The #1 New York Times bestselling series finale–sequel to A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night, that sets up Time’s Convert. Look for the hit TV series “A Discovery of Witches” airing Sundays on AMC and BBC America, and streaming on Sundance Now and Shudder. After traveling through time in Shadow of Night, the second book in Deborah Harkness’s enchanting series, historian and witch … 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.
With more than one million copies sold in the United States and appearing in thirty-eight foreign editions, A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night have landed on all of the major bestseller lists and garnered rave reviews from countless publications. Eagerly awaited by Harkness’s legion of fans, The Book of Life brings this superbly written series to a deeply satisfying close.
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I’m going to write a general review about the trilogy and copy it for all 3. I LOVED this read. The plot concept was original, the story was well developed (I hate reading short chapters – sure sign development not there) and I could not stop reading until I had finished all 3 books. I’m a big fan and found this story quite entertaining. Hope Harkness is not quite done – seemed to me the final ending left a few things hanging.
I have loved all her books!
The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness is the third and final book in her All Souls Trilogy . The sensationally magical story of an American witch with no desire for her powers and the centuries old vampire that irrevocably changes her life. Diana Bishop just spent months in the 17th century preparing herself for the battle to come once they return to the 21st century. Learning she is a weaver and all that entails was an arduous journey for both Matthew and Diana but the battle for the book of life is going to happen and they are as prepared as they will ever be. Picking up long lost friends along the way and learning that those they left behind may not always stay in the past, this book is the culmination of months and months of preparation and while it has a happy ending it is hard won. The changes that Diana manages to make changing the old thought processes of static vampire thinking and the closed off attitude of the witches is beyond miraculous and this book was the perfect ending to the trilogy.
Addictive! This series is quite possibly as addictive as Matthew’s attraction to Diana! Now also a wonderful TV series on Sundance Channel, I was blown away with how entranced I was with these characters. The main characters, the secondary characters, the world-building. Definitely one of my best reads of 2019! Enjoy!
This final installment in the All Souls Trilogy is a perfect end to an enlightening story. I don’t feel that this last book in the series is any better than the first two, but the utterly satisfying ending wiped away any previous issues that kept me from loving this story. In many ways, it’s a fairytale ending, but only in a world where fairytale characters are real people and everyone has a little bit of darkness in them.
Back to present time, Diana and Matthew have become the reluctant ambassadors of change in an era where old traditions threaten to destroy their new family, an assortment of vampires, witches, demons, and humans; plus, two new “half-breed” members that are supposed to be incapable of existing.
This installment takes the concept of a family tree to bold and expanded new levels. Family members can be connected to one another in so many ways, but as blood ties begin to connect the characters of this story, it’s clear that Diana and Matthew are more powerful than anyone ever realized.
Harkness has done a stellar job of introducing a few new and unexpected twists to this already complex story, and then delivers the perfect complex wrap up at the end. This installment finally allowed both Diana and Matthew to come to terms with who they are, how powerful they are, and then let them define their relationship on their terms. I love the dynamic of their relationship. They both cling to each other for completion, but neither of them is so dependent that they can’t stand on their own and do great things.
I love that Matthew, not only embraces and accepts Diana’s role as a powerful leader and force to be reckoned with, he acknowledges to others how he’s happy to support her. They are a wonderful example of how a modern couple can be both traditionalists and still act as equals. Matthew is the head of their family, but everyone knows that Diana is more powerful and is a great leader within and outside the family. The family dynamics in this story are more than enough to start and drag out discussions for years to come.
Then there’s the cultural impact of this story. “Racial identity has no biological basis-” is the line that sums it all up.
There are so many surprises in this story; some terrifying and some delightful. I can’t put it all into words.
Recommended to fans of this series, fans of paranormal, open-minded people, and I still stand firm that this is a great couples series to the very end.
I could not turn the pages fast enough to see how the story wrapped up. An amazing finish to a fantastic series.
Terrific ending to the series. I will never get enough of these characters! I know Deb will continue to bring life to them. Thank you Ms. Harkness for bringing us this wonderful world!!
A great conclusion to the All Souls trilogy! Very well written by Ms. Deborah Harkness. The last few chapters felt a little rushed, and too convenient for the characters, but I still loved it.
I liked the book, but the first book in the series A history of witches was even better.
Loved the entire series. May read them again!
I raced through this book because after reading the first two, I was desperate to know the ending. We get to -re-meet characters from Matthew and Diana’s trip to the past and this both comforting and a little sad. There are also a few other departures from characters that broke my heart.
All that aside, we get to experience Diana and Matthew’s relationship after they have faced some serious challenges, and learned more about their pasts and themselves – not all of it good. This book is full of action and travelling around the world, and sense of solidarity between the characters who are for good is strong and exciting.
I definitely recommend this book and the whole trilogy.
The saga continues…The congregation is on their back, the evil vampire son in pursuit….all the while the miraculous love and babies continue to grow. Lots of magic, adventure, intrigue and plot twists. Will keep you turning pages. Should read prior books in the series or story won’t make sense. A definite page turner.
Loved this book!!!!!
I was enchanted at this intelligent rendering of supernatural beings & the mysteries of their beginnings. If you are looking for a believable supernatural story full of mysteries & action, this is the book for you!
The All Soul’s Trilogy by Deborah Harkness (to which this is book 3) is one of the best series I’ve ever read. The plot lines are amazingly complex and I actually had to go back and reread (or relisten) to sections to make sure I had it straight. But I was not frustrated at having to do that. It made the whole experience fantastic. Start with Discovery of Witches and I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Audiobook review: The Book of Life is my favorite of the All Souls Trilogy. Diana finally fully accepts her role as a witch weaver and accomplishes a task that none outside of the de Cleremont’s select few believed possible. The story wraps up nicely but in all honestly could have used an epilogue that ties in Gallowglass with the babies later in life. The narrator did a nice job with different character voices but was not quite up to snuff for my speed of enjoyed reading. I found the speed of 1.5x to 1.75x worked best for me.
“The Book of Life” earns 5++/5 Ouroboroses…Absorbing, Thrilling Epic!
EPIC CONCLUSION. ABSORBING. Over the past week, I forced myself not to read the last ten chapters because I “feared” the end that might have someone perish, someone sacrificed, or someone evading justice. It is always a worry one will be less than satisfied when coming to the conclusion of an epic book series that has kept one’s interest for so long, that it will just be over with a disappointing climax or some issues left unresolved. I always call it my “French film,” a story that just ends, awkwardly. But, I am ecstatic, thrilled, left in joyful tears, that the final book in Deborah Harkness’s All Souls Trilogy, The Book of Life, was an extraordinary conclusion with resolutions of justice, retribution, vindication, and hope…hope that the characters in which I’ve invested my time and emotion will be okay. Although I didn’t entirely understand the genetics jargon and research, it was still fascinating, strengthening Harkness’s mythology, and adding an air of realism to the existence of vampires, witches, daemons. And Wow! Diana’s transformation, pact with the goddess, and literal connection to Ashmole 782 was a fantastic revelation. From Madison to Sept-Tours, from London to Venice, the search for the missing pages and the book, the past brought into the present, and vengeance centuries on hold all converge.
Harkness’s writing style is engaging and rich with vivid descriptions (case in point: childbirth), but nothing that would make any reader cringe or shy away. Even the battle to vanquish the “monstrous” antagonists (no spoiler, if you’ve read the first books, you know a battle is coming!) is well-written. She switched from Diana’s first-person perspective to the readers third-person viewpoint, but it was a smooth transition, well-paced, and very absorbing. I wanted it to continue and continue. The dialogue blended well with the narrative illustrating the various personalities, the emotion, conflicts, fears, and joys. This has been a joyous journey!
5 Stars
The Book of Life is the third and final book in the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. I have absolutely LOVED this riveting series, and was both excited to find out how everything concludes- and sad that it had all come to an end. It helps to know there are spin-off books to look forward to!
As with the other books in the series, this is a wonderful fantasy- with paranormal elements, witches, vampires, daemons, magic, time travel, history, action, adventure, danger, drama, mystery, and much, much more. As I said in my reviews for the other books, this is a little like The Vampire Diaries meets The Da Vinci Code.
It is an original take on the Witches/Vampire/Daemon lore- and is beautifully detailed and descriptive. Ms. Harkness has a real knack for storytelling, with exceptional world-building skills which brings everything to life, making it all seem entirely realistic and believable.
This book picks up where book two left off, Diana and Matthew travel back from the past- reuniting with family and friends- facing enemies old and new- and still on the quest for the Ashmole 782. There is a lot at stake and finding the book of life is the key to it all. With twists and surprising developments, this story is a completely captivating conclusion to the story. I loved the way everything was tied up at the end! I will definitely be exploring the spin-off stories!!!
A must read for any fantasy/ paranormal addict!
Thank you, Ms. Harkness!
Great book! Great series!
I absolutely enjoyed this book. I have now read all 3 and couldn’t wait to begin the next in the series. Great characters and a very interesting and fast paced plot.
I write a lot of reviews and if a book is well-written and provides what it is supposed to, I will give it 4 or 5 stars. Let me explain: if a book is supposed to be a light-hearted romance or cozy mystery and it’s well edited and written and the story really is a light-hearted romance or cozy mystery, it has fulfilled my expectations and I’ll give it a good rating. That system does, however, tend to undervalue books and series like this one. This should be in a rating system all it’s own, or one saved for really epic stories. I’d give it 9.5 stars out of 10 if I could. This book is the conclusion to a well crafted, well written trilogy. The author has obviously done a LOT of historical research and is very well read. The world building is wonderful, the characters and scenes are so well written and descriptive (without being overly descriptive) that it seemed as if I was immersed in the story myself. The only reason that I’d knock it down half a star on my scale of ten, is because of the torture scenes. I won’t get into any detail so as not to spoil the book for anyone else, but I couldn’t stand to read those scenes and literally skimmed over them. I cannot stand to read or watch torture scenes in a novel or on TV. That said, the story and characters will stay with me for a long time. Two big thumbs up for a wonderful, amazingly well written trilogy.