The Book of Life

In this section, the conflicts begin to move from internal to external. Benjamin’s vague threats become very concrete as the Bishop-de Clermont clan realizes Benjamin’s true purpose. In Chris’s words, “Matthew’s Bad Seed is engaged in some down-home genetics research involving a hereditary condition, a kidnapped witch, and some half-baked ideas about eugenics” (1301). Coincidentally, Matthew’s team is researching similar things with decidedly more morally acceptable methods; further, Matthew’s team seeks to learn for the sake of his growing family while Benjamin seems to want to create a powerful hybrid to control.

Moreover, Matthew and Chris’s research methods stand in stark contrast to Benjamin’s. Benjamin’s research methods are based solely on trial and error, with many sacrifices. Chris and Matthew work in a lab with intense security and consent protocols. Despite the research’s seriousness, Chris and Matthew find time to interact playfully with their students and colleagues. Benjamin’s research is a brutal one-person show, while Chris and Matthew exemplify teamwork and collaboration. They make a point of consulting with various people, getting as many viewpoints as possible. For example, one of the graduate students, Janette or “Gameboy,” is working toward a PhD in computational bioinformatics. Chris keeps her on the team because he “likes the way her brain works [… she] sees patterns in the lab results the rest of us miss” (1342). Matthew patiently shows this student how to take a sample and gently encourages her work. While the Congregation actively seeks to separate daemons, humans, vampires, and witches, Chris and Matthew’s research team demonstrates how well these groups can work together.

One of the reasons this team works so well together is due to the lack of secrets, thus highlighting The Impact of Secrets. This theme reappears throughout this section as the creatures realize that humans are far more accepting than they initially thought. Though the Madison Covenant demonstrated some intolerance, most of the people Diana shares her identity with already suspected there was something different about her and are relieved to learn the full truth. If Matthew and Diana continued to keep their secrets, they would have lost the opportunity to work with Chris’s team and uncover more secrets hidden in creature DNA.

Furthering this theme, Diana reveals some of her deepest secrets to Matthew. First, she admits to herself and Matthew that she craves more power, though it scares her. Matthew always suspected that she craves more power, so the withholding of this secret only caused Diana pain. Indeed, Matthew is entirely nonplussed by her admission, demonstrating the importance of sharing secrets with one’s closest circle. No one is shocked or appalled by her desire for power; given her already immense magical abilities, it is unsurprising that she would want to learn more about power in general.

Diana also admits that she offered her life to the goddess in exchange for Matthew’s life. Matthew is understandably distressed by this admission and demands Diana call the goddess and cancel the deal, which is impossible. This confession causes one of the biggest arguments between Diana and Matthew thus far, but it also allows both characters to explain their deep feelings for each other, as they would both sacrifice themselves for each other. The two reach an understanding and become a comfort to each other, again highlighting the relief that often follows the unveiling of a secret to a loved on.

Family as Comfort and Grief also weighs heavily in this section. Diana and Matthew comfort each other, but their worry for the other is also a constant source of grief. Indeed, even their unborn children try to comfort them, distracting Diana and Matthew from their argument by stirring for the first time. While Benjamin is a constant source of grief, Fernando is almost always a comfort. In addition to the clear instances when he comforts the family and tries to calm tensions, Fernando maintains the household, freeing everyone else from most chores. He institutes a health regimen for Sarah, demanding that she eat healthily, exercise, and quit smoking. Though his methods are sometimes harsh, Fernando’s care for the family is evident in his actions. Fernando’s support serves as an excellent comfort for the Bishop-de Clermont clan.

This familial comfort gives Diana and Matthew the confidence to work more directly with the world around them. Diana and Matthew maintain a very insular existence for most of the All Souls Trilogy, and the few people they trust with their secrets are carefully vetted. In The Book of Life, the couple finally begins to trust their instincts and allow others into their secrets. The conflict finally shifts from Diana and Matthew against the world to a much larger anti-covenant group against the Congregation and Benjamin. Creating allyships helps Diana and Matthew in their fight and shows their character growth. Notably, this character growth allows them to shift their focus from internal conflicts to the escalating external conflicts they face.