Please see my review for A Discovery of Witches. I really wanted to like the book more but I didn't like it enough to finish reading this series. I picked up this book, turned to a page and read a line that was something like "my wife will not speak without my permission" and was reminded how possessive the romance was in book one. Thank you for the opportunity to read this series.

I think of all the books in the trilogy, this one is my favourite. I absolutely adored travelling back to Elizabethan England and meeting all of Matthew’s School of Night friends. So many famous names from British history gathered together in one place made my inner historian very happy indeed.

Viewing the Elizabethan era through an outsider’s eyes, and learning how to behave as Diana was learning put a very different perspective on things than your normal historical novel, and it made for extremely interesting reading.

I’m not sure about Diana, but Deborah Harkness acts as a timespinner herself with this book, the way she weaves what is happening in 1590 with its modern day effects. She handles what could be a very complicated web with skill. The little snippets throughout the book, things like Marcus and Ysabeau tracking down artefacts, worked really well to keep the reader in touch with these characters, and to bind the two timelines together.

I will admit that some of the revelations in this book hit me like a body blow, and made me realise that I had become a lot more attached to some of the more minor characters than I had realised.

The same compelling writing, heartwarming relationships with beloved characters. Only with added time travel. Can sound, on the surface, a little cheesy but Harkness makes it work.

Picking up where we left off in A Discovery of Witches, Diana and Matthew take a trip back to Elizabethan London. Here we see what Matthew used to be like and try to deal with the fact that vampires and witches are not supposed to be together romantically. They search for Ashmole 782, while dealing with spies, magic and the pressure of an English royal court. While Diana learns to use her magic with the more powerful covens of London.

This is a great historical trip, the world that Diana and Matthew are brought into is full of famous places and characters as well historical events. In this Matthew is a bit of a brute but he has to act the way he was back then as to not draw attention to the fact he is not the same Matthew from that time. They meet with the School of Night, Matthew’s old friends who set out to help him and Diana in this new adventure of trying to get Ashmole 782. They travel to France to meet Matthew’s father Phillipe, which is quite the show down and a great part of the book. Again another great book and I can not wait for the conclusion

After falling in love with A Discovery of Witches, I didn’t think this trilogy could get any better but it just has!! Shadow of Night sees Diana and Matthew ‘Time Walk’ to 1590, which is towards the end of the historical period I have a lot of interest in. In their quest to escape the Congregation and their search for Ashmole 782, they find themselves in more danger than they envisaged. They travel from Tudor England, to Sept-Tours in France and to the court of Emperor Rudolf in Prague, escaping one threat then another. Can they find what they need in time before they need to return to the present, and can Diana learn how to control her powers?

The attention to historical detail in this book is fantastic, but not surprising as Deborah Harkness is a History Professor. But she really does go beyond most other authors in her research and detail. In 1590 Matthew uses the surname Roydon, and his circle of friends include playwright, Christopher Marlowe, poet George Chapman, adventurer Walter Raleigh and Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, who with Matthew are the School of Night. This may just seem to be a use of characters of the period, but it is far more than that. The School of Night existed, and those characters were the members, as was poet Matthew Roydon whose wife was called Diana. This is what makes Deborah Harkness such a wonderful author, she spends time on the finer points that make all the difference to the plot; and I have to say I think having Marlowe as a deamon is an inspired choice. The historical and fictional characters blend seamlessly and work well together.

The same attention to detail is evident in the plot line. It follows directly on from the end of A Discovery of Witches, and again ends perfectly making the reader want to read the third book, The Book of Life immediately, which is what I have done. The sense of place in all the different locations is stunning, the Tudor Court of Eizabeth I, sixteenth century Sept-Tours, and the Prague of Emperor Rudolf, are all vivd and full of life; the sights, sounds and smells jump off the page. There is also wonderful descriptions of the fashion of the period, and how cumbersome it is to us in the present, and the decor of the period, again adding authenticity to the book.

I had high hopes for Shadow of Night, as I fell in love with A Discovery of Witches, and it surpassed all expectation for me. I literally couldn’t put this book down, except when checking historical detail, and devoured all six hundred and fifty pages in a couple of days. It has a gripping, multi-faceted plot line, interesting and engaging characters, plenty of thrills along the way, and is simply brilliant; a near perfect novel for me. Bring on the final part of the All Souls Trilogy, The Book of Life.

One of the most enjoyable and the longest books of last month was A Discovery Of Witches; as I had the second book from Netgalley, I had to read it in November. I can't go into too much detail about this book as it is the second in the trilogy but it carries on directly from the ending of the first book. It has the same instantly engaging and quick writing style which is so easy to read and follow even though it's pretty long. Out of the two, I definitely prefer the first although that's not to say that I didn't like this one (as I did) but the mystery and freshness of the first made it more of an interesting and entertaining read, for me at least. However, they're both such entertaining, easy reading experiences that I would recommend reading, if it sounds like something you'd enjoy.

I did love the focus on witchcraft elements, historic setting and the historical figures throughout this second book. I loved the character of Gallowglass, I enjoyed the historical journey, the magic/alchemy and the ending was just what I wanted!

I don't think I'll read the third and final book as I'm liking the TV show, although there are quite a few definite differences. One of the main differences is the time frame of the TV show (it seems much more condensed and rushed compared to the book) and the portrayal of Matthew which in the book is very controlling (it's one of the main things I didn't like about the books) but that is glossed over in the TV show as I think they knew that it wouldn't go down very well.

As Matthew and Diana timewalk to 1590 when the witches' powers were strong this sequel has a different feel to the first; it is historical fiction with a paranormal twist. I love the historical details and Deborah Harkness excels at bringing everyday Tudor life alive. I could smell and feel London as the characters walk through the city and interact with old characters and new. The introduction of recognisable personalities of the time such as William Shakespeare and Kit Marlow works well and inspired me to look into their works but it was the witches which fascinated me. The world of All Souls is expanded with new witches, daemons and vampires.

The pace is different and in places slower so not as page turning as A Discovery of Witches but it is still a strong book. The characters and twists keep the plot moving forward and all the details help bring things together in the Book of Life.

Shadow of night by Deborah Harkness.
Warning this is a long read.  This was a fantastic read with brilliant characters. 
Historian Diana Bishop, descended from a line of powerful witches, and long-lived vampire Matthew Clairmont have broken the laws dividing creatures. When Diana discovered a significant alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, she sparked a struggle in which she became bound to Matthew. Now the fragile coexistence of witches, daemons, vampires and humans is dangerously threatened.
Seeking safety, Diana and Matthew travel back in time to London, 1590. But they soon realise that the past may not provide a haven. Reclaiming his former identity as poet and spy for Queen Elizabeth, the vampire falls back in with a group of radicals known as the School of Night. Many are unruly daemons, the creative minds of the age, including playwright Christopher Marlowe and mathematician Thomas Harriot.
Together Matthew and Diana scour Tudor London for the elusive manuscript Ashmole 782, and search for the witch who will teach Diana how to control her remarkable powers...
Even though it was long. I love Diane character . 5*.