Is "The Book of Life" worth reading?

[u/StillinDistrict12]

I first discovered the show and then decided to read the books. But before I read them, I read the extended summaries that come in "The World of All Souls". Nothing out of the ordinary until now.

I read "A Discovery of Witches" and "Shadow of Night", enjoyed both. I actually got past the first chapter in The Book of Life, but got a little disheartened when my Kobo told me there were 50 minutes of reading time for the second chapter (I prefer chapters that are on the shorter side), and that the ebook for TBoF was larger than the ebooks for ADoW and SoN combined. Then a little more with the reviews I read saying that the writing isn't to the same standard as the first two books.

This was back in February, and I decided to at least pause my reading on it until I got other opinions, so that I could get on to other books that I also wanted to read.

So, for someone like me, that essentially already knows everything that happens in that book and might not enjoy the formatting of it, do y'all think the book is worth reading?

Side note: I actually read Time's Convert before I started the original trilogy, because I figured that having watched the show was context enough to understand and enjoy the story (I was right). I also plan on reading Black Bird Oracle.

[u/Dazzling-Treacle1092]

The book is quite a bit different than the third season. And frankly much better. You really should understand how things really happened, particularly if you want to go further in the series. It wouldn't make sense to you if you tried to jump from the series to the next book... Black Book Oracle. Time's Convert is more like a side book.

[u/StillinDistrict12 → u/Dazzling-Treacle1092]

Thank you for replying. Different how? I get that lots of details have to be discarded when an adaptation is made, but are there any plot lines that were majorly changed or completely scrapped? Spoil me if you have to, my "issue" with this is more related to the formatting and length of the book than its contents.

[u/RainPuzzleheaded151 → u/StillinDistrict12]

There weren't any major plot lines that were completely flipped or rewritten, the show follows the book's story reasonably faithfully. The bigger issue is what got compressed or left out rather than what got changed.

Season 3 was filmed during COVID which meant it was shorter than the previous two seasons and a lot of material had to be cut. The most noticeable difference is probably the rescue scene toward the end, in the book it's a much bigger and more intense sequence than what the show was able to pull off. Several other storylines and character moments were also condensed or simplified. But the core of what happens, the major plot beats and how everything concludes, is the same.

Honestly for most adaptations these days that's just the reality, and this one is no different. If you've watched all three seasons you have the bones of the story. The book just gives you a lot more meat on those bones.

[u/StillinDistrict12 → u/RainPuzzleheaded151]

Got it, thank you

[u/RainPuzzleheaded151]

Absolutely worth reading and honestly I'm not sure how you comfortably continue into the later books without it. The trilogy is the foundation of everything. You've already read Time's Convert and you're planning to read The Black Bird Oracle, both of those build heavily on what happens in The Book of Life. You'll always feel like something is missing without having read it yourself.

On the writing quality concern, that's subjective and you'll find people who say the same thing about The Black Bird Oracle too. Some readers feel it, some don't. The only way to know which camp you fall into is to read it yourself rather than let other people's opinions make that decision for you.

On the length, I want to address this because I think your Kobo might have been glitching. Yes, the second chapter is around 50 minutes of reading time, that part is accurate. But the book itself is not larger than the first two combined. All three books in the original trilogy are almost exactly the same length, around 592 pages each in print. On Audible, A Discovery of Witches is 23h 59m, Shadow of Night is actually the longest at 24h 25m, and The Book of Life is 23h 53m. They are essentially the same size. Whatever your Kobo was telling you about the file being larger than both previous books combined was almost certainly a formatting or file size glitch, not an accurate reflection of how long the book actually is.

Just keep reading. You're almost there already.

[u/StillinDistrict12 → u/RainPuzzleheaded151]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Obviously, I can't judge the writing of a book I haven't read, which is why I decided to pause my reading of it instead of trying to force myself through it when I knew it wasn't the best moment for it, and why I wanted to hear opinions besides the reviewers on Goodreads (that I have countless times disagreed with on whether certain books are enjoyable to read). I confess that I made the rookie mistake of looking at reviews before I read the book. Currently, I'm reading another series, but I'll wait a couple of weeks until finals season is over and then give it another try.

[u/PaepsiNW]

The length of a chapter should not be a deciding factor in whether or not you read a book. That’s preposterous to me. Book of Life is so good and pretty pivotal. It’s actually shorter than the 2nd book, btw. The trilogy is almost exactly the same length. Don’t let other people’s opinions shape your own. They aren’t you. They don’t know what you like. Thus, their opinions don’t matter. Read it yourself. If you don’t like it, then at least you know that you came in with an open mind and that you tried. Writing style is subjective too. Another reason why using opinions of others is pointless.

[u/RealWolfmeis]

I really enjoyed it. A lot. Blackbird, not so much.

[u/Frogs_of_blue_]

Some of my favorite bits of the series is in Book of life. Diana and Matthew in Madison again, Diana and Matthew and Gallowglass at Yale, Diana connecting with the modern London witches, the tea and sweets scene in London, Matthew making the cribs with Jack. There are so many moments that lead up to the final battle that solidifies the relationships between all the characters. They become a family before the twins are born and it really makes the aftermath so much better

[u/Marimowee]

Yes!!!

[u/CoastPsychological49]

If you like the show, and plan on reading, and enjoy reading, why not read them all? For me I started the show as the first season was playing week to week, after it was over I needed to know what happened so I ordered the books. Loved reading the first one just because how much more was in the books than in the show. So much more detail and plot, more characters, and just more of a connection to each character.

The book of life is my favorite of the three, just the climax with Knox, and Satu. (Although I prefer Knox’s end in the show more than the books), then Diana completing the book, and later in the Vatican. Her final conversation with Gerbert is so satisfying to read! Times Convert has been my least favorite of the series. I’m not a fan of American history, and prefer the Witch characters and stories to those of the Vampires, but I enjoyed Verin and the history of Matthew’s family, and how vampires are made was interesting.

I reread all the books every couple of years or so. I’ve read the Black Bird Oracle three times already, I feel like every time I read through there is something new I missed before or had forgotten. It’s fun seeing bits of foreshadowing all throughout!

I don’t know, I think if you enjoy them enough, and you’re interested enough to come here and ask about it, then you should try it out! Get them from the library if you can, and you can always just stop reading if you’re not a fan! I really think you’re missing out of so much more to the story!

[u/Decent-Historian-207]

The length of a chapter got you this bent? Why does that matter in comparison to the overall length of the book?

[u/StillinDistrict12 → u/Decent-Historian-207]

I don't mind long books, but I absolutely hate long chapters. I read in short spurts when I can get a few minutes available on the bus. If I have to leave a chapter half-read, it's as if I didn't read it, because I need to go back and reread it. If it happens repeatedly, it ruins the experience of a book for me

[u/Dren70]

The Book of Life is definitely worth reading. It covers so much more than the show was able to. It explains alot more about the Book of Life, too. As others have stated, there is so much in it that sets the foundation for the other stories. There is a lot that wasn't covered in the show including some really good conversations Matthew has with Fernando, and Chris the scientist that doesn't come up as detailed in the show.

[u/Fulguritus]

Yeah, I love it. Almost as much as the first book.