The Black Bird Oracle
By Deborah Harkness
☕︎☕︎☕︎
For fans of A Discovery of Witches and the All Souls series, Deborah Harkness’s return to Matthew and Diana’s world in The Black Bird Oracle comes with high expectations—and, unfortunately, a fair amount of disappointment. While the novel had its moments of intrigue, it ultimately felt more like a bloated prequel to the next book than a satisfying installment in its own right.
At nearly twice the necessary length, The Black Bird Oracle meanders through plot points that should have been sharp and engaging but instead feel like unnecessary filler. Rather than showcasing meaningful character growth, Diana and Matthew seem frustratingly inconsistent—after four books of partnership, their dynamic has somehow regressed, with their relationship reading more like that of near-strangers than long-standing equals. The tension between them feels forced, rather than a natural evolution of their story.
Beyond that, Harkness makes the baffling choice to discard key world-building rules established in earlier books, introducing twists that feel more like convenient shortcuts than compelling developments. The story places heavy emphasis on the importance of children, yet the twins are underdeveloped, appearing only when the plot demands it. And the character assassination of Sarah is particularly egregious—Diana, as we knew her in the original trilogy, would never have let things play out as they do here.
That said, there are bright spots. Baldwin continues to be a standout character, Ysabeau’s brief appearances are a joy, and Gwyneth is a welcome addition. The idea of a house like the Old Lodge is charming, even if the execution is lacking.
Ultimately, The Black Bird Oracle isn’t a bad book, but it’s not a particularly strong one either. It reads like a lengthy novella that wasn’t trimmed down enough, leaving too many unresolved threads and an overall sense of stagnation. I’ll withhold final judgment until the next book, but for now, this one is best borrowed from the library rather than purchased.
