Reviews

The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness

cathyg12's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

sweetreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-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? Yes

4.0

bethaniekay's review against another edition

4.0

This book is so hard to rate, because there are many things I liked about it, and many things I didn't.

Things I liked: Diana finally getting a backbone and not being pathetic, Matthew still being a sexy vampire (although we probably needed more actual sex in this novel), Gallowglass, Lobero, Corra, Jack, Phillipe, everyone's fierce love and loyalty, and the fact that this trilogy has come to a conclusion.

Things I didn't like: The completely unnecessary length of this book, the unnecessary number of characters, the unnecessary number of locations the characters are continually traveling to and spending short amounts of time in, the unnecessary changes in POV, the completely convoluted and unnecessarily complicated plot, and the really confusing continuity issues resulting from the timewalking (Philippe told who, what, when?).

Overall, the writing wasn't that great - it was, as stated above, just unnecessarily complicated. The entire trilogy really did just need a better editor. But, in the end, I still enjoyed the trilogy, and I'm mostly satisfied with how things were (for the most part) wrapped up at the end. I'm still not quite sure I understand all the mystery around the Book of Life -- I mean, that's how this whole thing started, and it feels like after it was dragged out across three books and numerous centuries, we really didn't have that monumental of a discovery about what it all meant. Who wrote it? What was the purpose? Does it just live within Diana forevermore now? I guess we'll never know.

shadyhabanero's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

3.25

tee207's review against another edition

1.0

The most anti-climatic, long winded, eye rolling book I have ever read. The only reason I even finished it was becuase I had already read the first two books (which were okay at best) and I didn't want it to feel like it was for nothing. Well it was.

Ps: Diana is annoying.

sketchydoodle's review against another edition

3.0

I can never quite decide how I feel about these books. I mean, I didn't DISlike them as I read all 3. But at the same time I felt like a lot of the books could have been tightened up and edited to remove extra prose. But maybe the extra information is what makes them THEM?
I never really was invested in Diana and Matthew, but I did like a lot of the secondary characters (especially Phillipe, Isabeau and Gallowglass)

Spoiler

WHY Gallowglass had to fall for Diana though argh dislike

Maybe it's just because the book was not the kind I usually enjoy where the main character gets powers and uses them from earlier on.

Spoiler

Diana only ever really uses hers to defend Matthew. And her powers are not really explored fully. Couldn't she find a way to rip Benjamin's insides up when she was stuck in the library? Why summon a BOW? Rip his muscles up! Then he can't hurt your friend. I know the bow was the symbol of the Goddess needing her to clean up the mess but... yes.

Maybe it is all just because Brandon Sanderson has ruined all fantasy for me by making the Stormlight Archive series TOO GOOD. We'll never know.

racqthebelle's review against another edition

2.0

The final book in the trilogy just felt so rushed. There were random characters popping up that didn't really add anything to the plot, like Diana's best friend Chris and his entire lab group. Overall, I enjoyed the trilogy, but little things always bothered me and kept me from truly loving it. First, Diana reads like a Mary Sue in a bad fanfiction. I like her personality, but there's just SO MUCH going on with her. She has every hair color on her head! Her eyes are like stars! She has every witch marker in her DNA! Everyone is madly in love with and/or overly protective of her!! She lights up! SHE IS THE BOOK OF LIFE! And Corra. Other than finding Ashmole 782 at the end, what was the point of her? To just hang out in and around Diana and shoot sparks every once in a while? Speaking of things hanging out inside of Diana, how many things can her body contain at once?? Arrows, firedrakes, babies, books, witches knots, the list goes on.

Overall, I would say that this is an okay book. Not terrible, but not the best thing I've ever read. It's perfect for summer reading or if you want something that's light and entertaining.

dragonflymorning's review against another edition

3.0

I'm not sure what threw this books rhythm out of sync, but it just felt... off to me. Book two moved well, but book three started grinding again. It was a good wrap up of the series, but just not a great book.

martideno's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

nora_the_worm's review against another edition

adventurous dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75