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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: Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence
meganpbennett's review
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: Torture, Blood, Death, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Grief, Confinement, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, and Gore
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: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
applesaucecreachur's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
God this book sucked. It seemed like Matthew’s (the centuries-old vampire love interest) name was on every page at least once, even in scenes where he did not have a physical or dialogue presence. I’ve been calling it “post-grad Twilight”
because of how many similarities there are – Falling ridiculously fast for a vampire who watches the MC sleep, is controlling, and who constantly is explaining how dangerous of a predator he is (ya got that right, pal).
It took everything in me to be able to finish this thing. And I was SO excited about a lighthearted book of witchcraft! How do people enjoy it? Jeez.
... Although, that being said, I REALLY enjoyed the Bishops’ house. It was hands-down the best character. And Em and Sarah were actually a halfway-decent depiction of lesbians.
because of how many similarities there are – Falling ridiculously fast for a vampire who watches the MC sleep, is controlling, and who constantly is explaining how dangerous of a predator he is (ya got that right, pal).
It took everything in me to be able to finish this thing. And I was SO excited about a lighthearted book of witchcraft! How do people enjoy it? Jeez.
... Although, that being said, I REALLY enjoyed the Bishops’ house. It was hands-down the best character. And Em and Sarah were actually a halfway-decent depiction of lesbians.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Death, Torture, and Blood
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Animal death, and Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage and Infertility
mj_james_writes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A Discovery of Witches
By. Deborah Harkness
P. 592
Format: Paper/Audio
Rating: ***
***********************
I have heard a lot about A Discovery of Witches over the years, to the point where I kept putting off reading it. It seemed intimidating, an epic historic fantasy that looks at the paranormal aspects of society. Imagine my surprise when I finally pick up the book and discover that at its core A Discovery of Witches is a paranormal romance.
The book starts out great. Diana Bishop is a PhD studying alchemy. She spends her days studying old manuscripts in libraries and denying her magic, because she is a witch. Except she ends up calling an ancient manuscript from the tomb of the library and now the entire underworld is out to use her.
Up until this point I absolutely adored the book. The writing is excellent. The plot is engaging. I was hooked on the familiar, yet not too familiar, aspects of the paranormal.
Then Diana starts to fall for an old, very old, vampire named Matthew Clairmont. Diana looses her strong independent women vibes and gets in a toxic relationship with Matthew. Except it is not described as toxic in the book. No, it is destined and preordained. Diana has some problems with Matthew controlling her life completely, but what are you going to do? After all he is set in his ways.
I nearly put the book down, but my Insta friends told me that it got better. It did. The relationship lost the main focus and we moved back onto the plot. Matthew calmed down some, but the relationship was never called out for being toxic. If anything there was just more toxic characters brought it so that Matthew didn’t look quite as bad.
I plan on reading the second book, but I admit that I am concerned.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
georgiaaa's review
worst book i've ever tried to read
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Stalking
massivepizzacrust's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a deceptively long book, with almost 600 pages when it looks from the outside like it should have closer to 350. It's also an absolute breeze to read and, though I have to dock a star for what I think is a pretty unhealthy start to a relationship, it's my new favorite slightly guilty read series.
Reread in 2020: I needed to get back to this because of *waves broadly* and I enjoyed it just the same this time around. I almost never reread but I needed something comforting and addictive for finals season.
Reread in 2020: I needed to get back to this because of *waves broadly* and I enjoyed it just the same this time around. I almost never reread but I needed something comforting and addictive for finals season.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Torture, Medical content, Death, Confinement, Blood, Animal death, and Sexual content
Minor: Child death, Infertility, and Toxic relationship
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