Series · fantasy
All Souls
The All Souls series by Deborah Harkness has 5 books and is best read in publication order, starting with A Discovery of Witches (2011).
- Books
- 5 books
- First published
- 2011
- Status
- ongoing
- Last checked
Start here: A Discovery of Witches (2011) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The order the books were released — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
A Discovery of Witches
Alternative text for cover: Cover of A Discovery of Witches - Book 2:
Shadow of Night
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Shadow of Night - Book 3:
The Book of Life
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Book of Life - Book 4:
Time's Convert
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Time's Convert - Book 5:
The Black Bird Oracle
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Black Bird Oracle
About the All Souls series
Deborah Harkness's All Souls novels follow Diana Bishop, a historian and reluctant witch descended from a powerful magical bloodline, and Matthew Clairmont, a centuries-old vampire and geneticist, whose romance across the supernatural divide sets off a war among witches, vampires, and daemons who have coexisted in secret alongside humans for centuries. It begins in Oxford with A Discovery of Witches, when Diana unknowingly summons a lost, magically significant manuscript from the Bodleian Library, and expands across the original trilogy into Elizabethan England, colonial-era intrigue, and a fight over the origins of all three supernatural species.
The appeal is Harkness's own background as a historian of science and magic: the world-building leans on real alchemical texts, genetics, and history rather than generic urban-fantasy furniture, wrapped around a slow-burn romance and an increasingly high-stakes family-and-species political conflict. It reads as equal parts academic mystery, historical time-slip fantasy (Shadow of Night sends Diana and Matthew back to 1590), and vampire-witch romance.
The original trilogy (2011-2014) tells a complete story, but Harkness has continued the universe: Time's Convert (2018) follows vampire Marcus's turning during the American Revolution alongside a present-day storyline, and The Black Bird Oracle (2024) returns to Diana and Matthew's world through the eyes of their now-grown daughter. The series remains active, with Harkness continuing to write in this world.
How to read this series
Read the original trilogy first, in order: A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, The Book of Life (2011-2014). This is a complete, self-contained story and the natural place to start.
Time's Convert (2018) is best read after finishing the trilogy — it follows directly on from The Book of Life's ending in its present-day storyline, while alternating with a historical strand set during the American Revolution, and it spoils major trilogy events. The Black Bird Oracle (2024) continues on from Time's Convert and assumes you've read it. In short: publication order is also the correct reading order here, with no prequels or side reads to reorder around.
Frequently asked questions
How many books are in the All Souls series?
Five so far: the original trilogy (A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, The Book of Life, 2011-2014), plus Time's Convert (2018) and The Black Bird Oracle (2024), which continue the story.
What order should I read the All Souls series in?
Publication order: A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, The Book of Life, Time's Convert, then The Black Bird Oracle. Each later book assumes you've read the ones before it.
Do I need to read Time's Convert and The Black Bird Oracle, or does the trilogy stand alone?
The original trilogy tells a complete story and works as a standalone read. Time's Convert and The Black Bird Oracle continue the wider story afterward and are for readers who want more of this world, not required reading to feel the trilogy is finished.
Is there a new All Souls book coming?
Nothing beyond The Black Bird Oracle (2024) has been confirmed with a title or date as of this writing, though Deborah Harkness has continued returning to this world roughly every few years since the trilogy ended.
Is A Discovery of Witches a TV show too?
Yes -- Sky One/AMC adapted the original trilogy as a television series (2018-2022) across three seasons, one per book, starring Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode.
Reading order last verified .