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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
relaxing
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness is an engaging read with vivid characters and a plot that unfolds at just the right pace. It is an ideal read for those who enjoy more obscure history, cryptic books and manuscripts, forbidden romance, found family, unseen dangers and unfolding mysteries, and magic. And I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
The characters really come to life (pun not intended) in this book, especially Diana. I have really enjoyed following her journey so far, as she unpacks the power of her magic and learns more about her family’s history. She is a strong female character with relatable flaws who is easy to get behind. She's smart and resourceful, knows her own mind, and isn't afraid of leaping into the unknown with a centuries-old vampire who has a slight patriarchal bent she keeps in check.
Matthew's character is also intriguing, as he is a modern-day vampire who is using modern science to try and figure out where his species comes from … which is oddly relatable as a human. And makes it less surprising when he and Diana inevitably get caught up in a centuries-old war between their species, as they try to learn more about where they come from and how they are linked to each other, as if by magic, though there is still much left to uncover about their inexplicable connection in the remainder of the series.
I thought the commingling of science and magic and historical references in the novel were masterfully done, as it reminded me how little we still know about ourselves as humans and how natural it is to wonder about all those things that remain mysterious to us about ourselves. It was oddly refreshing how normal and relatable a book about witches and vampires and demons was.
I especially appreciated the scenes with the ancient texts and manuscripts Diana comes across, and how her understanding of alchemy merges with other characters’ understanding of science and magic. (What is magic but incomprehensible or yet-to-be-explored scientific inquiry anyway?) If you are a bibliophile, enjoy cryptic texts, love the smell of old books, and love hanging out in libraries, you will appreciate these scenes too.
Each scene in the book is vividly described as well. Whether the scene takes place in a library at Oxford, a French castle, or a magical house that has a mind of its own, you will feel transported there as you read. Yet you will never experience jetlag as you are transported from one place to the next in the book, as the plot unfolds at a steady and appropriate pace that will keep you turning pages.
I would definitely recommend reading this book at the beginning of fall, and recommend it to those readers who enjoy mysteries, history, books, and romance.
Subscribe to Daily Drafts & Dialogues to receive more book reviews and posts about reading and writing in your inbox every day: dailydraftsanddialogues.substack.com
The characters really come to life (pun not intended) in this book, especially Diana. I have really enjoyed following her journey so far, as she unpacks the power of her magic and learns more about her family’s history. She is a strong female character with relatable flaws who is easy to get behind. She's smart and resourceful, knows her own mind, and isn't afraid of leaping into the unknown with a centuries-old vampire who has a slight patriarchal bent she keeps in check.
Matthew's character is also intriguing, as he is a modern-day vampire who is using modern science to try and figure out where his species comes from … which is oddly relatable as a human. And makes it less surprising when he and Diana inevitably get caught up in a centuries-old war between their species, as they try to learn more about where they come from and how they are linked to each other, as if by magic, though there is still much left to uncover about their inexplicable connection in the remainder of the series.
I thought the commingling of science and magic and historical references in the novel were masterfully done, as it reminded me how little we still know about ourselves as humans and how natural it is to wonder about all those things that remain mysterious to us about ourselves. It was oddly refreshing how normal and relatable a book about witches and vampires and demons was.
I especially appreciated the scenes with the ancient texts and manuscripts Diana comes across, and how her understanding of alchemy merges with other characters’ understanding of science and magic. (What is magic but incomprehensible or yet-to-be-explored scientific inquiry anyway?) If you are a bibliophile, enjoy cryptic texts, love the smell of old books, and love hanging out in libraries, you will appreciate these scenes too.
Each scene in the book is vividly described as well. Whether the scene takes place in a library at Oxford, a French castle, or a magical house that has a mind of its own, you will feel transported there as you read. Yet you will never experience jetlag as you are transported from one place to the next in the book, as the plot unfolds at a steady and appropriate pace that will keep you turning pages.
I would definitely recommend reading this book at the beginning of fall, and recommend it to those readers who enjoy mysteries, history, books, and romance.
Subscribe to Daily Drafts & Dialogues to receive more book reviews and posts about reading and writing in your inbox every day: dailydraftsanddialogues.substack.com
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Blood, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy, War
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
As someone who loves vampires and has read many different iterations and ideas of vampire stories and romances, I’ve never read anything like this. The science and the history infused within and the focus on four key supernatural species make this novel all its own, but the romance isn’t lacking either. I suppose you could sort of call it insta-love but the line between that and “destined to be together” has always been fuzzy for me (which is funny because I love one and hate the other). At the same time it’s also a bit of a slow burn. The characters jump off the page, it’s teeming with life. I’m very excited to read the rest of the series.
Vampires, Witches, Daemons, books, what's not to love?.... Probably the length of it and the thought of having to tuck into the next two volumes. Which will no doubt be absolute tomes! I enjoyed this enough to be game for that challenge but might have to put it on hold until I have more free time.
This book really takes it's time on character development, magic, and academia. Make sure you're keen on those things before embarking!
This is a really slow burn!
This book really takes it's time on character development, magic, and academia. Make sure you're keen on those things before embarking!
This is a really slow burn!
I really really wish I hadn’t watched the show first
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
That was a lot of fun! Is this book a product of 2011? Yes. Is it adult academic twilight? Yes. Was it unnecessarily long? Probably. But I had a great time and high-school me has gotten enough psychoanalysis for my 32-year-old self to give her a hard time about enjoying a fated love story between a witch and a vampire.
Maybe I’ll regret that after another 600+ pages of these characters, but I’m up for the adventure either way!
Maybe I’ll regret that after another 600+ pages of these characters, but I’m up for the adventure either way!
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No