The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness

Book Review

Mikaela Silk

The Bishop-Clairmont family have fallen into a perfect routine of bliss, spreading their time between New Haven, Oxford, and Sept Tours. But then six-year-old Becca is given a gift by a dying raven who tells her it is time to go home. A long-dreaded letter from the congregation and a surprise invitation from an unknown Proctor relative send Diana unexpectedly into the heart of Salem. There, she must confront both her past and her future, as well as the magic and secrets that are bound so tightly around them. Diana will do anything for her children, but how far will she go for herself?

From the very first page, I was pulled straight back into the world of witches, daemons, and vampires, as well as the lives of Diana and Matthew. And this long-awaited insight into their lives as parents does not disappoint. There is a perfect balance of cosy intimacy and magical chaos. Becca and Pip are old enough now to have personalities of their own, and it’s great to see how they interact with other members of the family, including some surprising favourites. I particularly enjoyed the ways in which Matthew and Diana’s influence on their children was clear, even in the small details.

As with The Book of Life, this new book makes a point to separate Matthew and Diana for some of the plot, giving Diana a chance to explore her own identity whilst challenging the bond between them and Matthew’s very nature. Unlike in the previous book, this time Diana is not surrounded by protectors and has even more opportunity to show her own strength. Whilst this allowed for some powerful character development, I was pleased when the couple finally came together again because it is their love that makes these books complete.

Rather than the politics, history, and mysteries that have been at the heart of previous books, The Black Bird Oracle is all about magic. If you thought Diana had finally embraced and perfected her magic already, then this book will be full of surprises. We learn about different types of magic, as well as gaining a better understanding of the intricacies of the witch community itself. The biggest bonus is the ending of the book, which indicates that there is even more to learn and gives me great hope that Deborah Harkness is already hard at work on her next All Souls masterpiece.