Oxford's Enchanted Discovery

Diana Bishop, a historian and descendant of witches, stumbles upon Ashmole 782, a bewitched manuscript, in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Despite her efforts to avoid magic, the book's allure draws the attention of supernatural creatures—witches, vampires, and daemons—each seeking its secrets. Diana's accidental summoning of the manuscript sets off a chain of events that will upend her carefully constructed, magic-free life and thrust her into a world where history, science, and the supernatural collide.

Creatures in the Shadows

The world is secretly shared by four types of beings: humans, witches, vampires, and daemons. Each has its own history, powers, and prejudices. Witches wield magic, vampires are immortal predators, daemons are creative and unstable, and humans remain largely oblivious. The balance between these groups is maintained by secrecy and a centuries-old agreement, but the discovery of Ashmole 782 threatens to expose old wounds and hidden truths.

The Vampire Scientist's Pursuit

Matthew Clairmont, a 1,500-year-old vampire and renowned geneticist, has searched for Ashmole 782 for generations, believing it holds the key to the origins and fate of all creatures. His scientific investigations into DNA and extinction intersect with Diana's magical heritage, drawing them together. Matthew's quest is both personal and existential, as he fears for the survival of his kind and seeks answers that science alone cannot provide.

Forbidden Love Awakens

As Diana and Matthew's paths intertwine, their mutual attraction grows into a forbidden romance. The laws of the supernatural world, enforced by the Congregation, strictly prohibit relationships between different species. Their love becomes a catalyst for change, challenging the status quo and igniting tensions among witches, vampires, and daemons. Their union is not just a personal risk but a threat to the established order.

The Covenant's Chains

The Congregation, a council of nine (three from each species), upholds the Covenant—a set of rules forbidding interspecies relationships and political involvement in human affairs. The Covenant was created to protect creatures from human persecution but has become a tool of oppression and prejudice. Diana and Matthew's relationship, and the mystery of Ashmole 782, place them in direct conflict with the Congregation's authority.

Flight to Sept-Tours

After threats and attacks from rival witches and vampires, Diana and Matthew flee to Sept-Tours, the de Clermont family's ancestral castle in France. There, Diana faces hostility from Matthew's vampire mother, Ysabeau, and learns more about the complex, hierarchical world of vampires. The castle becomes both sanctuary and crucible, testing their love and forcing Diana to confront her magical potential.

Spellbound and Unbound

Diana's magical abilities, long suppressed by a spell cast by her parents for her protection, begin to surface under duress. Kidnapped and tortured by the witch Satu, Diana discovers the truth of her spellbinding and the vast, unique power she possesses as a weaver—a rare witch who can create new spells. This revelation marks a turning point, as Diana must embrace her identity to survive and protect those she loves.

The Knights of Lazarus

Matthew's role as Grand Master of the Knights of Lazarus, a secret chivalric order founded during the Crusades, is revealed. The order, originally created to protect creatures, wields immense influence and resources. Its history is intertwined with the rise and fall of empires, and its existence is a testament to the enduring power struggles among supernatural beings. Diana's induction into this world deepens her connection to Matthew and the broader conflict.

War of Prejudices

The struggle for Ashmole 782 and the couple's defiance of the Covenant spark open hostilities among witches, vampires, and daemons. Betrayals, kidnappings, and violence escalate as each faction seeks control of the manuscript, believing it holds the secret to their survival or dominance. The personal becomes political, and Diana and Matthew must navigate a web of alliances and enmities that span centuries.

Time's Tapestry Unraveled

To evade the Congregation and find a way to unlock Diana's powers, the couple timewalks to Elizabethan England. Immersed in the world of the School of Night—an elite circle of poets, scientists, and spies—they seek magical tutelage and the missing pages of Ashmole 782. The past is both a refuge and a labyrinth, filled with historical figures, political intrigue, and the ever-present danger of discovery.

School of Night Intrigues

In 1590s London and Prague, Diana and Matthew interact with luminaries like Christopher Marlowe, Mary Sidney, and John Dee. Diana learns from Goody Alsop, a powerful weaver, and discovers her role in the lineage of magical innovation. The search for Ashmole 782 leads them to the courts of power, where alchemy, science, and supernatural politics converge. Their actions in the past have ripple effects, both for history and their own future.

Alchemy and the Book of Life

Ashmole 782 is more than a book—it is a palimpsest of creature DNA, history, and magic, created from the skin, blood, and bones of witches, vampires, and daemons. Its missing pages hold the secret to cross-species origins and the possibility of new life. The alchemical symbolism of the manuscript mirrors Diana and Matthew's union, suggesting that their love may be the key to a new era for all creatures.

Bloodlines and Betrayals

Returning to the present, Diana and Matthew face the consequences of their time in the past. The revelation of Matthew's blood rage—a genetic curse of uncontrollable violence—threatens their family and the fragile alliances they have built. The emergence of Benjamin, Matthew's vengeful vampire son, and the machinations of the Congregation's most ruthless members, force the couple into a final confrontation with the darkest aspects of their legacy.

The Congregation's Judgment

The Congregation, divided and fearful, seeks to maintain control by any means necessary. Diana, now a powerful witch and Philippe de Clermont's blood-sworn daughter, challenges their authority. Through diplomacy, evidence, and the support of allies across all species, she exposes the Covenant's origins in fear and prejudice, and argues for a new understanding based on science, magic, and shared humanity.

The Bright Born Children

Diana and Matthew's twins, Philip and Rebecca, are the first Bright Born—children of a witch and a vampire, embodying the potential for unity and evolution among creatures. Their birth is both a miracle and a threat, forcing the supernatural world to confront its deepest fears about difference and change. The twins' existence becomes the catalyst for the final battle over the future of all species.

Science Meets Magic

The trilogy's climax fuses modern genetics with ancient alchemy, revealing that the distinctions between creatures are not absolute but variations within a single, diverse humanity. Diana's absorption of the Book of Life and Matthew's scientific discoveries prove that witches, vampires, and daemons are not separate species, but branches of the same evolutionary tree. This revelation undermines the rationale for segregation and opens the door to coexistence.

The End of Segregation

With the Covenant repealed and the Congregation reformed, the barriers between creatures begin to dissolve. Diana is appointed as the de Clermont delegate, tasked with ensuring justice and guiding the transition to a more inclusive society. The defeat of Benjamin and the exposure of the true origins of the supernatural world mark the end of an era of fear and division.

A New Age Dawns

The All Souls world enters a new chapter, where science and magic, past and present, and all forms of life are honored. Diana and Matthew's journey—from reluctant witch and haunted vampire to leaders of a new order—serves as a testament to the power of love, knowledge, and the courage to embrace difference. The story closes with hope for a future where all souls, in their diversity, can thrive together.

Characters

Diana Bishop

Diana is a historian and the last of a powerful witch lineage, spellbound as a child to suppress her immense magical abilities. Orphaned and raised by her aunts, she seeks refuge in academia, denying her heritage until Ashmole 782 draws her into the supernatural world. Diana's journey is one of self-acceptance, as she evolves from a fearful, isolated scholar into a formidable weaver—capable of creating new magic—and a unifying force among creatures. Her relationship with Matthew challenges her to reconcile science and magic, love and duty, and ultimately positions her as a leader who bridges ancient divides.

Matthew Clairmont (de Clermont)

Matthew is a 1,500-year-old vampire, scientist, and warrior, burdened by guilt, loss, and the curse of blood rage. As a geneticist, he is obsessed with understanding the origins and fate of creatures, believing Ashmole 782 holds the answers. His love for Diana is transformative, forcing him to confront his violent past and the prejudices of his kind. Matthew's internal struggle between predator and protector, tradition and progress, mirrors the broader conflicts of the All Souls world. His leadership of the Knights of Lazarus and his willingness to defy the Covenant make him both a target and a catalyst for change.

Ysabeau de Clermont

Ysabeau is Matthew's vampire mother, a survivor of centuries of violence and persecution. Initially hostile to Diana, she embodies the old world's fears and prejudices, shaped by the trauma of losing her mate, Philippe, to witch betrayal. Over time, Ysabeau's relationship with Diana softens, and she becomes a fierce protector of her family. Her journey reflects the possibility of healing and adaptation, as she learns to accept change and the breaking of ancient taboos.

Philippe de Clermont

Philippe, though largely absent, is the axis around which the All Souls universe turns. As the founder of the Knights of Lazarus and a key figure in the creation of the Covenant, his legacy shapes the destinies of all creatures. Wise, adaptable, and humane, Philippe's influence endures through his blood-sworn daughter Diana and the values he instilled in his family. His tragic end at the hands of Benjamin and the Nazis haunts the narrative, but his vision of unity and justice guides the story's resolution.

Benjamin Fox (de Clermont)

Benjamin is Matthew's estranged vampire son, a carrier of blood rage and the trilogy's primary antagonist. Driven by a desire for revenge and power, he seeks to exploit the secrets of Ashmole 782 and the potential of cross-species children. Benjamin's cruelty and manipulation of others, including Jack Blackfriars, make him a symbol of the dangers of unchecked prejudice and the destructive potential of the old order.

Goody Alsop

Goody Alsop is a powerful Elizabethan weaver who becomes Diana's teacher and guide in the past. She helps Diana unlock her abilities and understand her unique role in the magical lineage. Goody's wisdom and acceptance of difference contrast with the fear and suspicion of other witches, highlighting the importance of mentorship and tradition in fostering growth and change.

Sarah Bishop

Sarah is Diana's aunt and surrogate mother, a skilled witch rooted in the craft and the customs of her lineage. Protective and outspoken, she struggles to understand Diana's reluctance and the dangers of the supernatural world. Sarah's journey is one of learning to trust in Diana's choices and embracing the possibility of a new future for witches and all creatures.

Marcus Whitmore

Marcus is Matthew's vampire son, a product of the Enlightenment with radical ideas about freedom and equality. His leadership of the Knights of Lazarus and his relationship with Phoebe Taylor symbolize the potential for renewal and adaptation within vampire society. Marcus's struggles with the consequences of blood rage and his own creations reflect the generational tensions at play in the All Souls world.

Hamish Osborne

Hamish is a brilliant daemon and Matthew's closest confidant, offering counsel, perspective, and unwavering support. As a member of the Conventicle, he represents the creative, often marginalized, voice of daemons and the importance of cross-species alliances. Hamish's pragmatism and loyalty are crucial in navigating the political and personal challenges faced by Diana and Matthew.

The Congregation

The Congregation is the governing body of the supernatural world, composed of three witches, three vampires, and three daemons. It enforces the Covenant and maintains the status quo, often through fear and coercion. The Congregation's internal divisions, resistance to change, and eventual transformation under Diana's leadership encapsulate the central conflict between tradition and progress.

Plot Devices

Ashmole 782 / The Book of Life

Ashmole 782 is the central MacGuffin, a bewitched manuscript that contains the origins, history, and genetic secrets of all creatures. Its physical composition—made from the skin, blood, and bones of supernatural beings—symbolizes the interconnectedness of witches, vampires, and daemons. The search for its missing pages drives the plot, while its alchemical and scientific revelations provide the key to breaking down the barriers between species.

The Covenant

The Covenant is an ancient set of laws designed to segregate creatures and prevent interbreeding or political entanglement with humans. It is enforced by the Congregation and serves as both a source of conflict and a metaphor for real-world issues of prejudice, segregation, and fear of difference. The struggle to overturn the Covenant is the narrative's central political arc.

Timewalking

Timewalking, the magical ability to travel to the past, allows Diana and Matthew to seek refuge, knowledge, and allies in Elizabethan England. This device enables the blending of historical fiction with fantasy, introduces real historical figures, and provides a means to explore the roots of the present conflict. The consequences of their actions in the past ripple forward, complicating their quest.

Blood Rage and Genetics

Blood rage, a genetic condition causing uncontrollable violence in vampires, is both a personal and societal threat. Matthew's research into genetics, combined with Diana's magical insights, reveals that the differences between creatures are not absolute but variations within a single species. This fusion of science and magic is both a plot engine and a thematic statement about the nature of identity and evolution.

The Knights of Lazarus

The Knights of Lazarus, a chivalric order founded by Philippe de Clermont, serve as both protectors and power brokers in the supernatural world. Their resources, influence, and history provide the protagonists with allies and tools, while also embodying the complexities of legacy, loyalty, and the burden of the past.

The Conventicle

The Conventicle is a coalition of witches, vampires, and daemons who reject the Covenant and work together to protect Diana, Matthew, and the future of all creatures. Their formation and actions represent the possibility of solidarity across difference and the power of collective action to challenge entrenched systems.

Alchemy and Symbolism

Alchemical imagery—especially the chemical wedding, ouroboros, and the creation of the philosopher's stone—pervades the narrative, mirroring the personal and societal transformations at the heart of the story. These symbols reinforce the themes of integration, renewal, and the breaking of old boundaries.

Analysis

Deborah Harkness's All Souls trilogy, as illuminated by The World of All Souls, is a rich tapestry weaving together fantasy, history, science, and romance to explore the enduring questions of identity, belonging, and the fear of difference. At its core, the series interrogates the artificial boundaries—between species, disciplines, and eras—that divide individuals and communities. Through the journey of Diana and Matthew, the narrative champions the transformative power of love, knowledge, and collaboration, suggesting that true progress comes from embracing complexity and diversity. The fusion of genetics and magic, the overturning of oppressive laws, and the birth of the Bright Born all serve as metaphors for the potential of a more inclusive, interconnected world. In an age marked by polarization and anxiety about change, the All Souls universe offers a hopeful vision: that by confronting our fears, honoring our histories, and daring to unite across difference, we can create a future where all souls—regardless of origin—can thrive.

Last updated: May 15, 2025