MY RATING:
Synopsis:
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Favorite Book of 2011 (2011), Nominee for Readers’ Favorite Paranormal Fantasy (2011), Nominee for Readers’ Favorite Goodreads Author (2011)
A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.
Read More:
Deep in the stacks of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.
Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.
- Pages: 672
- Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal
- Publication date: February 8, 2011 by Viking Penguin
- Format: Paperback, Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook
- Source: Owned
PURCHASE LINKS:
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
KOBO
REVIEW:
This one was a re-read for me. It has been calling me for a very long time, and this year I decided to try and complete some series, so fingers crossed this will be one of them. It has been exactly 10 years since I last read this book! And it felt like I had read it last year, I loved every bit of it, and I could recall everything.
I still think Matthew and Diana are a powerhouse, and I love their relationship. My feelings have not changed throughout the decade; if anything, they have made me love this book even more.
The plot, the story, and the characters were great. This book has it all: magic, vampires, daemons, witches, mystery, power struggle, history and so much more! The author did an amazing job of combining everything together and making such a delightful masterpiece.
I really appreciate the history and the alchemy research that has gone into this with a touch of magic. This is my type of fantasy; I simply love it when authors base their stories on real historical figures, events, and legends. Harkness’s writing is so captivating and beautiful that it was like I was watching a movie in my head. (I did watch the show, but surprisingly, I was not envisioning the actual actors, rather what the ones the authors were describing, although I must say that they did a great job at keeping it true to the book when it comes to the TV series).
This is one of those books that has to be read because there is so much going on, and you discover so many things throughout the story as well that speaking about them might actually spoil everything for you. Let me just say that it is worth it! If you love history, books, romance, vampires, witches and magic, and well-crafted characters and plot, this is the right book for you.
A Discovery of Witches is a perfect example of what a strong series introduction should be, showcasing compelling plot development and rich, well-crafted characters.
5 stars! Highly recommend!
Lin's Perspective 
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