Before officially meeting, do you think Matthew and Diana ever just casually passed each other while on campus? Cause I'm imagining Gallowglass watching from an undetectable distance, seeing Diana cross a courtyard, going in the opposite direction of Matthew and Gallowglass is just simultaneously panicking and relieved.
Gallowglass: Oh my God, it's happening! They're going to finally meet! After centuries of waiting and decades of watching, Diana will finally be- Wait! Why is she walking away? Auntie! Turn back right now! Matthew! Turn around and go meet your wife!
They both continue on their way, completely oblivious to who they just walked past.
Gallowglass, unable to decide if this was a good or bad thing: Ok, they didn't meet this time. So, I don't have to leave her yet. But it'll be sooner rather than later now. At least she'll be happy when they do meet...
Gallowglass turned wide blue eyes on Matthew. The younger man was wearing a black T-shirt adorned with a skull and crossbones. Something had slashed the back, rending it from left shoulder to right hip. The holes in his nephew's jeans looked to be the result of wear, not war, and his hair was shaggy even by Gallowglassian standards.
(-Chapter 2, The book of life, All souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness)
He is basically described as a harsh looking blue eyed man, with metal shirts and ripped jeans, which is not just his 'personal sense of style' since all the tears are from wear. And yet, despite his appearance, he has the personality of an angel. Think of how he picked on the wax residue on the kitchen table when he was nervous. He honestly seems like a gentle giant. Please romanticise him with me.
‘No offense taken, Goody Alsop. But if you take this matter to your elders, Diana’s identity will be known across London.’ Matthew stood. ‘I can’t allow that.’
‘Every witch in the city has already heard about your wife. News travels quickly here, no small thanks to your friend Christopher Marlowe,’ Goody Alsop said, craning her neck to meet his eyes. ‘Sit down, Master Roydon. My old bones no longer bend that way.’
To my surprise, Matthew sat.
Matthew is throwing his cranky weight around with the subtelty of a bulldozer but Goody Alsop is having none of it. She is the boss. You show him Goody.
📷 Sky/Bad Wolf A Discovery of Witches (2021) s2:02 my edits
I cannot shield you from the challenges you will face. You will know great loss and danger, but also great joy. You may doubt your instincts in the years to come, but your feet have been walking this path since the moment you were born.
Enjoyed this very much! Though not as epic as the books, the casting is perfect, and even preferable to the books. Matthew Goode especially brings something to his character of Matthew. Romantic, moody, so swoony! Wanted to rewatch as soon as it ended.
“Matthew shook his head ruefully. “I’ve missed you, Miriam.”
“Don’t. Because the next time I see you, I’m going to bite you so hard you’ll have the scar for years.” Miriam’s voice shook. “You should have killed Benjamin long ago. You knew he was a monster.”
“Even monsters can change,” Matthew said softly. “Look at me.”
“You were never a monster,” she said. “That was a lie you told to keep the rest of us away.”
You know what I want? A little novella from Philippe's perspective. Can you imagine how funny his inner monologue must have been after Matthew and Diana time walked?
Like, it's been a few months since they left. The other Matthew is now back at Sept-Tours and makes a comment about how he will forever hate witches, and Philippe has to stop himself from laughing.
Or whenever he and Ysabeau hear that Matthew has taken a new lover, Philippe is hopeful for a moment and then gets really disappointed because, "That's not Diana!"
He must have had so much fun making little passing, vague comments to Matthew over the years.
Verin: I'm starving! Let's go hunt.
Baldwin: Just have some wine, I never find much when I hunt around here.
Matthew: Really? I always find more than enough whenever I hunt in this area.
Philippe, with a little smirk: That's because the Goddess of the chase truly loves you.
Centuries later, Matthew sits up in bed, eyes wide.
Diana: Matthew? Are you alright?
Matthew, whispering: The Goddess of the chase truly loves me.... Oh my God!
While #1 New York Times bestselling author Deborah Harkness is still editing THE BLACKBIRD ORACLE, she has said that more information will be coming. And the book is COMING SOON!
Bear in mind that things may change, nevertheless I got you a preliminary sneak peek of the synopsis [below the cut], which is a “thrilling and triumphant return to the All Souls Universe”. According to Deb’s book and media agent, the book will come out summer of 2024!
Recently, Deb has said,
Really excited for you to know more about it. It has been really a labor of love. I think you're going to really enjoy catching up with Diana and Matthew, and the twins.
THE BLACKBIRD ORACLE (Book 5) takes place 4 years after the events of TIME’S CONVERT (Book 4) of the All Souls Series (A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES, SHADOW OF NIGHT, THE BOOK OF LIFE). Exciting!!! 🤩🥳🥰
***SPOILERS ALERT***
THE BLACKBIRD ORACLE [Fiction, Summer 2024]
by Deborah Harkness
A thrilling and triumphant return to the All Souls Universe about facing the darkness inside yourself—and embracing it.
Four years after the events of TIME’S CONVERT, Diana and Matthew are living in Connecticut with their seven-year-old twins preparing for a summer holiday in England. Their plans are thrown into disarray, however, when the Congregation notifies Diana that her children are scheduled to have their magic tested this autumn, bringing back painful memories of her own assessment and the chain of events it set in motion. The mail also brings a letter telling her it’s time to come home to Ravenswood—the family farm— and fulfill the prophecy the Proctors call The Blackbird Oracle. The letter is signed by Gwyneth Proctor—a great-aunt Diana didn’t know existed from a side of her family she thought dead.
Concerned for their children and curious to meet any family that remains, Diana and Matthew travel to the marshes of Ipswich, Massachusetts to meet Gwyneth. She shows Diana the higher magic that runs through her veins— and through her children’s, too—and Diana finds herself conflicted between her lifelong fear of darker magic and the tantalizing powers she could have.
Diana also discovers a collection of dusty old bottles filled with family memories captured through higher magic, including those of her mother’s. But her family’s memories aren’t just stored in Ravenswood; the Congregation holds some of the Proctor and Bishop memories along with those of other powerful witches as a means of control. As Diana learns how higher magic operates and how the Congregation withholds it for their own purposes, she’ll have to decide whether or not to embrace the darkness within her to protect her family. And whether to give her own children the chance to learn higher magic—a chance she never had—even if it means exposing them to the Congregation and their own dark sides.
SHADOW OF NIGHT and THE BOOK OF LIFE each debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list
The trilogy was adapted into a hit TV show, entitled A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES, starring Teresa Palmer and Matthew GoodE.