The Recommended Reading Order
If you are diving into the magical, scholarly, and romantic world of Deborah Harkness's All Souls series, the recommended path is simple and direct: follow the publication order. While some books in the series contain deep dives into historical eras, the overarching narrative is strictly sequential. Reading them out of order will expose you to massive plot spoilers and leave you missing essential context about the evolution of the characters' magic and relationships.
Here is the recommended reading path for the main novels and companions:
- A Discovery of Witches (2011) – The essential starting point where we meet witch-historian Diana Bishop and vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont.
- Shadow of Night (2012) – The direct sequel that takes Diana and Matthew back in time to Elizabethan London.
- The Book of Life (2014) – The thrilling conclusion to the original All Souls trilogy, bringing the main narrative arc to a close.
- The World of All Souls (2018) – An optional but highly recommended illustrated companion book filled with lore, character bios, and historical context.
- Time's Convert (2018) – A spin-off and sequel focused on Marcus Whitmore's origins in the Revolutionary War, as well as his present-day story.
- The Black Bird Oracle (2024) – The fifth novel in the main sequence, continuing Diana's magical journey as she confronts deep family secrets.
- The Falcon and the Rose (Upcoming) – The officially announced sixth novel in the series (manuscript completed, publication date pending).
The Main Novels: A Closer Look
1. A Discovery of Witches (2011)
This is where the magic begins. Diana Bishop, a young scholar and reluctant witch, accidentally calls up an enchanted alchemical manuscript known as Ashmole 782 in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Her discovery attracts the attention of various supernatural creatures, including Matthew Clairmont, a vampire geneticist. Grounded in Harkness's own academic background as a historian of science, this debut establishes the complex biological, historical, and magical rules of the universe.
2. Shadow of Night (2012)
Picking up immediately after the first book's cliffhanger, Diana and Matthew time-travel back to late 16th-century London. Their mission is to find a teacher for Diana's wild magic and locate Ashmole 782 before it is lost to history. This installment is a treat for history buffs, featuring real-life figures like John Dee, William Shakespeare, and Queen Elizabeth I, while deepening the forbidden romance at the center of the series.
3. The Book of Life (2014)
Returning to the present day, Diana and Matthew must face the consequences of their time-traveling adventure. They gather allies at the Clairmont family estate in France to solve the final mysteries of Ashmole 782, protect their unborn children, and challenge the outdated covenant of the Congregation. It serves as a satisfying, action-packed conclusion to the initial trilogy.
4. Time's Convert (2018)
Though often called a spin-off, this book is best read after the main trilogy. It features a dual narrative. The historical portion details how Marcus Whitmore became a vampire during the American Revolution under Matthew's sire-ship. The present-day portion follows Marcus's human partner, Phoebe Taylor, as she undergoes the painful transformation into a vampire herself in modern Paris, alongside updates on Diana and Matthew's domestic life.
5. The Black Bird Oracle (2024)
Set several years after the events of Time's Convert, this novel returns the spotlight to Diana Bishop. When the Congregation demands to test the magical abilities of her seven-year-old twins, Pip and Becca, Diana must seek out the dark secrets of her father's family. The book shifts focus toward 'higher magic' (sometimes called dark magic) and explores themes of lineage, legacy, and self-acceptance as Diana learns who her ancestors really were.
6. The Falcon and the Rose (Upcoming)
Announced as the sixth book in the All Souls series, the manuscript for The Falcon and the Rose has been completed. While plot details remain under wraps, Harkness has teased the return of characters like Ysabeau de Clermont, Davy Hancock, and Tamsy. Fans speculate that the title indicates a return to historical themes, possibly exploring the Tudor court or Matthew's deep past.
Understanding the Chronological Caveats
Because the All Souls series features time travel and deep historical flashbacks, readers often wonder if a chronological reading order is possible. The short answer is: no, and you shouldn't try.
For example, Shadow of Night takes place entirely in the Elizabethan era, and Time's Convert spends half its pages in the late 18th century. However, both books rely heavily on framing narratives set in the present day. If you tried to read Marcus's backstory in Time's Convert first, you would spoil the entire plot of the first three books, including major relationship developments, character deaths, and the secrets of vampire biology. Stick strictly to publication order to experience the story as it was intended to unfold.
Practical Reader Advice
Where is the best starting point?
You must start with A Discovery of Witches. Unlike some fantasy series where you can jump in during later volumes, the All Souls universe is highly serialized. Each book builds directly upon the lore, character growth, and unresolved plot lines of its predecessor.
Can the books be read as standalones?
No. Even Time's Convert, which focuses on Marcus, relies on your understanding of Matthew's family hierarchy, the Congregation's laws, and the events of the original trilogy. Reading any of these books out of order will result in confusion.
Do the side stories and companions matter?
The World of All Souls is a wonderful companion guide but is not required to understand the plot of the novels. It is best enjoyed after finishing The Book of Life or before starting The Black Bird Oracle. It serves as an illustrated encyclopedia of the universe's history, recipes, and myths.
The TV Adaptation
The books were adapted into a popular television series, A Discovery of Witches (2018–2022), starring Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode. The show covers the events of the original trilogy across three seasons. While the adaptation is highly faithful, the books offer far more depth, historical detail, and complex explanations of alchemy and science.
Deborah Harkness's Non-Fiction Works
For readers who appreciate the rich historical detail in the All Souls series, checking out Harkness's actual academic writing is highly rewarding. Her research as a historian directly inspired the magical elements of her fiction:
- John Dee's Conversations with Angels (1999) – A scholarly study of the real-life Elizabethan mathematician, astrologer, and magic practitioner John Dee, who also appears as a character in Shadow of Night.
- The Jewel House (2007) – A deep dive into the scientific revolution in Elizabethan London, showcasing the streets, workshops, and libraries that Matthew and Diana navigate in the second book.