That helps , thanks. So i am guessing if you read the book, it is no longer of any use to anyone, especially Gale?
Yes, I believe so. If you give the book to Astarion, it at least used to stay in his inventory so you can take control of him and read it so he gets the Speak with Dead spell, though I’ve not tried this for at least a couple of patches. If you give the book to Gale in dialogue, I believe, you can’t see it in his inventory so won’t get a chance to have him read it before he consumes it next time at camp (though the status of his personal quest probably could change that).
