The All Souls Trilogy Review
Updated: Mar 6
by Deborah Harkness
The All Souls Trilogy Overview
The All Souls Trilogy is a series of three novels written by Deborah Harkness that combines elements of fantasy, romance, and history. The series follows the journey of a witch, a vampire, and a scholar as they navigate a world filled with magic, secrets, and the complexities of their relationships.
Books in the Trilogy
A Discovery of Witches (2011) - The first book introduces Diana Bishop, a historian and witch who discovers a bewitched manuscript in the Bodleian Library, which draws her into the world of magical creatures.
Shadow of Night (2012) - The second installment follows Diana and her vampire husband, Matthew Clairmont, as they travel back in time to Elizabethan England to uncover more about the manuscript and their own pasts.
The Book of Life (2014) - The final book concludes the trilogy, bringing together various threads and conflicts as Diana and Matthew fight to protect their family and the future of magical beings.
Themes
Love and Relationships: The central romance between Diana and Matthew explores the challenges and dynamics of love across different species.
Identity and Heritage: The characters grapple with their identities as witches, vampires, and humans, and how their heritages shape their lives.
History and Knowledge: The series emphasizes the importance of history and knowledge, particularly through Diana's role as a scholar.
Magic and Power: The exploration of magical abilities and the responsibilities that come with them is a recurring theme throughout the trilogy.
My Review
The most impressive aspect of this series is how the author incorporates historical events, groundbreaking scientific publications, and renowned classic literature into the story, often by giving them a supernatural twist. The author draws on her research and age-old tales to create her depictions of witches, vampires, and daemons. The narrative is filled with secrets involving the two main characters, a mysterious manuscript, and various supporting characters. This series is one to savor slowly. I hope you find it as enjoyable as I did.
In 2022, when I traveled to Salem, MA with my sister, we had the opportunity to visit the Salem Witch Trials Memorial. The SWTM commemorates 20 people who were executed in 1692 after being accused of witchcraft. Among them was Bridget Bishop, who is an ancestor of Diana, the main character in this series.
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