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asreadbykat's review
3.0
True Rating: 3.7/5 Stars
After I read "A Discovery of Witches," I was beyond excited to read this next part of the trilogy. I was especially excited knowing that this book would take place primarily in the past, which would undoubtedly be an experience given the author's credentials.
Sadly, that is what kept the book from getting a full five stars from me. Yes, they travelled to the past, and yes, there were plenty of name drops I recognized and some I didn't, and it was great to see Diana's historian mind go crazy realizing that knowing something is very different from experiencing it. However, a good chunk of that travel to the past is spent in both Diana and Matthew arguing, yet again, about different aspects of their relationship. On the one hand, it makes complete sense given that they haven't known each other that long. On the other hand, it gets very frustrating to see a couple having the same argument over and over again for at least 300 pages of a 700 page book. Any time that could have been spent on really fleshing out the past they travelled to was spent on those arguments, which means at times it feels like nothing of substance really happens.
That being said, the writing itself is just as good as the first book, and it was easy to see the author's passion for history through not only Diana's own excitement, but also the settings and details added in. We do, FINALLY, get to see Matthew and Diana become closer and accept each other for who and what they are. There were some plot points I didn't even consider, and it was nice to see them coming in.
All told, I do recommend this book for anyone who enjoyed the first novel and wants to see where it goes next. I just wouldn't expect huge steps in terms of the plot, and instead expect a slightly slower pacing than the previous installment.
TL;DR: I enjoyed the novel, but pacing and constantly repeating plot points prevented me from diving in and liking it as much as I did the first novel.
After I read "A Discovery of Witches," I was beyond excited to read this next part of the trilogy. I was especially excited knowing that this book would take place primarily in the past, which would undoubtedly be an experience given the author's credentials.
Sadly, that is what kept the book from getting a full five stars from me. Yes, they travelled to the past, and yes, there were plenty of name drops I recognized and some I didn't, and it was great to see Diana's historian mind go crazy realizing that knowing something is very different from experiencing it. However, a good chunk of that travel to the past is spent in both Diana and Matthew arguing, yet again, about different aspects of their relationship. On the one hand, it makes complete sense given that they haven't known each other that long. On the other hand, it gets very frustrating to see a couple having the same argument over and over again for at least 300 pages of a 700 page book. Any time that could have been spent on really fleshing out the past they travelled to was spent on those arguments, which means at times it feels like nothing of substance really happens.
That being said, the writing itself is just as good as the first book, and it was easy to see the author's passion for history through not only Diana's own excitement, but also the settings and details added in. We do, FINALLY, get to see Matthew and Diana become closer and accept each other for who and what they are. There were some plot points I didn't even consider, and it was nice to see them coming in.
All told, I do recommend this book for anyone who enjoyed the first novel and wants to see where it goes next. I just wouldn't expect huge steps in terms of the plot, and instead expect a slightly slower pacing than the previous installment.
TL;DR: I enjoyed the novel, but pacing and constantly repeating plot points prevented me from diving in and liking it as much as I did the first novel.
emm_clairee's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
linzthebookworm's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved Shadow of Night. I think I liked it more than A Discovery of Witches because it wasn't as bogged down with the academic scenes. It's still there, and Diana gets to even practice some Alchemy, but it's not as cumbersome. We get to learn a lot more about Diana's magic, and I felt like I could see what she was doing when she practiced. It was creative and elegant.
Matthew is still a broody overprotective vampire, but we get to learn a lot more about him and his past. The School of Night is an interesting set of characters. My favorite characters in the book were probably Phillipe and Goody.
I could not put this down!
For my complete review check out: https://linzthebookworm.blogspot.com/2020/01/book-review-shadow-of-night-by-deborah-harkness.html
Matthew is still a broody overprotective vampire, but we get to learn a lot more about him and his past. The School of Night is an interesting set of characters. My favorite characters in the book were probably Phillipe and Goody.
I could not put this down!
For my complete review check out: https://linzthebookworm.blogspot.com/2020/01/book-review-shadow-of-night-by-deborah-harkness.html
cahogan's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
punkinmuffin's review against another edition
4.0
I'm well and truly hooked on this series. I have some other library books to get through before I pick up the third and final instalment. I'm looking forward to it but not... don't want it to end!
babyred95's review
3.0
This book was almost a completely different genre than the previous book. I had a hard time keeping with the story, but I enjoyed it all the same.
dsandor14's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ifollowedthatrabbit's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 ⭐
Reseña en español & English review (at the bottom)
¡Me ha encantado! Ha sido una lectura fascinante. Especialmente por el tiempo al que viajan Diana y Matthew. La aparición de nuevos personajes y de algunos históricos, pero vistos desde otra perspectiva:.
Por otro lado, la relación de pareja de Diana y Matthew va floreciendo entre drásticos cambios. Es en ésta, como en tantas otras situaciones, en las que Diana demuestra ser una mujer fuerte e independiente. Ella intenta, a pesar de lo difícil de la situación, mantener una cierta independencia.
No solo la relación entre Diana y Matthew va avanzando,.
En fin, una lectura entretenida, llena de personajes entrañables y otros difíciles de tolerar, aventuras y magia.
English review:
I've loved it! It's been a fascinating reading, because of the period of time Diana and Matthew travel. Those new characters, some of them with a "historical background", although they're depicted with some peculiar characteristics:
On the other hand, Diana and Mathew's relationship begins to develop abruptly among all those drastic changes. This is when Diana demonstrates how strong and independent she is. She tries, eventhough it's hard due to the social codes of the time, to keep a certain independence.
An entertaining reading, full of lovely characters and others not so lovely (not at all), adventures and magick
Reseña en español & English review (at the bottom)
¡Me ha encantado! Ha sido una lectura fascinante. Especialmente por el tiempo al que viajan Diana y Matthew. La aparición de nuevos personajes y de algunos históricos, pero vistos desde otra perspectiva:
Spoiler
como el hecho de que Christopher Marlowe haya sido un daimón... sin duda alguna, eso explicaría muchas cosasPor otro lado, la relación de pareja de Diana y Matthew va floreciendo entre drásticos cambios
Spoiler
, ya que retroceder al siglo XVI y adaptarse a él no es tarea fácil, y Diana tiene que lidiar, además, con el cambio de Matthew; ya que éste no se comporta de la misma manera que cuando se conocieron en el presente, a finales del siglo XX. Los códigos y normas sociales de ambas épocas son muy diferentes, y Matthew, de manera natural, comienza a comportarse como lo hiciera anteriormenteNo solo la relación entre Diana y Matthew va avanzando,
Spoiler
también su magiaEn fin, una lectura entretenida, llena de personajes entrañables y otros difíciles de tolerar, aventuras y magia.
English review:
I've loved it! It's been a fascinating reading, because of the period of time Diana and Matthew travel. Those new characters, some of them with a "historical background", although they're depicted with some peculiar characteristics:
Spoiler
such as the fact that Christopher Marlowe was a daemon... that might explain a few things.On the other hand, Diana and Mathew's relationship begins to develop abruptly among all those drastic changes. This is when Diana demonstrates how strong and independent she is. She tries, eventhough it's hard due to the social codes of the time, to keep a certain independence.
An entertaining reading, full of lovely characters and others not so lovely (not at all), adventures and magick
etaypoe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
alicebme's review
3.0
Lots of history and background on the characters. Tedious at times, but ultimately worth all the words used.