Shadow of Night (All Souls, #2) in All Souls Trilogy Re-read

From the Bookshelf of All Souls Trilogy Re-read…

Shadow of Night (All Souls, #2)

Deborah Harkness

Start date: April 21, 2015

Finish date: May 19, 2015

Discussion: Shadow of Night

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Showing 2 of 4 topics — 164 comments total

Shadow of Night

Farewell, 1591!
By deleted member · 10 posts · 18 views

last updated May 21, 2015 12:31PM

We've arrived in Elizabethan England!
By deleted member · 37 posts · 39 views

last updated May 19, 2015 06:20PM

What Members Thought

Nov 07, 2011 Jilly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I finished this book a couple of days ago, and I was unable to write a review right away because there is so much to digest! I read the first installment of this series in 2011 almost as soon as it came out. It has easily become one of my favorite books of all time, so my expectations for "Shadow of Night" were high. VERY high.

Deborah Harkness exceeded all of them. This book is nothing what I expected it to be; although I can hardly articulate what it was that I expected. All I know is that I w I finished this book a couple of days ago, and I was unable to write a review right away because there is so much to digest! I read the first installment of this series in 2011 almost as soon as it came out. It has easily become one of my favorite books of all time, so my expectations for "Shadow of Night" were high. VERY high.

Deborah Harkness exceeded all of them. This book is nothing what I expected it to be; although I can hardly articulate what it was that I expected. All I know is that I was continuously taken by surprise with developments and characters in the story (Harkness is very good at catching me off-guard, in a good way!). And yet with the spontaneous and unexpected developments, there was such a feeling of natural FLOW to the story. It unfolded in such a way that it just felt RIGHT.

In this book we get to see into the souls of our main characters, Matthew and Diana. They are splendidly flawed and imperfect, and this story is a journey that we can all relate to. Yes, they are looking for Ashmole 782 and yes, they are on a quest to learn about Diana's magic. But the REAL story here is the unfolding process of evolution taking part in Matthew and Diana, and in their relationship together. How Harkness is able to make them seem so real, these supernatural characters, is magic in itself. It is entirely perfect that Diana is a spell weaver, as the author of this book clearly has that talent herself. From the first words of this novel I was drawn in, happily transported to another time (and back and forth a few times), and mesmerized throughout. Diana is turning into a formidable witch, but Deborah Harkness is the true magician here.

One of the things I love about DH's work is the complexity, the depth, and the layers that run throughout the story. This is a novel of substance, and it challenges the reader to think and follow threads of logic as well as mystery. Everything is woven masterfully together into a brilliant, cohesive whole.

In addition to the complexity, I love the simple beauty of it. The words and phrases are lovely. Harkness can be humorous in one paragraph, and astoundingly poetic and philosophical in the next. I am a lover of words, and her books celebrate this in many ways: in language, history, philosophy, and, of course, love. When I read a Harkness book, I forget that I am READING. I am just there, transported into the lovely world she has created.

Though I am eager for the third and final installment in this trilogy to be released, I am going to enjoy reading and re-reading this novel and enjoying it anew each time. There is no author out there like Deborah Harkness; she truly is one-of-a-kind!!!! ...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Heather Alderman rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned, fantasy, re-read, signed-by-author

Loved this book as much as the first and in some ways even more! I won't write any spoilers but the writing of the new and old characters were amazing and I will miss many of them.

Loved this book even more during the 2nd read. The emotions conveyed through the characters in present time was so poignant.

Loved again for the 3rd time!!! I just love immersing myself into the world that Deborah Harkness has created! I absolutely love the characters of Phillipe and Gallowglass, I want more!!

I recentl ...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Marcie rated it really liked it

After I finished A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, I could hardly wait to dive into Shadow of Night. Most of this book takes place in the past. Way in the past. Diana and Mathew travel back in time to try to find a witch that can teach Diana as well as find the book that started them on this adventure. While the past can be exciting, it can also be very dangerous. Especially for witches. Matthew has already lived through this period in time, so he's no stranger to it. Diana hasn't, so ...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Peggy Huey rated it really liked it

Diane Bishop's adventure has taken her and her husband Matthew back to 1590-1 in Elizabethan England, where he is known as Matthew Royden--a fascinating visit for this Renaissance scholar to read about. Diane learns Matthew is involved with the School of Night group, consisting of Henry Percy, aka the Earl of Northumberland, Sir Walter Raleigh, George Chapman, daemon astrologer Thomas Harriot, and the daemon playwright Christopher Marlowe, who lusts after Matthew. Diane is befriended by Mary Sid ...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Lexi rated it it was amazing

The only thing I didn't like about this book was knowing that when I finished it, I would have to wait until next year for the next book. As a history buff, Elizabethan England is one of my favorite periods to study. Since she's a history professor, she was able to really recreate the time period vividly and what I'm guessing is fairly accurately (aside from the obvious, of course!). Loved how she wove real historical people into the plot, too. I loved this whole book. I hope Deborah Haskell con ...more

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