The School of Night is beautifully structured, with various comprehensive parts. Each party is very dense and very well written. To be honest, I had the impression of reading more than one book. As if the author had placed several books butt. And it is a joy because we did not want to let Diana and Matthew.
The great strength of the story of Mrs. Harkness is its historic structure. Diana and Matthew are found in 1590 in England, time of Queen Elizabeth. Thus begins our historical learning. Yes, because I have never learned so much about the Elizabethan era by reading this book. Everything is so rewarding that I wanted to further his information and to go to learn about the Internet.
From the first chapters we discover historical figures who really existed: Thomas Harriot (Mathematician and Astronomer), Christopher Marlowe (Playwright alias Kits), George Chapman (poet and translator of the Iliad and the Odyssey), Walter Raleigh (Explorer and Writer), Henry Percy (aka Lord Northumberland or the sorcerer Count) and finally Matthew Roydon (poet) old identity of our beloved Matthew de Clermont. Common to all these characters? They would have all been gone from the school of the Night.
It's William Shakespeare (which will also encounter in this book) who mentions the first of these verses from Love's Labour's Lost:
Black is the badge of hell
The hue of dungeons and the school of night.
Black is the rafter of hell,
The color of the dungeons and the school of the night.
This would have been a kind of group and atheistic philosophers of the time. Scholars of people from different backgrounds.
Belonging to the School of Night, Matthew has his best friends at the time among them. He and Diana will be urged to attend and so much we will learn about these great characters who have shaped history.
But there are not a few, many other historical figures will be crossed throughout history. We discover painters, artists, spies, scholars, kings and queens etc ... But this is not just a parade of characters to include, not. The work is excellent as each fictional character or dead has a role of its own in the history. Everything is integrated in a natural and rewarding way. Stunning!
Add to that, the historical context of the time followed to the letter: Voltage Scotland war against Spain, witch hunt, first colony in Virginia in the New World, espionage etc ... You have a story of hard to match a rich history in the genre.
In addition to historical facts, we also learn about the clothes, with incredible descriptions of the different outfits Diana and Matthew, the customs of the time, on the Elizabethan London with its buildings and architecture. But also and always on alchemy, with patency to practice!
Moreover, the author has made some chapters in this way and where people put their hands on objects that Diana and Matthew used in 1590 and are now relics. I loved these little short but very intriguing passages on what had become of their objects of the time.
Finally, I liked that the author plays on the fact that Matthew and Diana knows the future and understand when an event or action has its consequences for the future. Winks eye to future actions in short, proving that every action has its consequences and repercussions.
You tell the story well ok it's all very interesting indeed, but what we want is to learn more about what happens to witches, demons and vampires and especially Ashmole 782!
So then do not worry, for you shall be satisfied that too !!
The magic and the supernatural beings are at the center of the narrative.
This journey into the past is an apprenticeship for Diana and her condition witch who can not cast spells but the unequivocal capabilities. She will learn his true nature, big revelations in store! It will study and gain confidence in herself and her abilities.
Matthew he will face his past and his demons.
And between them, they will learn to be a couple, a husband and a wife, a witch and vampire mixed couples, cursed by the Congregation.
Alongside their personal problems, they must also get hold of Ashmole 782. The investigation will lead to many places and lead them to mingle and meet many people. Same, we will learn a lot about this little book, the well-kept secrets.
All this of course will not happen smoothly, or difficulties. Many obstacles will stand in front of them, and they will have to face if they want to someday have the answers to their questions but also find happiness.
As for the characters themselves, I loved the school band of the night. These are strong friends welded, highly educated and always there for each other. They laugh but also very endearing.
There are also many other characters, and I give a special mention for Gallowglass. I ador-e that character! It is a secondary but so loyal and effective character. I hope it will be even more present and important place in the third installment. He's a character that I have followed with great pleasure.
Another mention for Philippe de Clermont. Character secret and elusive but ultimately proves a formidable patriarch but extremely protective of his family.
There are many other characters that I loved. Unfortunately, I can not list them all otherwise I will not finish. What I can say is that they all have worked hard character, with their faults but also their qualities. Historical figures have the character and habits that we assume them. There are a myriad of new characters and the author knew very well use them and play them for the story.
This sequel is really rich in revelations !! We will learn a lot about the different issues that could arise following the reading of Volume 1. But like any good book, new questions and speculations will be added to these.
Especially in the last chapters where énormissimes issues will arise. (I just wanted to say for a transition WTF ??). For while Diana and Matthew are looking for answers in the past, life went on in this ... So I have only hastily volume 3 in my hands for even more answers !!!
If we find a fault, I would say this very dense side. It took me 15 days to read it, then I am rather a book devourer. For me it was a pleasure to stay so long in the company of these characters so endearing and the story worked so well. But some might be discouraged at this voluminous work.
In short a book on the momentum of the first. Book a rich history, worked in writing and extraordinary characters. A book like they do not bit bed. A book on the unforgettable magic. A book that makes you want to read and learn more and more. A favorite book ...
