Review: The Book of Life by: Deborah Harkness

The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy #3) by: Deborah Harkness (July 15, 2014)

561 pages

Genre: Adult/Supernatural

Publisher: Kensington

Source: The Library

Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon

Goodreads Summary: 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.

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.

My Review

Waiting for The Book of Life to come out was completely worth it, and I would do it over and over again. The Book of Life was a solid ending to a great trilogy. I can honestly say that I’m not sure I have ever enjoyed a third book in a trilogy more than this one. I was in Book Nirvana. For fans that didn’t enjoy the second book as much as the first book you are in luck, The Book of Life is more like A Discovery of Witches.

The Book of Life picked up right where Shadow of Night left off. Matthew and Diana are back in the present and finding the book, keeping the family together, and trying to stay alive are just few of the hardships they must face.

I love Matthew and Diana. I love them separately. I love them together. I love them. Did I mention that I love them? The best part, I pretty much love all of the minor characters in this trilogy as well. All of them. Okay, I think it’s time I move on.

The Book of Life is the darkest book yet in this amazing trilogy full of vampires, witches, and deamons. Even though the atmosphere is more intense than ever before, Harkness manages to also include moments of happiness among her characters, even during dark times. While reading my heart broke and then it mended, I was sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time, unraveling the secrets it held in its pages. Did I mention that I read this big book in one day? Well I did. It was that captivating. I never wanted to leave the world Harkness made. The Book of Life was full of unexpected events and brings what it means to be a family to a whole new level. I loved every second of it. It maybe did get a little weird at times, but nothing I couldn’t handle.

If you are A Discovery of Witches fan then I’m certain you will enjoy the final installment in the trilogy. Grab a copy and have fun reading about more of Matthew and Diana’s adventures. Retreat into the magical world Harkness created and enjoy.

The Bookish Report

Here are all of the top bookish stories, blog posts, pictures, and videos I found this past week. I put this post up every Sunday so come back again next week for more bookish awesomeness.

Click away and enjoy your Sunday!

News

Deborah Harkness has announced her tour for the last Discovery of Witches book, The Book of Life. I really hope I can make it to her stop in the Chicago area. July can't get here fast enough.

Next time you are looking for some new book recommendations you should really read this interesting list of books you should read now based on books you read as a child. I know I will be using this list in the future.

If you have yet to check out the stunning new covers of the Percy Jackson series then obviously you need to. I like the old covers a lot, but I am loving the new ones as well.

Have you been impatiently waiting for the next book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin? Well you are in luck, a very short excerpt of the upcoming book has been released, and you will get to find out the release date soon...hopefully.

I also want to share with you that all of the Four (Divergent) short stories will be released in one volume in July and I am more than ready. For more information and to see the cool cover you will have to read this little article.

Blog Posts

These covers of books being released this fall will make your mouth hang open in awe. 

If you are a fan of New Adult and are interested in getting a review copy or promoting the new book Falling for Autumn by an author I really like, Heather Topham Wood, then you should probably be vising this page for details.

Christine at Buckling Bookshelves wrote another thought provoking discussion post on her blog detailing the issue of when to promote/review those brand new/ARC books.

Picture

The Bookish Report

Here are all of the top bookish stories, blog posts, pictures, and videos I found this past week. I put this post up every Sunday so come back again next week for more bookish awesomeness. 

Click away and enjoy your Sunday!

News

With all the crazy stuff I see floating around on the internet lately I'm really starting to believe that people just have too much time on their hands. And yet, I still look at the funny photos and read the funny articles, so maybe I have too much time on my hands. Anyway, If Your Favorite Literary Icons Had Dating Profiles is one of those type of articles, but it is worth the read. 

Did you know that Gone Girl's ending was rewritten for the movie! What is up with that?

The cover to the last book in The Discovery of Witches trilogy has been revealed! I'm so excited for The Book of Life! There is also an excerpt. 

I really didn't realize so many book to movie adaptations were happening this year, although I shouldn't really be surprised. Although book to movie adaptations don't normally end all that well, I'm really excited about some of these, like Divergent.

Blog Posts

Do you ever forget what you read? I do. I read a lot of books and I just can't remember everything that I read. Sometimes I'll even start reading a book only to realize part way through that I have read it before. This isn't an issue as much anymore thanks to goodreads, but if this has ever happened to you I suggest you take a minute to read: Forgetting What I read: A Justification. 

I seriously didn't even know using hahstags in your blog post titles was a thing. Well apparently it is. 

Do you ever watch documentaries? I do on occasion and was super excited that Foil The Plot came out with this helpful list of documentaries you should give a chance. I watched Blackfish...I won't be going to SeaWorld ever.

There have been a few times where I have come across a book cover with someone on it that looks like a celebrity. With that being said, you must read:  Celebrity Doppelgangers on Young Adult Covers. 

Video

The first Game of Thrones season 4 preview is out!