Play Book Tag discussion

The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness- 5 stars

This book was fantastic and a great end to an amazing series that combines witches, vampires, demons, science, history and manuscript studies. My inner nerd was jumping up and down when I first picked up A Discovery of Witches (book 1) and continues to celebrate with the thrilling conclusion (featuring one of my favorite libraries, the Bodleian at Oxford!). Harkness' prose is rich and it is easy to fall right into her world- the real world with a few, er, enhancements. :-) Each character, even the minor ones, are fully three-dimensional and I developed an emotional connection to most of them by the book's end. The bad guy was the only one that was a little flat, but I suppose it was because he needed to be pure evil to stand out in a world that lives in the gray area between 'good' and 'bad' given the inclusion of otherworldly creatures typically associated with the latter description. Nevertheless I very much enjoyed this conclusion to her trilogy and am looking forward to reading the new spinoff she has just released (Time's Convert!).

I read the strategy. I actually liked it. My one complaint was the meandering length, and the lack of harnessed power and whining and victimization from our heroine. But I kept reading and was really pleased by the way at all got tied together. I did feel however that all three books could have been combined into 2/3 of one. That story could have been completely told in one much shorter book. I don’t remember how I rated it. But I finished it out. Then again I tend finish out series. I finished Divergent too, and that held my interest less than “Night.”

Wow that's dedication. I stopped the series right after I read Divergent (book 1). I understand what you mean about the meandering but I like that kind of thing because I get to fall deeper into the world being created. I found it like Outlander in that way and I loved that book too. As for the whining, that just seemed real. I would be whining too a bit if my world just turned upside down! But I feel she does less of it as the story progresses.

That is true. I liked her more too when she owned her power. Outlander I also enjoyed but sex, mortally wounded or ill, at the most improbable times..... it was just too much. However if those were shorter.... I’d be reading the whole thing.

I’m really glad it was a successful end to the story. I still haven’t read this one. Adored the first in the series. Seriously let down by the second one - the whining and lack of consistency of characters drove me freaking *nuts* - and as a result I haven’t quite managed to bring myself to finish the series off (though I do want to know the end of the story). Note for the New Year ... Finish it.

I haven’t seen any of the TV series yet either - must check if it is available on demand.

Wonderful review! I have not read this. Amy, I also finished out Divergent. I struggle not to finish a series.:( I have not read Outlander but I know so many love it.