Book Review: “The Book of Life”

Deborah Harkness’ All Souls trilogy began with A Discovery of Witches in 2011 (which is wickedly funny since the title-drop in that novel is, “It began with a discovery of witches”). The magical trilogy follows the romance between Diana Bishop and 1500-year-old vampire Matthew Clairmont, but hold your horses—Diana is not a love-struck teenager, but instead a witch too reluctant to use her powers, and an Ivy League professor and historian of alchemy. The trilogy follows not just their romance, but also their search for a missing manuscript that might be the key to the existence of all creatures: in Deborah Harkness’ universe, humans live alongside witches, vampires, and daemons.

Harkness is actually a professor and historian herself, and her love of history gleams throughout her novels. The sequel, Shadow of Night, features many historical characters in new contexts that only strengthen the novel’s uncanny basis in reality. The book is overflowing with magic, but the magic is grounded and elemental, which I find fascinating. The witches’ work is earthy and authentic; if witches are real, this must be how they exist. But their first book of spells—or is it the vampires’ Book of Life?—is missing, and only Diana can access it, as we learn early in the first book. And as Uncle Ben once said, with great power comes great responsibility.

Throughout all three novels, the drama intensifies as Diana opens herself up to magic and realizes her powers. As Diana’s abilities evolve and grow more complicated, so do the characters around her; witches turn on fellow witches, vampires turn on vampires, and despite the segregation of creatures brought about by the Congregation’s covenant, Diana’s and Matthew’s families must work together in order for their [naturally] forbidden love have a chance at working out.

But this is supposed to be a review of the third and final novel in the trilogy, The Book of Life, which came out this past July. I don’t want to talk about where this book starts, as that would spoil the first two for anyone who hasn’t read them, so instead I will discuss its ending. This novel has left me missing its characters (now that the trilogy is over) more than any other novel has for a very long time, which is both satisfying and unsatisfying, I suppose. It sort of goes all over the place, but like its protagonist’s, Harkness’ weaving is impeccable. I felt for these characters—I felt angry on their behalf when things went south, and I celebrated their joy.

Years ago, when A Discovery of Witches was first published, I remember reading something along the lines of this being the next step in living post-Harry Potter. When I finally started that first novel, I will admit that I took a break and did not know if I would finish the series. But in the end, the All Souls trilogy reminded me of other fantasy novels I have loved, and it was also unlike anything else I have read, which qualifies it to join my other favorites. I hope you give it a chance to join yours, too.