![]() There are 3 sections to this book: Matt and Di's actions in 16th century England, France, and Prague, with a brief (and sudden) jump back to the 21st century at the end of their hunt in each location, to explain the impact of their actions (in the *past*) on the present. ![]() Diana, in and out of a yards of petticoats, stealthily searches for a much needed witch-tutor (Goody Alsop was great), while Matthew attends to one of his many secret roles their actions constantly watched by dangerous cabals and covetous eyes. The as-of-yet-unwed couple time travels (by way of Diana's limited witching abilities) to 1591 - a troublesome landing spot - Matthew is a devout catholic in Protestant England, and next door in Scotland they are burning witches. Diana the "reluctant witch," and Matthew the "vampire-scholar," continue their urgent quest for the ancient alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, which is said to contain critical secrets about the inhabitants of this book: vampires, witches and demons/daemons (tomato/tomahto - I googled it). If you have not recently read (or reviewed) the first book (D of W) you will probably be lost in a torrent you can't get out of. When they say this one picks up where A Discovery of Witches left off - they aren't kidding. ![]() So, before you get discouraged by: the mass of characters (so many that the text book includes a glossary of characters), or the tediousness of tea and wine (Harkness at one time wrote a blog about wine), or the seemingly pointless conversations, the contrived events, and other minutiae of Elizabethan England.Hang in there. I almost unplugged half-way through, which would have been regrettable. For me, that was the trick to *liking*.sticking it out to the end. They justified their confessions by, in the end, giving Shadow of the Night a shining review. Whew I liked this, but it took perseverance to get to *liking.* I don't just mean because of the 600 pages (24.5 hrs), and I'm not alone with my endurance problem - even some of the professional critics confessed to wanting to skip ahead, jump over some of the fettering details. While I recommend the book and, once again, eagerly await the third volume, I am hoping that the full magic that Harkness has the ability to provide in her writing will be found in the next book. I missed the quick wit exchanges between characters, the faster pace to the storyline, and the peaks and valleys in the storyline of the first book. Matthew’s point of view is rarely provided. I felt the detailed historical information slowed the storyline. With all of that said, I missed some the “magic” found in the first book. Also, as a history major in college, I found the detailed information on the Elizabethan era of England interesting. Once again, Jennifer Ikeda does a marvelous performance of every character. The new characters in the story are refreshing and endearing. In this new book, Deborah Harkness weaves a beautiful story as the main characters escape into the past. ![]() I waited for “Shadow of Night” like a child eagerly anticipates Christmas. I have read and listened to “A Discovery of Witches” more than a dozen times over the past year.
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