I'm well and truly hooked on this series. I have some other library books to get through before I pick up the third and final instalment. I'm looking forward to it but not... don't want it to end! ( )

I never think there's much to say with second or third books because I never want to give anything away.

Book one ends with Diana and Matthew leaving modern day behind and traveling to 1590 with the goal of finding witches to help Diana learn her powers, but the plan doesn't go smoothly. Matthew and Diana get caught up in living. They spend a lot of time talking to people and meeting up with famous people in history: Walter Raleigh, Queen Elizabeth, Doctor Dee, Marlowe, and William Shakespeare is mentioned. Those are merely a few of the people. I kept wanting them to focus on their goals, but they were living their lives. Matthew has to take on the job he had at this time in history, as the Matthew of this time period disappears because they can't both be in the same place. This problem is never really explained. Where does he go? Does he know? Matthew leads a complicated life as a spy and a member of the Conference (the group that makes decisions for the demons, vampires, and witches--can't recall the actual name). Eventually, Diana actually meets some witches that can train her, but these are very short scenes. How Diana will be this amazing witch with so little training is beyond me. Matthew and Diana get married, they meet family that vows to protect Diana, they meet the vampire who rules London, they get closer to each other emotionally, they take care of two stray children, and they journey about a lot. You see a lot of this time period as they look for Ashmole 782.

Overall, it was fine. They're moving about with lots of characters you wonder how it will all flesh out in the end. There are some chapters in the modern period that only show that Matthew and Diana are changing the past. It ends with their return. ( )

This whole series is really not my true cup of tea but I met the author at an event and I really liked her so I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

There are elements that I don't love about the books but I really DO want to find out what happens with the underlying plot of the manuscript and the future of the creatures. ( )

Loved this as much as A Discovery of Witches. History, magic, love and adventure. ( )

The Book is Better!

The second book in the All-Souls Trilogy picks up where the other left off with our heroes traveling back in time. Most of the story takes place around 1590 but the future (or present) is never too far away. What I liked most about this story; it never lets you forget that everything happening in the past was connected to the current or present struggle. I also loved that the magic and the study were present in this one as well since that was my favorite aspect of the first book.


So, we have Diana and Matthew taking on vampire clan relatives, the School of Night and other London societies, witch covens, and even creation. A lot is happening in the story, but not a lot happening for long periods of time. This story seems to focus on the universal theme of relationship drama, which usually boils down to communication issues. Diana with all her magic and Matthew with all his might, the two of them get caught up in a lot of drama that could have been avoided. But that is the story being told and if you love these characters, it all sucks you in.

In this book, I found that many of the side and supporting characters were my favorite parts. I loved the collaboration of like minds despite their faiths. Seeing the cooperation between Pagan, Christian, Jewish, and more was refreshing.

Where the first book teased you with sensuality without leaving you wanting, the second book takes you into the bedroom of a deeply committed couple and holds nothing back. While not suitable for teens and below, this isn’t an explicit romp of ‘how much can the author get away with?’

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, but there was still something, not quite tangible, that kept me from loving it. In any case, I must finish this series at some point. Now that I have finished the second book, I can watch season two of the show and see how I feel about it. For now, in my opinion, the books are better than the show.
( )