The Black Bird Oracle

A Novel

By: Deborah Harkness

Narrated by: Jennifer Ikeda

Diana Bishop journeys to the darkest places within herself—and her family history—in the highly anticipated fifth novel of the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling All Souls series.

“The Black Bird Oracle deftly explores the nexus of memory, history, and parenthood—the magic, pain, and promises mothers pass onto their children.”—Jodi Picoult

Deborah Harkness first introduced the world to Diana Bishop, an Oxford scholar and witch, and vampire geneticist Matthew de Clermont in A Discovery of Witches. Drawn to each other despite long-standing taboos, these two otherworldly beings found themselves at the center of a battle for a lost, enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782. Since then, they have fallen in love, traveled to Elizabethan England, dissolved the Covenant between the three species, and awoken the dark powers within Diana’s family line.

Now, Diana and Matthew receive a formal demand from the Congregation: They must test the magic of their seven-year-old twins, Pip and Rebecca. Concerned with their safety and desperate to avoid the same fate that led her parents to spellbind her, Diana decides to forge a different path for her family’s future and answers a message from a great-aunt she never knew existed, Gwyneth Proctor, whose invitation simply reads: It’s time you came home, Diana.

On the hallowed ground of Ravenswood, the Proctor family home, and under the tutelage of Gwyneth, a talented witch grounded in higher magic, a new era begins for Diana: a confrontation with her family’s dark past and a reckoning for her own desire for even greater power—if she can let go, finally, of her fear of wielding it.

In this stunning new novel, grand in scope, Deborah Harkness deepens the beloved world of All Souls with powerful new magic and long-hidden secrets, and the path Diana finds at Ravenswood leads to the most consequential moments yet in this cherished series.

* This audiobook edition comes with a downloadable PDF including a family tree.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Deborah Harkness (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“The Black Bird Oracle ushers in a thrilling new era for Diana, an Oxford scholar and powerful witch, as she navigates marriage to the vampire Matthew and motherhood, while reckoning with dark secrets from her family’s storied past. There’s no better time to get swept up in the romance, adventure, and magic of the All Souls world, beginning with A Discovery of Witches.”—Bustle

“Excitement is high as the release date for The Black Bird Oracle approaches. . . . It’s a chapter of Diana’s story that longtime fans won’t want to miss.”—Screenrant, 15 Most Anticipated Fantasy Books Coming Out the Rest of 2024

“The Black Bird Oracle was well worth the wait: Not only does it reunite us with the powerful love story of Diana and Matthew, it deftly explores the nexus of memory, history, and parenthood—the magic, pain, and promises mothers pass onto their children. Harkness’s lush prose makes a fantastical world real enough to touch; her characters are so real they feel like family.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult

Jennifer Ikeda does it again!

I love that they brought back Jennifer Ikeda for the audio version again. Her characters were familiar and comforting. I loved the story, and the fact that the ending makes it seem like there will be more to come! 🤞🏻I did have to rewind and relisten a few times, and I’m not sure if it was because I didn’t read it in print first, so the subject matter sometimes felt a little heavy for audio and I lost focus. I plan on reading it in print as well. I think this is a “me” issue, so I don’t hold it against the book. It was great to discover new people, and new sides of Diana. I loved hearing about the kids and their journeys. One thing I felt like was a bit of a disconnect was the treatment of Diana being a weaver. By the end of the last book, I saw Diana as coming into this amazing power and in this book, I felt like it was kind of swept under the rug. I know that she was becoming a student again, but I just felt like maybe it would have been acknowledged more. Idk if I’m explaining that correctly. Overall, loved it! And I’m looking forward to more!!!!

So happy Jennifer Ikeda is back as the narrator

I so wanted to like this more than I did. I absolutely loved the All Souls Trilogy. This just doesn’t hold a candle. There are some gaps in the story, puzzling gaps. There are other things that just seem out of character for Diana. And Matthew disappears in the background. But Jennifer helps it to at least be digestible as a book.

So must it be

Another lush adventure in the All Souls Series. It always surprises me how much I miss these characters until I pick up one of these books and with Harkness’ enveloping and homey writing style it always feels like no time has passed since I last finished an All Souls book.

Diana must embrace her fears and qualm her preconceived notions in this addition to the All Souls Series. Blessed and burdened with the Black Bird Oracle, Diana must explore the shadow inside her and trust in the Goddess’ plan. The teacher becomes the student once more as she finds a new instructor after the guidance from Goodie Alsop from past tales and times.

Will Diana be able to embrace Higher Magic? Or will the Dark Path swallow her whole. A tale you’ll be glad to read and listen to.

what a plot twist

turned this universe on its ear. looking forward to seeing where it goes. Can't give details because you need to ride this Rollercoaster. enjoy the ride.

Fabulous read

Once again, Deborah Harkness delivers! I've missed these characters and all thrilled to see the development of the twins and to see the introduction of the Proctor Witches. So happy to see that this will further continue into more books as Diana's journey into her magick ✨ continues. How exciting!

I have to say this: Harkness & Ikeda are magic!!!

It's like a visit from an old friend. I am so happy to know more about Dianna & Matthew's twins and her path to higher magic.

just love the story and characters

it's been awhile since I read then watched the first 3 books, this quickly drew me right back in! The characters become so real you find yourself laughing and crying with them, yelling at them, smiling at your phone, getting frustrated with them. I'm sure I look really strange when I'm sucked into a good story.

I love where the story is going, so many possibilities! I'm trying to not give away any crucial details. it's a great read, get it. the only thing I did not like was where it cut off... so much major stuff happening and BOOM... curtains close. The next book is not even written yet ☹️ I sure hope it's in the works.

Another successful part of the story! and the narration.... really excellent. I tried to really pay attention to the characters voices and I'm amazed how well the narrator changes voices, keeps in character, and does it so perfectly well you listen along to this cast of characters, bringing them to life as you go.

Transformative storyline.

Loved this addition to the All Souls series. Diana is truly coming into her own and as a 30 something woman it was empowering to read about a middle aged married mother finding herself, her desire me, and her own power.

Best of the series so far … I think!

I devoured this book. I thought time-walking was a great plot device. This story is just as good but for different reasons. Loved the history woven into it. And I’m so glad the narrator is the same! Only downside with finishing it so quickly is that I have to - very impatiently - wait for the next installment, but it’s going to be a GOOD one!

Been along time coming

Now we wait, this book drop so many jewels and not I need to brush up on my history. Also I will be rereading this because I know I have missed some clues.