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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“It begins with absence and desire.
It begins with blood and fear.
It begins with a discovery of witches.”
SOLID 5 STARS
This is the longest book I've read this year, the longest and the most complex book.
[b:A Discovery of Witches|8667848|A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy, #1)|Deborah Harkness|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1525097370s/8667848.jpg|13190160] is about witches, vampires, alchemy, the Congregation and A LOT OF HISTORIES. And do not forget the Oxford sets and college's sphere.
It's about a witch named, Dr. Diana Bishop an alchemy researcher and historian whom accidentally summoned Ashmole 782-it turns out it's the Book of Life, the book which important for all creatures (witches, vampires and daemons)- for her research at Bodleian Library. Diana Bishop doesn't do magic because she wants to live normal, as human. And then, there's a +-500 hundred years old vampire, Professor Matthew de Clairmont whom interested too with Ashmole 782. Their meeting's changed everything and affected other creatures and somehow, threatened the existence of the Congregation. That's why the Congregation wants to take Diana Bishop.
My thoughts about this book
The only reason I bought because I love the show so much, like OMG! Matthew Goode as a vampire, I'm losing my sh*t... And also, Matthew Goode and Teresa Palmer's chemistry as Matthew and Diana is also superb!
First thing this book arrived, I thought, "this book is thick." hahaha
so yap, there's so much histories and puzzles. Somehow, this book confused me with its history references. But I learned a lot.
My favorite part of this book is Matthew de Clairmont, he's so protective over Diana. Like, so sweet and so gentle. I like the part when Diana met Ysabeau de Clairmont and ride horse together with Matthew.
Also when Diana shows her ability as a witch, such as witchwater, mind-reading, timewalker, witchfire. MY BADASS GIRL!!!! Other characters like Sarah Bishop and Emily Mather are my spirit animal.. Hahaha, they're so salty.
The ending of this book was bittersweet as Matthew and Diana were hiding in "time" to avoid the Congregation or Gerbert or Domenico , I can't wait to read [b:Shadow of Night|11559200|Shadow of Night (All Souls Trilogy, #2)|Deborah Harkness|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320604137s/11559200.jpg|16499524]
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
Loved it!
Second read - I liked it more this time but yeah the timeline is atrocious like they’re 100% in after like a month
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While I was nervous about listening to the audiobook after not really enjoying the TV show (only season 1, and years ago!) I was pleasantly surprised to find myself engaging with the narration and characters, and the unfolding plot and mysteries kept secret in the past, in magic, and in blood.
If you're on the fence, give it a go! I'm glad I did
If you're on the fence, give it a go! I'm glad I did
The book started off interesting, the world of "A Discovery of Witches" seems to be the final draft of what other books of the kind strive for but can't quite get to (in terms of supernatural creatures in the human world). At first it was a 5-star read for me but not for long.
The info-dumping, "telling" instead of "showing" and the clumsy 3d person narration almost made me close the book and throw it away (maybe a little less dramatic). The only reason I pulled through was the 1st person POV chapters (even though Diana Bishop isn't the most likable character) there was something intriguing in the intellectual characters and their academic discourse on curious topics. The mystery of the Ashmole 782 is another reason.
Even though some of the chapters closer to the middle were not as necessary for the sake of the story, I feel, the narration and the quality of writing seemed to have improved with each page. And till the end, the book added some stars to my rating.
Strangely, my favourite part of the book is the witch house. Literally. The way it is described is quite unique, I suppose (not to say more).
I did not like all of the interactions between the characters and the arrival of some of the characters was a little too "convenient" to my liking (like Nathaniel and Sophie).
Another thing that I had a trouble dealing with was the insta-love between Diana and Matthew. Apart from this, Matthew's protectiveness issues etc. seemed a little too much. I did like the parallel with wolves but still, the man is 1500 years old, one would imagine he'd be less of a walking time-bomb.
Also, how many homes does Diana Bishop have? How can she instantly feel at home at Sept-Tour and the why does she say "Home" when they're travelling back in time in the end? She has never been there, how can she experience that?? That one word threw me out of the narration.
The final chapter with the close-3d-person narration was quite well-written, I suppose. I definitely saw the difference with the earlier ones. Let's hope the writing improves in the following two books. Also, the final feeling around the house made me feel that Diana and Matthew were arriving back from their time-travel at that very time. I wonder if that's so.
I give this book a rating of 3 stars. Even though it has many flaws, at the very least it isn't completely predictable and the magic system is pretty intriguing. I will also give the remaining books a chance because I like the world and the historical and scientific aspects of it. And for once the main character isn't a 17 y.o. that wants to become a vampire more than anything in the world so that's something(if ya know what I mean).
The info-dumping, "telling" instead of "showing" and the clumsy 3d person narration almost made me close the book and throw it away (maybe a little less dramatic). The only reason I pulled through was the 1st person POV chapters (even though Diana Bishop isn't the most likable character) there was something intriguing in the intellectual characters and their academic discourse on curious topics. The mystery of the Ashmole 782 is another reason.
Even though some of the chapters closer to the middle were not as necessary for the sake of the story, I feel, the narration and the quality of writing seemed to have improved with each page. And till the end, the book added some stars to my rating.
Strangely, my favourite part of the book is the witch house. Literally. The way it is described is quite unique, I suppose (not to say more).
I did not like all of the interactions between the characters and the arrival of some of the characters was a little too "convenient" to my liking (like Nathaniel and Sophie).
Another thing that I had a trouble dealing with was the insta-love between Diana and Matthew. Apart from this, Matthew's protectiveness issues etc. seemed a little too much. I did like the parallel with wolves but still, the man is 1500 years old, one would imagine he'd be less of a walking time-bomb.
Also, how many homes does Diana Bishop have? How can she instantly feel at home at Sept-Tour and the why does she say "Home" when they're travelling back in time in the end? She has never been there, how can she experience that?? That one word threw me out of the narration.
The final chapter with the close-3d-person narration was quite well-written, I suppose. I definitely saw the difference with the earlier ones. Let's hope the writing improves in the following two books. Also, the final feeling around the house made me feel that Diana and Matthew were arriving back from their time-travel at that very time. I wonder if that's so.
I give this book a rating of 3 stars. Even though it has many flaws, at the very least it isn't completely predictable and the magic system is pretty intriguing. I will also give the remaining books a chance because I like the world and the historical and scientific aspects of it. And for once the main character isn't a 17 y.o. that wants to become a vampire more than anything in the world so that's something(if ya know what I mean).
So boring so bland so typical. Hot brooding vampire follows around reluctant but extremely privileged blonde witch who hates her own magic and just wants to be nooormal blah blah yoga and coffee shops.