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). Look for the hit TV series “A Discovery of Witches,” streaming on AMC Plus, Sundance Now and Shudder. Season 2 premieres January 9, 2021! Deborah Harkness’s sparkling debut, A Discovery of Witches, has brought her into the spotlight … sparkling debut, A Discovery of Witches, has 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.
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I love reading scary stories and books about the ghouls and other creatures that go bump in the night. What I really love is when the authors bring the paranormal characters into our normal world and show the reader what it could be. This series does that for me.
I re-read this one after watching the new series on Sundance. I remember loving A Discover of Witches when it first released but had forgotten all the details that made this novel so special. Harkness has an uncanny sense for historical detail coupled with world building. The character growth is realistic, the romance, electric. Her prose is unparalleled. This is an ultra-intelligent romance that has earned a permanent place on my bookshelf.
Have y’all watched the A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES TV show yet? This is one of my all-time favorite series. The Voynich manuscript figures heavily in THE SIXTH DAY, thanks to Deb bringing it to my attention in her books. I bow down to her genius. Read the trilogy if you haven’t already and thank me later.
Discovery of Witches is one of those books that you just can’t put down and then when you are finished with the book you just can’t wait to start the next.
This book literally changed my life when it inspired me to start reading and writing fiction again. I was a graduate student studying history, when I decided to take some me-time and break away from historical sources and pick up a novel. As soon as I finished this book, I had to read it again–something that never happens to me, but I was so attached to the characters I couldn’t let go. Diana is also a historian, and a witch, studying alchemy at Oxford’s Bodleian Library when she discovers a long-lost manuscript and is swept into a world of Vampires, Daemons, and life-threatening danger as the supernatural world fights to find out what she learned from the manuscript. A protector emerges from the unlikeliest of places when vampire Matthew Clairmont discovers that he’s equally–if not more–interested in the woman behind the secrets of Ashmole 782 as he is the contents of the secret manuscript.
I love this whole series, but you have to start here with the first book. What an awesome story! There’s a TV series in the UK. I can’t wait for it to come to the US!! Diana is a reluctant witch who calls forth a magic book. Matthew is a vampire who helps her figure out who she is and why the book is important. Incredible story telling.
As a librarian, I really enjoyed all the time spent on old manuscripts and in old libraries in this book. The character creation was fantastic and it really felt like the author spent a lot of time crafting each one of them. The world is very unique, as is the premise. The romance was slightly predictable, yet did not feel forced into place. The end is also quite a good cliffhanger, I just wish the next book was a little more affordable so I could finish the series.
If any book should be made into a movie, this one should. The whole trilogy should, in fact. They have all of the right elements – history (including time travel!), alchemy, and magic (Witches is in the title, you know). Toss that with romance, mystery, and sexy vampires, and it’s a sure thing. Even though it’s supernatural, filled with magic, time travel, etc., the characters were very alive, eccentric, and real. Highly recommend it!
One of the best books I have ever read. It is absolutely magical and you will fall in love with the characters. Full of true historical facts as well.
I loved reading this book. Love the whole series. I love Matthew. I want to be Diana!
One minute you are in the Bodleian Library in Oxford, the next in France or upstate New York..
The literary references are great. The historical figures fantastic. The locations are all wonderful.
Throw in witches, vampires with a bit of magic and you have another epic story!
Its been a very long time since I have enjoyed a book this much. It is the first in the All Souls Trilogy.
Yale historian, and witch, Diana Bishop, discovers an enchanted manuscript while doing research and attract a lot of attention from all sorts of supernatural beings including a 1500 year old vampire, Matthew Clairmont. it soon becomes evident that Diana is a much more powerful witch than she had ever imagined. With the help of Matthew, and a few more friends she will soon discover just how powerful she is and to what extent other witches and vampires will go to discover her secrets.
This is a well written book. Its has an enjoyably slow pace. The characters are developed well and are likable or not depending on the author’s intent. If I had to compare it to other books, I would say it had characteristics of The Highlander and Ann Rice’s Mayfair Witches. I can’t wait to read the next one!
I really enjoyed this book. I don’t normally care for romance, but this had enough fantasy and supernatural undertones to keep me going. I would definitely recommend this for anyone who loves vampires, and time-traveling.
First of all I’d like to say I’m not a fan of paranormal books. Or of vampires. Especially of vampires. But I saw great reviews of A Discovery of Witches (ADOW) and decided to give it a try. Wow! It pulled me in right away with wonderful descriptions of Oxford and Bodelian library. Diana is an intriguing heroine and I became engrossed in her story. Then Matthew showed up and I began to like him before really realizing, you know, that whole vampire thing. It’s a great book and only the first in a trilogy.
Great book. Loved the characters and the different take on vampires and daemons. In this book, the world-building is clear and strong, as is the plotline. Diana is a sympathetic protagonist, and I ended up liking Mathew even though he did verge on the stalkerish side a few times.
Wow, what a stunning story steeped in magical tradition. Each book in the series gets better and better, drawing you into the mystical world of the creatures…
I loved this series and can’t wait for the television series. The supporting characters for the book are particularly well developed. I’m not usually a fan of time travel plots but this series actually manages to make the concept work.
Question of the Week: What’s a book that’s worth rereading?
I have several books that I will read again. Right now, this is my all time favorite reread or listen. I have already listened to the ‘All Souls Trilogy’ twice and I plan to do it again. I love Deborah’s concept of a world filled with four creatures: humans, witches, vampires and demons that smoothly blends together history, science, alchemy, and magic. It’s funny with intelligent in-depth characters, very detailed, and addresses modern day problems.
Refusing to practice her craft, Diana has a Ph.D. in history and researches alchemists’ texts. Many centuries old and a genetic scientist Matthew Clairmont is an unusual wine-connoisseur vampire that rarely feeds on warm bloods. Romance soon follows, but wait…a vampire and a witch in love? It’s bad enough that Diana has produced a hidden text and lost again, but now she is involved with a vampire which is frowned upon by both sides.
My favorite part was the house owned by Diana’s aunt. It had a mind of its own with closing doors, producing items that had been gone for years, throwing temper tantrums, or building rooms for unexpected guests. Not to mention, it is filled with ancestral ghosts that only the witches can see.
Loved this book of a young witch who is so inept to the disappointment of her 2 witch aunts. I wanted to live in their quirky house which had a mind of it’s own ! Anyway, she is a professor in England, and is able to bring forth at the library a special book that has stayed hidden. Now vampires, witches, all magical beings are watching. Author writes with depth and history. Not a quicky. Slow, enfolding romance . Continues for two more books. Cuddle up for winter if you enjoy magic.
I’m very late to this party. I discovered this book from the TV series and liked it so much that I wanted to read the series. I knew there would be more luscious detail and I was right. Excellent story with great historical detail, especially in the lives of the vampires and alchemy. Descriptions of Oxford and the colleges are intimate in their detail. The characters are fascinating.
A wonderful, original take on the witch/vampire mythology. All though there is a lot of over description that feels unnecessary to me, the premise is intriguing enough to keep me reading to see what will be revealed next…