Book Reviews: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Age Group/Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, Paranormal

Publication date: February, 2011

Settings: Oxford (England), Saint Lucien (France), and Madison (New York)

Literary Awards: SCIBA Award for Fiction and Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Paranormal Fantasy and for Favorite Book (2011)

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How I rate it: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Synopsis

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. (via Goodreads).

My thoughts

A Discovery of Witches is the first book from the All Souls trilogy, written by Deborah Harkness. Just like The Night Circus, if you like books that envolve magic, I think that you'll really enjoy this book. The Twilight parallels are undeniable, but A Discovery of Witches looks like a more grown-up version of that love story. However, if you have some kind of problem with paranormal love stories, this will probably not be a book for you.

In this novel, the protagonist Diana Bishop is a witch descended from a long line of illustrious witches. At the same time, she's an Oxford-educated historian, specialized in the study of alchemy. Funny enough, the story begins when Diana discovers an enchanted alchemical manuscript that is supposed to tell the origin of the three species of "creatures": witches, vampires and daemons. Nonetheless, just like Twillight, I think that this books has some serious problems when it comes to the romantic part (SPOILER ALERT: Matthew is what we call a really obssessive and possessive boyfriend).

It is important to mention that this novel ends on a cliffhanger and none of the questions that it raises are answered. So, if you enjoyed it and you want the answers, you should get the book number 2 - Shadow of Night. That's what I'll do.

Ps: They made a serie from the book.

Quotes

"It begins with absence and desire. It begins with blood and fear. It begins with a discovery of witches." ― Deborah Harkness, A Discovery of Witches

"His full name is Matthew Gabriel Philippe Bertrand Sebastien de Clermont. He was also a very good Sebastien, and a passable Gabriel. He hates Bertrand and will not answer to Philippe." ― Deborah Harkness, A Discovery of Witches