Classic Historical Fiction discussion

Shadow of Night Book 2

use this thread to discuss your thoughts on book 2!

I love how we meet Kit Marlowe so quickly! Northumberland, Henry Percy.. Walter Raleigh!
The writing is pulling me right where I left off two years ago which is greatness.

I'm next up for this book on my kindle at the library, so hopefully I won't gave long of a wait! Sorry I'm starting late!

lol..starting late with half a second notice is not a problem ;) I have activities/work/general mayhem the next few weeks till Christmas so I don't expect to blaze through. I am glad you can fit it into your reading schedule.

Marie wrote: "lol..starting late with half a second notice is not a problem ;) I have activities/work/general mayhem the next few weeks till Christmas so I don't expect to blaze through. I am glad you can fit it..."

This has been waiting for me to tackle it since I finished the first one...what...2? 3 years ago? So it's way past time!

let me know when you get it officially. I'm like on page 14. ;)

I finally got it! I'll be starting it today :)

I completely agree with you, Marie, about loving how the novel opens exactly where we left off before! It's been 2 or 3 years since I read the first one so it's nice to be brought right back into the action again.

I will have to look in my very disorganized study, I think I have the replica of the tiny book that they're talking about around page 33; that's how far I got in the book so far.

Marie wrote: "I will have to look in my very disorganized study, I think I have the replica of the tiny book that they're talking about around page 33; that's how far I got in the book so far."

Oh, how cool (both that you have the replica of the book and that you have a STUDY)! I'm actually right around that point as well (I'm on the Kindle so I don't have the exact page number).

Kit is a pill, isn't he??

Yes he IS!!! I am just about to start chapter 7. It has been interesting trying to keep up with who is who so far. For those without any Elizabethan knowledge I wonder if they are able to appreciate all that is truly going on. I have found myself intrigued again by witches, as far as their persecution and history during the current plot line of 1590.

I have started part 3, chapter 15. I really enjoyed the part 2 with Philippe. He is a great character. The blood rage thing and children is an interesting twist, I would love to see Matthew & Diana have children. There are a lot of symbols and imagery that I'm sure I'm missing something along the way.

Even though I didn't read at all over this past weekend, I think I'm at the same part you were at on the 23rd. I completely agree with you about the connection between children and the blood rage thing--it's an interesting facet of an ongoing conversation (even today) about genetic conditions, etc.

How far are you? I am at pg 250. Too many people here distracting me this week :/ Are you going to be able to renew the book if you don't finish it in time?

I hope we get to see Mary Sidney again!

I'm still close to the part I was at a few days ago, but I'm going to have lots of time to read this weekend so I see that changing. And yes! I'll definitely be able to renew it :). I haven't yet met Mary Sidney, so now I have something to look forward to!

Last night, I finished the part where Matthew and Diana left Sept-Tours for England and Diana and Phillippe's goodbye slayed me <3.

I'm about 75% through on my Kindle now. They're in Prague and I looove how Diana is finally coming in to her power, but I can't help but think there are more surprises coming up with that....

I'm at 275 now, leaving Mary's after the miniatures by Hilliard. The whole time warp thing is interesting.. like how are they NOT going to put a wrinkle in it?

OK So is Marcus Whitmore Matthew's brother? I am getting all confused with the characters from the last book..I wish it hadn't been so long.

Oh my gosh, I'm SO glad you said that--I'm completely confused with all of the character names. I wish she had included a family tree--I think that Marcus is Matthew's son. ....Maybe?

And I completely agree with you about the time warp thing! Just the fact that they're there at all is enough to mess time up. The miniatures seem like a pretty major thing to leave behind.

Yes, now I think you are right about the "son" portion. Not son by birth however, maybe OYE. But I did enjoy the banter he had with the clerk girl, Phoebe. A family tree would have been very helpful!
I am at the part where the gathering weavers have met Diana -- hope to get a chance to read more tonight!

I'm a little ahead of that and the witches and weaver are WONDERFUL. I can't wait to hear what you think of them :).

oh no!!! I just got to the part about the blood soaked sheets. aauuughg

UGH I know! So heartbreaking.... I really didn't think that would happen--though I guess the fact that it was lingering in the back of my mind should have made me realize :(.

PS, I finished it and I can't wait to talk with you about the ending chapters. No rush at all! I just happened to have a big chunk of time over the past weekend to read.

Where does the time go these days?! I simply do not understand how I cannot manage my time anymore. It looks like I'm a little more than halfway through, and they are visiting Dr Dee realizing that he did not have the Ashmole. I am enjoying the characters that the author creates.. while there are many names it still flows well. Very good story telling!

and dangit I'm googling Firedrake! (squirrel!)

LOL I had to google it as well! I just like to visualize exactly what she's talking about in her scenes. I forgot how much I enjoyed the first novel in the trilogy and I remembered, just like you said, when I rediscovered the awesome characters.

PS--I understand about the time thing!

I tried to read some more last night but the stinking reading light ran out of battery! I am at the part where they have met with Kelley at night, ay his house.

Ah, that's the worst! No rush at all :). This is where, I think, the story REALLY picks up and you're just dying to know what happens.

I was so perturbed. This is another reason why I am gravitating more and more to Kindle ebooks. I resisted for quite a few years, but after being forced to give away (& throw OUT ARCs!!) hundreds of books this past summer -- it is really the best way to go. I am definitely looking foward to getting back to the book!

I switch between my Kindle and physical books and am usually reading one of each at a time. I love my Kindle--it's just so easy to transport hundreds of books in my bag wherever I'm going. And yes, it's certainly something to not have to go through hundreds of physical books to give away and/or get ride of them!

OMG.. I am not quite sure what to think of Matthew and the vein.. Am I going to be sick?!? augh

phew OK I survived. d
And who is Benjamin. !?!

Yikes, the vein! Sometimes these things get a little graphic. And Benjamin is..................................um......Matthew's son??

Did I miss something important (or forget) about Benjamin and why they are afraid of him? -- besides the blood rage. Is there a back story?

If there is, I forgot about it too. It's briefly explained later in the book but I really don't remember knowing about Benjamin before.

Augh.. ok. I guess this would be my only complaint: Too many names floating around. And then Marcus was there but then gone.

YES! I agree. I have a hard time keeping all these names straight. A but of a recap in the beginning, or a bit of background when a character first appears on the scene in the second book, would have been immensely helpful.

Totally agreed. And funny how in other reads I get antsy when the author repeats stuff due to it being a series! NOW my elderly brain will appreciate all that redundancy I think :)
I can easily google the family charts like I sent on FB but I only want to delve in so far in fear of spoilers.

I completely agree! I remember looking someone up while I was reading (it could very well have been Benjamin....) and I found so many character lists that warned of spoilers :(.

OK I have more of the back story on Benjamin. Gerbert being Juliette's significant other etc is intriguing to bring back right now. About to start part 5:London The Brackfriars

"..my stomach flipped and the ____ didn't like it, either."
I feel like I've skipped a chapter

I made it to Part VI .. the very last section finally, like 13 pages left

How far have you gotten? Did you finish it? What do you think!?

I am DONE!!! I am thinking I cannot wait years before Book 3, lol because my brain cannot comprehend the character list! But OMG the revelation at the end brought tears to my eyes. I am so intrigued at this point to see what happens next. And how Marcus pops back up about whomever the museum girl is.. I feel like there is so much potential now to uncover more mysteries. The complaint(s) that I have about the book are how the characters are just here and there and everywhere and then gone.. and how there is very little reference to the last book which is bad for folks like me.. and the other complaint is how within the storytelling she just drops things that have occurred without really telling us -- making me feel like I commented earlier that I had missed some important development.
Otherwise I truly am surprised as to how much I have enjoyed the two books, considering the subject matter at first glance. I am super intrigued about the 'magic' and that aspect. I love mysteries and this novel has that genre-bending skill of Hist-fic, romance, supernatural etc. What did you think?
:)

Marie wrote: "I am DONE!!! I am thinking I cannot wait years before Book 3, lol because my brain cannot comprehend the character list! But OMG the revelation at the end brought tears to my eyes. I am so intrigue..."

SO sorry for this late response. I was on a mini-vacation starting last Wednesday night until yesterday, and I was swamped getting ready for it! I agree with you about not being able to wait forever to read Book 3. There are SO many characters and usually I hate character lists, but I think this series would benefit immensely from one in each novel.

I also agree with you about the patchwork quality of the novel. Details were dropped in and occasionally I felt like I had to go back and reread sections to make sure I didn't miss something. There needs to be some sort of review of the last book as well as a little more attention paid to important plot developments!

I love this series so far and I usually don't do well with finishing them. I guess I don't have much self-discipline? Haha. I think that the blending of history and magic makes this series fascinating for me. I also really like the romance in these novels--the main female character actually has some personality and isn't just a blank canvas. The main male character is controlling, arguably, but I think the author does a great job of explaining why that is. They both have powers that support each other rather than undermine each other, and I like that.

Maybe we could do another readalong of the next book in a couple months when we both have some time again? It won't be too long between readings but it will be long enough so we don't feel like we're reading it back to back.

Yes definitely would love to join you again. Let's touch base in mid- March to see where we are with our lives :)

I forgot to add that I really enjoyed Elizabeth I's character.. That was spot on.