The Book of Life, by Deborah Harkness

The final instalment of the A Discovery of Witches trilogy goes off on a bit of tangent when Diana and Matthew return to their own time to await the birth of their twins. Extended family dramas rather take over from the pressing task of finding the missing manuscript that may be the book of life, providing the secrets of the origins of vampire, witches and daemons and the key to their future. There is less scholarly exposition and more unlikely plot twists as Matthew deliberately puts himself in danger for reasons hard to fathom. Meanwhile Diana comes fully into her powers and realises that giving up something she cherishes could bring her more than she imagined. Harkness champions the benefits to society as a whole of diversity over supposed racial purity with her blended, extended families. The book of life’s revelations come as little surprise as they have been building throughout the series, but there are a few very convenient developments that confirm and enhance the liaison of Diana and Matthew.