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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I have a weird relationship with Deborah Harkness's books. I liked her All Souls trilogy, but I also recognize that it has some significant problems (that I won't get into here). I had assumed those feelings would carry over to this book, a sequel to the trilogy, essentially. It's billed as being about Marcus and Phoebe's relationship, but it's actually just an extended epilogue and very little happens that is of consequence. It's also very weird.
The book is split in three parts. First is Phoebe's journey to become a vampire. This is where the vast majority of weirdness is concentrated. I can't say I was uninterested in these sections. She really just let her imagination go and doesn't seem to have cared how any of it comes across. YMMV of course, but I thought some of it was absolutely bizarre. Entertaining, but bizarre. The second part is following Diana and Matthew and that whole clan, and this is the part of the book that is the most indulgent. I did find everything with her twins interesting, but really, this section just felt like the author was in love with her characters and wanted more time with them, and if you're not in love with them, too, you might not find what happens here as interesting as the author wants you to.
The part of the book that really sealed this two-star rating for me was the extended flashback sequences into Marcus's past before he became a vampire, which eventually becomes the story of how he met Matthew and became a vampire. It did become more interesting when that finally happened (and weird) but for some reason I found everything before that extremely uninteresting. I probably should have just skipped those sections (I was doing the book on audio).
The book isn't terrible, really, I just think that anyone who isn't already a fan will not have a great time.
[2.5 stars]
The book is split in three parts. First is Phoebe's journey to become a vampire. This is where the vast majority of weirdness is concentrated. I can't say I was uninterested in these sections. She really just let her imagination go and doesn't seem to have cared how any of it comes across. YMMV of course, but I thought some of it was absolutely bizarre. Entertaining, but bizarre. The second part is following Diana and Matthew and that whole clan, and this is the part of the book that is the most indulgent. I did find everything with her twins interesting, but really, this section just felt like the author was in love with her characters and wanted more time with them, and if you're not in love with them, too, you might not find what happens here as interesting as the author wants you to.
The part of the book that really sealed this two-star rating for me was the extended flashback sequences into Marcus's past before he became a vampire, which eventually becomes the story of how he met Matthew and became a vampire. It did become more interesting when that finally happened (and weird) but for some reason I found everything before that extremely uninteresting. I probably should have just skipped those sections (I was doing the book on audio).
The book isn't terrible, really, I just think that anyone who isn't already a fan will not have a great time.
[2.5 stars]
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved having a broader glimpse – yes, glimpse, as I still feel this world-building to be mysterious – in this All Souls series. I got to know more about Marcus’s past and learn about the vampire lore through Phoebe’s rebirth as a wearh. More than anything, I had the opportunity to embrace further this comforting magical world with characters I hold close to my heart.
But was there an actual point to this book to develop the de Clermont family’s story? It resembles a standard filler episode we find in 24-episodes TV shows, it doesn’t serve a true purpose but it is still nice to read to learn more about characters you enjoy. But I wish Marcus and Phoebe were treated as the focal point they were supposed to be.
Why is Deborah Harkness sticking to the first person narrative only for Diana when she isn’t the anchor of this book? I know TBBO came out after, and probably another one is coming, but I thought Marcus’s story was supposed to be a standalone, not a means to an end. In both cases, I file it as a failure. Phoebe and Marcus being kept away from each other was not a page-turner, nor was Marcus’s backstory. The writing lacked in plot points.
I need to go back and read the first three books again. I was too confused about who all the characters were. I thought it was more standalone than it actually is.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
And the story continues… I’m thrilled to be back with the family again. Great insight into Marcus and his past. Being able to see his journey from start to current was a ride. I really like being able to see the journey of Phoebe’s change. I was legit worried about Persephone ( the cat ) for a hot second there. Jumping into the next book!
This reads like bad fan fiction of A Discovery of Witches.
We get these inane chapters of Matthew, Diana, and their children spending the summer together and celebrating holidays and birthdays with various members of the family while nothing worthwhile happens, and then, there are the Phoebe chapters and the Marcus backstory chapters. I'm going to be honest, after maybe the seventh Marcus backstory chapter I stopped reading them. I couldn't take it. And don't even get me started on Phoebe (she becomes a vampire and all she does is delicately feed on a cat, complain that she can't see Marcus, and talk to people about how her life as she knew it is completely over because she can't go back to her job now that she's a vampire?). This book made me want to scream, and yet am I going to read the next installment that promises more of the same? Yes. What illicit substance does she put into these books that makes me keep coming back for more?
We get these inane chapters of Matthew, Diana, and their children spending the summer together and celebrating holidays and birthdays with various members of the family while nothing worthwhile happens, and then, there are the Phoebe chapters and the Marcus backstory chapters. I'm going to be honest, after maybe the seventh Marcus backstory chapter I stopped reading them. I couldn't take it. And don't even get me started on Phoebe (she becomes a vampire and all she does is delicately feed on a cat, complain that she can't see Marcus, and talk to people about how her life as she knew it is completely over because she can't go back to her job now that she's a vampire?). This book made me want to scream, and yet am I going to read the next installment that promises more of the same? Yes. What illicit substance does she put into these books that makes me keep coming back for more?
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, War, Injury/Injury detail
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes