From the author of the New York Times number one bestseller and international phenomenon, A Discovery of Witches, comes a brilliantly entertaining novel about time travel, mystery, and love. Deborah Harkness’ Shadow of Night is the highly anticipated sequel to her dazzling debut novel, A Discovery of Witches which has taken readers by storm around the world. In 1590s England, Diana Bishopāa young witch denying her heritageāmeets Matthew Clairmont in a library in Oxford. As they become acquainted, Diana is intrigued by Matthews insistence that contemporary science cannot fully explain nature or magic. When she unwittingly makes an assumption about him based on his strange clothing , he invites her to shadow him at night through Englands most haunted sites to prove her wrong .Diana soon realizes that she is right; there are things happening beyond natural explanations and much more troubling than ghosts lurking in old castles: powerful organizations with their own agendas are at work behind the scenes .Matthew reveals himself not only as a vampire but also as one of these beings orchestrating events from centuries past for present gain .Together , Diana and Matthew must try to unravel what this means for them both before it destroys everything they care about .
For who is this book for ?
Deborah Harkness’ Shadow of Night is a captivating novel for adults who appreciate romance, mystery, and time travel. Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont’s adventure will keep readers entertained from beginning to end as they try to unravel the secrets behind the events occurring in present day Oxfordshire.
Pros :
- The author has a beautiful writing style that sucks you into the story
- The plot is very well thought out and keeps you engaged
- There are many unexpected twists and turns that make it hard to put down
Cons :
- The sequel to A Discovery of Witches did not live up to the hype for me. I found it slow and boring in parts, dragged down by too much detail about history and magic that was irrelevant to the plot.
- The romance between Diana and Matthew felt rushed and unrealistic at times, as if the author were trying too hard to make us ship them.
- Overall, this book just didn’t work for me as well as its predecessor did
Learn more about the author
Deborah Harkness is a scholar of history, scientist, and writer. A faculty member at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles for many years, she now devotes her time to writing and research. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband.
Reader Reviews
“What a page-turner! I loved A Discovery of Witches and was eagerly awaiting this sequel. Harkness does not disappoint with Shadow of Night. She has created an absorbing, thrilling world that I didn’t want to leave.”
“Deborah Harkness writes historical fiction with a dash of fantasy, which is a genre I love. Shadow of Night exceeded my expectations and was an infinitely enjoyable read.”
“Harkness creates a new world of witches and vampires, full of mysteries and surprises that keep you captivated until the very end. A spellbinding tale with romance, adventure, secrets, and suspense–what more could you want?”
“Deborah Harkness has outdone herself with Shadow of Night . . . [It] is an intricate and cleverly plotted novel that draws on history, science, alchemy , romance, suspense, and mystery to create a story that will keep readers enthralled until the very last page.”
