The Book of Life

“‘What will happen now, Philippe?’ Emily asked […]

‘Endings. Beginnings,’ Philippe said with deliberate vagueness. ‘Change.’

‘Diana has never liked change,’ Emily said.

‘That is because Diana is afraid of what she must become,’ Philippe replied.”

This quote is an ominous foreshadowing of several pivotal events in the narrative. Firstly, it suggests that Diana’s trepidation is the primary obstacle preventing her from unleashing the full extent of her powers—a fear she must ultimately overcome to acquire Ashmole 782. Secondly, it alludes to the profound transformations the characters are poised to undergo throughout the story, accompanied by the arduous challenges these metamorphoses will inevitably entail.

“Long experience had taught him that whatever the mess, Gallowglass had made it with good intentions and a complete disregard for possible disaster.”

Fernando’s quote perfectly captures Gallowglass’s character. The amiable warrior is both a troublemaker and a savior throughout the story, a quality subtly foreshadowed here. This duality also reflects the recurring family theme, as Gallowglass alternately provides comfort and frustration to the clan.

“Secrets, like the dead, do not always stay buried […] Tell them. Soon.”

Fernando warns Matthew to disclose the truth about the blood rage to Marcus and Hamish. His ominous words foreshadow the pivotal role secrets will play in the story and allude to the overarching Impact of Secrets theme.

“Secrets are unreliable allies. They allow us to believe we are safe, yet all the while they are destroying us.”

Ysabeau astutely elucidates the theme of The Impact of Secrets during her conversation with Diana regarding vampire secrets. Vampires harbor many undisclosed truths, inadvertently preventing them from forging genuine connections and placing trust in others. Her statement serves as an ominous foreshadowing of subsequent events.

“My husband never did anything unless it was absolutely necessary […] He watched. He waited. Philippe let others take the risks while he gathered their secrets and stored them up for future use. It is why he survived so long.”

Diana initially misinterprets Philippe’s role in the de Clermont family, perceiving him as constantly taking action. However, in reality, Philippe excelled as a strategic planner, a skill that Diana must acquire to achieve her objectives. Ysabeau wisely advises Diana to channel her abilities with less emotional intensity and more strategic precision, thereby foreshadowing Diana’s personal growth throughout the story.

“Think—and stay alive.”

This quote is a motif and Diana’s guiding mantra throughout the story. Diana often reacts emotionally, but these words serve as a constant reminder that her primary objective is survival, and survival necessitates careful planning.

“There was a time when you enjoyed outflanking Baldwin. But since your father died, you have let your brother treat you abominably.”

Fernando gently encourages Matthew to establish a scion to gain independence from Baldwin’s influence. In doing so, he alludes to some of Matthew’s secrets, such as his reasons for enduring Baldwin’s mistreatment, highlighting the overarching themes of family and secrets.

“You were never a monster […] That was a lie you told to keep the rest of us away.”

Matthew firmly believes in the potential for personal change and regards himself as a living example. He uses this conviction to justify his decision not to kill Benjamin sooner. However, as Miriam astutely points out in this quote, Matthew’s blood rage never transforms him into a monster. It was not the disease but Matthew’s fear that drove people away. Diana echoes these sentiments later in the work.

“When Gabriel stands on sea and shore. / And as he blows his wondrous horn, / Old words die and new be born.”

Mother Ursula’s prophecy, cited by Diana in this instance, casts a profound shadow over her throughout the narrative. Diana grapples incessantly with the delicate balance between fate, guided by the goddess, and free will. She regards the prophecy with a blend of skepticism and apprehension as it appears to unfold right before her eyes. Diana harbors deep trepidation regarding her role in this foretelling. Embracing this prophecy represents an essential facet of Diana’s path toward self-acceptance.

“‘I have enough power. I don’t want any more’ […] ‘Liar,’ whispered a familiar voice […] But it was only one creature who watched me now: the goddess.”

The goddess keeps a vigilant eye on Diana, occasionally intervening directly in her life. This constant presence compels Diana into a continuous struggle between the forces of fate and free will. Notably, Diana chooses to keep her interactions with the goddess concealed from Matthew, a foreshadowing element hinting at an impending strain in their relationship and further exemplifying the recurring theme of secrets.

“I’ve known that the darkness was in you since I found you in the Bodleian, hiding from the other witches on Mabon […] I felt its allure and the darkness in me responded to it. Should I loathe myself, then?”

Diana faces an ongoing internal struggle to embrace her vast powers fully. In this moment, Matthew offers solace and encourages Diana to wholeheartedly embrace her capabilities, taking her a step closer to self-acceptance and illustrating the family theme.

“‘Take care, Gallowglass,’ Matthew murmured. It was no casual farewell, but an order.

His nephew nodded. ‘As if your wife was my own.’”

This quote highlights the recurring family theme. As Matthew prepares to depart from Diana, he trusts Gallowglass to look after her during his absence. Gallowglass readily accepts the responsibility, and his words foreshadow the deep affection he will later reveal for Diana.

“Jack’s present suffering was far worse than what Matthew had to endure. With Matthew it was only bitter fury that brought the blood rage to the surface. With Jack a wider range of emotions triggered it.”

The Bishop-Clairmont vampires’ battle with blood rage is a significant plot point. Jack’s blood rage is even more volatile than Matthew’s, foreshadowing later revelations about Jack’s true identity as the vampire serial killer. Jack’s volatility intensifies the significance of Jack’s redemption, as his struggle to gain control over the blood rage is a hard-fought battle.

“Art and music must come from the heart […] Even the darkest places must be brought into the light of day, or else they’ll grow until they swallow a man whole.”

Matthew provides comfort to his great-grandson, Jack, exemplifying theme of Family as Both Comfort and Grief. While Matthew’s words aim to soothe Jack, they are words that Matthew himself should heed as he also grapples with the darker aspects of his nature.

“[T]wo wolves live inside every creature, one evil and the other good. They spend their time trying to destroy each other […]The wolf who wins is the wolf you feed. The evil wolf feeds on anger, guilt, sorrow, lies, and regret. The good wolf needs a diet of love and honesty, spiced up with big spoonfuls of compassion and faith. So if you want the good wolf to win, you’re going to have to starve the other one.”

Chris Roberts attempts to console Jack with a legend from his Cherokee ancestry, offering support and encouragement. The metaphor can apply to every character in the story. Throughout the narrative, these characters wrestle with nourishing the good wolf while starving the bad.

“Magic was nothing more than desire made real, after all.”

This quote marks a turning point in Diana’s perspective on her magic. Initially, though necessary, her power felt burdensome as she grappled to control it. However, as Diana weaves a spell to wish for Matthew’s safe return, her magic becomes less of a burden and more of a comforting aid, signifying the start of her journey toward self-acceptance.

“‘My arrow never misses its target,’ the goddess said. ‘When you have need of it, do not hesitate. And aim true.’”

Diana initially attempts to reject the arrow and deny her fate, but the goddess’s expectations are unmistakable—Diana is her justice seeker. The goddess also hints at Diana’s upcoming encounter with Benjamin, where she hesitates, ultimately missing her chance to eliminate him despite the goddess’s prior warning.

“If you truly love someone, you will cherish what they despise most in themselves.”

Fernando provides solace to Jack by assuring him that those who care for him love him unconditionally, irrespective of the blood rage. These comforting words, directed at Jack, also apply to Matthew, who grapples with the absence of Diana. Diana and Matthew face challenges embracing the darker aspects of their natures, yet their families are always ready to provide comfort and unwavering support.

“The secret is that I may be the head of the Bishop-Clairmont family, but you are its heart […] And the three of us are in perfect agreement: the heart is more important.”

Diana and Matthew prepare for their impending separation, giving rise to these poignant words that beautifully exemplify the overarching family theme. Diana’s heart serves as a harmonizing force to Matthew’s role as the family’s leader, contributing significantly to the unity and emotional harmony within the family. In this heartfelt moment, Matthew emphasizes Diana’s profound significance within the family, hinting at the forthcoming moments when her heart will play a pivotal role in Matthew’s healing process.

“I thought it was the fear of others that I needed to guard against, but it was my own terror. Because of that misunderstanding, I’d let the fear take root inside me until it clouded my thoughts and affected how I saw the world.

Fear had also choked out any desire to work magic.”

Diana has an epiphany about fear’s profound impact on her life and her ability to embrace magic. To secure Ashmole 782, she must release her grip on fear and wholeheartedly embrace her magical abilities. This moment of self-discovery brings to light the profound extent to which fear has influenced her and her connections with others, distorting her perception of the world. By conquering her fears, Diana paves the way for her ultimate success in achieving her goals.

“‘From the moment we met, I knew you were the one […]The one who could bear my burdens and not break,’ Philippe’s voice whispered in my ear […] ‘You will not carry them alone. Remember that, daughter.’”

In a bittersweet conversation, Diana engages with the ghost of Philippe. During their exchange, Philippe imparts an additional burden of power to Diana by returning the goddess’s arrow. Nevertheless, his words carry encouragement and serve as a poignant reminder for Diana to be receptive to the assistance of others, effectively exemplifying the recurring theme of Family as Both Comfort and Grief.

“I had come to view myself as a complicated weaving and not just a walking palimpsest. My body was a tapestry of witch, daemon, and vampire. Some of the threads that made me were pure power, as symbolized by Corra’s shadowy form. Some were drawn from the skill that my weaver’s cords represented. The rest were spun from knowledge contained in the Book of Life. Every knotted strand gave me the strength to use the goddess’s arrow for justice rather than the pursuit of vengeance or power.”

Having evaded the acceptance of her powers for most of the trilogy, Diana eventually finds serenity in embracing her newfound abilities and their significance. Achieving this self-assurance in her identity and role as a justice seeker constitutes one of Diana’s numerous challenges in dealing with her powers.

“Our family had begun with the surprising love that developed between Matthew and me. It grew because our bond was strong enough to withstand the hatred and fear of others. And it would endure because we had discovered, like the witches so many centuries ago, that a willingness to change was the secret to survival.”

Diana addresses the themes of family as a source of solace and the recurring motif of “think—and stay alive.” Her profound love for Matthew provides her with a comforting anchor despite the challenges it may entail. While Diana emphasizes the importance of adaptability as a key to survival, this concept harkens back to Philippe’s counsel to “think—and stay alive,” suggesting that perhaps “think, change—and stay alive” is a more fitting adage.