Should I Bother with the Next One?

[Michelle]

All three were excellent books!

[Lynne]

You are right Michelle.

[Michelle]

Hi Lynne,
Sorry, I didn't even see the second page of comments! I was replying to Bethany and Mary, to encourage them to go ahead with the series. I read somewhere that Deborah does plan to revisit some of the characters - just can't remember where I read that!

[Toni]

In a word, NO.

[Holihs]

Don't waste your time! It dragged on that I stopped half way through and just stared into space! It was sooo bad that I literally was in a reading stump for a week! And that's horrible for me!!

[Beth]

All three of the books in this series are terrific. I could not get through the Twilight books, but loved this series. I read all three than listened to them on CD on my way to work!

[Kelly]

I threw the second book out the window after reading it--if that gives you any indication to my opinion on the matter. Then I kicked myself in the foot for reading the 3rd. Seriously, what is wrong with me?

[Kurt]

Wow, Interesting. I'm surprised how polarizing this series is. I actually really enjoyed it. I read a lot of paranormal ... and I've found a lot I really liked, but I've been questioning my expectations. Am I too forgiving, too easily entertained. Can I ask, especially Kelly, Shiloh and Madeleine ... what didn't you like and what do you look for. I'd love to know what series you compare "All Souls" to. I really liked the first two books, and had high expectations for the third. I also thought the number of threads exposed were so extensive, there was no way Harkness could close the series in a single book. My first reading of "Book of Life" left me wanting. It was a good book, entertaining, but I never expected a book shorter then the first two. I thought there were so many potential plot lines and dynamics, the story could have gone so many really cool different directions. It almost felt like DH got bored and just wanted to close out the series. Not unexpected, since the BoL took forever to come to print. I like BoL, one of my favorites, but not as good as the first two. I will say that DH's writing is unique, bouncing from first-person to third. She handles it well, but I've definitely noticed there are very distinct preferences among readers. As a writer, I'd love to get more detail as to what the readers liked about the series and didn't. I personally really liked it. Since finding AS, almost three years ago, I think I've read 1 and 2, six times and 3 at least three.

[Kelly]

Hi Kurt,
Thanks for sharing your feedback. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the series. My experience with the first book was that I thought it was dynamic. I couldn't put it down for one second. I think this might be attributed to the tension between Diana and Matthew b/c it was the beginning of their romance-which is always fun. Plus, I didn't really know what I was in store for. However, the second just went in a completely different direction. It was so out of place and lacked any appropriate action. I found it so very dull to be honest--and I do love books on time travel but I literally had to force myself to read a few pages each night just to finish. I may have spoken too harshly about the finale. It wasn't as bad but just didn't have the same punch as the first. I guess I thought when finishing it that I had come upon a great series but then found the second book so tedious, it just ruined the entire series for me. Moreover, the series builds up on Diana developing her powers as a witch. When I found out those powers were not exactly impressive I became even more frustrated. Thus, there goes one book out the window and shooting myself in the foot.

[Kurt]

Kelly, thanks for the reply. Yeah, as far as the magic/powers buildup ... I agree. It was kinda anti-climatic. I also found the final showdown, after all the plot buildup (of all three books) to be very abbreviated and too convenient. It was all posturing and bang your dead. No real back and forth. The antagonists proved to be so inferior to the protagonists, they weren't really worthy. As I said, kind of seemed like a case of boredom.

[Julie]

I have read the Shadow of the night and found it to be more detailed and alluring than the first. The story has a perfect flow that intensifies with the mystery and enchantment of the characters.

[Tracy]

I personally found this whole series to be a much higher quality of literature than a lot of what you find out there today. It took me a bit to get into book one but then I loved it. I could've done without the firdt 100 pages of book two but I do understand why the author did what she did. The rest of book two was great and I loved the time travel aspect. Book three was great and a bit more intense. I thought the ending was nice and I would love the author to write a book about Gallowglass!!

[Julie]

Tracy wrote: "I personally found this whole series to be a much higher quality of literature than a lot of what you find out there today. It took me a bit to get into book one but then I loved it. I could've don..."
I agree with you Tracy, a book about Gallowglass would be great. Such a handsome and interesting character in the story.

[Kaida46 (deb)]

I couldn't even get through the first one, I was gagging more and more from all the so called perfect lives of the characters, so totally unbelievable and not even really that likeable. It had an interesting premise but did not do the premise justice.

[Alireza]

I'm thinking along the same lines. Perhaps when I'm in a better mood. Didn't like the first book much; twilight all over again and too cheesy for my taste...

[Elaine]

There's a lot to love in this trilogy by Deborah Harkness. The author is one of the warmest, outgoing persons you could meet. I liked her reachability with social media, and also that she was an academic who wrote fiction intertwining what she teaches at University with a love story. Yes, at times, the story is pretty corny, and you think you are reading the Twilight series for adults. I liked the first and second books immensely, unfortunately, I was not happy with the third book. I felt that a lot of the most interesting characters did not have their storylines expanded.

[PinkPepper]

I personally love the series. The second book was my fav though

[Victoria]

The first book was okay. Bought the second and can't force myself to read it. There are too many really good books out there to read.

[Kelly]

I would not consider myself a die-hard fan of the first book, as I also found it to be a bit divergent in the second half. However, I enjoyed it enough to delve into the second book.

I am currently a little over a third of the way into the book and, at least right now, see it as a transition piece. My cousin told me that the third book is much better.

[JoAnn]

I have tried numerous times to get through the second book. No luck.

[Victoria]

Got to be a true die hard reader to keep trying to read the same book. I do it too. lol I think I liked the concept of her books but maybe not her style so much. A friend said she writes too much like an academician rather than a story teller. Don't know about that. Probably just a matter of personal taste.

[Lynne]

I loved her series. I wish she would write more abut these characters. Evidently many others love her books as they were on the New York Times book list as well as being translated into many other languages.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions.

[Toni]

Andrew Michael wrote: "It seems to me that there are two camps as regards this book. There are the people who just love it through and through and are die hard fans. That's not me.

Then there are people (like me) who w..."

[Øystein]

So, i read the entire series after BoL was voted best fantasy book of 2014 here on goodreads. Out of the three, i liked the second book best as i found the setting interesting. As a few people here have said already, i felt the third book was completed in a really lazy manner. There are so many interesting turns this could have taken!

[Kris Leeworthy]

I liked the first book but didn't like the time traveling in the 2nd book. In fairness to the book, I'm not a fan of time travel in general. I enjoyed book 3.

[Lynne]

The second book as it merits and a ton of interesting things happen in it which sets the stage for the final book. For example, Diana gets a marriage ceremony, she becomes Phillip's daughter, Matthew becomes his old self somewhat, meets Ysabeau, They time walk, Dian meets the Shadow of Night group, Diana studies to become a witch, Diana meets other time walkers, her family is created with Jack and Annie, She lives in London, Diana and Matthew become involved in court duties in England and Prague. Diana meets her familial Corra. Diana learns to weave, Diana meets her dad. So much I do not understand how the 2nd book can be boring or dull. You must know where to look and understand what you read for it to make sense. I feel sorry for those who did not understand or just did not like it. It is ok not to like something- we all cannot like the same thing- what a boring world it would be.

[Melissa Hoyle]

Having read all three books, I have to say, as a whole, the series was disappointing. Book 1 was decent, fell in love with the Bishop house, Diana and Matthew's relationship was strange and almost laughable. I liked the history and magic in it, but the two main characters were so annoying! The supporting characters were more enjoyable and had better personalities. I enjoyed the second book when they traveled back to Elizabethan times. I hated Marlowe. Ysabeau and Gallowglass have such interesting backstories, or do they? I need a book devoted to those two. Book 3 was a letdown. It was so cliché and I had to force myself to finish it. It still had the magical and historical elements from previous books, but the actual story was just boring. While I applaud Harkness for her thorough research into the numerous subjects her series delved into, as a whole it was a huge disappointment.

[Liz]

I got half-way through and had to stop. Too much repetition and and rehashing when no solution in sight. I suppose I will try to read the rest of the 2nd book because I hate to leave a series open but I'll need to be in the mood to soldier through and not get bored. It's a shame too because I really enjoyed the first book. It's ok though, if the author ever comes with a new series I'll definitely be open to reading it.

[M.A.]

I would vote skip, after reading only book 1 myself. That vote is based on (i) this book felt more of a romance genre than what I was interested in and (ii) when I calculate my remaining life expectancy x number of books a year, I am getting pickier about what I spend my time on.
I felt like this book might be the unfortunately result of a person with established writing credentials not getting the level of attention from an editor that would have helped shape the story better. Just not my thing.