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 couldn’t put this book down … and it’s a long story! (OK, I did sleep for a few hours but I was right back into it after my morning coffee!) I have finished the second book, Shadow of Night, and am just starting the third and final book in the series, The Book of Life.
I can see why they have made this into a TV series … plenty of drama and twists and turns as the characters are defined and shaped by their beliefs, past events, and hopes for the future. (Aren’t we all?) I’ve even signed on to Sundance Now for a free trial to watch the first season. Don’t pass this trilogy by, check your brick and mortar and online libraries if you can’t afford to buy them.
Great Literary intelligent fantasy.
I just loved this different storyline. The characters were fantastic. Very enjoyable.
Thoroughly enjoyed the story, went out and bought the rest of this trilogy. Characters built throughout the book. Recommended this to friends and family.
Great read…other-wordly characters – historical fiction to meet the needs those of us who enjoy history…funny at times, sad, tragic, befitting the characters. A stormy, windy night would be a good time to read it!
Loved it! Immediately had to read the rest in the series.
Love this series!!! One of my favorite series to read again
Dreary, lacking in action, and VERY lacking in magic!
Excellent book
A very interesting story of witches, time travelers, vampires, and other supernatural creatures, put into a suspenseful story. The characters are likeable and not defined by their other-worldly powers. This is the first in a substantial trilogy, but the books go fast. The vampires are very emotionally human, which has been my issue with most vampire books. Really good read for escaping.
Great story, great series…great writing!
If you’ve watched the series on Sundance Now, why not read the book and learn what was left on the editing floor?
I moved around a lot in my high school and college years, and so had no knowledge of the Inquisition until I was in my 30s. This book, in a roundabout way, not only helped enlighten me, but it helped me to step more into my power, the power of being a woman.
A wonderful story that will keep you company for a long time to come!
Gloria Squitiro: A first lady of Kanas City and author of May Cause Drowsiness and Blurred Vision: The Side Effects of Bravery—YOU, Too! can OVERCOME ANXIETY and live a bigger more carefree life—Become a New and Better You!
#YayWomenWriters!
I loved the characters and the story . This first book was impossible to put down. I wish I felt the same about book 2.
Did not enjoy
I had a grand time reading this book. Complicated characters worth getting to know. Just the right amount of everything.
I loved it, and then … I couldn’t finish. It was so much an intelligent woman’s fantasy that it became tedious. Check, woman with amazing powers she doesn’t realize. Chack also she’s beautiful, smart, etc. Check he’s gorgeous. Check he’s wealthy beyond reason, intelligent, etc.
I really love intelligent, well written books, but it’s still the same plot I’ve read over and over, and it just gets to bne too much perfect.
I can’t say enough for this trilogy, I didn’t want it to end. You have to read these 3 books.
Wonderful trilogy that goes through time. I’m not a lover of time travel or romantic novels but Harkness balances the two to make a wonderful fantasy and a fun read. I cannot wait for more books written by this author.
One of my favorite books (and series) in recent years. Harkness creates an unbelievably complex and well-woven world of supernatural beings and the politics that surround them. Approaching the adventure through the lense of history, science, and explorations of the senses, the series is hard to put down. Diana is a wickedly smart, passionate heroine and Matthew is complex and mesmerising to read.
But the biggest positive, for me, was the way Harkness grew the characters as a family. I’m not just talking about Diana & Matthew, I mean all the Bishops and the de Clermonts as they construct endearing, loving relationships that ended up meaning more to me than some of the main plot points. It was a family I was sad to leave at the end. 12/10 recommend.