; find Ashmole 782 before it becomes bespelled; and find Diana a tutor to help her control her magic. In and out. No problems. Hmmm. Sadly, Matthew and Diana have laid out the plans to achieve their goals without working out the small details of time travel.

Matthew, being a 1,500 year old vampire, is welcomed back by his friends at the Old Lodge and quickly acclimates to his past life, but our modern day heroine sticks out like the only warmblood at the a vampire ball. It is not just her modern day feminist views, or being an educated woman or speaking her mind. Everything about Diana stands out and screams, “I’m not from around here,” from her mannerisms to her accent and speech patterns. She will need more than just new clothes in order to move around Elizabethan England.

More importantly, the dangers to Matthew and Diana don’t decrease by leaving their own time period but simply, the names of their enemies change. Their relationship is no more acceptable in 1591 as it was in 2010. The covenant still exists against the fraternizing of creatures and a vampire and witch going about Town together draws unwanted eyes. With every creature in 1591 London whispering about the strange witch with Matthew de Clarmont, it won’t be long before the Congregation locates them. It is not just the Congregation that will be seeking them out, the witches have felt the arrival of the latent power that Diana holds within her, and the vampires and demons are watching too. Matthew and Diana are quickly accumulating some powerful enemies in the past.

They have also miscalculated the fact that in 1591 witch trials in Scotland are increasing and with more and more witches being persecuted and burned at the stake, the witches throughout Europe are increasingly fearful of openly discussing their magic and are not only weary of Diana who is a stranger with powerful magic, but of Matthew, who is a dangerous and powerful vampire in this time period. It quickly becomes clear to them that their plan to find a witch to help teach Diana to control her magic will not be so simple a feat to accomplish.

Finally, it is not just those outside of their lives that a cause for concern. When you are a 1,500 year old vampire, there are many secrets that you believe you have left buried in the past and taking a trip to that past brings them all to life for your new wife.

What an incredible continuation of the story! We meet some interesting new characters (both heroes and villains) in this story, most of whom we will need to leave behind in the past (but not all!). But it does make me realize I might not be so interested in a brooding, sexy vampire boyfriend full of centuries of secrets after all, although we do come to understand Matthew a lot better, including his brooding and what’s behind his apparent mood-swings. Matthew and Diana do work through their issues and form a true and strong bond by the end of the story.

If you haven’t read A Discovery of Witches, I don’t recommend you try and jump in here. But don’t be intimidated by the almost 600 pages. It was a quick read and such an intriguing story that you will catch up quickly.

By the way Ms. Harkness, the people over at Viking said it was okay for you to call me to talk about your outline for the final novel. Really!! I swear!! They said, “Of course, we have no problem with her telling you what’s going to happen next.” …or something like that. It might have been “No way in Hell!”, but you know how cell phones break up. So we’ll just go with they’re okay with it. So if you could just let me know what’s gonna happen–or Hey, let’s just save you some time, I know you are busy, you know you can just shoot me an e-mail with a rough draft of the next book. That would be fine. I don’t think they’d have a problem with that. I’m sure of it. 😉
(BOO!!!! I HATE WAITING!!)

Received ARC from Viking Books. Thank you.

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SHADOW OF NIGHT is Deborah Harkness's excellent follow up to A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES. This book throws Diana and Matthew into the past to help Diana learn to use her powers and get more information on the illusive, mysterious Ashmole 782. Such a familiar and unknown cast of characters are introduced as Matthew's friends of the time, the School of Night. With everything that happens in this book, is it any wonder it's impossible to put down until the last word?

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Since being sent this book, my interests have changed therefore I won't be reading or reviewing this title. Thank you.

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