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)

Great sequel

Would you listen to Shadow of Night again? Why?

Yes. There are lots of details and it would be worth listening to again to catch anything I missed the first time around.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love the main characters, Diana and Matthew. The author does a great job of showing their strengths as well as weaknesses, and the story keeps you rooting for them.

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

Jennifer Ikeda does a great job of using slight variations in pitch and accent to make each character different, but I particularly like the voice she uses for Matthew. It's very proper/refined, and fits everything else given about his character.

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

n/a

Any additional comments?

With the exception of some unnecessary repetition of details (some are reminders of what happened in first book, which some might find useful, but some details get repeated from earlier in the book which is tedious), I really enjoyed this book. I had it downloaded on my phone, and listened to it anytime I was in the car for longer than a 10 minute drive. An 8.5 hour drive felt almost too short while listening, since I had barely bit into the story.

The author takes demons, witches and vampires and places them into a new context. She picks up right where she left off in A Discovery of Witches, and takes the reader into 16th century adventures. If you enjoyed the first book, you will not be disappointed in this second book. I'm almost done listening, and already can't wait for the 3rd book.

Twisted fantastical tale.. now to then &back again

i will listen to this book again and again... fantastic natation and wonderful wandering magical story!

A pretty good second book in the series.

At times, the story seemed to drag a bit, but overall, it was a pretty good continuation of the story started in A Discovery of Witches. I enjoyed the historical figures that popped up throughout the story.

not a fan of vampires but this one sucked me in

If you could sum up Shadow of Night in three words, what would they be?

stimulating, historical and escapism

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

when Marcus meets Sophie

What about Jennifer Ikeda’s performance did you like?

She did a good job on Diana's voice

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

everything you wanted to know about food and travel in the 1600th century but were afraid to ask

Any additional comments?

I didn't like the Mathew's voice or accent.. sounded false

narrator

excellent narrator, balanced volume for listening in a car our with headphones, variation of character voice easy to follow and enjoyable

Captivating!

What did you love best about Shadow of Night?

The story is amazing! I have a hard time turning it off.

What other book might you compare Shadow of Night to and why?

The discovery of Witches was the first of the series and they flow together wonderfully.

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

She has a real grasp of the characters. I have no trouble following what is going on by the tones of her voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

So far I love it all!

Any additional comments?

Recommend this series highly!

Loved it. Can't wait for the next one.

If you could sum up Shadow of Night in three words, what would they be?

exciting, historical, well-written

Who was your favorite character and why?

Phillipe. He's such a surprise to love. I wanted more of him.

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

Matthew. She did such a brilliant job with the male voices in this.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The scene with Phillipe and Diana. Incredibly touching.

Any additional comments?

I can't wait for the third installment.

You won’t be disappointed

The story picks up right where the first leaves off. Deborah Harkness does a fantastic job of depicting the past and highlighting the many faces of Matthew. You’re introduced to many new characters and each one is more interesting. For as intricate as the storyline is I never found myself lost or confused. Jennifer Ikeda is an amazing narrator - incredibly talented. If you loved the first book, this is even better!

Better Than The First

If goodreads is to be believed, the second installment of this trilogy isn't everyone's cup of tea. However, I enjoyed this one more than the first. It might just be because the author stopped reminding me every few seconds that Matthew was a vampire. :) I found both main characters more likable, although Matthew seemed like a totally different person (vampire) than in A Discovery of Witches. Bring on the next one!

Exceptional story told by a skilled story teller..

I consumed the book like it was chocolate cake and felt regret in realizing that I'd reached the final chapter and the book was complete. Thank God there is a third book, which I will start immediately.