A review by reka111
The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I see you, even when you hide from the rest of the world. I hear you, even when you're silent

The review contains spoilers!!!


PRELIMINARY


OK, maybe too much time passed between writing my review and reading the book, but not everything can be perfect. I don't remember most of the book, or at least not quite, so I'm sure there will be parts I'll skip or jump over because of this. I really should quit this already, right? 

Basically, I liked it more than the second book, somehow I always found it difficult – no matter how much I love it – to read historical fiction if it wasn't about a real person. Yes, come for me because of it. I think this book series has a worthy, albeit somewhat quick, end. I wouldn't call it memorable because it wasn't, but it was readable and perfect for one occasion.

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DIANA 


Diana has come an extremely long and difficult journey to this point, full of suffering and happiness, but I believe this was the first time she was able to really live, not survive, not exist, but live. 

It's incredible that at the beginning of the series she abhorred her legacy so much and how insecure she was, but now she used and accepted it almost every day, not fighting it. It's been a massive growth that has taken place in her, and I think that's beautiful. 

I was so happy that we got back the caring, compassionate, and devoted person we met in the first book, especially when she went back to her job, which was practically her life, so maybe that played a part. 

She was honestly an incredibly strong character and something you could have fun with and learn from her at the same time. She deserved peace, a loving family, Rebeca and Philip, more than anything else.

MATTHEW


Matthew has an incredibly long history that has accompanied him throughout his life. He had bad choices, mistakes, and bad deeds, but despite everything, he never forgot what he had learned. 

I understand him, but I don't. A brilliant scientist, a great protector, but also darkness itself—at least to his enemies, certainly. He had to fight an incredible number of battles throughout the story, as well as with others and himself, but eventually he managed to tip over to the side of the light. 

I'm not saying I love him because his overprotective self is too much for me, but I can see him beneath so many shields, and no matter how much he denies them, his heart beats beneath them, full of good. 

He's a soldier, but no one can ever fight forever, including him. He almost needed Phillip and Rebeca as much as Diana, if not more. Not only that, but he deserves peace and tranquillity, he does, more than anything.

THE OTHERS


Oh, my dear Ysabeau, I've missed you so much. It's unbelievable that she was left out of the second book, even though I would have been most curious to see how would she reacted to Diana. Basically, not much has changed about her, the same stalwart and persistent has become perhaps a slightly more human vampire. I owe her my soul for doing everything she could to get her family back on track.

Philippe, okay, he didn't get a real role in this book, but that letter. That letter broke me in so many ways I can't tell. 

Gallowglass, he is the number one fan of the twins, for sure, and also the best “uncle” in the world. He is my heart and soul, he gives me pure golden retriever energy. I hope so much that he gets the ending you deserve, with a lovely partner by his side and surrounded by a big family because he deserves it.

Jack & Annie, my poor Annie, my poor little baby, she deserved a thousand times better. But Jack, he's still here, and ahh, I don't know how to feel about him. He was raised by a monster who ultimately has a heart, but somehow he was stuck in between. He lives lively and cheerful, but he has an incredible compulsion to conform and longs for Matthew & Diana's love. It hurts tremendously to know that he got his great-grandfather's illness (aka Matthew – don't want me to explain the family situation, it's complicated) and that he can't live life to the fullest, even if he wanted to. He deserves the whole world and all hope for a better future. Although he lived and did infinitely much—good and bad things — he will be forever my “innocent” little boy who wanted to rob Diana once. 

Baldwin, all I can say about him is that I always knew he had a heart, even if his body was woven from the darkness itself. He went to war for Diana, even if it meant the world would collapse, but he did. It's not the best match—the two of them—but I'm sure deep down they respect each other, maybe they understand each other, but well, they won't get any closer than that haha. 

Benjamin, I hated him so much that sometimes I couldn't even breathe. It's horrible what he did to those witches, horrible what he did to his family (if I can call it that). I'm so happy he's dead.

Sarah, my poor Sarah was so lost for a while without Emily, she fell into a dark place from which she could not come out on her own, which I understood, and I was unable to have either. Fernando gets my heart for taking care of her and doing everything he could to get her back to the light.

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THE PLOT/THE PACE/ETC.


OK, the plot was understandable to me, but it was also a bit confusing, especially when it came to the Book of Life and the various DNA stuff. Basically, I think it was fine, but there were some weird things about it.

The pace was extremely slow, sometimes too much, could have been a little faster in my opinion. 

The ending was nicely closed, albeit in a bit of a hurry, somehow I expected there to be a big BUM, but it didn't turn out, which I regret, and I'm a bit disappointed about that.

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THE END


It's been an incredible journey, but really, from the very beginning to the end. I never thought a book could open so many worlds to me, it really did. It's terribly sad to say goodbye to them now, it feels so bad even though it's absolutely necessary.

Part of my heart will always stay with them, and one day I will come back here. 
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