Giveaway: The Book of Life

THE BOOK OF LIFE

by Deborah Harkness

Pages: 592 (Hardback)

Publisher: Headline

Publication Date: July 15th 2014

ISBN: 9780755384778

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. 

Check out my reviews for the first two books in the series!

      

GIVEAWAY

The very kind people at Headline Publishing have provided me with a copy of the epic conclusion to the All Souls Trilogy to giveaway and this is your chance to get your hands on it!

Prize

x1 Hardback copy of The Book of Life (UK residence only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shadow of Night

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary (From Back Cover)
It began with a discovery of witches. 
Historian Diana Bishop, descended from a line of powerful witches, and long-lived vampire Matthew Clairmont have broken the laws dividing creatures. When Diana discovered a significant alchemical manuscript, she sparked a struggle in which she became bound to Matthew. Now the fragile coexistence of witches, daemons, vampires and humans is dangerously threatened. Seeking safety, Diana and Matthew travel back in time to London, 1590. But they soon realise that the past may not provide a haven...

Review
I had a little break after reading the first book, even though I had this sitting on my self and that was because as much as I loved A Discovery of Witches, so much happened I needed some time for my brain to process before moving onto Shadow of Night. I'd recommend doing the same, not because this world isn't mesmerising and fascinating and fiercely enlightening - because it is - it's just when you read books back to back they can run into each other and these books deserves your full attention. You don't want to miss anything.

The story picks up exactly where we left it, with Diana and Matthew hurling themselves back through time into 1590. They do this to get away from all the problems they're relationship has coursed in the present, from the fact the whole of the magical community is out for blood and answers. They also need to figure out what magic Diana has, as in A Discovery of Witches we see her powers being to emerge, and even though the present isn't safe, neither is the past. Matthew picks a time where witches are being tried and killed and a time where Diana couldn't be more out of place if she tried. But with the help of the mysterious School of Night (well most of them) and some old/new friends they do their best to fix the problems that have arisen in the present.

First thing I have to say about this is I loved the setting. I have a mad obsession with the War of the Roses and the Tudor period so this book was all the more interesting for it's new time period. Like with it's predecessor you are dragged into this world and Harkness' writing style makes you feel like you're walking the streets of Tudor London - as well as all the other cities in this book.

I'm also growing less stubborn about Diana and Matthew's relationship as the series goes on. I've always been a fan of the couple but I just can't quite understand how anyone would put up with being dominated the way Matthew wants to control Diana. But, with this book Diana grows even more confident within their relationship and craves out her own family in 1590. It's sweet and amusing - keep an eye out for little Jack and his sticky fingers! Another character that's introduced in this instalment is Gallowglass de Clermont! In my head I imagine this almost viking esk character, and every time he calls Diana 'Aunty' I get a smile on my face. I don't exactly understand my love for Gallowglass but I defiantly have a soft spot for this guy.

A lot of questions are answered in this book - or at least you're given a bit more of the puzzle. You find out about Diana's powers, where they come from and what they mean, as well as being teased with what the manuscript actually means for our favourite Witch and Vampire.

Things to keep an eye out for... there are odd chapters here and there that focus on the present. They give you a small insight into what's happening while Diana and Matthew get twisted into the past. Also towards the end a character that you wouldn't expect to see pops up in London 1590. I won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil it! But it's brilliantly written!

Overall it's another intelligent and gripping book from Harkness that will have you combing through it's pages seeking out answers and wanting to delve into Tudor England. I can't wait for the final instalment of this - quite frankly - epic series that makes Vampires interesting again.

If you haven't done so already check out my review for the first All Souls book

A Discovery of Witches

A Discovery of Witches

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary (From Back Cover)

It begins with absence and desire.

It begins with blood and fear. 

It begins with a discovery of witches

A world of witches, demons and vampires.

A manuscript which holds the secrets of their past and the key to their future. 

Diana and Matthew - the forbidden love at the heart of it. 

Review
An intelligent and well written vampire novel - all most unheard of and yet here we are. You can tell when reading this that Harkness has an interest in research with it's so methodical in it's story plots. There are so many different intellectual themes that you'll defiantly need your thinking cap on with this one. It's a little like reading A Game of Thrones, in the sense that you have to be paying attention, no skimming over bits because if you start doing that you're just going to get lost.

The story follows Dr Diana Bishop, a witch in her early thirties who comes across an old manuscript when researching a paper in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Unbeknown to Diana, the manuscript she's found was lost a long time ago and it's resurfacing has also led to Oxford being invaded with Demons, Witches and Vampires. One of those Vampires being Matthew Clairmont. The story follows these two creatures as they come to terms with what Diana has uncovered and their ever growing feelings towards each other. No to mention the fact Diana has refused to acknowledge her powers for the past two decades, so being dragged into the magical world beyond human eyes it's exactly top of her to do list.

I'm going to start with the main problem I have with this book, because it's the ONLY problem I have with this book. Now, I understand why Harkness has written Matthew to be fiercely protective and almost obsessive over Diana, it makes sense. She's taken the biological traits of a predator and made a real and multi-layered vampire that works. None of this glittering nonsense. However, maybe it's just the feminist in me but I found it almost cringe worthy in parts where he's proving his dominance over Diana. I wanted to shake her and slap him! But in all fairness, that might just be me.

Saying all that, I have a soft spot of Matthew. Yes he's a slightly controlling 1509 year-old but he's also rather damn sweet at times. Although I don't think I like him as much as Marcus Whitmore, his dashing lab assistant. I could go into all the different character's but there are so many that I don't have the time and you lovely people defiantly don't. Which means you'll have to read it and find out for yourselves - you can thank me later. What I will say is keep an eye out for Emily, Sarah and their cat Tabitha - as well as the magic house that has a mood all of it's own!

This is a great book! It's as epic a fantasy as you're going to get set in the present day. It's magical and charming, as well as extremely interesting and intuitive. That's not even mentioning the epic love story at it's centre. It's an intelligent outlook on the vampire/witch culture we've all come to love. If you're someone looking for a fantasy novel, but are fed up of all the teenage nonsense that comes along with it? Then this is the perfect book for you. Would recommend to any lover of fantasy fiction!

I could get behind this... fan made 'dream cast' vid for A Discovery of Witches. FYI there is a movie in development, I do believe that the screenplay has been finish, although it's a long way off being cast.

Give Me A Love Story...

YA is such a wide genre, to the point where it can really be just about anything that a teenager would find interesting. The majority of the books i'm going to look at and review to start with are going to be more Fantasy based as those tend to be the ones I like to read. However, one of the core parts of any YA novel is a love story.

So as in case I don't get around to reviewing these for a while here is a list of some Romance books I've read and would highly recommend:

Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher 

****

Romance

Fallen by Lauren Kate 

***

YA fantasy

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks 

***

Romance

Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness 

****

Fantasy

Fault in our Stars by John Green 

*****

YA Romance