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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Excellent
I don’t often reread books but I have read this book countless times. The words are enchanting and the characters are flawed and witty.
Diana Bishop, a young professor studying in Oxford, discovers an illuminated manuscript that had been lost for over 150 years. It calls to the witch powers inside her that she has refused to use. Fighting her instincts, she returns the book to the library, and a horde of creatures come looking for it. Vampires, Daemons, and Witches are determined to use Diana to recover the lost book that explains each creature species origins.
With Matthew Clairmont, an ancient vampire, dogging her every move, and witches and daemons refusing to leave her alone, Diana tries to recall the manuscript in an effort to return to her normal life. The book is nowhere to be found. With her secret out and her life in danger, Matthew whisks her off to France to protect her.
While there, Diana falls deeper in love with her vampire savior. However Matthew is hoarding secrets that may change her mind. Disobeying the Covenant to keep the species separated, Matthew and Diana continue their relationship.
Kidnapped by a witch from the Congregation, Diana is tortured to trigger her magic. When it didn’t work, she was left in an oubliette to die. While there she is comforted by the ghosts of her parents, and finds a way to release her magic. Matthew rescues her with the help of his brother, and they travel to Diana’s aunt’s house to help her control her newfound powers.
Will Diana learn control fast enough to protect herself? Will all the secrets be revealed?
I really enjoyed this book. One of my favorite scenes is Diana entering the stables in France for the first time. The personality the author incorporated into the horse, Balthasar, makes him seem like a mischievous animal that likes getting the best of his owner, but has fallen completely under Diana’s spell.
One of my favorite books! I appreciate the integration of molecular biology and history in with a fantasy + romance story. It’s a great read for anyone who likes cerebral balanced with a great story.
Very interesting and enjoyable!
Wow! Incredible first installment to a series. Incredible characters, interactions and world building! I highly recommend the whole series, but each book is much longer than most and I would not classify them in the easy to read category. They are paranormal(witches, vampires, and ghosts+), romantic suspense and historical in nature. I found the series hard to put down!
This is the first book in a trilogy, and I found it to be the best well written of the three. Lots of interesting twists.
I have now read this book five times. Highly unusual, but reread all before the next release. Characters and story hold up every time, new twists are welcome. Great historical writing. Fantastic well crafted writer. Don’t miss any of this series, as well as the televised productions.
After watching the first season of Discovery of Witches and loving it, I finally had the time to read the book. It did not disappoint! Harkness did a wonderful job of creating a believable magical world with the perfect blend of action and romance. I’ve seen other reviewers say it’s a Twilight for adults, but I feel it’s a much more complex and intriguing story. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to the next two books in the series.
I love the characters and the setting. The writing is heart felt and story is so original. It is by far my favourite series.
An interesting and fun book to read.
I reread this and the other two books in the All Souls Trilogy every year.
A really different and wonderful story! Diana discovers that she’s a witch, unwittingly comes into possesion of an ancient manuscript that everybody is after, and she falls in love with the arch enemy of witches…a vampire! What could go wrong?
I loved this book and read the 2nd and 3rd in the trilogy.
I will read this again in another year or so.
love the book. I own it, you, keeps those pages turning. makes you feel involved. an excellent read.
I loved this book and the entire series. One of the best fantasies I’ve ever read. A romance and a mystery, it’s simply marvelous!
If you love Outlander or The Time Travelers Wife…..or maybe even for Twilight fans looking for a more grown up and complex story
Have read the entire series – love these characters and this story
A little heavy on some scientific info but kept my attention and I want to read the next book in the series
5
Wow, this book absolutely surpassed all expectations, I had. Going into the book, I heard it was was great and it has good reviews, but it’s truly amazing. It brought me into its magical world, filled with different kinds of creatures and very strict rules. That if broken could, and usually meant death. Some creatures so ancient it’s hard to conceive and power everywhere.
There are secrets abound, riddles to uncover, magic to learn how to harness and danger at every turn. Time jumping to do, for answers. This book took me so far out of the real world, I forgot about everything around me.
MI highly recommend it for anyone. I think most people would enjoy it. There aren’t enough star’s to give it. It’s off the charts.