Reviews - Il bacio delle tenebre

Il bacio delle tenebre by Deborah Harkness

4.99k reviews for:

Really good. More a long continuous novel than a trilogy, these books should really have been bound together. Well thought-out point of view that takes all 3 books to fully reveal itself; plenty of adventure. A fun read.

bekaforst's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

cristina_sparny's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

mrnnprsns's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense 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: Complicated

amysofta's review against another edition

5.0

All things must end. No matter how we might love them or wish for them not to…they end. I am going to miss Diana, Matthew and the rest of the Clairmont clan desperately. Re-reading books one and two and now having finished the last I am left with a hollow feeling and will be missing my friends over the next few weeks as I adjust to life without them. I know I will be able to visit them when ever I wish, but I won’t get to hear of any new adventures in their lives. I hope the life they live after book three is full of joy and love. I wish these characters the best and thank Ms. Harkness for sharing this world with us.

So I’m sure you are not surprised one bit that I gave this book five stars, I could have told you before it started that I would be rating it thusly. Harkness would have had to deviate pretty far from her earlier books to make me rate it less. Book three did have a different feel to it thou, much darker…grittier. In this book the war is on between the creatures. The Congregation is determined to make Diana and Matthew pay for their crimes and we finally learn who has been pulling all the strings over the past centuries (spoiler free review people). We see this family come together and learn to function and trust on another. We also get some vengeance on or justice for some pretty nasty characters and crimes from the first two books. We also see the world of creatures come together to stand behind the Clairmonts and demand change as well. Many of the secrets that have been kept for way to long come out and we get to see the marvelous strong creature that Diana becomes. Matthew sacrifices much, but in the end I feel he is a stronger character for it. What is it they say what doesn’t break us makes us stronger. Both Matthew and Diana’s limits are tested throughout this story and in the end I am pleased with the people they become.

This is a complex world and I have been thinking of who might enjoy reading it, as a librarian is wont to do. I think adults who grew up reading and loving the Potter series would enjoy this one. Both are complex worlds full of magic and at its core a battle of good over evil and change. I also think lovers of Dan Brown’s books will also enjoy this one for its real history that is woven into the story and their shared complexity.

All stories become a part of us. Great stories teach us, change us and help shape our personalities, are examples of how we could be in the face of adversity. I’m glad I read this one. I hope that a piece of it stays with me always and I can call upon it when I need to do what is not easy, but what is right. It is a beautiful story and I am better for having read it.