Margin notes: A Discovery of Witches
Inside cover: A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.
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.
Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.
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.
Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah HarknessMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A friend recommended this to me and when I picked it up from the library--whoa... It's so long I was intimidated!!!! But I started reading and ended up busting through it in a couple days.
It does have a bit of a YA feel to it, but I like that about this book. There's magic, mystery, and creatures and long standing rivalries. This book sets up a trilogy, I'm glad more are coming! I thought the characters were great, especially the secondary characters--Hamish, a Daemon and best friend of Matthew, Marthe, Matthew's mom's maid, Ysebeau, Matthew's mom... The yoga instructor, and even the villains were all well developed. I wish Diana's aunts were a little better developed, but that might come.
Some parts of this book didn't flow as well as others--(spoiler) when Diana is captured and tortured, that seemed rushed. When she learns about her skills, also rushed, which is shocking in such a long book!
Still I'm excited to see what's to come! Can't wait for the next.
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