Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

37 reviews

mads_reads_books's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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caitlinpfry's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

There were a very areas of the story that seemed distracted and not necessary to move the story forward.

I am in love with how much the author has weaved in from actual history into this books as it makes my late night research wormholes much more worthwhile than TikTok doomscrolling 😂

I will say Diana is incredibly patient with Matthew and his middle school girl moods 😅

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bookwyrmjulia's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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emoxxecologist's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

So much of this book is set in the past, in Elizabethan England. The historical aspects of it were intriguing to me for multiple reasons. We get to see the roles of different types of women and their parts of running a household. There were a lot of little details the author threw in about life back then, which tells me she did her research. One such thing is how you used to have to get to the palace by boat. The city of London and its surroundings are so ancient, but it used to look so different that parts of it would be unrecognizable now to someone that lived back then.

The writing was superb, but I hated how Matthew was such a dick most of the time. And it was like Diana just took it. That was what made me lower my rating from 4.75 stars to 3.5. It’s hard for me to imagine a modern woman, and a feminist at that, putting up with that man’s BS. Outside of needing her magic lessons, I’m surprised she didn’t kick him to the curb on more than one occasion.

Especially after that first miscarriage- he was acting like a total twat, getting lost in his own shit and coming home high on drugs, without even considering her feelings.

He could seriously be really selfish sometimes, but I guess that’s entitled men in Elizabethan England? Women were basically property and second class citizens. But I guess in some ways it’s a good thing that they worked through their differences so that he could make the kind of character development we all wanted to see. So I guess overall, I didn’t like some of the plot points that it took to get there, but I can’t change it.

I did like how there was kind of back and forth between Matthew and Diana in the past and the rest of the family in the present, so there wasn’t a ton for the readers to catch up on when they got back. It was cool how the family tracked down the painted miniatures and other little trinkets from their time in the past. This was also a smart way to introduce Phoebe into the story, since she was an employee at the auction house.

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gillian_aftanas's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

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johannaplatt's review

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mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Matthew is an arsehole, and Diana is insufferable. Their toxic relationship is a chore to read. The most interesting characters are the supporting ones - would have loved to have more time with Goody Alsop and co. I am hate reading this trilogy now tbh as the overall plot is interesting, it's just a shame that the misogynistic undertones are so obvious. Additionally, stop trying to make ruffs sexy. It's not gonna happen.

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zoenelson's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

Second books in a series often struggle to live up to their prequel and this one suffered in the same way. It covered a lot, to be fair, but to me pacing was a major issue. We spent 200 pages doing little to advance the plot, which was then shoved in throughout the book in sometimes rushed and uncomfortable ways.

I think Harkness also struggled to balance the many conflicts raised in the first book, on top of introducing a whole new cast of historical characters. The conflicts between Matthew and Diana, as well as with others, felt manufactured in this novel.

Despite the shortcomings, there was a lot to love: some of the new characters enriched the story (Pierre, Gallowglass, the children,

Phillipe

); the depiction of Elizabethan England and Prague was exciting; the magic system is complex and interesting; the love between our main characters is believable and beautiful; and the vignettes back in the future were amazing.

I have hope she's setting us up well for the final book in the trilogy!

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amy_reading_23's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first one. It's possibly one of the best historical novels I've read as it does truly bring Elizabethan England to life. There was also a lightheartedness to this novel that the first one lacked. I also enjoyed the more focused exploration of witchcraft.

The only reason I won't give it 4 stars is because I still don't like how Matthew treats Diana. Mostly he is better than the first book but that's not saying much. He is still abusive and its still excused as being because of his vampirism and past. It is such a shame as without that these would be great books.

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reka111's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Once there were creatures who swam like fish in the sea and others who wielded lightning bolts instead of spears. They are gone now, replaced with something new

The review contains spoilers!!!

PRELIMINARY

So, first of all, I would like to start by saying that, despite my love of English history, my modest knowledge extends only to monarchs - even those only minimally - just as much as I need, so to speak, I jumped blindly into a rough sea and waited for the miracle that would throw me ashore.

I wouldn't say I particularly loved this book, but I didn't hate it. I think that's okay, because it's been so long and no one would be able to keep the reader's attention for that long.

For me, I liked the previous part better, but everyone has their own opinion about this.

──────────────────

DIANA

I used to try not to judge and keep all my thoughts to myself, but now I am free to say them. Diana has changed tremendously, and I don't know if it's for better or for worse. For me, she is so complicated — and not in a good way — that I can't figure her out. Sometimes she obeys as simply as if it's the other thing besides breathing that keeps her alive, and other times she resists so fiercely that I think I'm the one who went crazy.

In short, she stopped and stopped developing her character as if it never existed. I want the old Diana back in the next book, I really want her back.

I am extremely glad that she managed to understand herself and her magic, or at least set out on the path to make this possible. I'm not saying it was a short road for her — and there's so much more left — but I do say that she dragged herself toward her destiny if necessary. She has been through so much and suffered too long to endure it again, and for her sake - and for the sake of her unborn children - I hope she finds the peace and tranquility she is looking for.

MATTHEW

Perhaps I should give up believing in his salvation. He is the devil, a demon, the darkness that consumes the light and even now – for inexplicable reasons – I forgive his sins. I understand the reasons for his actions, I understand them and consider the consequences, I sincerely forgive him.

I have to say that he has sunk too far back into the patriarchal order and tried to control what he could not. If he had been my husband and commanded me like that, I would have left him in the hell place and then run back into his arms in case of danger, because let's face it, no matter how bad things he did, he is an indomitable warrior and a great defender.

He had an extremely complicated relationship with everyone, but especially with his father. I couldn't really decide at the beginning if they loved each other now or if they were just angry. Either way, the fact that he had to kill him — because my poor Ysabeaum couldn't — in his deathbed is something that will chase me forever.

THE OTHERS

Philippe, I'm crying for him and because of him. Somehow I thought he would be kinder, and then I thought he would be crueler. However, he did everything for his family and loved them all with all his heart, even those who caused him so much trouble. I especially liked that despite years passing, he continued to honor the old gods and traditions, the customs of his ancestors. My heart bleeds so much from the knowledge that he couldn't meet his grandchildren.

Gallowglass, he's the corner of my heart, the other half of my soul, really. I could give him everything I had for caring so well for Diana, even though he had nothing to do — Louisa could learn from him— with her. I hope we see him again, because I want to know what happened to him.

Jack & Annie, my lives, my little babies. They have grown so close to my heart that I can't even tell you. They both deserve so much, so much better. I cry knowing that Annie will die - her life as a witch is finite - but Jack will live.

Goody & other witches, they really put their heart and soul into - even though they were afraid of Diana for a while - to help her in everything, even when they knew all her secrets and sides. I am extremely sorry that we will not get more of them, but as they always say; Don't revisit what's already done.

Elizabeth, I didn't think I'd love her, but hey I'm here and I do it. There was a lot of reality to the character (like cavities), and even though I believed how badly Matthew was treating, it turned out that a little toothache and a tiny moment of weakness were enough to melt the heart of ice. They were so cute, the way they nicknamed each other (Lizzie & Sebastian) is honestly one of my favorite scenes.

Kit, I don't understand him, but meanwhile I do. I don't think he was the evil one in this story, he was just offended and felt abandoned and desperate souls - just like him - could do anything. Property has gone a long way, but who hasn't?

──────────────────

THE PLOT/ETC.

For me, the plot was a bit confusing, maybe even untraceable at some points, or illogical, but everyone has flaws.

The pace was good and we got very authentic period descriptions, which i was very happy about because I thought I would be disappointed.

The love thread was still a bit far-fetched for me. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love them, but I couldn't get married to someone after four weeks and then have kids.

──────────────────

THE END

I can't wait to continue and find out about the continuation of their story!

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joey_paige's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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