Reviews

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

bluebeignet's review against another edition

3.0

DNF about 80% through. I just got bored enough that I didn’t care to keep going because it’s so unnecessarily long…

maggie_green's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this book, even more than the first one! They were bopping around from place to place quite a bit, but I think that breaking it up into distinct parts made it both easier and more fun to follow along with it. The story was interesting with its dual focus on finding the Ashmole manuscript and Diana mastering her magic. But truly, it was at its best when it was focused more on the interpersonal dynamics. I always prioritize characterization over plot, but I feel like a character focus in a second part of a trilogy is always the best way to go.

I do wish that some of the plots were woven together a bit tighter, and it was sometimes VERY difficult to keep track of all the names in all of the different settings. My chief complaint with this book, though, was that the chapters at the end of each of the parts (the ones that go over the present day) were too interesting to be such a small part of the book. I wish we had more of them to keep us up to date with the characters that we love from the first book. I am also hopeful that the third one will catch us up with what the side characters were up to. Also,

Deborah Harkness you will pay for your crimes (killing Em).

My problem with A Discovery of Witches was mostly in its characterization, especially of Matthew. I felt like his possessiveness and controlling tendencies were grating and not fully fleshed out, but I think this book did a much better job of exploring that. The

discussions that Matthew and Diana had in the church about Blanca and Lucas and the fight that Matthew had with Phillipe both did a lot to help show how much of Matthew's character is rooted in self loathing and shame. Which is obviously terrible for him (he is the poster child for Catholic Guilt), but it does start to explain his actions a lot. I also think that this is especially prevalent in the way that Matthew is constantly denying himself what he needs - blood, namely from Diana even when she offers it to him - in order to deny what he truly is. (In much the same way that Diana denied who she truly was for so much of her life). Anyway, the Knights of Lazarus salary really needs to cover therapy.

kbookish's review against another edition

adventurous informative

4.0

vronireads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

2.75

gracerennie's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.25

matsei's review

medium-paced

4.0

skynet666's review against another edition

4.0

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was even better than the first in the trilogy. Of course I love it because they took the same general fun story (vampire/witch relationship) and just moved it so that I also got a my historical fiction fix. This book reminds me of an adult twilight with a brain. However, it's just for fun, so 'nuff said.

natalieseraf's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

3.25

megan_reads_books's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

alliandre's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0