Library Journal
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The second book in Harkness's "All Souls Trilogy" (after A Discovery of Witches) continues the saga of reluctant witch Diana Bishop, who, despite an ancient covenant prohibiting such a relationship, marries vampire and fellow scholar Matthew Clairmont. The unconventional couple travel back in time to Elizabethan England to hide out, explore Diana's newly discovered talents, and track down the elusive Ashmole 782, a mysterious text that may reveal secrets of the origins of creatures. Narrator Jennifer Ikeda successfully tackles the challenge of bringing to life a huge cast of both real and imagined characters, living in the past and present, through a variety of accents that give each a unique identity. VERDICT Harkness expertly weaves threads of science, history, and the occult around a passionate love story. Twilight fans looking for a more mature literary tale will enjoy this but should read A Discovery of Witches before diving into this installment in order to appreciate it fully. ["Destined to be as popular as its predecessor, Shadow of Night is a must buy," read the review of the Viking hc, LJ 5/15/12.-Ed.]-Theresa Horn, St. Joseph Cty. P.L., South Bend, IN (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.