All Souls Trilogy

A Three-in-One Book Review

I recently finished the three books of the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. Much like when I read the Hunger Games trilogy, I finished these three in a week and a half. I couldn’t keep my hands off of them but I also don’t think I could do three separate reviews so we’re going to attempt this in one go. So this will be separate by each book and then I’m going to wrap the end up in a bow with my review of all three as a whole.

I would also like to note that I did read these prior to the show and would highly recommend doing so if you are interested in giving the show a watch. I also apologize in advance for how long this is about to get.

Now, let’s jump in.

A Discovery of Witches

This is the first book of the series in which we are introduced to the world that Harkness has created. We’ve traded out werewolves for daemons who in my opinion – as much as I do love Hamish and his sass with Matthew – are basically human geniuses with ADHD. It’s the only way I can describe it. Here vampires are not affected by the sun and no they do not sparkle. If I remember correctly, Matthew actually even says that in the book so The Twilight Saga does get referenced for those of us adults who have actually read both series.

Diana Bishop, a descendant of Bridget Bishop, is researching in Oxford at the Bodleian Library. While in the middle of her research, she pulls a manuscript, Ashmole 782. This manuscript has been labeled as missing for centuries as we learn a little later when Matthew tells Diana how long he has been searching for this manuscript as well as to why – which is our plot device that carries us through all three of the books.

Matthew believes that Ashmole 782 is the lost book that tells the story of how creatures came to be. Meanwhile, the witches believe that the book is a lost spell book that contains the truth as to how they created vampires. Matthew calls also refers to Ashmole 782 as the Book of Life – the title of the last book in the trilogy. The congregation comes after Matthew and Diana as they try to figure out the mystery behind the book as well as their relationship that is moving with the force of a speeding bullet train. You might be asking yourself why this congregation is coming after them. Well, you’re just going to have to read the book to find out.

All in all, this was my favorite book of the series. Even though Matthew and Diana’s relationship is rushed, it is done so in a way that makes sense. As you travel with them through their story, you find that it’s not one of where the female is treated like a damsel in distress. In truth, Matthew is constantly encouraging and wanting to help Diana learn to use her magic. So this got five out of five stars over on my Goodreads.

Shadow of Night

Picking up on All Soul’s Night – Matthew’s human birthday – in 1590 Elizabethan London, Matthew and Diana have timewalked to this night because Matthew is certain that they will be able to find someone to teach Diana to use her magic as well as find the non-magicked copy of Ashmole 782/Book of Life. It is here that Diana meets Matthew’s deceased step-father, Phillipe de Clermont, when he requests Matthew return to Sept-Tours.

While at Sept-Tours, Matthew and Diana are forced into a more docile life where they are no longer searching for the book, but are required to actually go through a proper wedding. All of which Phillipe funds after taking Diana as his bloodsworn daughter. Yes, that happened!

After they had met Phillipe’s wishes – there were a lot -, Matthew and Diana head off to Prague where they think they finally have found the book that they have been searching for. But again, to find out how this actually ends, you’re going to go have to go get yourself a copy of the book and read it!

This again was definitely a five out of five stars for me over on Goodreads. I really enjoyed the perfect mix of domestic life and action that this book held. Much like the rushing of their “courtship” in A Discovery of Witches, this book follows the beginning of their married life and the rush that comes with it.

The Book of Life

Upon their return to the modern day, Matthew and Diana rush from the United States to Sept-Tours to join their family that has gathered there. Unfortunately, the congregation has been at work trying to find Ashmole 782 which resulted in one of the most painful deaths I have experienced since Dumbledore. As we progress, the family slowly finds out that Matthew and Diana are expecting while they also finally uncover who has been torturing/killing random witches.

Once Diana has safely given birth, the family immediately goes into search mode to divide and concur to settle things once and for all. This is because the congregation had let this creature get away with torturing/killing witches for centuries and was working with a member of the congregation to search for Ashmole 782. While Diana finally finds the book and learns the secrets of it, Matthew is taken and tortured in an effort to get ahold of Ashmole 782. I can’t write much more of I give the game away.

Although this book ends in a happy ending, this one took a long time to give the action up. It always came in short spurts and never enough in my opinion. So for me, I gave this a 4 star rating on Goodreads. It was still good, but I still needed more action than what this offered.

In Conclusion

Overall, the whole trilogy has a 4.5 star rating coming from me. The only thing that brought it down was my feelings about the last book. In truth, this is a much better love story than The Twilight Saga and the Fifty Shades Trilogy. Yes, the last book slopes off, but I can also say that I definitely didn’t want the last book to end. I actually didn’t want the trilogy to end. Thankfully, Deborah is potentially working on more of Matthew’s story that might also bring in more of Diana and the family history.