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)

This Book Isn't For Everyone

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene when Matthew and Diana are talking about how vampires are depicted in modern day romance novels. Hysterical! It's like she put that scene in just to stick it to all the readers whom complained about the lack of sex in the first book.

Any additional comments?

I can see why some people do not like this story. It's really not that suspenseful, there are no hot and heavy sex scenes every other chapter, and it's slooooooow.

Having said that, I still loved this book. These books are not nail biting page turners, and they are not vampire erotica hidden behind a plot. This story is a long, slow stroll down a road filled with beautiful scenery. Harness does a fantastic job of putting the reader in 16th century England, I found myself looking up many of her characters on Wikipedia just to get more background on them.

If you want a roller coaster experience, you will not like this book. Personally I loved the slow, lazy tide of the story.

The narrator was fantastic!

Harry Potter + Twilight For Adults

This book seemed a bit slow getting started, but once it did, it took off. I love the alchemical references, the intricate and believable characters, the historical settings... My only complaint is that the main character, Diana, seemed to have times when she was believable and other times when she'd seem to have a wild mood swing and be someone else entirely. I'm not sure if this is something that plays out in the story eventually and it's deliberate, or it's because the author didn't have a good feel of how her main character would act in a certain situation. Overall, though, I highly highly recommend this book. It's incredible, and the narrator was absolutely perfect for this book (seriously, her 'voices' are amazing, and her pronunciation mostly spot-on). I look forward to the other 2 books in the series by this author and this narrator.

Delicious!

Where does Shadow of Night rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's the King of the Jungle.

Which scene was your favorite?

It would be impossible to pick a favorite. I loved every minute of this beautiful book and did not mind the endless details of their everyday life. I relished everything I learned about the "characters" from Kit's obsessive love and depression, to Queen Elizabeth's rooting teeth! I absolutely hated to see it end.

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

Philip definitely steals this show. He is a wonder to behold.

wow wow wow

What did you like best about this story?

The best part of this book is that it takes you back in time. Love that it was a historical fiction and learned so much. Mathew and Diana take you all across Europe on an amazing adventure to meet Queen Elizabeth and William Shakespeare. If you thought book one was good you will fall head over heals over this one. The book hangover will last for awhile, good thing book three is not that long of a wait for me. I am pulling my hair here, wanting to find out how the story will end.

AWESOME!!!!!

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

I recommend this book to everyone!!! No book like it ever!!!

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

The struggle between Diana Bishop and Christopher Marlowe for Matthew's affections is rather endearing and a very unique twist.

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

Jennifer Ikeda does an amazing job with each character...I have been most impressed with her performance of Matthew.

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

YES and I did!!!

Any additional comments?

The third book cannot be released soon enough!!!! THANK YOU DEBORAH HARKNESS, AWESOME AWESOME BOOK SERIES!!!

This is entertaining historical fantasy!!!

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

The different characters, how she blends rather weaves facts into fiction, the narrator does a wonderful job switching between characters and the story is a different take on a familiar aspect the plot. Looking forward to the next book. Don't think I want it to be the last but hope she doesn't over do a good thing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The little boy.. sharp, smart, quick and articulate.

What does Jennifer Ikeda bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Can't say except I think there should of been a second reader. There were too many characters besides the main two, for one person.

If you could rename Shadow of Night, what would you call it?

I understood at the end that "Shadow" refers to a who and it made perfect sense. Won't change it.

Enchanting

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

Deborah Harkness wrote the perfect story!! It reminds me of the Outlander series with its depth of characters, story, and history. I thoroughly agree that the plot is complex but not confusing. I was amazed at Jennifer Ikeda's ability to make the distinction between characters, and the accents were quite impressive and not annoying.

Great followup to A Discovery of Witches!

I don't know what I was expecting from this book when I started it. I was afraid that it would be bogged down with history, given that the author is a historian. However, I was wrong. The book paints a great portrait of the times, with vividly drawn characters. A few too many characters in the beginning, as I wished I had a written copy to refer to. However, soon I was immersed in the story, which really picks up steam after starting slowly.

The book really does start where the first one ends, so if you haven't read/listened to A Discovery of Witches you may have some trouble keeping up. Matthew and Diana travel back to the 1590s to find the elusive manuscript, Ashmole 782, and to find a witch to mentor Diana and her burgeoning powers. Along the way they meet a cast of characters, some famous, and Matthew had to reconcile reliving his past while wondering what changes they will make to the future.

I was hoping for a little more magic, as one of the reasons for the trip was to help Diana learn her craft (that happens late in the story). I did enjoy the witches when we finally met them, and would have liked to have spent more time in their company.

The narrator was wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book, and would sit in the car after my commute was over to finish a chapter or two.

All in all this is a very good addition to the All Souls Trilogy. I gave the story a 4 (it didn't seem to flow as easily as DOW until later in the book), but would have given 4.5 if I could. My only regret is that I have to wait another year to see how everything ends!

I really wanted to love it...

Would you listen to Shadow of Night again? Why?

I wouldn't listen to it again...I really wanted to love it, but it wasn't even close to the thought out story of the first book that held my attention. It hopped all over the place to make sense of what it needed to explain.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I knew there would have to be another book - the ending was expected.

Have you listened to any of Jennifer Ikeda’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

She's good. I would listen to her again.

Not as Good as the First One

Would you listen to Shadow of Night again? Why?

I probably would not listen to this again but it was reasonably entertaining the first time through. Some parts were slow, a little contrived and disjointed. I liked it sufficiently that I would buy the third book to see if the author can wrap up the dangling threads

Any additional comments?

Worth the credit.