You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
12dejamoo's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Don't think I've ever written such a long review but here goes...
I found this book pretty hard to form a clear opinion. I think that's because I didn't know by what metric to judge it. Like, is it a crummy romance? Is it a YA Twilight-esque book? Is it one of those ostensibly 'higher quality' romances that everyone on the internet loves? It's kind of all three and so it's really difficult to judge the correct level of belief suspension needed. The book opens on an interesting fantasy premise, with library girl doing library things. We love a library girl. Then we are introduced to Matthew and it's like yeah I like this guy, he's got that Edward vibe with less creepiness and more nuance. Great, now we're doing some library stuff, we're having brunch, we're doing yoga (btw what a fucking funny idea that's genius). But now, BOOM, we're deeply in love, we're running off to France, you're my wife lol. Now you've almost died 20 million times. It's like the story was both nicely slow and too quick. It was moving at a very believable pace and then all hell broke loose.
There are lots of good points to this! I like many of the characters, I like the concept of the three creatures, I like the library scenes. I like the alchemy stuff (mostly). I like the idea of many of Diana's powers and I really enjoyed reading many of the scenes of her using them. It's major Twilight vibes but Deborah Harkness clearly did more research than Smeyer so it's refreshing whilst still being comforting and familiar. Definitely a lot of good in here but there was also a lot of crap.
Diana herself is pretty likable at first. As I said, we love a library girl. There are hints that she's not like other girls, but to me it seemed like she was authentically sporty, non-makeup-wearing, and bookish rather than your classic Bella figure who reads Jane Austen because she's ~different~. However I felt like that authenticity started to chip away the further into the book we got. The place where I had to put the book down and be like no fuck that was when she suddenly announces that she has always loved horses and it's like a major part of her personality???? . Genuinely comes out of nowhere and it's so irritating. You also have your classic Bella-esque 'oh I don't care that you're a vampire because you won't hurt ME' blah blah blah. She goes out to prove this on so many occasions and like there's just no need. My least favourite scene of this is her sitting completely still on horseback for literally two hours in absolute silence whilst he prepares to hunt. No human has ever had that kind of patience I'm sorry. Her obsessive love for Matthew seems really out of character with her very no-nonsense attitude at the start. The way she's ready to just spout crap about feeling alive for the first time. Have more respect for yourself than that please. I know it's like destiny or whatever but that doesn't mean your character should do a 180 when you meet the guy. This becomes especially a problem when she starts half dying every five seconds. Like can we not write women who are just damsels in distress all the time. Like even when she does amazing power stuff and saves Matthew she STILL is the one lying in bed for hours and fainting. I also think that we as a society have moved past chosen one who has every power and ability ever trope. Like she can be special without being that special. Give her some weaknesses beyond just needing to refine her powers. Make her rely on others in a way that's more depthful than she can't breathe or whatever when Matthew is gone.
Matthew was also likable at first. Mysterious vampire love interest. This is why we're here. We also love a hint of danger which at first Diana seems to genuinely feel. What did get very old was him knowing literally every historical figure of note. Like he did not need to do that. How boring. Also can we STOP describing how love interests smell in terms of some complex selection of herbs, spices, and flowers. Nobody smells like those things unless they are wearing aritificial fragrances or they've just walked out of a rose garden like seriously stop describing Matthew's smell as 'spicy' it drives me insane.I also hate his secretive blah vampire blah knights crap. Just stop it's boring he does not need to have his finger in every pie.
There were definitely some weird writing moments. Exposition was delivered so weirdly at times. Special mention goes to when Baldwin and Matthew explain to each other the history of their father as if they both don't know it. Like they're both adding details like they're explaining it to someone else but no they're literally just recounting the events to each other. Also, you can definitely tell this was written by an American. Like the definition of the word 'fresher' as a Cambridge term for freshmen. It's literally just a British term, Cambridge isn't special. This is also evident when Diana describes a British intensive care hospital wing. Are they different in America? I've only ever seen them on American TV and ngl they look exactly like what you're describing I'm so confused. Definition of a person who did their year abroad/gap year/placement etc in another country and takes it on as their entire personality.
I really hate the trope in any media where their family is just this annoying burden who they seem to hate? Like your aunts aren't stopping you from being with this man they are just giving you very sensible thinking points and trying to have a discussion and you just have to act like they're so annoying and stupid and 'just don't get it'. Diana has no reason to dislike her aunts but her descriptions of them are often so dismissive and subtly cruel I never get why media insists on doing this.
Further important points are: we love Ysabeau. She gives me Rosalie vibes and this can only be a good thing. Also the way I cringe so hard every time Matthew and Diana refer to each other as 'husband' or 'wife' ewwww. It's not marriage that's a problem it's the way the relationship went from 0 to 1 to 2 to 3 to 100 and it's like what where why when?
"Matthew swung me onto his back like a child and walked through the twilight' SORRY nooo that HAS to be a reference
I found this book pretty hard to form a clear opinion. I think that's because I didn't know by what metric to judge it. Like, is it a crummy romance? Is it a YA Twilight-esque book? Is it one of those ostensibly 'higher quality' romances that everyone on the internet loves? It's kind of all three and so it's really difficult to judge the correct level of belief suspension needed. The book opens on an interesting fantasy premise, with library girl doing library things. We love a library girl. Then we are introduced to Matthew and it's like yeah I like this guy, he's got that Edward vibe with less creepiness and more nuance. Great, now we're doing some library stuff, we're having brunch, we're doing yoga (btw what a fucking funny idea that's genius). But now,
There are lots of good points to this! I like many of the characters, I like the concept of the three creatures, I like the library scenes. I like the alchemy stuff (mostly). I like the idea of many of Diana's powers and I really enjoyed reading many of the scenes of her using them. It's major Twilight vibes but Deborah Harkness clearly did more research than Smeyer so it's refreshing whilst still being comforting and familiar. Definitely a lot of good in here but there was also a lot of crap.
Diana herself is pretty likable at first. As I said, we love a library girl. There are hints that she's not like other girls, but to me it seemed like she was authentically sporty, non-makeup-wearing, and bookish rather than your classic Bella figure who reads Jane Austen because she's ~different~. However I felt like that authenticity started to chip away the further into the book we got. The place where I had to put the book down and be like no fuck that was when she suddenly announces that she
Matthew was also likable at first. Mysterious vampire love interest. This is why we're here. We also love a hint of danger which at first Diana seems to genuinely feel. What did get very old was him knowing literally every historical figure of note. Like he did not need to do that. How boring. Also can we STOP describing how love interests smell in terms of some complex selection of herbs, spices, and flowers. Nobody smells like those things unless they are wearing aritificial fragrances or they've just walked out of a rose garden like seriously stop describing Matthew's smell as 'spicy' it drives me insane.
There were definitely some weird writing moments. Exposition was delivered so weirdly at times. Special mention goes to when Baldwin and Matthew explain to each other the history of their father as if they both don't know it. Like they're both adding details like they're explaining it to someone else but no they're literally just recounting the events to each other. Also, you can definitely tell this was written by an American. Like the definition of the word 'fresher' as a Cambridge term for freshmen. It's literally just a British term, Cambridge isn't special. This is also evident when Diana describes a British intensive care hospital wing. Are they different in America? I've only ever seen them on American TV and ngl they look exactly like what you're describing I'm so confused. Definition of a person who did their year abroad/gap year/placement etc in another country and takes it on as their entire personality.
I really hate the trope in any media where their family is just this annoying burden who they seem to hate? Like your aunts aren't stopping you from being with this man they are just giving you very sensible thinking points and trying to have a discussion and you just have to act like they're so annoying and stupid and 'just don't get it'. Diana has no reason to dislike her aunts but her descriptions of them are often so dismissive and subtly cruel I never get why media insists on doing this.
Further important points are: we love Ysabeau. She gives me Rosalie vibes and this can only be a good thing. Also
"Matthew swung me onto his back like a child and walked through the twilight' SORRY nooo that HAS to be a reference
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content, Abortion, Pregnancy, and War
midnightgremlin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Animal death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexism
linesiunderline's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Sometimes you just want a good story to really sink into. Sometimes that story will have vampires and witches and romance and Oxford in it, and there will be parts of it you don’t really get but whatever, you won’t be mad about it, even if it is a teensy bit overwritten in places.
Did I think I would really enjoy this one so much, to the point that I put the second audiobook on hold before I finished the first? I did not. But Vampire Matthew has quite a presence. So does Oxford and all of the witchy atmospheric business. I’m all in.
If you are an Outlander fan, this one is for you. I have to go watch the TV series now.
Did I think I would really enjoy this one so much, to the point that I put the second audiobook on hold before I finished the first? I did not. But Vampire Matthew has quite a presence. So does Oxford and all of the witchy atmospheric business. I’m all in.
If you are an Outlander fan, this one is for you. I have to go watch the TV series now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
katielaine_w's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
meganpbennett's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I am not sure what I think of A Discovery of Witches. It took a very long time to build up into an interesting book, and I'm not sure I like Matthew, and I found his relationship with Diane highly questionable. I didn't like the ending - I think Harkness took the wrong page out of Gabaldon's books with that decision.
A Discovery of Witches had a witch scholar of alchemy find a rare alchemical text, and - unaware of the significance of the text - return it to the spell that kept it safe for centuries. Almost immediately, the Vampires, Daemons, and more witches show up.
The book take a long time to change from 'academic scholar researching old manuscripts' to the paranormal suspense novel it is, with vampires, daemons, and witches. And it's rarely "suspenseful" in the strictest sense, where you have to know what happens next. It's just mildly interesting. I'm not completely sold on a lot of things in the novel - from how Matthew behaves to how it ends - but maybe the (longer) second one will be more interesting.
A Discovery of Witches had a witch scholar of alchemy find a rare alchemical text, and - unaware of the significance of the text - return it to the spell that kept it safe for centuries. Almost immediately, the Vampires, Daemons, and more witches show up.
The book take a long time to change from 'academic scholar researching old manuscripts' to the paranormal suspense novel it is, with vampires, daemons, and witches. And it's rarely "suspenseful" in the strictest sense, where you have to know what happens next. It's just mildly interesting. I'm not completely sold on a lot of things in the novel - from how Matthew behaves to how it ends - but maybe the (longer) second one will be more interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I know I know I know, there are a lot of flaws in the book, especially with the romance plot, but I just adore the world building and the atmosphere and the characters and the magic and the science and the books and the history. I should care more about the fact that the romance is highly problematic and annoying and is also a major part of the plot. And yes, I hate that part of the book with all my heart. It does not help that the problematic issues are actually addressed... and just ignored by the characters because loooove. But ... the rest is just too good?
The vampire and witch lore is so fascinating in this book. And I love that it's actually rooted in science. The academic setting at the beginning is so nice. And the found family aspects are just wholesome. And I'm in love with the Bishop house. And the thing that happens at the end... I'm just a huge fan of this kind of plot, okay?
So yeah, not a fan of the romance but a big fan of the world.
I'm very curious how the story will unfold, but I'm also prepared to hate it at the end. So we'll see.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
yaelaed's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Odd that this book is titled "A Discovery of Witches", as it is mainly about the main character learning about vampires. Some odd things of note: how does this professor of ancient alchemy know so much about designer clothes, rowing, yoga, horse riding, designer furniture, and wine?? There was also a lot of talk about predator nature and violence and how it relates to sexuality?? A nope for me, thanks. There are a lot of interesting concepts in this book: witch powers, the origins of witches/vampires/demons, and alchemy. They are just lost in the hundreds of pages detailing wine, furniture, castles, and food. One HUGE plus, however, is how trauma is portrayed. I have actually NEVER seen trauma portrayed this well in a book. The main character is tortured at one point, with the person enacting the violence being behind them. And then the rest of the story, the MC can not stand to have anyone behind them. It was really well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
fionac326's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
veeronald's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, and Stalking
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Death of parent
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, and Blood
Minor: Miscarriage
More...