Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Penguin Audio (2014)
Description
"After traveling through time in Shadow of Night, the second book in Deborah Harkness's enchanting series, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies. At Matthew's ancestral home at Sept-Tours, they reunite with the cast of characters from A Discovery of Witches--with one significant exception. But the real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its missing pages takes on even more urgency. In the trilogy's final volume, Harkness deepens her themes of power and passion, family and caring, past deeds and their present consequences. In ancestral homes and university laboratories, using ancient knowledge and modern science, from the hills of the Auvergne to the palaces of Venice and beyond, the couple at last learn what the witches discovered so many centuries ago"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member A_Reader_of_Fictions
For more reviews (and the giffy version of this review), Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.
Oh my kanye, I’m finally done; I’m finally free. Yes, I’m fully aware that I subjected myself to this torture. I even wrote a post about how terrible an impulse it is but I just had to
Okay guys, listen. I do try to avoid comparing things to Twilight, because every paranormal book is not Twilight nor is every love triangle. This book, though? It’s Twilight. Completely, impossibly, seriously-are-you-fucking-with-me Twilight. I already talked about some of this in earlier reviews. I mean, hell, Diana meets sexy Matthew and they, minus a brief bout of hate, basically instalove all over one another. He also, despite them both being many years into adulthood and despite Matthew having no issue sexing humans without hurting them, refuses to have sex with Diana until the second book, because this is a really common thing for adult male love interests to do. Please name a romance reader that would like to wait until book two for the sex to happen. I’m guessing this basically leaves the readers of Christian romances, who I’m guessing won’t be into this book either. So I really can’t explain this narrative choice except that, oh hey, it conveniently parallels Twilight.
Then, of fucking course, they get pregnant. With TWINS. That happens in book two and Diana spends most of The Book of Life preggers. This means that some of the words often used to describe her are maternal and fertile. Now, my memory isn’t the most reliable, but I remember Diana being fairly strong, but she spends most of this book crying, talking about the babies in her belly (I hate this word), being bossed around by Matthew, and getting new powers basically thrown at her.
Ostensibly, The Book of Life has a big bad to be taken down in the form of Benjamin, one of Matthew’s vampire sons. The story here is that he made Benjamin a vampire as a punishment. Maybe, Matthew, you shouldn’t make evil dudes into fucking vampires? Then Benjamin goes on a fucking blood rage killing spree, because that’s obviously what this guy would do what the fuck Matthew. Anyway, Benjamin is actually creepy as fuck. He’s a good villain, which is about as much praise as I have to offer.
But, again rather like Twilight, this conclusion is so not about the villains. What’s it about, you might ask? It’s about pregnancy and babies and how super fucking special their family is. The actual showdown with Benjamin lasts for about a chapter. The birth scene alone was twice as long, including a delightful scene where Matthew pleasures Diana to help take her mind off the pain of the contractions. I mean, it’s better than the babies chomping their way out but still I didn’t need that in my brain.
In this volume, Harkness demonstrates her knowledge of Pop Culture with references to both Buffy and Twilight. The Buffy reference shows how unique her vampire impregnating a lady idea is by having Chris, Diana’s friend, remark that it’s shocking it happened since vampires never got anyone pregnant on Buffy (“Not even Spike. And Gos knows he never practiced safe sex.”). Then Matthew tells a class of students who end up being not remotely important to the larger plot that “I do not, nor have I ever, sparkled.” Wow, I guess this series isn’t remotely like Twilight then after all. Glad that’s all cleared up.
There is so little plot in this book that I just can’t even. Sure, Harkness’ novels are much better written and full of delightful wine snobbery to mask the fact that they’re Twilight for adults, but they are also padded with so much description. How about to make them much less long we remove some of the oft-repeated and incredibly annoying words? I actually downloaded the ebook so I could find out how many times certain words are used. Let’s see, shall we?
book of life: 119
weaver: 102
wife: 94
husband: 74
twins: 70
mate: 65
Ashmole 782: 63
firedrake: 41
belly: 22
desperate: 11
ouroboros: 10
fertile: 6
maternal: 5
You might be thinking that these aren’t so bad, but they grated on me as I was listening, so deal with it. Also, I tried to see how many times the word “said” was used, because the cast is HUGE and there are a ton of dialog tags, but that broke Kindle Cloud Reader, so I’ll just leave it to your imagination.
Oh right, and I mentioned Diana randomly acquiring powers. Now, here’s the thing, I don’t mind when people have a lot of power, honestly, but Diana didn’t do anything to get this power. Things just happen to her because she is sooooo special. View Spoiler » Diana was already one of the most powerful witches in the world, so was this necessary? Not remotely. OH OH and to find the Book of Life, she was warned she would have to lose something and oh no, but actually all she had to lose was her fear. Wow, what a nice and easy ending. How convenient. How lucky for you.
Oh, also, it turns out that one of the other male characters has been in love with Diana for hundreds of years due to time travel shenanigans. He watched her grow up too. How sexy is that? UGH. But, don’t worry, they’ll be friends forever, because that’s what happens. I will say that some of the secondary characters are interesting and that I love the inclusion of just because lesbian and gay couples. Of course, very little time is spent talking about any of these people because Matthew and Diana are supposed to be the most compelling of all creatures.
While I can see these books having some appeal, they are most decidedly not for me. I’m not sure what I saw in them originally or why I had to finish them or why the books had to be SO long. If you like Twilight, but not the writing, then I present you with this series which you will adore. The audiobook is mostly fine and basically the only way I made it through.
Oh my kanye, I’m finally done; I’m finally free. Yes, I’m fully aware that I subjected myself to this torture. I even wrote a post about how terrible an impulse it is but I just had to
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finish this series. Maybe it’s because I already put so much time into it. Maybe it’s because I liked the first one and I was hoping that would turn out to be an opinion I could understand. Either way, here I am. I’ve made it through the All Souls Trilogy, which is over one thousand pages of Twilight for snobs.Okay guys, listen. I do try to avoid comparing things to Twilight, because every paranormal book is not Twilight nor is every love triangle. This book, though? It’s Twilight. Completely, impossibly, seriously-are-you-fucking-with-me Twilight. I already talked about some of this in earlier reviews. I mean, hell, Diana meets sexy Matthew and they, minus a brief bout of hate, basically instalove all over one another. He also, despite them both being many years into adulthood and despite Matthew having no issue sexing humans without hurting them, refuses to have sex with Diana until the second book, because this is a really common thing for adult male love interests to do. Please name a romance reader that would like to wait until book two for the sex to happen. I’m guessing this basically leaves the readers of Christian romances, who I’m guessing won’t be into this book either. So I really can’t explain this narrative choice except that, oh hey, it conveniently parallels Twilight.
Then, of fucking course, they get pregnant. With TWINS. That happens in book two and Diana spends most of The Book of Life preggers. This means that some of the words often used to describe her are maternal and fertile. Now, my memory isn’t the most reliable, but I remember Diana being fairly strong, but she spends most of this book crying, talking about the babies in her belly (I hate this word), being bossed around by Matthew, and getting new powers basically thrown at her.
Ostensibly, The Book of Life has a big bad to be taken down in the form of Benjamin, one of Matthew’s vampire sons. The story here is that he made Benjamin a vampire as a punishment. Maybe, Matthew, you shouldn’t make evil dudes into fucking vampires? Then Benjamin goes on a fucking blood rage killing spree, because that’s obviously what this guy would do what the fuck Matthew. Anyway, Benjamin is actually creepy as fuck. He’s a good villain, which is about as much praise as I have to offer.
But, again rather like Twilight, this conclusion is so not about the villains. What’s it about, you might ask? It’s about pregnancy and babies and how super fucking special their family is. The actual showdown with Benjamin lasts for about a chapter. The birth scene alone was twice as long, including a delightful scene where Matthew pleasures Diana to help take her mind off the pain of the contractions. I mean, it’s better than the babies chomping their way out but still I didn’t need that in my brain.
In this volume, Harkness demonstrates her knowledge of Pop Culture with references to both Buffy and Twilight. The Buffy reference shows how unique her vampire impregnating a lady idea is by having Chris, Diana’s friend, remark that it’s shocking it happened since vampires never got anyone pregnant on Buffy (“Not even Spike. And Gos knows he never practiced safe sex.”). Then Matthew tells a class of students who end up being not remotely important to the larger plot that “I do not, nor have I ever, sparkled.” Wow, I guess this series isn’t remotely like Twilight then after all. Glad that’s all cleared up.
There is so little plot in this book that I just can’t even. Sure, Harkness’ novels are much better written and full of delightful wine snobbery to mask the fact that they’re Twilight for adults, but they are also padded with so much description. How about to make them much less long we remove some of the oft-repeated and incredibly annoying words? I actually downloaded the ebook so I could find out how many times certain words are used. Let’s see, shall we?
book of life: 119
weaver: 102
wife: 94
husband: 74
twins: 70
mate: 65
Ashmole 782: 63
firedrake: 41
belly: 22
desperate: 11
ouroboros: 10
fertile: 6
maternal: 5
You might be thinking that these aren’t so bad, but they grated on me as I was listening, so deal with it. Also, I tried to see how many times the word “said” was used, because the cast is HUGE and there are a ton of dialog tags, but that broke Kindle Cloud Reader, so I’ll just leave it to your imagination.
Oh right, and I mentioned Diana randomly acquiring powers. Now, here’s the thing, I don’t mind when people have a lot of power, honestly, but Diana didn’t do anything to get this power. Things just happen to her because she is sooooo special. View Spoiler » Diana was already one of the most powerful witches in the world, so was this necessary? Not remotely. OH OH and to find the Book of Life, she was warned she would have to lose something and oh no, but actually all she had to lose was her fear. Wow, what a nice and easy ending. How convenient. How lucky for you.
Oh, also, it turns out that one of the other male characters has been in love with Diana for hundreds of years due to time travel shenanigans. He watched her grow up too. How sexy is that? UGH. But, don’t worry, they’ll be friends forever, because that’s what happens. I will say that some of the secondary characters are interesting and that I love the inclusion of just because lesbian and gay couples. Of course, very little time is spent talking about any of these people because Matthew and Diana are supposed to be the most compelling of all creatures.
While I can see these books having some appeal, they are most decidedly not for me. I’m not sure what I saw in them originally or why I had to finish them or why the books had to be SO long. If you like Twilight, but not the writing, then I present you with this series which you will adore. The audiobook is mostly fine and basically the only way I made it through.
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LibraryThing member BookDivasReads
Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont have been through quite a bit over the past two books in the All Souls Trilogy. In the first book, they meet and fall in love. In the second book, they must walk through time in order to find a teacher for Diana in preparation of their battle with the Congregation
I actually spent the weekend re-reading the first two books in this series before reading the final book. I enjoyed becoming reacquainted with Diana, Matthew, Marcus (Matthew's vampire son), Miriam (Matthew & Marcus's vampire co-worker), Sarah (Diana's aunt), Ysibeau (Matthew's vampire mother), Hamish (Matthew's best friend and a daemon), Marthe (Ysibeau's friend and housekeeper), Baldwin (Matthew's vampire brother), Gallowglass (Matthew's vampire nephew), and more. Matthew is overly concerned with the progress of Diana's pregnancy (what expectant father isn't concerned about the health, safety and welfare of his spouse and offspring?). Marcus has done an admirable job in Matthew's absence of leading the Knights of Lazarus and enlisting the assistance of more vampires, some daemons and witches, and even a few humans. Diana's best friend, Christopher Roberts - a researcher and professor at Yale, makes a reappearance and plays a much larger role as he helps Matthew and Miriam perform genetic testing on the missing pages from Ashmole 782 and on daemons, vampires, and witches. Marcus has fallen for the Sotheby's agent, Phoebe Taylor, and they are now engaged. There are many surprises in The Book of Life with regards to people that Diana and Matthew interact with, and rather than spoil the surprise you'll just need to trust me on this one.
The Book of Life does answer almost all of the questions that were raised in A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night. The action in this book takes place in both Europe and the United States, primarily at Yale University in Connecticut, but also in England, France, Germany, Poland, and Italy. It was nice to read about the maturing relationship between Diana and Matthew, as well as see their integrated families continued interaction and support for one another. There are deaths (no I'm not telling you who dies) and births (well, you knew Diana was pregnant). There are battles (not on a battlefield per se), large and small. In addition to the external battles that must be fought, Matthew must contend with his blood rage and the possibility of his birth children carrying this trait. The Book of Life, for me at least, seems to be much more than the culmination of Diana and Matthew's quest for the truth of where they came from, but a spotlight on the notion that no one has the right to say who we can love. Ms. Harkness grabbed me from the very first page and I only put down the book to fix my meals (yes it is that good). As with the previous books in this series, The Book of Life is an excellent story that mixes a contemporary story with history, a bit of magical realism, add a touch of romance, and a noble quest, and you end up with one truly amazing read.
Did I enjoy The Book of Life? YES! Can I recommend it to others? Again, the answer is Yes! What did I like about this book? Everything. What didn't I like about this book? The only thing I don't like is that this is the end of Diana and Matthew's story. I had a hard time sitting down to write this review, not because I didn't like the book, but simply because it took me almost 12 hours to get used to the idea that I've said "goodbye" to Diana, Matthew, and the rest of the Bishop-de Clermont family and friends. There may be some that categorize this series as fantasy (and yes it does have some fantastical elements), but it is so much more than that. If you enjoy reading well-written stories that deftly blend contemporary and historical fiction, incorporate romance, the paranormal, and more, then you'll definitely want to read the All Souls Trilogy. If you've read the first two books, then you already know you want to read The Book of Life. I recommend waiting for the weekend to read this book since you won't want to deal with any interruptions while you're reading (again, yes it is that good).
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(governing board that oversees daemon, vampire and witch activities and relationships). In The Book of Life, Diana and Matthew are back in contemporary times and have a lot to deal with: the Congregation, Diana's pregnancy, their blended vampire-witch family, and the ongoing search for Ashmole 782. The big question is just what is Ashmole 782? Can it answer the questions on the origins of daemons, vampires, and witches? And what is most important, will the answers stop the Congregation from their anti miscegenation charges and protect the lives of Diana and Matthew's children?I actually spent the weekend re-reading the first two books in this series before reading the final book. I enjoyed becoming reacquainted with Diana, Matthew, Marcus (Matthew's vampire son), Miriam (Matthew & Marcus's vampire co-worker), Sarah (Diana's aunt), Ysibeau (Matthew's vampire mother), Hamish (Matthew's best friend and a daemon), Marthe (Ysibeau's friend and housekeeper), Baldwin (Matthew's vampire brother), Gallowglass (Matthew's vampire nephew), and more. Matthew is overly concerned with the progress of Diana's pregnancy (what expectant father isn't concerned about the health, safety and welfare of his spouse and offspring?). Marcus has done an admirable job in Matthew's absence of leading the Knights of Lazarus and enlisting the assistance of more vampires, some daemons and witches, and even a few humans. Diana's best friend, Christopher Roberts - a researcher and professor at Yale, makes a reappearance and plays a much larger role as he helps Matthew and Miriam perform genetic testing on the missing pages from Ashmole 782 and on daemons, vampires, and witches. Marcus has fallen for the Sotheby's agent, Phoebe Taylor, and they are now engaged. There are many surprises in The Book of Life with regards to people that Diana and Matthew interact with, and rather than spoil the surprise you'll just need to trust me on this one.
The Book of Life does answer almost all of the questions that were raised in A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night. The action in this book takes place in both Europe and the United States, primarily at Yale University in Connecticut, but also in England, France, Germany, Poland, and Italy. It was nice to read about the maturing relationship between Diana and Matthew, as well as see their integrated families continued interaction and support for one another. There are deaths (no I'm not telling you who dies) and births (well, you knew Diana was pregnant). There are battles (not on a battlefield per se), large and small. In addition to the external battles that must be fought, Matthew must contend with his blood rage and the possibility of his birth children carrying this trait. The Book of Life, for me at least, seems to be much more than the culmination of Diana and Matthew's quest for the truth of where they came from, but a spotlight on the notion that no one has the right to say who we can love. Ms. Harkness grabbed me from the very first page and I only put down the book to fix my meals (yes it is that good). As with the previous books in this series, The Book of Life is an excellent story that mixes a contemporary story with history, a bit of magical realism, add a touch of romance, and a noble quest, and you end up with one truly amazing read.
Did I enjoy The Book of Life? YES! Can I recommend it to others? Again, the answer is Yes! What did I like about this book? Everything. What didn't I like about this book? The only thing I don't like is that this is the end of Diana and Matthew's story. I had a hard time sitting down to write this review, not because I didn't like the book, but simply because it took me almost 12 hours to get used to the idea that I've said "goodbye" to Diana, Matthew, and the rest of the Bishop-de Clermont family and friends. There may be some that categorize this series as fantasy (and yes it does have some fantastical elements), but it is so much more than that. If you enjoy reading well-written stories that deftly blend contemporary and historical fiction, incorporate romance, the paranormal, and more, then you'll definitely want to read the All Souls Trilogy. If you've read the first two books, then you already know you want to read The Book of Life. I recommend waiting for the weekend to read this book since you won't want to deal with any interruptions while you're reading (again, yes it is that good).
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LibraryThing member junerain
Review contains spoilers.
This novel lacked coherence, internal consistency, and failed to address the questions set up in the initial installment in the trilogy.
We are supposed to believe that Diana and Matthew are capable adults smart enough to have landed tenured positions at prestigious
Diana and Matthew's relationship is stagnant and infuriating. Throughout the series Matthew constantly dictates what Diana can and cannot do, claiming that he's not a controlling asshole, just "overprotective." Diana ignores him, things nearly go wrong, but it turns out that Diana was probably right to do things her way anyway. Matthew is perturbed, but ultimately grateful that things worked out. Repeat. Throw a little bit of "blood rage," a disease that affects some vampires and is only activated when convenient for the plot and ignored at all other times, and there you have the entire progression of Matthew/Diana throughout the trilogy. The only thing that makes Matthew palatable is that the villain repeatedly threatens to rape Diana and her unborn children. Juxtaposing Matthew with an admitted serial killer and rapist is the best that Harkness could to do make him marginally less awful.
One of the plot twists (that could be seen coming from miles away) is that Gallowglass, Matthew's nephew, has been in love with Diana ever since they met during her time travel stint in the previous novel. He's been watching her from a distance and feeling the pain of his forbidden love for her entire life. At one point Diana concocts an ill advised and hastily executed plan, and after explaining it to Gallowglass she is amazed that he doesn't try to talk her out of it or shoot her down in any way. He responds by saying that's what she gets for falling in love with the wrong man. Congratulations, Gallowglass! You just said the only sensible thing in the entire book, and you deserve better than this sad, weird little universe has to offer you.
Speaking of how sad and weird this universe is, apparently there's an entire coven of witches in London who have had nothing better to do for several hundred years than sit around awaiting Diana's return to the present where she will save them(?). And the guy they create the locator spell to find? He appears for all of five seconds and then no one ever thinks about him again, but he instinctively knows that Diana is special and important. Ysabeau mentions something about how Venice would be underwater (har har) if it weren't for the de Cleremont's financial investments. There is apparently nothing, past or present, that would function in this universe if it weren't for this relatively small group of vampires and the people that orbit them. No other smart or competent people exist in this universe. It doesn't feel large and magical. This world is tiny and depressing and has very little room for expansion.
The reason that I stuck with this series down to the bitter end is because I was interested in the central mystery of the book. What is it, why is everyone after it, how did Diana's dad manage to hide it all of these years? So the book is made of creature skin and contains the memories of those who were killed to make it? Sounds promising, but once they find the book we don't get much more information than we already had, either about the book or about the existence of creatures in general. We get a little bit, filtered through Diana, but not in a way that convinces me that Harkness has an idea of how her universe works or fits together. Harkness lacked both the intent and the ability to follow through on her most interesting plot elements.
I liked the first installment in this series. I thought it was compelling enough that I wanted to see how everything wrapped up, and I really hoped that this would turn out better than the second book in the trilogy. I wanted to like this. However, any number of plot holes or inconsistencies should have been picked up by an editor. This whole book felt like reading a first draft, and I was angry the whole time I was reading because I so wanted it to be better.
This novel lacked coherence, internal consistency, and failed to address the questions set up in the initial installment in the trilogy.
We are supposed to believe that Diana and Matthew are capable adults smart enough to have landed tenured positions at prestigious
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universities, but they fail to communicate, consistently make baffling decisions, and lack the short term memory that god gave a goldfish. Conflicts that appear toward the end of the book feel manufactured and artificially drawn out in order to increase the novel's word count, rather than to add substance or intrigue. For example, Matthew is kidnapped and unreachable toward the end, but this problem was already solved much earlier when Diana and Sarah created a locator spell to find someone whom they had never met and had almost no identifying information. In a world with consistent rules where the author actually has an idea of how the magic is supposed to work, they could have just done a locator spell to solve the Matthew problem, and probably with more success as they actually had information about the subject. Instead, we get dozens of pages of handwringing and woe as the main characters fail to think their way out of a paper bag.Diana and Matthew's relationship is stagnant and infuriating. Throughout the series Matthew constantly dictates what Diana can and cannot do, claiming that he's not a controlling asshole, just "overprotective." Diana ignores him, things nearly go wrong, but it turns out that Diana was probably right to do things her way anyway. Matthew is perturbed, but ultimately grateful that things worked out. Repeat. Throw a little bit of "blood rage," a disease that affects some vampires and is only activated when convenient for the plot and ignored at all other times, and there you have the entire progression of Matthew/Diana throughout the trilogy. The only thing that makes Matthew palatable is that the villain repeatedly threatens to rape Diana and her unborn children. Juxtaposing Matthew with an admitted serial killer and rapist is the best that Harkness could to do make him marginally less awful.
One of the plot twists (that could be seen coming from miles away) is that Gallowglass, Matthew's nephew, has been in love with Diana ever since they met during her time travel stint in the previous novel. He's been watching her from a distance and feeling the pain of his forbidden love for her entire life. At one point Diana concocts an ill advised and hastily executed plan, and after explaining it to Gallowglass she is amazed that he doesn't try to talk her out of it or shoot her down in any way. He responds by saying that's what she gets for falling in love with the wrong man. Congratulations, Gallowglass! You just said the only sensible thing in the entire book, and you deserve better than this sad, weird little universe has to offer you.
Speaking of how sad and weird this universe is, apparently there's an entire coven of witches in London who have had nothing better to do for several hundred years than sit around awaiting Diana's return to the present where she will save them(?). And the guy they create the locator spell to find? He appears for all of five seconds and then no one ever thinks about him again, but he instinctively knows that Diana is special and important. Ysabeau mentions something about how Venice would be underwater (har har) if it weren't for the de Cleremont's financial investments. There is apparently nothing, past or present, that would function in this universe if it weren't for this relatively small group of vampires and the people that orbit them. No other smart or competent people exist in this universe. It doesn't feel large and magical. This world is tiny and depressing and has very little room for expansion.
The reason that I stuck with this series down to the bitter end is because I was interested in the central mystery of the book. What is it, why is everyone after it, how did Diana's dad manage to hide it all of these years? So the book is made of creature skin and contains the memories of those who were killed to make it? Sounds promising, but once they find the book we don't get much more information than we already had, either about the book or about the existence of creatures in general. We get a little bit, filtered through Diana, but not in a way that convinces me that Harkness has an idea of how her universe works or fits together. Harkness lacked both the intent and the ability to follow through on her most interesting plot elements.
I liked the first installment in this series. I thought it was compelling enough that I wanted to see how everything wrapped up, and I really hoped that this would turn out better than the second book in the trilogy. I wanted to like this. However, any number of plot holes or inconsistencies should have been picked up by an editor. This whole book felt like reading a first draft, and I was angry the whole time I was reading because I so wanted it to be better.
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LibraryThing member mckait
The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness is book three of The All Souls Trilogy. Once again the most prominent roles in the story are those of Diana and Matthew, followed closely by members of their unusual families. Book two of the Trilogy, Shadow of Night, left us hanging. I was very glad to finally
From the very beginning of this story in book one, A Discovery of Witches it has been very clear that despite the colorful characters and their families, The Book of Life holds a very important place in the plot of this story. No time traveling in this book, the couple has returned armed with a great deal of information, and a firm commitment to find the book and put things to right in the world . For more years than any mere human can remember, there has been a Congregation made up of vampires, witches and daemons.Their purpose from the beginning was to keep these factions apart. The reasons for this are explained, but like anything else, even the supernatural world has to change with the times. The need for this change becomes particularly clear when new information comes to light.
Many of the vampires, and even daemons and a with or two have lived long lives, and have spent them gaining knowledge. Some of them, have been working to investigate what it is in the DNA of the the so called non humans, that make them different. They have made great strides, and yet something was missing. There was a part of the puzzle that needed to be found to make their research complete. Who knew, that this would be found in an ancient and enchanted text? Even more surprising was how the information from The Book of Life would be found, and brought to their attention, proving beyond any doubt that ...
Well, The Book of Life proved many things. The search for it brought out the best of the best of these families, and answered many questions. It brought out the best of the best in all who were involved in the search. Many changes were made, and some families were able to thrive and grow, and others suffered losses. But these are points are best left to those who read not only this book, but the Harkness trilogy. Sadly, that has come to an end. But as we all know, some endings are merely pathways to new beginnings, so who really knows what will happen next?
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be able to catch up on the Clairmont and Bishop families. We pick up the story soon after the return of Matthew and Diana who have been traveling through time in pursuit of Ashmole 782, aka The Book of Life.From the very beginning of this story in book one, A Discovery of Witches it has been very clear that despite the colorful characters and their families, The Book of Life holds a very important place in the plot of this story. No time traveling in this book, the couple has returned armed with a great deal of information, and a firm commitment to find the book and put things to right in the world . For more years than any mere human can remember, there has been a Congregation made up of vampires, witches and daemons.Their purpose from the beginning was to keep these factions apart. The reasons for this are explained, but like anything else, even the supernatural world has to change with the times. The need for this change becomes particularly clear when new information comes to light.
Many of the vampires, and even daemons and a with or two have lived long lives, and have spent them gaining knowledge. Some of them, have been working to investigate what it is in the DNA of the the so called non humans, that make them different. They have made great strides, and yet something was missing. There was a part of the puzzle that needed to be found to make their research complete. Who knew, that this would be found in an ancient and enchanted text? Even more surprising was how the information from The Book of Life would be found, and brought to their attention, proving beyond any doubt that ...
Well, The Book of Life proved many things. The search for it brought out the best of the best of these families, and answered many questions. It brought out the best of the best in all who were involved in the search. Many changes were made, and some families were able to thrive and grow, and others suffered losses. But these are points are best left to those who read not only this book, but the Harkness trilogy. Sadly, that has come to an end. But as we all know, some endings are merely pathways to new beginnings, so who really knows what will happen next?
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LibraryThing member Elysianfield
I don’t really know what to say… I really loved this series and I’m sad that it ends here.
Diana and Matthew are back in the present from Tudor time and Diana is pregnant with twins. Matthew is still trying to find a way to cure blood rage.
All that lab work and DNA thing went way over my head
Diana finally grows into her magic here and is less afraid to use it. Thankfully while being pregnant she’s still doing stuff so her chapters are never boring.
We meet new and old characters and I really loved Fernando and Gallowglass. Okay, maybe I had little crush on him… I would have liked to know what happens to him in the end because that was left open.
The bad guy of the book is Matthew’s son Benjamin who also has blood rage. Now who wouldn’t like a villain who kills, tortures and rapes to get his vengeance? He was crazy enough to be a perfect villain.
Diana and Matthew are back in the present from Tudor time and Diana is pregnant with twins. Matthew is still trying to find a way to cure blood rage.
All that lab work and DNA thing went way over my head
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again, but it was still fascinating stuff. And the nerd in me really loves that they’re historian and scientist so we get along with their researching, Diana finally grows into her magic here and is less afraid to use it. Thankfully while being pregnant she’s still doing stuff so her chapters are never boring.
We meet new and old characters and I really loved Fernando and Gallowglass. Okay, maybe I had little crush on him… I would have liked to know what happens to him in the end because that was left open.
The bad guy of the book is Matthew’s son Benjamin who also has blood rage. Now who wouldn’t like a villain who kills, tortures and rapes to get his vengeance? He was crazy enough to be a perfect villain.
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LibraryThing member JBD1
I've been not-so-patiently awaiting this third volume in Harkness' All Souls trilogy for months, and when it arrived I barely had the patience to finish the book I was in the middle of before diving right in. I read it--yes, all 560+ pages of it--in less than a day (luckily its arrival just
I don't want to spoil anything at all about the series, so I will simply say that this is an excellent capstone volume, ably tying up the loose threads from the previous two volumes and doing just what it needed to do to complete the trilogy. I'm sorry it's over, but I hope that this is not the last we'll see of these excellent characters and the world Harkness has built for them. Harkness' great ability to blend her historical knowledge with a darn good story continues to be on full display here, happily.
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happened to coincide with a brief moment of free time). In the leadup I had the chance to re-read both the earlier volumes, which was excellent since I was able to have most of the plot in my head as I read.I don't want to spoil anything at all about the series, so I will simply say that this is an excellent capstone volume, ably tying up the loose threads from the previous two volumes and doing just what it needed to do to complete the trilogy. I'm sorry it's over, but I hope that this is not the last we'll see of these excellent characters and the world Harkness has built for them. Harkness' great ability to blend her historical knowledge with a darn good story continues to be on full display here, happily.
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LibraryThing member Iambookish
I was anxiously awaiting this book and I'm happy to say that it was everything I hoped for and more! It took me a few pages to find my way into the story again, but once I found my reading rhythm I raced through the story, staying up well past my bedtime to finish! That was a feeling I haven't had
I'm thinking most people that are reading the reviews for the third title in the trilogy are already acquainted with the book and its characters, but if you are not I hope you run right out and get yourself a copy of the first book, "A Discovery of Witches".
I'm not a big fantasy fiction reader and have never been a huge fan of vampires, but witches have always intrigued me and so the title is what caught my attention, but it was the writing, the historical references and the story that hooked me and has made me a huge fan.
Thanks to the author for delivering a worthy, action packed, powerful ending to a great series!
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since the last Harry Potter book was released :)I'm thinking most people that are reading the reviews for the third title in the trilogy are already acquainted with the book and its characters, but if you are not I hope you run right out and get yourself a copy of the first book, "A Discovery of Witches".
I'm not a big fantasy fiction reader and have never been a huge fan of vampires, but witches have always intrigued me and so the title is what caught my attention, but it was the writing, the historical references and the story that hooked me and has made me a huge fan.
Thanks to the author for delivering a worthy, action packed, powerful ending to a great series!
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LibraryThing member busyreadin
A much better book than the second installment!
Back in the present, the search continues for the Book of Life. Relatives, some we've met and others just introduced, bond to protect and search for the book.
Back in the present, the search continues for the Book of Life. Relatives, some we've met and others just introduced, bond to protect and search for the book.
LibraryThing member laura.w.douglas
Enjoyed the book. Felt the series ended well.
LibraryThing member TheLostEntwife
When I finished SHADOW OF NIGHT, the second book in Deborah Harkness' DISCOVERY OF WITCHES trilogy, I wasn't certain if I would even pick up THE BOOK OF LIFE. Why was that? Well, SHADOW OF NIGHT had me feeling overwhelmed and confused. So many names were being thrown around and so much stuff
Read the rest of this review at The Lost Entwife on July 21, 2014
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happening that even pushed the boundaries of fantasy in my mind, that I really struggled with enjoying the story. On top of that the romance was nearly to the sickening level. I'd picked up a fantasy book, and while I don't mind romance at all, this was over-the-top puppy swooning. Read the rest of this review at The Lost Entwife on July 21, 2014
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LibraryThing member ltcl
This series has been one of my favorites and I would recommend it for fans for historical fantasy such as the "Outlander" series. The third installment of the story that began in "Discovery of Witches" continues that rich blend of magic, history and forbidden love between witch and vampire. Matthew
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and Diana are expecting twins and this has the paranormal creatures in an uproar which means trouble for the De Clairmonts and Bishop clans. Diana is still looking for the missing pages of the Book of Life so she will be able to convince the council that their union is just and insure the safety of their children. Just to make matters more interesting, there is a killer vampire on the loose who is attacking witches and ultimately wants to destroy Matthew and Diana. The storyline has enough violence to appease "True Blood" fans and romance to satisfy the "Twilight" fans but it is the wonderful characters and rich dialogue that will satisfy the fantasy lovers. This is about family and bonds whether it is between witch, vampire, parent or child and embracing the freedom to choose who you want to spend your life with. Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy. Show Less
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Matthew and Diana are back from the past and ready to face whatever the future holds. This means more loss, more uncovering of secrets, more love, and more danger. As the rush to find Ashmole 782 draws to a close, each character involved in Matthew and Diana’s life together must discover his or
The Book of Life is not a novel to pick up on a whim. Not only does it require a clear memory of the previous two books, it is a cerebral story. There are many references to Diana’s experiences in Elizabethan England as well as Matthew’s and Diana’s courtship from the first novel. Readers who do not remember Diana’s struggles to discover her powers or Matthew’s research at Oxford may miss connections between past and present. Also, readers head back into the labs with Matthew and his family as his research becomes a central part of the story. The numerous and detailed discussions of genetics may be intimidating to some, but Ms. Harkness excels at making the most complex genetic coding understandable and interesting as it pertains directly to Diana’s and Matthew’s fate. Between the historical references, something necessary when the main character is 1500 years old, and the science, readers must pay attention because everything is a clue.
Not that paying attention is difficult when the story is as exciting as it is and the characters are so delicious. Matthew and all of his vampire family remain perilously close to their baser instincts, maintaining that sense of danger first sensed in Matthew upon his initial appearance. Adding to that is Diana’s growing sense of purpose and greater acceptance of her powers, which are so immense that she also balances on the precipice of control. It creates an atmosphere of barely-contained calm as each is tested to the extreme. As for the secret finally revealed, it is worth the wait. The Book of Life really does hold all the answers, for the Bishop-Clairmonts as well as for readers.
While Ms. Harkness never shies away from a battle scene, particularly gory ones involving dismemberment or other bodily tortures, it is the psychology of the story that also entices a reader. The mental issues involved with every aspect of Matthew’s and Diana’s lives are remarkably clear, understandable, and realistic. The mental stamina involved with remaining alive for more than a few hundred centuries, for hiding among humans, for fighting one’s true nature, for the fear and anger associated with danger targeting family members – there is no wonder that Matthew and Diana appear to be on the edge. Just as with her science, her psychology of her characters’ minds is utterly compelling.
The Book of Life is the type of series finales about which fans dream. It has everything readers want plus more than they could imagine. Ms. Harkness does a superb job answering remaining questions and providing as much Matthew and Diana as fans need. The conclusion to this intense story is satisfyingly complex with the perfect blend of fantasy, science, and adventure that has so strongly defined the entire series. Any ending to a great story is bittersweet as readers must let go of beloved characters; while this does hold true for The Book of Life, one finds that she takes the bite out of her finale by providing stellar action, an enchanting story, and amazing characters that feel more like long-lost friends than pieces of fiction. Of course, if she opts to give readers a glimpse into future Matthew and Diana adventures, no one is going to complain.
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her true mettle because a test of loyalties is only half of the battle. For it is a battle – not just of blood but also of wits, something fans of the series will recognize immediately as being a signature aspect of the story. The Book of Life is a culmination of Matthew and Diana’s story as everything previously experienced funnels into the final showdown between sides for the ultimate secret.The Book of Life is not a novel to pick up on a whim. Not only does it require a clear memory of the previous two books, it is a cerebral story. There are many references to Diana’s experiences in Elizabethan England as well as Matthew’s and Diana’s courtship from the first novel. Readers who do not remember Diana’s struggles to discover her powers or Matthew’s research at Oxford may miss connections between past and present. Also, readers head back into the labs with Matthew and his family as his research becomes a central part of the story. The numerous and detailed discussions of genetics may be intimidating to some, but Ms. Harkness excels at making the most complex genetic coding understandable and interesting as it pertains directly to Diana’s and Matthew’s fate. Between the historical references, something necessary when the main character is 1500 years old, and the science, readers must pay attention because everything is a clue.
Not that paying attention is difficult when the story is as exciting as it is and the characters are so delicious. Matthew and all of his vampire family remain perilously close to their baser instincts, maintaining that sense of danger first sensed in Matthew upon his initial appearance. Adding to that is Diana’s growing sense of purpose and greater acceptance of her powers, which are so immense that she also balances on the precipice of control. It creates an atmosphere of barely-contained calm as each is tested to the extreme. As for the secret finally revealed, it is worth the wait. The Book of Life really does hold all the answers, for the Bishop-Clairmonts as well as for readers.
While Ms. Harkness never shies away from a battle scene, particularly gory ones involving dismemberment or other bodily tortures, it is the psychology of the story that also entices a reader. The mental issues involved with every aspect of Matthew’s and Diana’s lives are remarkably clear, understandable, and realistic. The mental stamina involved with remaining alive for more than a few hundred centuries, for hiding among humans, for fighting one’s true nature, for the fear and anger associated with danger targeting family members – there is no wonder that Matthew and Diana appear to be on the edge. Just as with her science, her psychology of her characters’ minds is utterly compelling.
The Book of Life is the type of series finales about which fans dream. It has everything readers want plus more than they could imagine. Ms. Harkness does a superb job answering remaining questions and providing as much Matthew and Diana as fans need. The conclusion to this intense story is satisfyingly complex with the perfect blend of fantasy, science, and adventure that has so strongly defined the entire series. Any ending to a great story is bittersweet as readers must let go of beloved characters; while this does hold true for The Book of Life, one finds that she takes the bite out of her finale by providing stellar action, an enchanting story, and amazing characters that feel more like long-lost friends than pieces of fiction. Of course, if she opts to give readers a glimpse into future Matthew and Diana adventures, no one is going to complain.
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LibraryThing member Chatterbox
When the second volume of this trilogy ended with vampire Matthew de Clairmont and his wife, witch Diana Bishop, returning to Sept-Tours from their “honeymoon” in sixteenth century Europe, readers were well aware that a final confrontation was looming: both with Matthew’s renegade vampire
I found the first 100 pages of this to be relatively slow going, and was slightly disappointed to be back in the 21st century after following Matthew and Diana on their travels through the 16th century and their encounters with everyone from Christopher Marlowe to Rudolf, the Habsburg ruler of Prague. But the pace picked up, and soon enough Deborah Harkness had enough plot elements bubbling away to keep me entertained, as well as introducing some new characters and themes into the mix.
What appealed to me most here is the way that Diana, who only learned how to master her powers in the final chapters of the second book in the trilogy, really emerges here both as a powerful force and a powerful character in her own right. Until now, she had struck me as somewhat of a quintessential romantic heroine, swept off her feet by the handsome and domineering vampire (albeit being feisty and intelligent enough to command his respect). Here Diana’s independent actions – magical and otherwise – will prove crucial as the story unfolds, and that was an interesting and welcome addition to the mix. There are some unexpected additions to the ranks as Matthew and Diana prepare for the final confrontation, and while violent magical battles formed a part of it, I was glad to see that Harkness didn’t shy away from adding additional levels of complexity to the mix.
Criticisms? Sometimes the nature of the magical spells that Diana is casting (if not the nature of her powers – which is actually a very intriguing concept indeed, for which Harkness deserves kudos) felt rushed through or glossed over, as if the author hadn’t really thought them through herself and thus couldn’t explain them thoroughly. So I found myself reading, re-reading and re-re-reading several passages to try to figure out exactly what had happened, only to shrug and simply move on. I also found myself a little surprised at the ease with which the non-magical folks to whom the existence of vampires, daemons and witches is revealed in this final book is accepted. It’s all very matter of fact; oh yes, of course, I thought there was something unusual going on – as if you’d finally learned that the person with the slight accent had in fact been born in Denmark. But there’s a big difference between being born in Denmark and being a witch or a vampire who is 1,500 years old…
And occasionally the injection of moments of wit and levity felt out of keeping with the overall tone, as when one member of the team quips about having to restrain a stressed out-Sarah (Diana’s aunt) from disabling the smoke detector system on a long-haul flight, or when Sotheby’s employee, Phoebe – now the girlfriend of one of the de Clairmont family – spots a Holbein masterpiece hanging in a bathroom. Ysabeau tries to reassure her that Margaret More (the painting’s subject) wouldn’t have been worried by “a bit of exposed flesh.” Phoebe responds, spluttering, ‘It’s not the decorum of the situation that troubles me, but the fact that Margaret More might tumble into the loo at any moment!’ “ Now, this is about the seventh time that Phoebe has been awestruck by de Clairmont family treasures; the characters are about to conduct some serious magic; and yet all of a sudden they’re getting girly and giggly about a Holbein painting? Some of these moments were fine; others were misplaced and the humor felt off-kilter.
That said, the novel was tremendously entertaining, and served as an unusually satisfactory conclusion to the trilogy. Unusually, because it went beyond the traditional “let’s make sure the bad guys get their just desserts” kind of thing, and was an altogether more interesting conclusion, with an interesting and subtle reference or reminder of parallels in our non-magical world.
I also think that Harkness has left herself with enough leeway to come back to her characters in the future. True, the conundrums that Diana and Matthew had to face at the beginning of this book have been resolved in one way or another, but I would imagine that life for any supernatural creature is never going to be easy or straightforward, and certainly the struggle to carve out an independent path for themselves doesn’t necessarily mean it will be happily ever after, undisturbed? Regardless, I’ll be curious to see what Harkness does next. 4.3 stars; the second volume remains my favorite of the series.
Full disclosure: my copy of this was an ARC that I obtained at BEA (BookExpo).
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son, Benjamin, and with the Congregation, who have for centuries banned just the kind of “inter-species” relationship that Matthew and Diana have forged. Now that Diana is pregnant, there is even more at stake, and Sept-Tours, the de Clairmont ancestral home, seems like the logical place to regroup and figure out how to do more than simply respond to attacks. Above all, how can they complete their quest for the missing pages from the Ashmolean manuscript that started it all – a manuscript they now know to have been made up of the skins of daemons, vampires and witches – and restore them to the Book of Life? Perhaps, if that can be accomplished, the rest will fall into place…I found the first 100 pages of this to be relatively slow going, and was slightly disappointed to be back in the 21st century after following Matthew and Diana on their travels through the 16th century and their encounters with everyone from Christopher Marlowe to Rudolf, the Habsburg ruler of Prague. But the pace picked up, and soon enough Deborah Harkness had enough plot elements bubbling away to keep me entertained, as well as introducing some new characters and themes into the mix.
What appealed to me most here is the way that Diana, who only learned how to master her powers in the final chapters of the second book in the trilogy, really emerges here both as a powerful force and a powerful character in her own right. Until now, she had struck me as somewhat of a quintessential romantic heroine, swept off her feet by the handsome and domineering vampire (albeit being feisty and intelligent enough to command his respect). Here Diana’s independent actions – magical and otherwise – will prove crucial as the story unfolds, and that was an interesting and welcome addition to the mix. There are some unexpected additions to the ranks as Matthew and Diana prepare for the final confrontation, and while violent magical battles formed a part of it, I was glad to see that Harkness didn’t shy away from adding additional levels of complexity to the mix.
Criticisms? Sometimes the nature of the magical spells that Diana is casting (if not the nature of her powers – which is actually a very intriguing concept indeed, for which Harkness deserves kudos) felt rushed through or glossed over, as if the author hadn’t really thought them through herself and thus couldn’t explain them thoroughly. So I found myself reading, re-reading and re-re-reading several passages to try to figure out exactly what had happened, only to shrug and simply move on. I also found myself a little surprised at the ease with which the non-magical folks to whom the existence of vampires, daemons and witches is revealed in this final book is accepted. It’s all very matter of fact; oh yes, of course, I thought there was something unusual going on – as if you’d finally learned that the person with the slight accent had in fact been born in Denmark. But there’s a big difference between being born in Denmark and being a witch or a vampire who is 1,500 years old…
And occasionally the injection of moments of wit and levity felt out of keeping with the overall tone, as when one member of the team quips about having to restrain a stressed out-Sarah (Diana’s aunt) from disabling the smoke detector system on a long-haul flight, or when Sotheby’s employee, Phoebe – now the girlfriend of one of the de Clairmont family – spots a Holbein masterpiece hanging in a bathroom. Ysabeau tries to reassure her that Margaret More (the painting’s subject) wouldn’t have been worried by “a bit of exposed flesh.” Phoebe responds, spluttering, ‘It’s not the decorum of the situation that troubles me, but the fact that Margaret More might tumble into the loo at any moment!’ “ Now, this is about the seventh time that Phoebe has been awestruck by de Clairmont family treasures; the characters are about to conduct some serious magic; and yet all of a sudden they’re getting girly and giggly about a Holbein painting? Some of these moments were fine; others were misplaced and the humor felt off-kilter.
That said, the novel was tremendously entertaining, and served as an unusually satisfactory conclusion to the trilogy. Unusually, because it went beyond the traditional “let’s make sure the bad guys get their just desserts” kind of thing, and was an altogether more interesting conclusion, with an interesting and subtle reference or reminder of parallels in our non-magical world.
I also think that Harkness has left herself with enough leeway to come back to her characters in the future. True, the conundrums that Diana and Matthew had to face at the beginning of this book have been resolved in one way or another, but I would imagine that life for any supernatural creature is never going to be easy or straightforward, and certainly the struggle to carve out an independent path for themselves doesn’t necessarily mean it will be happily ever after, undisturbed? Regardless, I’ll be curious to see what Harkness does next. 4.3 stars; the second volume remains my favorite of the series.
Full disclosure: my copy of this was an ARC that I obtained at BEA (BookExpo).
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LibraryThing member bg853
I am always ambivalent about the end of a series or trilogy which I really love. While I am anxious to reach the dramatic conclusion of the storyline, I am loath to leave the characters who have become friends and companions.
And so it was with [The Book Of Life: A Novel].
The book brought a
One of the things I loved about these novels was Harkness' ability to present the paranormal activity and the magic in a logical and believable way. In [The Book of Life: A Novel] she fell somewhat short of that goal. I found myself rereading the section where Diana goes to the Bodelian Library and asking myself did I miss something? I wasn't ready for the standard -just suspend belief and go with the story, which is usually necessary throughout this genre.
So as measured by the standards of the genre, this is a terrific not-to-be-missed book. When measured by the standards due a Harkness book it just misses that 5 star rating as a 4.5. As always I highly recommend the entire series.
And so it was with [The Book Of Life: A Novel].
The book brought a
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satisfactory end to a great trilogy and when the book is measured by the standards of the genre it is a fantastic book. But held to the standard set by the first two books of the trilogy, it falls slightly short of the first two.One of the things I loved about these novels was Harkness' ability to present the paranormal activity and the magic in a logical and believable way. In [The Book of Life: A Novel] she fell somewhat short of that goal. I found myself rereading the section where Diana goes to the Bodelian Library and asking myself did I miss something? I wasn't ready for the standard -just suspend belief and go with the story, which is usually necessary throughout this genre.
So as measured by the standards of the genre, this is a terrific not-to-be-missed book. When measured by the standards due a Harkness book it just misses that 5 star rating as a 4.5. As always I highly recommend the entire series.
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LibraryThing member sarahbest
The Book of Life is the third book in the All Souls Trilogy. The plot follows Diana Bishop, a witch and Oxford scholar, and her husband Matthew Clairmont, a vampire and genetics scientist, as they seek a book which may hold secrets that can save them and their children from the prejudice of The
Diana and Matthew are being pursued by several enemies, and the plot is fast paced and fun to read. While there isn't any timewalking in this book (the author's term for time travel), I love this series because it incorporates a number of interesting art history, literary, and historical references. It also, I believes, does a good job of honoring real-life pagan traditions. I also love the characters, especially Diana and Matthew, Gallowglass, Fernando, and Matthew's parents.
I'm giving it four stars instead of five because the book begins in the middle of the action, and since I've been reading the books as they come out, it was really hard at first to remember the characters and plot from the last book. New characters are reintroduced at a dizzying rate and it's a bit hard to keep track of them at first. But it's an enjoyable read!
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Covenant, a compact between witches, vampires, and demons which prohibits them from marrying someone not in their species, or having children together. Diana and Matthew are being pursued by several enemies, and the plot is fast paced and fun to read. While there isn't any timewalking in this book (the author's term for time travel), I love this series because it incorporates a number of interesting art history, literary, and historical references. It also, I believes, does a good job of honoring real-life pagan traditions. I also love the characters, especially Diana and Matthew, Gallowglass, Fernando, and Matthew's parents.
I'm giving it four stars instead of five because the book begins in the middle of the action, and since I've been reading the books as they come out, it was really hard at first to remember the characters and plot from the last book. New characters are reintroduced at a dizzying rate and it's a bit hard to keep track of them at first. But it's an enjoyable read!
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LibraryThing member Agnesium
Fun read, mesmerizing even when not reading (quite annoying when trying to sleep), intelligent and witty, and with an adult hero!
LibraryThing member lhaines56
If I could give it more stars I would! Fantastic read! Kept me on my feet wondering and did not want to put it down. I was actually SAD when it ended. Will there be another one to this series or not?
LibraryThing member indygo88
I don't consider myself a big fan of witch/vampire fiction, but there was something about this 3-book series that really captivated me, and I'd been waiting impatiently for this 3rd and last installment to be published. I wanted to devour it as soon as it came out, but I showed some self-restraint
That being said, it did take me a little while to get into this one. Reading through the first few chapters, I had to re-acquaint myself with the various characters and plotlines, and I wasn't necessarily swept up in the de Clermont family drama that the novel began with. However, once getting past that, the story picked up and I was once again anxious to experience the continuing saga of Matthew and Diana.
Often times, I'm disappointed in the 3rd book of a trilogy. I don't know that this was my favorite of the three, but I also wouldn't say that I was disappointed. Yes, the ending was kind of anti-climactic, and there were maybe some loose ends I would've liked to have seen tied up, but for the most part I was satisfied with this book and the series as a whole. As with any lengthy book or series, it's somewhat hard to come to the end after spending so much time with an enjoyable character or characters. Indeed, I was sad to see this series come to an end, but I also think I'll revisit it again, at a time when I can read the three books back-to-back and experience the story as a whole.
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and waited until I could acquire a copy on audio, since I'd read the two previous books on audio as well. Jennifer Ikeda, as the reader, does a truly excellent job with the various voices and accents, and I highly recommend the audiobook version of this series.That being said, it did take me a little while to get into this one. Reading through the first few chapters, I had to re-acquaint myself with the various characters and plotlines, and I wasn't necessarily swept up in the de Clermont family drama that the novel began with. However, once getting past that, the story picked up and I was once again anxious to experience the continuing saga of Matthew and Diana.
Often times, I'm disappointed in the 3rd book of a trilogy. I don't know that this was my favorite of the three, but I also wouldn't say that I was disappointed. Yes, the ending was kind of anti-climactic, and there were maybe some loose ends I would've liked to have seen tied up, but for the most part I was satisfied with this book and the series as a whole. As with any lengthy book or series, it's somewhat hard to come to the end after spending so much time with an enjoyable character or characters. Indeed, I was sad to see this series come to an end, but I also think I'll revisit it again, at a time when I can read the three books back-to-back and experience the story as a whole.
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LibraryThing member laura.w.douglas
Enjoyed the book. Felt the series ended well.
LibraryThing member Berly
The third in this series (it says trilogy, but I am desperately hoping for more) was just as fun as the first two. Filled with witches and vampires, with a few humans and daemons thrown in for good measure, this story was a page turner for me. Witch Diana Bishop and her vampire husband, Mathew
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Clairmont, are back in the present and they are frantically searching for the Book of Life. They hope it holds the answer to curing "blood rage." If not, Mathew and all those of his line risk being killed by order of the Congregation. Did I mention Diana was pregnant with twins? And that witches and vampires are not supposed to mate? And that Benjamin Fox, an evil child of Mathew's, is out for revenge? A page-turner for sure. And Miss Harkness? Surely you can keep this series going.... Show Less
LibraryThing member murderbydeath
I have previously proclaimed my irrational love of the first two books in this series so it will come as no surprise to anyone that this one get 5 stars from me.
There are few books out there I find myself truly immersed it; the kind that when I'm interrupted I'll look up from my book, but I'm not
I'll admit I was expecting a war; at the very least, a massive battle. I prepared myself to hate the author for killing off a character, or characters that I had become attached to. For a few dozen pages, I was certain it was going to be a specific character. Luckily, the story was not as predictable as all that and the witches were the only part of the book to fly.
While reading, I picked up on shades of Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus, as well as more common themes of tolerance, acceptance and fear of that which is not understood. The twist at the end is only a twist because it is so obvious. Of all the beliefs humans cling to throughout history that have proven to be illusory over and over again, the idea that we control anything must surely make the top 5 list.
But what it all boils down to for me is that I just love this whole story: its characters, its plot, its settings - it all just clicks for me. Some have likened Diana to whatshername in Twilight but I don't see the Mary Jane - I just saw a character – a very intelligent, strong and independent one – trying to get a grip on a massive amount of change happening in a short amount of time. I never got the victim vibe from her. I don't pretend to understand the all consuming love she and Matthew apparently share, but it's thankfully not so soppy and mushy I feel the need for insulin.
All the major plot points of the three books are wrapped up at the end of this one, but, vexingly, a lot of characters' stories are...unfinished. They aren't cliff-hangers, and the story could easily end here and Ms. Harkness could disappear back into the history stacks never to be heard from again in fiction. But she has left a number of openings for a return should she choose to do so. A lot of secondary characters are left with their stories still ongoing. At least one of them - Gallowglass - I'd be the first in line to read more about. I'm more than a little half in love with him.
Whether Ms Harkness every writes another word about these people or not, I'll at least be able to re-read and "see" them all again.
There are few books out there I find myself truly immersed it; the kind that when I'm interrupted I'll look up from my book, but I'm not
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really there. My eyes might be a bit glassy and I'll stare blankly at my own DH as though he's a stranger. This is such a book.I'll admit I was expecting a war; at the very least, a massive battle. I prepared myself to hate the author for killing off a character, or characters that I had become attached to. For a few dozen pages, I was certain it was going to be a specific character. Luckily, the story was not as predictable as all that and the witches were the only part of the book to fly.
While reading, I picked up on shades of Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus, as well as more common themes of tolerance, acceptance and fear of that which is not understood. The twist at the end is only a twist because it is so obvious. Of all the beliefs humans cling to throughout history that have proven to be illusory over and over again, the idea that we control anything must surely make the top 5 list.
But what it all boils down to for me is that I just love this whole story: its characters, its plot, its settings - it all just clicks for me. Some have likened Diana to whatshername in Twilight but I don't see the Mary Jane - I just saw a character – a very intelligent, strong and independent one – trying to get a grip on a massive amount of change happening in a short amount of time. I never got the victim vibe from her. I don't pretend to understand the all consuming love she and Matthew apparently share, but it's thankfully not so soppy and mushy I feel the need for insulin.
All the major plot points of the three books are wrapped up at the end of this one, but, vexingly, a lot of characters' stories are...unfinished. They aren't cliff-hangers, and the story could easily end here and Ms. Harkness could disappear back into the history stacks never to be heard from again in fiction. But she has left a number of openings for a return should she choose to do so. A lot of secondary characters are left with their stories still ongoing. At least one of them - Gallowglass - I'd be the first in line to read more about. I'm more than a little half in love with him.
Whether Ms Harkness every writes another word about these people or not, I'll at least be able to re-read and "see" them all again.
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LibraryThing member marsap
After traveling through time in Shadow of Night, the second book in Deborah Harkness’s All Souls Trilogy, historian and witch Diana Bishop and her vampire scientist husband Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies. At Matthew’s ancestral home at Sept-Tours,
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they reunite with the cast of characters from A Discovery of Witches. They are still seek the missing pages of Ashmole 782, the mystical manuscript known as the Book of Life and the key to the origin of all supernatural beings, and now must negotiate the internal politics of Matthew’s extended vampire family. Also to be considered is the Congregation of vampires, witches, and daemons, who will not look at all kindly on the impending birth of Matthew and Diana’s twin children. Meanwhile, Matthew and Diana are stalked by Matthew’s murderous son Benjamin, and to save everyone, Diana must master her skills as a weaver—one of the rarest witch powers. As with the first two books I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, the fantasy, the history, mythology and as always the characters (both new and old). I will miss these characters thoroughly. 5 out of 5 stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member RobinWebster
This series started out promisingly, but by the end I was just irritated and disappointed. The author's writing style didn't really engage my imagination, the aspects of the story which attempted to add a mystery element were more frustrating then suspenseful, and the romance between a powerful
I'm all for fantasy and romance, but I am so over the idea that a woman devoting herself to a controlling wild man is in any way romantic. I found myself repeatedly annoyed by the choices made by the characters. Yes, an interesting character has flaws, but if you want me to root for them, don't have them do villainously stupid things like create an evil, dangerous creature out of spite.
The series attempts to weave complex familial, personal and political conflicts, an attempt to change the population's deeply engrained prejudices, and a number of abductions and battles into one cohesive story. Harkness's attempt to juggle these things is awkward at best, as some of the major plot points rest on shaky footing, the characters are trite and the flow of the writing is weak.
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witch and a possessive vampire prone to rage... ugh. What is it with women that like to read these stories about taming the wild man? It's cheesy and unrealistic, at best. I'm all for fantasy and romance, but I am so over the idea that a woman devoting herself to a controlling wild man is in any way romantic. I found myself repeatedly annoyed by the choices made by the characters. Yes, an interesting character has flaws, but if you want me to root for them, don't have them do villainously stupid things like create an evil, dangerous creature out of spite.
The series attempts to weave complex familial, personal and political conflicts, an attempt to change the population's deeply engrained prejudices, and a number of abductions and battles into one cohesive story. Harkness's attempt to juggle these things is awkward at best, as some of the major plot points rest on shaky footing, the characters are trite and the flow of the writing is weak.
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LibraryThing member thehistorychic
Listened for Review (Penguin Audio)
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.50
Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness was a fantastic end to a wonderfully written series!
Audio Thoughts: Jennifer Ikeda was
Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, Done Reviews
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.50
Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness was a fantastic end to a wonderfully written series!
Audio Thoughts: Jennifer Ikeda was
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brilliant through out the whole series. I thought she did a great job with such a huge cast of characters from all over the world. It was a big challenge and I felt she knocked it out of the park.Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, Done Reviews
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LibraryThing member Headinherbooks_27
I'm heartbroken to let this series go. I feel like the story has been a part of me. I can't believe its over.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2014-07-15