 Cover of Shadow of Night | |
| Author | Deborah Harkness |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | All Souls trilogy |
| Genre | Contemporary fantasy, romance, vampire, witchcraft, alchemy |
| Publisher | Penguin Books |
Publication date | July 10, 2012 |
| Publication place | USA |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover, Paperback) |
| Pages | 592 |
| ISBN | 978-0-670-02348-6 |
| Preceded by | A Discovery of Witches |
| Followed by | The Book of Life |
Shadow of Night is a 2012 historical-fantasy novel by American scholar Deborah Harkness, the second book in the All Souls trilogy. As the sequel to the 2011 bestseller, A Discovery of Witches, it follows the story of Diana Bishop, a historian who comes from a long line of witches, and Matthew Clairmont, a long-lived vampire, as they unlock the secrets of an ancient manuscript. Diana and Matthew travel back in time to 16th century London during the Elizabethan era.
The book received generally mixed feedback from literary critics. Like its predecessor, A Discovery of Witches, it was praised for its blend of history and fantasy. Some critics felt that the book had too many secondary characters and plot elements. Harkness had previously studied England's Tudor period, in 2007 publishing a non-fiction book about the scientific revolution in Elizabethan London, The Jewel House.
Shadow of Night was first published in hardcover on July 10, 2012, by Viking Press, becoming a New York Times Best Seller upon its release. It has also been released as an ebook. Shadow of Night is followed by The Book of Life, the final installment of the All Souls trilogy, which was released on July 15, 2014.