Shadow of Night

A Novel

By: Deborah Harkness

Narrated by: Jennifer Ikeda

Length: 24 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

The number one New York Times best-selling 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 Two premieres January 9, 2021!

Picking up from A Discovery of Witches' cliff-hanger 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.

©2012 Deborah Harkness (P)2012 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"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." (E.L. James Chicago Tribune)

"The joy that Harkness, herself a historian, takes in visiting the past is evident on every page.... A great spell, the one that can enchant a reader and make a 600-page book fly through her fingertips, is cast.... Its enduring rewards are plenty." (Entertainment Weekly)

"Fans of Harkness’s 2011 debut A Discovery of Witches will be delighted.... Harkness delivers enough romance and excitement to keep the pages turning. Readers will devour it." (People)

Be prerpared to be left hanging, book 3 is not out

What made the experience of listening to Shadow of Night the most enjoyable?

By this book you are already invested in the characters and their well being. This one was set in Elizabethan London so the history was interesting.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Shadow of Night?

Rather than memorable moments I would say the best parts were the mystery, spies and breadth of the story that made it so captivating.

Which character – as performed by Jennifer Ikeda – was your favorite?

Diana's love Matthew is the perfect imperfect heroin.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely

Any additional comments?

Its very frustrating that the 3rd installment is not yet out. So I would caution you if you want complete resolution don't start this series until the 3rd is out.

Awesome series

What made the experience of listening to Shadow of Night the most enjoyable?

The continued story of Diana and Matthew.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I must say I love Hamish Osbourne.

Who was the most memorable character of Shadow of Night and why?

I think Kit would be the most memorable character

Second time

Awesome story. This is the second time for me. read it the first time and just finished the audio..
I'm saving the third book for my vacation.

You wont be able to put it down..

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Most definitely, my husband got me hooked with her first book "Discovery of Witches". As soon as I finished it this one came out the next day.

What did you like best about this story?

The story is very detailed along with the characters. A lot of care was taken in the development of the story with all the detailed history built into it.

Any additional comments?

My only disappointment was that I have to wait for the next book. This is a great addition to anyone library. No matter what genre you like this is a must have.

Such an enjoyable listen!!

What did you love best about Shadow of Night?

Jennifer Ikeda is fantastic! I thoroughly enjoy listening (MULTIPLE times!!) to the series - all three books in the trilogy are fantastic! Although, my favorite is the Book of Life.
Thank you Deborah Harkness for writing an intellectually-driven adult-fantasy book.

A beautiful unfolding...

Shadow of Night held its own. It began as a novel tied down by details and descriptions, but the characters set it free -- as they opened up, I began to open up as well and found myself getting lost in their lives, their triumphs and sorrows. The story is set in a much different world than A Discovery of Witches and it allowed for different worlds to be explored within the characters as well.

My favorite aspect of this book, which was constantly and slowly unfolding, was Diana's and Matthew's encounters with their past selves. I was moved and haunted by the joy of their reunions and the grief of their farewells.

Jennifer Ikeda guided the story with integrity and grace and after listening to her performance of the first book, the voices felt like those of old friends. I look forward to the conclusion of the trilogy.

Great story!

Love this story. I have listened to it 4-5 times. It is a great way to enter into a past era.

Fun Book!

This is a very entertaining series. It is great for a long trip or to keep you busy while you work.

Impossible to put down!

Would you consider the audio edition of Shadow of Night to be better than the print version?

Absolutely! The characters really come to life.

What about Jennifer Ikeda’s performance did you like?

Everything! All of her characters have different voices and accents. She's one of the best in the business!

I love this series

Would you listen to Shadow of Night again? Why?

I would listen to it again. This series has been a favorite.

Which character – as performed by Jennifer Ikeda – was your favorite?

Diana of course...