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All Souls
The All Souls Real-Time Reading Companion
A richly illustrated real-time reading guide that brings to life the world created by Deborah Harkness in A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night, retracing the events of the bestselling novels with illuminating behind-the-scenes details
A world of witches, vampires, and daemons.
A manuscript that holds the secrets of their past and the key to their future.
Diana and Matthew—the forbidden love at the heart of the adventure.
The All Souls Trilogy began with A Discovery of Witches. It continued with Shadow of Night.
Now, as The Book of Life has brought Deborah Harkness’s #1 New York Times bestselling trilogy to its conclusion, re-immerse yourself in the enchanting fantasy world she has created and enrich your experience of the heart-stopping finale.
A world of witches, vampires, and daemons.
A manuscript that holds the secrets of their past and the key to their future.
Diana and Matthew—the forbidden love at the heart of the adventure.
The All Souls Trilogy began with A Discovery of Witches. It continued with Shadow of Night.
Now, as The Book of Life has brought Deborah Harkness’s #1 New York Times bestselling trilogy to its conclusion, re-immerse yourself in the enchanting fantasy world she has created and enrich your experience of the heart-stopping finale.
113 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 18, 2015
979 people are currently reading
2558 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Harkness
44 books34.4k followersDeborah Harkness is a #1 New York Times bestselling author who draws on her expertise as an historian of science, medicine, and the history of the book to create rich narratives steeped in magical realism, historical curiosity, and deeply human questions about what it is that makes us who we are.
The first book in Harkness’s beloved All Souls series, A Discovery of Witches, was an instant New York Times bestseller and the series has since expanded with the addition of subsequent NYT bestsellers, Shadow of Night (2012), The Book of Life (2014), and Time’s Convert (2018), as well as the companion reader, The World of All Souls. The All Souls series has been translated in thirty-eight languages.
The popular television adaptation of A Discovery of Witches, starring Theresa Palmer and Matthew Goode, was released in 2019 by Sky/Sundance Now, and also broadcast on AMC.
Having spent more than a quarter of a century as a student and scholar of history, Harkness holds degrees from Mount Holyoke College, Northwestern University, and the University of California at Davis. She is currently a professor at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she teaches European history and the history of science.
Harkness has published scholarly articles on topics such as the influence of theatrical conventions on the occult sciences, scientific households, female medical practice in early modern London, medical curiosity, and the influence of accounting practices on scientific record keeping. She has received Fulbright, Guggenheim, and National Humanities Center fellowships, and her most recent scholarly work is The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution.
The first book in Harkness’s beloved All Souls series, A Discovery of Witches, was an instant New York Times bestseller and the series has since expanded with the addition of subsequent NYT bestsellers, Shadow of Night (2012), The Book of Life (2014), and Time’s Convert (2018), as well as the companion reader, The World of All Souls. The All Souls series has been translated in thirty-eight languages.
The popular television adaptation of A Discovery of Witches, starring Theresa Palmer and Matthew Goode, was released in 2019 by Sky/Sundance Now, and also broadcast on AMC.
Having spent more than a quarter of a century as a student and scholar of history, Harkness holds degrees from Mount Holyoke College, Northwestern University, and the University of California at Davis. She is currently a professor at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she teaches European history and the history of science.
Harkness has published scholarly articles on topics such as the influence of theatrical conventions on the occult sciences, scientific households, female medical practice in early modern London, medical curiosity, and the influence of accounting practices on scientific record keeping. She has received Fulbright, Guggenheim, and National Humanities Center fellowships, and her most recent scholarly work is The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
June 20, 2017
Are you a fan of Deborah Harkness and her trilogy? Then this will be an extra-special treat for you. Filled with all sorts of historical information and insight by Harkness, fans of the All Souls series will gobble up this reading companion.
As an urban fantasy/paranormal writer, I found this companion very helpful. It's an eye-opening read because Harkness shares valuable insight. She's honest about her process and that is priceless. Writers everywhere should pick this up for that reason alone. A must read!
My Rating: 4 stars
As an urban fantasy/paranormal writer, I found this companion very helpful. It's an eye-opening read because Harkness shares valuable insight. She's honest about her process and that is priceless. Writers everywhere should pick this up for that reason alone. A must read!
My Rating: 4 stars
August 30, 2017
I've only read the first book in this series, so I totally spoiled some things for myself. It was worth it. This book contains a reading guide and tons of information to better visualize the material. I especially liked the music that the author provided for certain scenes. It was over too fast, but a good treat.
September 16, 2021
I loved this! Such a cool idea. It only covers the first two books in the series, but for each book you are given a calendar with chapters to read to let you read events “as they happened” on the exact dates of the year. Then Ms. Harkness gives you her inspirations for people, places, things, and music that goes with things in the stories. It really is a companion to use as you read, however, I didn’t get it until I finished the second book, so now I’ll need to go back and re-read them together later. Even so, I enjoyed clicking the links to the YouTube videos for the songs she was thinking of for certain scenes or people, and the photos of the castles, clothes, books, and other things were wonderful! (Unfortunately some of the links don't work, but you can pretty easily google the info she gives to find the missing stuff.)
I highly recommend this if you enjoyed the first two books, especially since it's available free as a Kindle book on Amazon. I just wish there was another one to go with books 3 and 4. Hopefully someday she’ll write one. (Finished 9/16)
I highly recommend this if you enjoyed the first two books, especially since it's available free as a Kindle book on Amazon. I just wish there was another one to go with books 3 and 4. Hopefully someday she’ll write one. (Finished 9/16)
April 16, 2019
What a cool way to format a guide book! This follows each chapter of the first two books in the All Souls trilogy. You read the coordinating section in this after every chapter of A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night and it gives historical information, paintings of characters, pictures of the buildings, and the music that Deborah Harkness listened to while writing that chapter.
It's free and worth the time. I wish they had continued it with The Book of Life.
It's free and worth the time. I wish they had continued it with The Book of Life.
July 29, 2016
A richly illustrated reading guide that brings to life the world created by Deborah Harkness in A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night. In real time, she's retracing the events of her awesome bestselling books with behind-the-scenes details. Lots of pictures! This is a world peopled by witches, vampires, and daemons...
A manuscript that holds the secrets of their past and the key to their future... It is about Diana and Matthew, and it is about the forbidden, vampire, love at the heart of the adventure. I liked the bit where she prepares a vampire friendly meal, complete with matching wine! Priceless!
The All Souls Trilogy began with A Discovery of Witches. It continued with Shadow of Night.
Now, as The Book of Life has brought Deborah Harkness’s bestselling trilogy to a fantastic end.
Interesting add-on for those who enjoy the series or the genre.
A manuscript that holds the secrets of their past and the key to their future... It is about Diana and Matthew, and it is about the forbidden, vampire, love at the heart of the adventure. I liked the bit where she prepares a vampire friendly meal, complete with matching wine! Priceless!
The All Souls Trilogy began with A Discovery of Witches. It continued with Shadow of Night.
Now, as The Book of Life has brought Deborah Harkness’s bestselling trilogy to a fantastic end.
Interesting add-on for those who enjoy the series or the genre.
May 1, 2022
A nice reading guide to go with the first 2 books of the trilogy. Contains photographs of some locations, portraits of real historical figures, links to objects that inspired items in the books and most importantly some pictures of alchemical texts that inspired the Book of Life / Ashmole 782.
Some of the museum links are now defunct.
The most interesting of the links that did work was to one that showed an interactive map of London from 1616 (University of Victoria's collection). I whiled away an entire afternoon exploring that one!
This companion does help the understanding of those not versed in Elizabethian history - or even the layout of London - but I wouldn't say it was necessary for the enjoyment and understanding of the plots. However, it is a good bonus work.
Some of the museum links are now defunct.
The most interesting of the links that did work was to one that showed an interactive map of London from 1616 (University of Victoria's collection). I whiled away an entire afternoon exploring that one!
This companion does help the understanding of those not versed in Elizabethian history - or even the layout of London - but I wouldn't say it was necessary for the enjoyment and understanding of the plots. However, it is a good bonus work.
June 3, 2021
This short book will be a very interesting read for anyone who loved Deborah Harkness's All Souls Trilogy.
It brings us exclusively details about the research and inspiration for the books. I've read it at the same time as the two first volumes and found it really enjoyable.
It brings us exclusively details about the research and inspiration for the books. I've read it at the same time as the two first volumes and found it really enjoyable.
January 14, 2022
Only wish The Book of Life had also been included.
February 1, 2020
Started: 01/05/20
Finished: 01/31/20
Grabbed this book to get back up to speed in the All Souls world as a fourth novel, related to it has come out. The majority of this book were notes related to certain excerpts of the Trilogy, including what inspired the author's descriptions of buildings, wines, books, places, etc. Would've perhaps been better to refer to this alongside actually reading the trilogy instead of after, but it wasn't available when I read it. I might have rated this higher if I did use it properly, so perhaps, the rating is not the book's fault. It did whet my appetite for more to come however.
Finished: 01/31/20
Grabbed this book to get back up to speed in the All Souls world as a fourth novel, related to it has come out. The majority of this book were notes related to certain excerpts of the Trilogy, including what inspired the author's descriptions of buildings, wines, books, places, etc. Would've perhaps been better to refer to this alongside actually reading the trilogy instead of after, but it wasn't available when I read it. I might have rated this higher if I did use it properly, so perhaps, the rating is not the book's fault. It did whet my appetite for more to come however.
July 12, 2019
This book isn't really a reading companion so much as an extra long author's note. There are illustrations, pictures showing inspiration, portraits of historical figures, music that inspired a scene or reminded Harkness of a character, etc. It was cool to read along with A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night, mainly because it gave a visual reference to real places or things mentioned in the books. However, it's not necessary to read this along with the series, just a cool addition.
November 20, 2018
I thought I will read it just to kill time and hang on to my beloved characters, but I actually liked it. It made me appreciate the trilogy even more and the fantasy blends in with the history so beautifully.
April 30, 2016
Bahsi geçen yerleri, kişileri ve sanat eserlerini gerçekten görerek kitapları okumak çok keyifli oldu..
Ayrıca yazarın ilham aldığı şarkılar da çok güzel :)
Ayrıca yazarın ilham aldığı şarkılar da çok güzel :)
March 10, 2020
I really appreciated having this reading companion when reading "A Discovery of Witches" and "Shadow of Night." History has always been my favorite subject and I have done a lot of study of it as a result, but there are many people, events, and places mentioned in the books that I was unfamiliar with. This reading companion gives further explanation to much of the historical facts such as portraits, dates, and pictures of places mentioned in the story. I also loved how Deborah Harkness included pictures of places and historical items/artwork that she used for inspiration when writing the first two books in the trilogy. It was nice to read about the music that the author listened to when writing certain parts or about certain characters, but I must admit that I was definitely more drawn to the historical facts. Overall, I think this is a wonderful free resource to read alongside the first two books if you have questions or simply want to know more about things mentioned in the story. I did find Deborah Harkness' Facebook page to be helpful as well since she has posted some of the pictures on there that there are only links for in this companion.
December 22, 2020
A nice addition to the first two books of the All Souls trilogy, with pictures and paintings and other notes on the inspirations for the books. There's also a short Q&A with the author, which sheds further light on the inspiration for the series as a whole.
I found the book interesting to look through, I listened to some of the songs the author noted as "best soundtrack" to different scenes, and enjoyed myself.
I definitely recommend some caution if reading this exactly at the same time, as certain paragraphs from the books are quoted as pointers.
I found the book interesting to look through, I listened to some of the songs the author noted as "best soundtrack" to different scenes, and enjoyed myself.
I definitely recommend some caution if reading this exactly at the same time, as certain paragraphs from the books are quoted as pointers.
November 3, 2022
I picked this up on kindle, I do not even know when - way before I even started reading the series.
This is a very clever tie-in to the series; it is the images, art, book quotes, link to YouTube songs - whatever inspired the author while she was writing the series.
It would make an awesome gift to newsletter subscribers as fan service. Perhaps that’s how it started life, as a reader magnet.
3 stars
This is a very clever tie-in to the series; it is the images, art, book quotes, link to YouTube songs - whatever inspired the author while she was writing the series.
It would make an awesome gift to newsletter subscribers as fan service. Perhaps that’s how it started life, as a reader magnet.
3 stars
July 22, 2018
Terrific companion to the All Souls Trilogy
Pictures, paintings, maps, music and more help bring the All Souls Trilogy to life brilliantly in this short companion book to the All Souls Trilogy. It makes the books and the world within them seem even more real. You must read the trilogy books first though, to get the full benefit of this wonderful companion book.
Pictures, paintings, maps, music and more help bring the All Souls Trilogy to life brilliantly in this short companion book to the All Souls Trilogy. It makes the books and the world within them seem even more real. You must read the trilogy books first though, to get the full benefit of this wonderful companion book.
January 6, 2019
I wish there was a section on The Book of Life, but sadly, this only covers the first two books. I'm always interested in an author's process and I could tell that a lot of research was done for these books, I love historical fiction for the learning aspects and this seems to be quite true to the time periods involved.
September 23, 2019
Good book to have if you're an All Souls fan!
This book is a great reference to have if you are reading Deborah Harkness' All Souls Trilogy. Wonderful tidbits about where she got her ideas and went about writing the story. She provides reference links and even pictures! I'll be consulting it often.
This book is a great reference to have if you are reading Deborah Harkness' All Souls Trilogy. Wonderful tidbits about where she got her ideas and went about writing the story. She provides reference links and even pictures! I'll be consulting it often.
May 16, 2017
Background for the very history interested
Too much history for me. Except the paintings of some of the RL people in the book. There are some Q&A with DH some will find interesting
Too much history for me. Except the paintings of some of the RL people in the book. There are some Q&A with DH some will find interesting
August 14, 2017
This was great to have next to me as I was reading the series, The research that Harkness included the the whole reading experience an extra step further, and I was in love with the pictures of Diana's outfits and the different places they stayed in Shadow of Night.
April 4, 2018
Interesting
This was a brilliant companion to have instead of flicking back and forth between Google to search for the history behind the story. I love how it allows you to deepen your involvement into the world that’s been created
This was a brilliant companion to have instead of flicking back and forth between Google to search for the history behind the story. I love how it allows you to deepen your involvement into the world that’s been created
May 19, 2018
Really enjoyed this book, a must-read for die hard All Souls Trilogy fans 💝💝.
It’s really interesting seeing where Deborah got her inspiration from, and I also found some good music! And also, history!!!
Loved it!
It’s really interesting seeing where Deborah got her inspiration from, and I also found some good music! And also, history!!!
Loved it!
October 24, 2019
Informative but incomplete
This reading companion had a lot of very interesting information relating to the novels, even though some of the links included are no longer valid. Unfortunately, it only covers the first two books.
This reading companion had a lot of very interesting information relating to the novels, even though some of the links included are no longer valid. Unfortunately, it only covers the first two books.
January 1, 2020
A great accompaniment to ADOW and Shadow. It shows some of the photos of contemporary Oxford, art works that set the scene and portraits of historical figures to contextualize the first two books of the trilogy
April 2, 2021
Thoroughly Enjoyed
I am a history nerd and absolutely loved this. I wish all historical Novels had a reading companion like this. It is a wonderful resource to look further into the real historical figures portrayed in this series.
I am a history nerd and absolutely loved this. I wish all historical Novels had a reading companion like this. It is a wonderful resource to look further into the real historical figures portrayed in this series.
November 2, 2022
The perfect companion
No matter if it is your first or Nth real-time read of A Discovery of Witches, this is the perfect companion, complete with images and tons of amazing tidbits about the book and its locations.
A must-have.
No matter if it is your first or Nth real-time read of A Discovery of Witches, this is the perfect companion, complete with images and tons of amazing tidbits about the book and its locations.
A must-have.
August 26, 2023
Slightly disappointed in this book. Phoebe seems rather boring. The only parts that intrigued me were about Marcus’ past. I feel one about Matthew should have been wrote instead. Would have been a more interesting read.
Read
September 23, 2024Definitely not what I expected
I have had several say they won't read a book about witches and vampires, and they would be missing out on an excellent series. Because the author is a professor of history, the storyline is wonderfully accurate.
I have had several say they won't read a book about witches and vampires, and they would be missing out on an excellent series. Because the author is a professor of history, the storyline is wonderfully accurate.
December 4, 2024
A Discovery of Witches
This first book in the trilogy was very disappointing and short. For, the cost of this book bundle I expected more of the story not ending with Diana's first encounter with Ashmole 782.
This first book in the trilogy was very disappointing and short. For, the cost of this book bundle I expected more of the story not ending with Diana's first encounter with Ashmole 782.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews