Matthew and Diana also seem to have picked a very unstable and dangerous time to visit I never really figured out why they thought that was a good idea. Matthew of course knows the famous historical figures of the time, including queens and emperors, which seems awfully stupid for a creature whose very existence relies on everyone else not noticing that he isn’t aging. I can see how this was the only way Harkness could have the story she wanted, but it’s such a bald-faced deus ex machina. For instance, the historical Matthew conveniently vanishes with future Matthew visiting. I have a few problems with how this was carried out. The first book was not a historical fiction. It’s really weird to have a second book in a trilogy set in not just a new locale, but a whole different genre. However, it has a few flaws of its own.įirst, the time-walking. In some ways Shadow of Night is the better book–the text flows more smoothly, not every single character is bitchy all the time, and the pacing has improved. Shadow of Night (All Souls Trilogy, Bk 2) follows on the heels of A Discovery of Witches.

Meanwhile, they’re hanging out with famous people, trying to out-politic the court of the Queen of England (among other major leaders in Europe), possibly having a baby (which shouldn’t even be possible), and confusing the hell out of Matthew’s friends and acquaintances. Apparently while they’re there the Matthew from that time period simply vanishes until they leave again. Witch Diana Bishop and her husband (vampire Matthew de Clermont) have time-walked back to the 1500s in order to find a book and a teacher for Diana.

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness