Review posted on Goodreads, Amazon, and Facebook. The review is also posted in my library for patrons.

I love the world and characters that Deborah Harkness created. This book is great for readers that want the back ground for the three books that were in the All Souls series. It has an interview with the author to get information from her viewpoint. Also there are summaries of the type of creatures in the world and the characters of the stories. But, this book should be read after reading the first 3 books of the All Souls series. If you don't this book will tell you the plot points. Another audience for this book would be fans of the new TV show that is based on the book series.

I am not sure if the advance copy is a sample of the book, but I could not see the book in its entirety. However, since I have found the time to dive into the series and it have perused this book in the local bookstore, I can say it is a must purchase. Deborah Harkness has used the illustrations and descriptions to bring to life these stories. I did read A Discovery of Witches when it was first published and I am now rereading Shadow of Night, but having The World of All Souls will be a nice companion as I read the Book of Life.

Great, even as an introduction to the series (detailed book summaries are included, so if you haven't read the trilogy or it has been a while, you'll be fine) -- with lots of the world-building information and details.

For fan of the series, this is a great addition. The personal interview with the author gives great insight into the books she has written.

Deborah Harkness has created a whole mythology in her All Souls trilogy which is dependent on the fairly complicated genealogies of the Bishop and Clairmont families, plus associated characters. And there are A LOT of characters. The World of All Souls is a handy guide to that cast of characters where all the disparate tidbits of information Harkness wove into the trilogy are gathered in one place and expanded upon. As I read this book, I felt like I had, at the most, a peephole into Deborah Harkness' imagination and, at the least, a peek at her writing notes. This is a must for fans of the trilogy. Recommended.

Imaginary worlds are just as deserving of guidebooks as the real world places we all love, and the All Souls universe now has a Baedecker's worthy of it. The World of All Souls is an amazing guide to my favorite universe. Talk about a swoon worthy total package. It's a work that definitely needs to be savored, and its clever set up allows you pop in to explore a compelling topic or meander through. It's definitely a book I'll revisit again and again.
The highlights for me include the character profiles (which include not a few shocking revelations), the outtakes from A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night, the literature section, and the lovely discussion of the writing process (a must read for any aspiring author or curious reader).

The illustrations range from playful to intricate - ranging from stark and symbolic to high style and artistic. They are so LUSH - even in gray scale. The rendition of Mary Sidney's lab stopped me in my tracks I was so overwhelmed by the detail and thought that leapt from the page. The literature section is especially sumptuous. Between the deftly chosen quotes and illustrations I'll revel in it for hours.

Whether you're new to this world thanks to the upcoming TV series or have obsessively chased zebras down rabbit holes for years looking for eggs, this compendium will have something to amaze, delight, and surprise you. It shouldn't surprise anyone - after all, Professor Harkness always has a lesson or two up her sleeve.

I'm a huge All Souls fan and I've been waiting for this book forever. The teaser was just enough to make me want more. I loved the outtake between Matthew & Domenico. It really gives us some backstory on the relationship between the two.

First line: Dear Reader, Welcome—or welcome back—into a world of daemons, humans, vampires and witches, where a reluctant witch and a fifteen-hundred-year-old vampire discover the secrets left in a mysterious manuscript.

Summary: A complete companion guide to the All Souls Trilogy. There are synopses of each book, the races, characters and locations plus so much more.

Highlights: I wish this had been out when I was reading the stories so I could refresh myself on the storylines and characters. But this is very handy to have before the release of the miniseries on BBC. I loved the characters and the storylines of the books. This is a perfect companion for any reader of the All Souls Trilogy.

Lowlights: Very nice to read when in Adobe format but not as a Kindle book. But having it as a hardback will be even better!

FYI: Don’t be daunted by the size of the books. They are rich and wonderfully written.

I love the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness so I was thrilled to get to read this preview of the guide to the series. It looks to be fascinating and engaging even though I only saw a few pages of it. I eagerly look forward to reading the complete work later this year. I am reviewing this book based on an ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

This is a tantalizing peek at a wonderful world. Deborah Harkness has created a realistic and magical place where I love to spend time, so I am looking forward to seeing the finished book.

I've been a fan since A Discovery of Witches and have been hearing a lot about this companion piece. I can't wait to see this for real. This will be a must have for fans of the series!

This book is recommended for fans of the All Souls Trilogy. Since it is a companion to the trilogy, it will not make sense to those who have not read the books. This review is only for the preview that Viking kindly shared via NetGalley, which was only a handful of pages. The full book remains under wraps. The artwork is gorgeous. Inside are some "deleted scenes" that AST fans will be delighted to discuss in great detail. There are short biographies and histories of the characters, and tidbits of historical and architectural information as it relates to the trilogy. I look forward to reading the full version this spring.