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)

DISAPPOINTMENT AFTER A LONG WAIT

I really enjoyed A Discovery of Witches, and was eager to know what came next in the story. Nothing came next, for the first thirteen chapters of Shadow of Night. That was over eight hours of listening during which Diana met Matthew's friends and father in the Sixteenth Century, and Diana and Matthew were married - again. It wasn't until chapter fourteen that the plot began to move forward, ever so little. I kept waiting for a big twist, a leap forward, something, anything. When the book ended I was still waiting. How could so little happen? Is it being saved up for the next book? Or will that be a disappointment too?

Great story-love Matthew

Any additional comments?

Now that I know the authors background I understand the history and the wordiness behind her writing. The love story of Matthew and Diana is beautiful and I love Matthew's quiet strength and his history. Can't wait for the third book and to see how thier love manages to last his immortality.
I need a happy ending!

excellent

I trully enjoyed the book as well as the first book Discovery of Witches. I am looking forward to the next book.

Loved it.

The second book in the trilogy A Discovery of Witches. Loved it as much as I loved the first book in the series and can't wait for the third book.

I didn't think twice to purchase!

Would you listen to Shadow of Night again? Why?

Absolutely!!!! The love story and I kept wondering what will their next discovery be? Who will they meet? How are they all connected? So many questions, that I spent a few days without sleeping.

What about Jennifer Ikeda’s performance did you like?

Fantastic!

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

YES!!!!!

Things are moving now!

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

Yes, primarily because I would sit and read it while neglecting everything else, so at least this way I could listen to my iPod while doing housework, driving, etc.

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

I read something a year or so ago that said this series is "Twilight for Smart People". Yep, that pretty much nails it. At times the similarities between the books are startling.

What about Jennifer Ikeda’s performance did you like?

She was creative in her voices and didn't try to make men sound like sandpaper. Men are people too (usually) and I dislike when female narrators try to lower their voices past the point of believability. Same for the I Wanna Be A Girl falsetto that many male narrators use. Jennifer Ikeda, like most good narrators, uses inflection and delivery to define her characters and doesn't try to move out of her vocal range. Mostly, she uses pitch appropriately and the characters are more believeable as a result. I love the accents, well done!

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

Matthew is the most memorable character, but I think Diana made some good improvements in this book. In the last book she was too helpless and it made me want to shake her. There were a couple of times in this book when I started thinking, "Come on, you're a witch, figure it out..." but Diana finally learned to be a "creature" in her own right and I respect her more for it. Matthew rode to her rescue a few times but for the most part she grew capable and strong and was able to handle things herself.

Any additional comments?

I would have lost patience with Kit after the first few chapters. I know that in life we are supposed to take the high road, but if I were Diana I would have served him to Matthew as an appetizer.

Now I'm Hooked!

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

About the same

What did you like best about this story?

It's not predictable.

Which scene was your favorite?

Not sure. I particularly liked when Diana performed magic.

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

Probably, but it was a LONG book.

Any additional comments?

Parts of the love story seemed a bit contrived but overall I liked the character development and it's unpredictability.

I liked it better than The Discovery of Witches.

Hurry up with the next book !... please

What ever you do, do not fall asleep listening to this book as you will be forever trying to find where you were last conscious. Not from boredom but from not wanting to put it down.

I have really enjoyed this series and as you can tell I am eagerly awaiting the next book.

Deborah has done a wonderful job of presenting a popular topic in a different way and Jennifer has done a splendid job narrating it.

I really appreciate that the narrator has not changed between books as that can often be disconcerting.

I am very impressed with the amount historical homework that has obviously taken place and the suppositions that have been made.

Great series...

I love the writing of Deborah Harkness, this was book two in the The Discovery od Witches series and she did not disappoint me at all.. the story picks up right where book 1 ended, Dianna search to find out who she is contuines, with the help of Matthew, her vampire lover, her aunts and many friends, she travels back in time to find a book that might have the answers she needs.
Jennifer Ikeda smooth voice is perfect for this series, I could listen to her forever.

Great story

Love this author and story, a bit disappointed in the narrator. It was sometimes difficult to tell the characters apart because she was not always consistent in how she read them.