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A review by erinarkin20
Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
5.0
This book picks up right where the first book left off which was great..no lost time. Diana and Matthew have gone to the year 1590 and things are interesting. There is so much going on from the very beginning and although this is a long book, I didn't feel like it dragged along at all. I really enjoy the history and descriptiveness - this is something that I think sets these books apart from others. Harkness definitely provides the details and takes the reader back to Elizabethan times.
There are a lot of characters in this book and at times I had to really think about who was being referenced or who was talking to whom. Each has a significance in the story and reason for being there but it was hard to keep them straight at times. Aside from Diana and Matthew (of course) Gallowglass is one who stands out to me as a favorite. He calls Matthew out when he feels it is needed and doesn't really hide anything from anyone. Another favorite was Phillipe. Although I didn't care for him at first, that quickly changed once I realized what he was trying to do while Matthew and Diana were at Sept-Tours.
I was initially thrown off by the chapters that were inserted here and there with the things going on in the future with Ysabeau, Marcus and the others. The first time it happened I thought it was odd (maybe because it didn't involve any of the major characters) but the other chapters where it happened fit the flow of the story. I understand why it was done and showed the waves that were created by the things Diana and Matthew were doing in the past. It also shows that just because the story was mainly set in 1590, things didn't stop for those who stayed in the present.
I loved seeing Matthew's and Diana's relationship progress. They both recognize they have flaws but are able to work through them and get past their differences. They will always have challenges and things to face just because of who they are but the fact that they love each other and know that won't change is what helps them face it all head on. I am curious to see how things pick up in the next book...not only for them but also the rest of the group.
Now - as always, I hate when things are left unanswered but I suppose that is to be expected with a trilogy...right? There are a number of questions I have yet that I am sure will be answered in the next book but one of my faults is impatience...I admit it.
I really enjoyed this installment and will be waiting anxiously for the next book. I think anyone who enjoyed the first book will enjoy this one as well. I would probably give this 4.5 if I were able to but give it 5 vs. a 4 as I really wasn't able to put this down and loved the entire story.
There are a lot of characters in this book and at times I had to really think about who was being referenced or who was talking to whom. Each has a significance in the story and reason for being there but it was hard to keep them straight at times. Aside from Diana and Matthew (of course) Gallowglass is one who stands out to me as a favorite. He calls Matthew out when he feels it is needed and doesn't really hide anything from anyone. Another favorite was Phillipe. Although I didn't care for him at first, that quickly changed once I realized what he was trying to do while Matthew and Diana were at Sept-Tours.
I was initially thrown off by the chapters that were inserted here and there with the things going on in the future with Ysabeau, Marcus and the others. The first time it happened I thought it was odd (maybe because it didn't involve any of the major characters) but the other chapters where it happened fit the flow of the story. I understand why it was done and showed the waves that were created by the things Diana and Matthew were doing in the past. It also shows that just because the story was mainly set in 1590, things didn't stop for those who stayed in the present.
I loved seeing Matthew's and Diana's relationship progress. They both recognize they have flaws but are able to work through them and get past their differences. They will always have challenges and things to face just because of who they are but the fact that they love each other and know that won't change is what helps them face it all head on. I am curious to see how things pick up in the next book...not only for them but also the rest of the group.
Now - as always, I hate when things are left unanswered but I suppose that is to be expected with a trilogy...right? There are a number of questions I have yet that I am sure will be answered in the next book but one of my faults is impatience...I admit it.
I really enjoyed this installment and will be waiting anxiously for the next book. I think anyone who enjoyed the first book will enjoy this one as well. I would probably give this 4.5 if I were able to but give it 5 vs. a 4 as I really wasn't able to put this down and loved the entire story.