The Book of Life
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Average rating4
THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES HARDBACK BESTSELLER Fall under the spell of Diana and Matthew once more in the stunning climax to their epic tale, following A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES and SHADOW OF NIGHT. A world of witches, daemons and vampires. A manuscript which holds the secrets of their past and the key to their future. Diana and Matthew - the forbidden love at the heart of it. After travelling 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 in France they reunite with their families - with one heart-breaking exception. But the real threat to their future is yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for the elusive manuscript Ashmole 782 and its missing pages takes on a terrifying urgency. Using ancient knowledge and modern science, from the palaces of Venice and beyond, Diana and Matthew will finally learn what the witches discovered so many centuries ago.
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5 primary books6 released booksAll Souls
All Souls is a 6-book series with 5 primary works first released in 2011 with contributions by Deborah Harkness.
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I had some problems with the first two books, but it seemed like there was a serious drop-off in quality with this one. There were so many undeveloped or underdeveloped characters on the periphery that I had trouble keeping straight – and I'm a George R.R. Martin fan, so I don't have a problem with huge casts of characters if they're done well. My biggest issue with the book really was the relationship between the two main characters. Did I not notice the disturbing level of possessiveness in the first two books, or did it increase in this one? The entire book, I kept thinking, this is an abusive relationship, am I supposed to find this romantic? Ordinarily I wouldn't waste my time finishing, but I felt the need to finish the trilogy. Just disappointing.
I enjoyed this book. It brought the story to its conclusion. Unfortunately, I missed the historical and literary aspects of the first two novels of the series.
A satisfying wrap to the trilogy, and some delightful new characters introduced in this book. Ysabeau is still a favorite, and things wrapped up so well. This book was certainly the darkest of the three. The big reveal seemed a bit anticlimactic but somehow fit with the action involved with the grand reveal.
Can't wait for the next book! I also hope there will be one on Gallowglass down the road.
