Shadow Of Night by Deborah Harkness (All Souls Trilogy #2)

 

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Fantasy Novel – some romance

Publisher: Viking

My Copy: Sent

Deborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel,A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.

Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending,Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.

Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season.

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After I enjoyed A Discovery Of Witches so much, I was overjoyed to get a copy of Shadow Of Night to read. I jumped right into this one hoping to feel the same energy as book one. I didn’t find it. At the conclusion of A Discovery Of Witches Matthew and Diana had transported themselves back in time hoping to learn more of Ashmole 782s secrets and for Diana to learn how to harness her power. Instead they discover resistance from the very people that are supposed to be helping them and wedges are slowly ripping them apart.

My problem with Shadow Of Night is that it was way to long. I don’t know why authors feel the need to make something a longer length when it includes enough filler to make all their readers slip into boredom comas. Maybe books have to be a certain length to be a hardback. I don’t know. Whatever it is, Shadow Of Night includes so much history and unnecessary info, that after 100 pages I was looking for a way to escape. I kept reading because A Discovery Of Witches slipped into these states as well, but redeemed itself with its action and evolution of Matthew and Diana’s relationship. It often felt like the relationship took a back seat because Harkness didn’t want it to be labeled as “romance”. Since that was the best part for me, I was saddened by the story arc that was so overdone with history that nothing else could make it through.

I did enjoy the back story of Matthews friends, some of which are still around in the future. His interaction with them leads to a tense situation with his dearest friend and is the major conflict in this book. His relationship with his own father is complex and the unraveling of old secrets was interesting when paired with Diana being a witch and something no one seems eager to trust. The dialogue between characters was a definite highlight for me.

Unfortunately, Shadow Of Night didn’t keep me interested. It was overdone in a attempt to call itself something other then a romance so that it would appeal to a broader range of readers. We wouldn’t want fiction lovers to *gasp* read a romance now would we? What it did instead, was turn this reader off. There is one more book coming and I will read that one simply because I hope Harkness can entice me again with the great writing I found  in book one.

I give Shadow Of Night by Deborah Harkness 2 stars

Shadow Of Night by Deborah Harkness GIVEAWAY

“Together we lifted our feet and stepped into the unknown”—the thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestseller A Discovery of WitchesDeborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel, A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.
Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending,Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.
Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season.

PREORDER LINKS: Amazon/B&N

I have one copy of Shadow Of Night plus some awesome swag (buttons and a temporary tattoo) to give away to one lucky US winner! Thank you to the great people at Viking/Penguin for allowing me to participate!  Open until 7/11/12 @ 11:59pm EST with winner announced shortly after. 

Have you read A Discovery Of Witches yet? I highly suggest reading that one first because the story line is continuous from book to book – check it out- My Review HERE - A little bit Twilight, a little bit Harry Potter! 

A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.

Deep in the stacks of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.

BUY LINKS: Amazon/B&N

A Discovery Of Witches by Deborah Harkness ( All Souls #1 )

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Fantasy Novel – light on the romance

Publisher: Viking

My copy: Sent

Deep in the stacks of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

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A witch is something Diana has never wanted to embrace being. Running through her blood is some of the most potent blood known to man and all she wants to do is run from it. When she stumbles upon an ancient manuscript her dreary life suddenly comes to a grinding halt.  Now all types of creatures are coming to look for her and without the training necessary she stand no chance of being able to defend herself.

Vampire, Matthew has been searching for this book for many centuries and now that Diana has been able to recall it he knows he must stop at nothing to get his hands on it. Only problem is that he is more interested in the witch and protecting her then he is with the actual book. Racing against time and those who wish her harm, Diana and Matthew will have to open their hearts and souls to the fantastic in order to survive.

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Have you ever wondered what would happen if Twilight and Harry Potter had an adult baby? Well, look no further because A Discovery Of Witches is exactly that. This is probably one of my favorite books of 2011..and yes I finished it just in the nick of time to say that. A Discovery Of Witches has it all! Suspense, mystery, intrigue and romance.

The beginning of the book starts out a bit slow and I wasn’t sure how I was going to connect to scholar Diana. she’s extremely bright and for the first quarter of the book there is a TON of science. That was never my strong suit in school so I can admit to be a little lost in the complexity of what was written. Past that though, Diana started to grow on me. She’s smart and inquisitive and really, completely naive about her witch heritage. Choosing to run from it and create stories about her parents death that didn’t involve witchcraft. Her reality is coming slowly unwrapped, as are her powers when Matthew shows up. He can give Edward Cullen a run for his money any day….and I’m pretty sure he would kick his ass. Matthew is also extremely smart and is a doctor in his own rights. Fifteen hundred years is a long time in which to gain all kinds of knowledge in many different areas. The one thing that eludes him however, is creationism. He strives to find out how himself, witches and daemons all came into existence and Diana holds the key in her ability to call up a long lost manuscript.

When Matthew starts protecting Diana instead of trying to get the manuscript for himself things get really interesting. He crosses a line with witches, vampires and daemons that has them all out to get Diana, the power she possesses deep within her blood and the manuscript that holds the key to everyones undoing. The possessiveness Matthew portrays is heartfelt and emotionally raw. I was slept away by his tidal wave of emotions he experienced while trying not to admit to himself that he was in love with Diana and simply trying to protect her for the sake of the manuscript.

I enjoyed Diana’s slow evolution into the witch she will be become in the following books. It was a breath of fresh air to see a witch just coming into her powers and not knowing how to do or control what she has. She is a witch unlike any other in that she has the ability to do most everything imaginable. Which for the sake of this book, is unheard of.  The world building is superb and by the end of the book I was half way understanding the science behind it…which for me, is a huge feat.

There is an entire array of secondary characters that make the book so much more. From the creative daemons to Diana’s two meddling aunts there is a bit of something for everyone. I especially liked the fact that Diana’s childhood home is haunted and the house has a life of its own.  It’s very “Poltergeist” the way the house takes and returns things when it feels they are needed. Even growing extra room before guests arrive. Definitely not like anything I have read before.

A Discovery Of Witches has all the fast paced witchcraft of Harry Potter melted perfectly with the romance of Twilight and wrapped up nicely is a brilliantly written story! I can’t wait for the next book to come out later this year!!!

 

I give A Discovery of witches by Deborah Harkness 5 stars!