The Book of Life

All Souls, Book 3

By: Deborah Harkness

Narrated by: Jennifer Ikeda

Length: 23 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

The number one New York Times best-selling series finale and sequel to A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night.

Look for the hit TV series A Discovery of Witches, streaming on AMC Plus, Sundance Now, and Shudder.

Bringing the magic and suspense of the All Souls Trilogy to a deeply satisfying conclusion, this highly anticipated finale went straight to number one on the New York Times best seller 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.

©2014 Deborah Harkness (P)2014 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Weaving an extraordinarily rich story of magic and science, history and fiction, passion and power, secrets and truths, Harkness delivers an unforgettable and spellbinding finale that's not to be missed." (USA Today)

"Juicy and action-packed.... Even at 561 pages, this is one hardcover no one will mind lugging to the beach." (People)

"Pure escapist summer fun." (Jodi Picoult, Parade)

I want to read it again!

This series was so much fun that I wish I could go back and read it again, right now! I miss the characters and the wonderful voice of Jennifer Ikeda. This series is best read with the narration. The experience is over the top!

Anyone who knows me knows I am not into vampires. Okay, I watched Vampire Diary for a while but it was because of the witch more than anything else. So had this not started with A Discovery of Witches, and had my cousin not recommended it, I might not have gotten into this series. And the witches sure do kick b*** in this series, so I wasn't let down.

Even writing this is giving me a sense of remorse that it is over. Gosh, what a sentimental mush brain, huh? But how else can I tell you how good this series is?

I do have a complaint about the whispersync of this book. For some reason, it would skip over the bottom of each paragraph. But that didn't stop me. I just signed onto my Audible and played the story from there and read it on my tablet. Yeah, I had to turn pages, but I hardly noticed as the story moved me forward.

I noticed that there were the slightest threads left undone. Nothing drastic, but it had me hoping there would be more to this series. Oh, and the last couple chapters felt rather anticlimactic, but I wasn't complaining. It just gave me more time with the family. This was the perfect read for the Halloween season, but it would hold its own over any other set of days too.

Do read it! I think you'll enjoy it, too!

What happened to Jennifer Ikeda????

Any additional comments?

The narrator did a great job on the first two books, so what happened? It sounded like the speed was on the lowest setting at times. Either that or she was on Valium. Very frustrating.

Wish that it did not end

Wonderful story that has pet me wanting more and more. Hoping that it would not end. Hoping that Deborah Harkness will write more of the De Claremont clan. If so I can't wait.

Amazing conclusion to an amazing story!

I bought the first book on a special and was not to sure of it when I did. I am definitely glad I did and even used my credits on the next 2 books in the trilogy. Deborah must have lived this life in order to write such a great and detailed story. You feel a part of the story. The explanations of the different characters is amazing and believable. The reading is very good and the voices fit the characters even with a female reader reading male characters. Highly recommend this story! This is part 3 of a trilogy and you have to read all three to get the story. You won't believe how this ends. Worth every penny for hours of great listening.

Loved this trilogy

What did you love best about The Book of Life?

What a series with a fantastic ending. I hope that there are spinoffs for some of the secondary characters. I loved the historical aspects of this book and the characters were wonderful, both the good and the bad. I definitely recommend this Audible book!

What does Jennifer Ikeda bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Perfect reading, excellent characterization.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I loved when the twins were born.

Unlistenable

What disappointed you about The Book of Life?

I began listening yesterday, and was very excited, as I love Ms. Harkness, and thoroughly enjoyed reading the first two books in the trilogy. I decided to try listening to Book 3, as it would allow me to do other things (knit, clean). I had to stop listening after two chapters, as the narrator's voice was intolerable. It sounded digitized, as though they ran her voice through Auto Tune. This is my fault for not listening to the preview prior to purchase. I look forward to reading the book, and am certain that it will not disappoint. (I had to rate the title for "overall", "performance", and "story", and I am sure that the story is at least 4 or 5 stars, judging from my previous experience with Ms. Harkness's work. I gave it an overall 3 stars as an average of my extrapolated story rating and my actual performance rating.)

What do you think your next listen will be?

I am planning on previewing "The Time Traveler's Wife."

How could the performance have been better?

If the narrator's voice could be made to sound like a natural speaking voice, it would be a vast improvement.

Any additional comments?

I first thought that perhaps the effect may have been caused by the device on which I was listening, so I tried several other devices, and the problem was consistent.

Loved this series

What did you love best about The Book of Life?

I loved the story line and all the characters

What about Jennifer Ikeda’s performance did you like?

Her performance was fantastic! I loved how she really changed her voice for each character.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

enjoyed the series

I enjoyed the stories. I had to make myself stop listening each day I had gotten so caught up in the storyline.

Lady of Wales

The entire trilogy is fabulous! As a history ( primarily Celtic/British Isles) buff , a writer and a Pagan Witch ( I know, it's a mouthful), I was completely pulled in by Harkness' beautifully woven story. One does not have to have any of my afore mentioned, let us say, 'interests', to completely fall into the author's tapestry of romance, history and suspense. Harkness' stunning descriptions with such details that one so easily imagines themself 'there' so as to flow with the story, not wanting to let go. The real beauty for me, was how the truth of magic was so brightly threaded. Thank you Ms.Harkness for reawaking my magic.

Great story and narration!

I love this book and the first two as well! A wonderful walk down history lane and very exciting!