Deborah Harkness | Fiction
This is the second book in a trilogy by Harkness. The first one is called A Discovery of Witches. (See my blog posting on 01/23/2018). I liked this second book a lot; was never bored, and it entertained me through all 592 pages. It was the perfect read while recovering from unexpected surgery.
This second book is also a fantasy, featuring witches, vampires, daemons, and humans. It is set in 1590, as Matthew (a vampire) and Diana (a witch) have time-traveled back in time to find a witch to help Diana learn her skills as a witch, and to search for the all-important book, Ashmole 782.
I rated it three hearts instead of four because it is all about relationships – and there isn’t much action. The relationships are fascinating, interesting, and teach us a lot about Elizabethan London. However, I think it may a bit slow for Outlander fans, with its pattern of relationship – crisis – relationship – crisis.
Matthew and Diana grow together and it is fun to meet their extended families. (Well, mostly Matthew’s, since we are in the 16th century!) I think if you like book 1, you will like book 2. I intend to read Book 3, The Book of Life, when it is warm and sunny on my back deck this summer.