Review: The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness
“To every question I have ever had, or ever will have, you are the answer.”
The Basics
Title: The Book of Life (All Souls #3)
Author: Deborah Harkness
Published: 2014
Publisher: Penguin Books
Pages: 561
Format: Paperback
Genres: Fiction — Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Urban fantasy, Fantasy romance, Paranormal romance
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Book Synopsis
In this finale to the A Discovery of Witches trilogy, Matthew and Diana have returned from Elizabethan England and are continuing on their quest to locate the Book of Life and unravel its many secrets. At the same time, they must prepare for the birth of their twins, as well as work to repeal the covenant so that their lives and those of their children will not be under threat from the Congregation. Meanwhile, lurking in the shadows is an evil that seeks to destroy the de Clermont family.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: This final installment in the All Souls trilogy beautifully closes out the series.
Whenever I read the final book in a series, I am a bit nervous. Will all of the story arcs be given a satisfying conclusion? Will the characters receive the endings that they deserve? When you read a series, you become invested in the story, and there are few things worse in life than making it to the last book in a series only to discover that it has a terrible ending. Fortunately, with The Book of Life, you need not worry about such things: its conclusion is both fitting and gratifying.
Story arcs that have been featured throughout the series, such as the search for the Book of Life, are given proper resolutions, and long-standing mysteries, including what price the goddess will exact in exchange for saving Matthew’s life, are finally cracked. Everything comes together, and while room is left for sequels and/or spin-offs, no loose ends remain. Moreover, characters are given satisfying endings, with the less-than-savory individuals getting their just desserts.
While we’re on the topic of characters, one of my favorite aspects of The Book of Life is that it sees the return of characters from the first book. Having been largely absent for an entire book, it is wonderful to have such beloved characters as Sarah and Ysabeau back in the thick of it. It is like a homecoming where all of the characters we have come to love are once again reunited.
This book also features some major character development, chiefly with regard to Diana. We see her shed her fear and self-doubt and at last gain confidence in herself and her abilities. She also stops trying to live up to her self-imposed standards of how a de Clermont woman should behave, something which I was quite glad to see. I also enjoyed watching the evolution of her relationship with Baldwin, the much-loathed head of the de Clermont family.
Another praiseworthy aspect of this book is its pacing. Unlike the preceding book, The Book of Life never becomes mired down in superfluous details or uninteresting subplots. The story is constantly moving forward, with only a couple of short detours here and there. Harkness’ clear, easy-to-read writing further promotes the book’s good pacing and overall readability.
The not so good
My only critique relates to the Book of Life storyline. So as to not give anything major away, I will just say that what happens when the book is found is a bit strange.
Overall
The Book of Life is a captivating finish to a spellbinding series. Have you read The Book of Life? If so, let me know what you thought of it in the comments section below!
