A Discovery of Witches: A Novel (All Souls, #1)

by Deborah Harkness

Book one of the New York Times-bestselling All Souls trilogy—"a wonderfully imaginative grown-up fantasy with all the magic of Harry Potter and Twilight” (People). 
 
Now “[a] hot show that’s like Twilight meets Outlander” (Thrillist) airing Sundays on AMC and BBC America, as well as streaming on Sundance Now and Shudder.

Deborah Harkness's sparkling debut, A Discovery of Witches, brought her into the spotlight and galvanized fans around the world. In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and a descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, deep in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont.

Harkness has created a universe to rival those of Anne Rice, Diana Gabaldon, and Elizabeth Kostova, and she adds a scholar's depth to this riveting tale of magic and suspense. The story continues in book two, Shadow of Night, and concludes with The Book of Life. The story now comes alive in an incredibly lush eponymous TV series, starring Teresa Palmer (I Am Number Four, Hacksaw Ridge) and Matthew Goode (Match Point, The Imitation Game).

• ISBN10: 0525506306
• ISBN13: 9780525506300
• Publish Date: 8 January 2019 (first published 1 February 2011)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Penguin USA
• Edition: Media tie-in
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 592
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780525506300

Reviews

[elysium]

4.5 stars

The book starts when Diana Bishop discovers a bewitched manuscript,called Ashmole 782, in a library at Oxford. It has been lost for centuries and soon all kind of witches, daemons and vampires are trying to get it. One of them is Matthew Clairmont, a scientist who is also vampire.
Diana is from a powerful family of witches but after her parents’ death she has refused to use her powers. But when things starts to take dangerous turn she learns that she can’t ignore her heritage anymore.

Book is told from Diane’s point of view and it worked here. She’s strong, brave, intelligent and she’s historian. What’s not to like? It was interesting to see how she grew during the book, fing herself again and learning to control her powers.

Matthew is over 1000 year old vampire who takes interest in Diana. At first he is just looking for Ashmole 782 but soon finds that he can’t keep her out of his thoughts. But vampires and witches aren’t supposed to be together as they are about to find out. I liked Matthew and the chemistry between him and Diane. Sure he had this medieval thing about protecting women and stuff but I thought he was still quite adorable.

There was quite a lot talking about DNA and alchemy and I have to say that it went way over my head. But it was still interesting and it didn’t made m enjoy it any less.

And there was a finnish witch called Satu Järvinen :) That doesn’t happen often and just made me happy. Of course she was one of the bad guys but you can’t have it all, can you? She kinda leaves a lasting impression on Diane, not to mention traumas.

I really liked this book! I liked the first half book better with Matthew and Diane getting to know eachother. In later part things started to move much faster and while it was fun it didn’t feel the same.

A word of warning: the books has much detailed telling about things. How wine or food tasted and or smelled and their reactions to it. So if you’re not into that kind of thing you should be warned.

[kimbacaffeinate]

This is the first in an exciting trilogy about witches, vampires and dameon. It is a mystery, a love story and an adventure laced with history. One of the best books I’ve ever read.
The protagonist Dr.Diana Bishop is studying old alchemical texts archived at the Bodleian Library, in Oxford when she requests the book, Ashmole 782 from the stacks. Unknown to her, this book has been missing and is wanted by vampires, dameon and witches for the secrets it holds. When she opens the book, she feels its power and can see hidden messages in it, but like all magic it scares her and she quickly puts it back. Diana is a descendant of the famous witch, Bridget Bishop of Salem, Massachusetts. Her Aunts are witches, but Diana doesn't have any magic or does she? After her brief encounter with the book, she has attracted the attention of dameons, witches and vampires. One vampire in particular is persistent; he is Matthew Clairmont, an attractive professor of biochemistry and neuroscience. When the witches and dameons demand she produce the lost book, Matthew steps in and thus the adventure begins.
I loved everything about this book from the deep historical details, to the world wind romance between Diana and Matthew. The other characters in this book are equally appealing. While some may not like the length of this book, I found the details enjoyable, and know they have helped to lay the ground work for the next two books in this series. I will be first in line to purchase book 2 - Shadow of Night, release 2012

[MurderByDeath]

This is one of those books I wish I hadn't discovered until *after* all three books had been published. I started this book on a Friday and hardly put it down until I finished on the Sunday morning. The author did a stunning job of making the writing so vivid, I was there in the story watching it unfold like a movie, much more vividly than I normally am able to do. Books about magic are a treat for me and this one was not at all disappointing, with plenty of action and a nice balance, I think, between giving enough information to be vivid, but not enough to be graphic. It's going to really suck having to wait until next year for the next book.