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Saturday, April 29, 2023

Week 17 Reviews: A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, The Book of Life



A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together. 

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell. 

Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.

From Goodreads:
The #1 New York Times–bestselling sequel to A Discovery of Witches, book two of the All Souls Trilogy—"as enchanting, engrossing, and impossible to put down as its predecessor" (Miami Herald)

J. K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Anne Rice—only a few writers capture the imagination the way that Deborah Harkness has with her New York Times–bestselling All Souls trilogy. A Discovery of Witches introduces reluctant witch Diana Bishop, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and the battle for a lost, enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.

Picking up from A Discovery of Witches' cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night takes Diana and Matthew on a trip through time to Elizabethan London, where they are plunged into a world of spies, magic, and a coterie of Matthew's old friends, the School of Night. As the search for Ashmole 782 deepens and Diana seeks out a witch to tutor her in magic, the net of Matthew’s past tightens around them, and they embark on a very different—and vastly more dangerous—journey. 

From Goodreads:
The #1 New York Times bestselling series finale and sequel to A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night

Bringing the magic and suspense of the All Souls Trilogy to a deeply satisfying conclusion, this highly anticipated finale went straight to #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. In The Book of Life, Diana and Matthew time-travel back from Elizabethan London to make a dramatic return to the present—facing new crises and old enemies. At Matthew's ancestral home, Sept-Tours, they reunite with the beloved 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. 

My first review of A Discovery of WitchesShadow of NightThe Book of Life
My third review of The Book of Life
My Review:
I of course loved reading these books again! I love this world so much, I'm just obsessed, they're so entertaining and easy to devour! Diana and Matthew are just so easy to read about, and the world that they live in, I just can't get enough of it!

At the heart, this series is about their romance. And they're solid pretty quickly, if not physical because he is old-fashioned. But they have so many obstacles in their way, from the laws and customs of the various creatures, no matter how wrong they are. It's just so great to read! 

I'm not sure which book is my favourite. The first sets things up, the second introduces some favourite characters, and the third wraps up the storylines nicely. I just enjoy them all so differently, but they're all so great! 

Even after reading these books so many times, I'm still confused about what was revealed in The Book of Life. We got snippets, but not the full thing. I'm so glad that we're getting a book 5, because I really want to know more! 

Loved reading these books again,, and I can't waitt o reread Time's Convert! 

Author: Deborah Harkness
Series: All Souls Trilogy #1, 2, 3
First Read: July 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2018
Second Read: October 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2018
Third Review: January 27th, 2021
Read: April 26th, 27th, 27th, 2023
Source: Own
Reason Why: Love her writing and they're Prequel & Sequel 2023 Reading Challenge Books!
Publisher: Penguin Books
Published: February 8th 2011, July 10th 2012, July 15th 2014

A Discovery of Witches:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








Shadow and Night:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








The Book of Life:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars







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