Book Review: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Book: Shadow of Night
Author: Deborah Harkness
Hardcover: 592 Pages
Publisher: Viking Adult

"Together we lifted our feet and stepped into the unknown"—the thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestseller A Discovery of Witches Deborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel, A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782. Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens. Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season.

There are some stories that stay with you forever. All Souls Trilogy is such a story for me. When I finished ADoW, I was waiting patiently and was wondering what is going to happen next. Is Diana going to succeed in timewalking back to Elizabethan England in 1590? When finally the book was out. I saw that the answer was yes and I was at peace. 

In this book we get to see not only some very famous people from that Era, as friends of Matthew, but we get involved into their web of lies, secrets and everyday life. I was really shocked to see how it helped the plot and throughout the book I was really impressed by some parts. 

For example, the whole part with Philippe at Sept-Tours is by far my favorite. And not because Philippos is indeed of Greek origin! Mostly because he was so smart and precise that he was always ahead of everyone. 

Matthew got his closure. Diana learned a lot not only for Philippe but also about Matthew and that helped them along the way to understand their deep feelings. Consequently that solified their relationship even more by the end of the book.

As per usual I won't say more about the plot. Of course, there are more in this book that I love and I haven't shared with you. For now, I will only say that along with Philippe, my second favorite is Gallowglass. When you read about him, you will understand why. I do hope that we will see more of him in book #3 but also  more information of what happened in the present, when Diana and Matthew were trying to find the witch that would help Diana with her magic. 

The only thing I would like to pinpoint is that Deborah Harkness is indeed a storyteller. She can create the scenery, the atmosphere even a pseydo-character, for all those real and historical figures she used in SoN. And that is her magic too. Also, I was not familiar with Elizabethan England or alchemy before reading these series. But even though of my ignorance, I had this feeling that I was taking a very good peak from that Era. 

Finally, for all those people who are still children in their hearts, this story is for you. You will laugh, hate, cry and love the characters even more in the end of the book. Just give it a try and you will be mesmerized. 

And when you will finished it. "Enjoy the Club that waits for Book #3."

You can also read my review on "A Discovery of Witches"

Πάει καιρός...

Καλημέρα και καλή βδομάδα,

Σήμερα είναι μέρα αποκαλύψεων. Κάποια δωμάτια από το "Παλάτι των αναμνήσεων" ζητάνε να αεριστούν. Τι θα γίνει τελικά; Κανείς δε ξέρει. Ίσως οι πόρτες και τα παράθυρα να ανοίξουν για λίγο, για πολύ θα δείξει. Είναι εποχή υπερβάσεων. Ετοιμαστείτε...

~Κλεοπάτρα

Photo Credit: Pammyism

Έχω να παίξω πιάνο δεκαέξι ολόκληρα χρόνια. Σήμερα μετά από πολλά χρόνια ένιωσα την μεγαλύτερη ανάγκη να καθίσω στο παλιό και φθαρμένο μου σκαμπό και να τολμήσω να ακουμπήσω τα ασπρόμαυρα πλήκτρα. Οι νότες θα ακούγονται κάπως, αλλά αυτό είναι φυσικό. Το πιάνο μου είναι ξεκούρδιστο. 

Βλέπω τα πλήκτρα μπροστά μου. Να με καλούν να τα πατήσω. Με καλούν να γυρίσω πίσω σε αυτά. Μα τα δάχτυλα τρέμουν. Δε θυμάμαι όλα τα κλειδιά. Κάποτε τα ήξερα απέξω, μα τώρα πια είναι χωμένα κάπου. Κλειδωμένα μάλλον σε ένα συγκεκριμένο δωμάτιο του μυαλού μου. 

Και παρόλο που ο φόβος με κάνει να αισθάνομαι κάπως, πατάω το πρώτο πλήκτρο. Ντο. 

Η αγάπη μου για την μουσική δε μειώθηκε αυτά τα χρόνια της (αυτό)εξορίας μου. Ίσα, ίσα που την κράτησα κοντά μου. Έγινε το πιο αναγκαίο κομμάτι της ζωής μου μετά το οξυγόνο. Γιατί για μένα η μουσική είναι το δεύτερο οξυγόνο. Οι μελωδίες, οι ήχοι είναι η γαλήνη της ψυχής μου. 

Σου έχει τύχει να αγαπάς και να μισείς κάτι με το ίδιο πάθος; Να το αγαπάς τόσο, παρόλο που απαρνιέσαι ένα κομμάτι του εαυτού σου;  Για χρόνια η μουσική και το τραγούδι ήταν αυτό που ήμουν. Μα ξαφνικά σίγησαν. Σίγησε η φωνή. Σίγησε και το πιάνο. Παρά τις προτροπές αρνιόμουν να το πιάσω στα χέρια μου. 

Αρνιόμουν κατηγορηματικά. Στις ανοιχτές πληγές δεν βάζεις αλάτι. Τις κοιτάς και προχωράς μέχρι να νιώθεις το στήθος σου ότι είναι κλειστό. Και ας δεν είναι. 

Στην ζωή πάντα προχωρούσα μπροστά. Ακόμα το κάνω. Τόσο που σκέφτομαι να τραγουδήσω ξανά. Μπορεί η φωνή να μην είναι ίδια όπως παλιά, αλλά κάτι υπάρχει. Είναι εκεί πίσω, το νιώθω. 

Μια ακόμα υπέρβαση. Υπερβαίνω τον εαυτό μου. Κοιτάω τις πληγές μου, που είναι πια κλειστές. Δεν φαίνονται. Μόνο τα σημάδια με κάνουν να τις ξεχωρίζω. 

Δεκαέξι χρόνια μετά, κοιτάω πίσω και χαμογελώ. Ότι και να γίνει θα προσπαθήσω και ας μη πετύχω. Τουλάχιστον προσπάθησα να κάνω κάτι που με ευχαριστεί. Να αποδείξω στον εαυτό μου ότι μπορώ, ακόμα. 

Η τόλμη είναι συνυφασμένη με τον φόβο. Φοβάσαι να κάνεις κάτι αλλά αν το αποφασίσεις μπαίνει η τόλμη στο παιχνίδι και σου αποκαλύπτει ότι μπορείς. Ότι θα τα καταφέρεις, αρκεί να πιστέψεις λιγάκι. Στον εαυτό σου.

Inspiration in Music: Brian Crain : Softness and Light

English Interpretation : It is time...

Good morning and have a nice week ahead.

Today is a revelation day. Some rooms from “The Memory Palace” wanted fresh air. Will the doors and the windows open or not? Maybe they will open for a short or a long time. No one knows. This is an era where you are overstepping yourself. Get ready

~C.C.

I haven’t played the piano for sixteen years. Today, after all those years, I felt the greatest need to sit down to my old and worn stool and dare to touch the black and white keys. The sound of the notes will be weird, but that is something you should expect. My piano is not in tune.

I see the keys in front of me. They are calling my name. Calling me to touch them, to press them gently. Calling me back to them. My fingers are trembling. I don’t remember all the musical scales. Ι used to. Now they are simply lost. Locked down in a specific room in my mind. Where is the key?

I am afraid, but still I touch lightly the first key. C.

My love for music didn’t fade away because of my exile. I held it close. So, it became the most needed necessity of my life, after the air I breathe. Simply, music is my oxygen. I cannot live without it. The melodies, the sounds calm my soul. Just like that.

Have you felt that mixed feeling where love and hate is so intense? A passion so sacred, but damned at the same time? To love it, but still contemn it. Contemn that part of yourself. For years, music and singing was who I was. But suddenly the lights went down. No more singing. No more music. I was saying no to everyone who said, “but play a little for us.” No. I couldn’t.

I couldn’t play. If you have an open wound you don’t put salt on it. You already know what is there. You don’t need a reminder. So, you look those wounds and continue your life, even though your chest is not closed. You pretend that it is.

In life I was always walking forward. I still do. So, I am thinking to start singing lessons again. I know it’s a shocker. It was for me too. I know that my voice won’t be the same. But my chords are there. Rusty maybe, but I can feel them. They want to stretch a bit.

Overstepping. Overstepping my boundaries, myself. I look at my wounds but they are close now. You cannot see them. Only the scars remind me where they are.

Sixteen years later, I can look back and actually smile. I will do my effort whenever the outcome. I will try. I will try even though I won’t succeed. I will be happy with this achievement. I will prove to myself that I can do whatever I want, even if it hurts me.

Boldness is interwoven with fear. You are afraid to try anything. Your dreams, hopes, everything you have in your heart and soul. But if you decide to act, then courage comes in the game and then you realize that you can do whatever you want. If. Only You. Believe. In. Yourself.

Συνομιλώντας με την...Σιωπή

Καλημέρα,

Περίεργη μέρα σήμερα. Δεν πρόλαβα να ολοκληρώσω αυτό το κείμενο και καπάκι άκουσα δηλώσεις πολιτικού που αναφέρει το θέμα μου. Ίσως ήταν...σημαδιακό!

Μερικές σκέψεις για την σιωπή. Πράγματα που νομίζω ότι χρειάζεται να ειπωθούν για όλους εκείνους που καιρό τώρα σιωπούν. Βάζω και τον εαυτό μου μέσα. Καλή ανάγνωση!

~Κλεοπάτρα.

Photo Credit

Υπάρχουν σιωπές και σιωπές. Κάποιες σημαίνουν πολλά ή ίσως και τίποτε.
Σιωπές που έρχονται
Σιωπές που φεύγουν
Ματιές κενές ή γεμάτες από συναίσθημα

Διαλέγεις το μονοπάτι, διαλέγεις και την σιωπή που σου ταιριάζει
Μόνο μη νομίζεις ότι με ξέρεις επειδή σιωπώ.
Μη.
Μη κάνεις το λάθος να φαντάζεσαι διάφορα.
Να δημιουργείς σενάρια.
Να νομίζεις ότι με μειώνεις.

Σιωπή σημαίνει ανασύνταξη
Σιωπή σημαίνει δεν έχω κάτι να σου πω, να προσθέσω
Σιωπή σημαίνει δε θέλω να χαλάσω τα λόγια μου. (Ναι! Μαζί σου!)
Σιωπή σημαίνει δε θέλω να σου μιλήσω.

Σίγουρα ΔΕ σημαίνει υποταγή.
Σίγουρα ΔΕ σημαίνει υποδούλωση
Σίγουρα ΔΕ σημαίνει μαλθακότητα
Σίγουρα ΔΕ σημαίνει ότι σε φοβάμαι

Αν φοβάμαι, δε φοβάμαι εσένα.
Φοβάμαι τον εαυτό μου αν μιλήσει.
Γιατί αν μιλήσω οι λέξεις θα είναι ξυράφια
Που ματώνουν, που σε διαπερνούν
Και εγώ για τώρα δε θέλω να προβώ σε κάτι τέτοιο.

Να με προσέχεις για όσο σιωπώ. Να με φοβάσαι
Πρέπει να με φοβάσαι.
Εσύ Εμένα.
Να το θυμάσαι.
Εγώ σε παρατηρώ και η σιωπή μου είναι...

Cover Reveal: Killian McRae's Pure & Sinful!

Hey Everyone,
I am really happy that I participate in the cover reveal of my friend's Killian McRae.
Here is the cover of her new book Pure & Sinful. The official release of the book is September 19th!

ISBN (print, paperback, 250 pages): 978-0-9839797-8-4 -MSRP 10.99USD

ISBN (electronic): 978-0-9839797-9-1- 4.50 (epub, mobi, pdf, and html. formats vary by site)

Blurb:

Statistician Riona Dade knows all about probabilities. Still, even she'd tell you the chances of discovering you’re a witch, being appointed to the demon-slaying trio known as the Pure Souls, and finding yourself sinfully attracted to a catholic priest who uses amen and other four-lettered words with equal enthusiasm are pretty slim. Also learning your ex was once Hell’s first-round draft pick, and realizing you're a prize catch for Satan’s soul-damning quota leaves a girl feeling like she just won the lottery while being struck by lightning while riding a unicorn across Atlantis. 

Trying to keep her mind off role playing the Thornbirds with Father Angeletti, Riona leads the Pure Souls against a maniacal menagerie of Mephistopheles’s minions plaguing greater Boston. Giving in to lust is a direct flight to damnation for both her and the priest, leading Riona to distract herself by striking up a romance with her new, foxy neighbor, Lucy. But she can't shake her attraction to Marcello, and as the tension between them grows thicker than a lumberjack’s beard, temptation may become too difficult to resist. 

How long can they deny the pull growing between them, knowing there will be Hell to pay?

 Excerpt:As Dee sauntered away, Riona focused on the priest's expression. Marc wasn’t in his collar and coat today, but always carried the air of the clergyman within to some degree, like he wore his collar on the inside.  "How did you end up here?" She took in the rugged cut of his jaw, the stubble that showed he hadn't shaved in a day or two. He wasn't bad looking by any measure, and he probably could have been quite the heartbreaker if he wasn't a man of God. His eyes weren't brown, they were black, and glistened like onyx pendants. A firm jaw and supple lips were likely often employed more for battling the fires of Hell than fanning the flames of lust. Nevertheless, the tools were there to be used, if he so desired. For a man of the cloth, he sure cut that cloth fine. The priest rose to what she considered the perfect height, had a body not too muscular, but hardly milk toasty, and a swagger in his walk that would make a lady think he could move his body in all the ways the good Lord intended. If only his collar and his personality weren't pressed with double starch.“Paolo's is the best pizza in town. Trust me on that, I'm Italian.”  Sarcasm wasn't his most attractive trait, but it was one of the most prominent. “Don't deflect the question,” Riona commanded with a click of her tongue.” I mean being one of the Pure Souls. I know how you found me..." "...secured in a straitjacket and pending shipment to a cushy psychiatric facility?"She crossed her arms and grimaced, wondering suddenly if the hex she'd learned to give demons jock itch would work on humans. "Look, you walk through the steel wall of a meat locker and try to explain it to the police in a way that doesn't get you 5150ed, and then you can talk. But, I mean, a priest? Isn't the Catholic Church, you know, kind of not kosher with the whole magical powers and battling goblins thing?""Technically, the Catholic Church isn't kosher with anything," he returned. "Kosher's a Jewish thing, not that I think the people of the book are anymore approving of mortal combat with the spawn of Hell. I was born into it. Magic is a birthright, you know. It shows up in my family every couple of generations. Just like being a priest -like my father before me, and his father before him." 

You cannot resist it and you want to have one as soon as possible, check this amazing giveaway HERE!!!

You can find more about Killian McRae on www.killianmcrae.com
Blog : http://authorkillianmcrae.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @KillianMcRae
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/authorkillianmcrae

Ladies and Gentz: This is the *new* me!

Καλησπέρα,
Παιχνίδι με τις λέξεις ή μήπως είναι κάτι άλλο; Θα δείξει..

~Κλεοπάτρα

Kalispera,
A game with words or maybe is something else? We shall see...

~C.C.

Hello, this is Cleopatra. Not the old one, but the new one. 

(A voice from the audience) Question: WHAT do you mean the new one? I came to see...(voice fades)

Me: Ι mean what I say. I am different. I have changed. 

I am a different person. Don't laugh! It is true. I am a different person. 

So different actually that I can see clearly what happens around me at times, while at other ones I just notice without uttering a word. 

*looks to the faces, smiling* I know you are dying to ask another question! Here don't be shy. Who is going to be next...

(Another voice from the audience) Question2: How much time this transformation needed?

Me: Do you mean how much time I was "working" for this change?

(Voice #2 pauses. Thinks a bit): Um...Yes, that is what I mean exactly.

Me: (looking sympathetically) Months, maybe more than a year. 

So, ladies and gentlemen  this is the new me! A bit quizzical maybe, don't worry the old me is definitely here, somewhere, but it is a slightly different version.

(drops voice for effect) I have no answers to give, but it's true. You can all change. 

It is plausible only if YOU want to. And before you ask. If I wanted it ? Yes I did. My conscious self had a chat with my unconscious self. (They also had a glass of wine together but you didn't hear that from me!) 

In the end they agreed. It was time for that change.

Now I am here. The *new* shining me. Me. 

Nice to meet you all!

*audience claps their hands* 

Bow

(The curtain falls down. The lights go off.) Phew! I did it. Now let's go into hiding again.

The Message of the Day

Kalimera Everyone,

Just something I wanted to say. Have a nice day ahead!

~CC

Μετά το σωματίδιο του Θεού, τι;

Michelangelo's Famous Painting : Photo Credit 

Καλό μεσημέρι, 

Μερικές σκέψεις. Σκόρπιες που ίσως έχουν σημασία, ίσως και όχι. 

Σήμερα είχαμε μια πρώτη ένδειξη ότι ανακαλύφθηκε το σωματίδιο του Θεού. Μεγάλη ανακάλυψη για τους φυσικούς. Η επιστήμη βρήκε κάτι που έψαχνε εδώ και ένα αιώνα. Το θέμα είναι και τώρα τι; 

Ποιο είναι το επόμενο quest; Ποια είναι η επόμενη ερώτηση; Να δούμε τον ίδιο τον Θεό. Μα είναι κάτι τέτοιο δυνατόν; Ε ίσως να είναι θα πουν μερικοί. 

Όμως όπως λένε όλοι οι μαθηματικοί όταν έχεις μια εξίσωση πρέπει να δεις ποιες είναι οι μεταβλητές, ποιοι είναι οι αριθμοί και ποια η λύση. Εμείς όμως "ξεχνάμε" κάτι σε αυτό τον συλλογισμό. 

Για να μην σας δυσκολεύω την μέρα. Τα πράγματα είναι απλά. Ζούμε στην τρίτη διάσταση. Αυτό από μόνο του δείχνει πολλά. Και δίπλα σας να είναι ο Θεός δεν μπορείτε να Τον δείτε, απλά. Λείπουν τα όπλα πως το κάνουμε;

Αν θέλετε να βρείτε τον Θεό, κοιτάξτε γύρω σας την φύση και εκεί θα Τον δείτε. Αυτοί που πιστεύουν σε κάποιο ανώτερο ον θα Τον / Την δουν. Όσον αφορά τους υπόλοιπους δεν μπορώ να απαντήσω. 

Καλή συνέχεια. 

~Κλεοπάτρα

Σημείωση: Ο σωστός όρος είναι Σωματίδιο Θεός διαβάστε το άρθρο του Άρη Δημοκίδη στην Lifo