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A review by ros_lanta
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love this book. It has great characters, an interesting plot, lots of atmosphere, and intriguing worldbuilding. It's by far the best fantasy/paranormal romance novel I've ever read.
That said, the book will not suit everyone. Fantasy readers may dislike the focus on romance and occasional steamy scenes. Readers looking for a romance focus may be disconcerted by the slow pace and occasional academic feel of the book, with (for example) detailed descriptions of alchemical texts. (Some people may also be disconcerted with Matthew's slightly controlling personality - but, well, it is a vampire novel, Matthew did not grow up in the 20th/21st centuries, and Diana does not allow him to dominate her. You may want to avoid the book if that is likely to be an issue for you though.)
For anyone who likes a combination of fantasy, romance and history, though, I can't recommend this book enough. The author is herself a historian and her knowledge is scattered throughout the novel (and even more so in book 2). The first half of the novel is also set at the University of Oxford, with a strong focus on academia. As someone who has visited the Bodleian Library in Oxford several times, I loved its depiction in the book.
I've heard the book prescribed as 'pretentious' and it is, but I like that about it (as did the reviewer who first used that description). There are scenes where Matthew and Diana are wine tasting, attending yoga classes and other such activities. Yes, they're pretentious, but they're fun and romantic too. Frankly there's a lot about the book that could be deemed wish fulfilment (Matthew is very rich!), but again, I quite like that in a romance novel, and it does fit with the vampire mythos.
This is the first book in a series and there is a lot of setup for things that often aren't resolved until later novels. Diana is also very much new to her magical abilities in book 1, and doesn't know how to use them - rest assured that this does not remain the case by book 3!
The greatest strengths of this series to my mind are the worldbuilding and the characters. The author has clearly spent a lot of time thinking about how the three societies of vampires, witches and daemons work and how they interact with each other. Many of the side characters are fascinating (arguably even more so than the two leads), although it isn't really until future books in the series that most of them get a lot of time and attention, and one of the biggest fan favourites is only introduced in book 2.
Atmospheric, carefully thought out and skillfully written, this is a gripping novel that some people will absolutely adore. It just isn't for everyone.
That said, the book will not suit everyone. Fantasy readers may dislike the focus on romance and occasional steamy scenes. Readers looking for a romance focus may be disconcerted by the slow pace and occasional academic feel of the book, with (for example) detailed descriptions of alchemical texts. (Some people may also be disconcerted with Matthew's slightly controlling personality - but, well, it is a vampire novel, Matthew did not grow up in the 20th/21st centuries, and Diana does not allow him to dominate her. You may want to avoid the book if that is likely to be an issue for you though.)
For anyone who likes a combination of fantasy, romance and history, though, I can't recommend this book enough. The author is herself a historian and her knowledge is scattered throughout the novel (and even more so in book 2). The first half of the novel is also set at the University of Oxford, with a strong focus on academia. As someone who has visited the Bodleian Library in Oxford several times, I loved its depiction in the book.
I've heard the book prescribed as 'pretentious' and it is, but I like that about it (as did the reviewer who first used that description). There are scenes where Matthew and Diana are wine tasting, attending yoga classes and other such activities. Yes, they're pretentious, but they're fun and romantic too. Frankly there's a lot about the book that could be deemed wish fulfilment (Matthew is very rich!), but again, I quite like that in a romance novel, and it does fit with the vampire mythos.
This is the first book in a series and there is a lot of setup for things that often aren't resolved until later novels. Diana is also very much new to her magical abilities in book 1, and doesn't know how to use them - rest assured that this does not remain the case by book 3!
The greatest strengths of this series to my mind are the worldbuilding and the characters. The author has clearly spent a lot of time thinking about how the three societies of vampires, witches and daemons work and how they interact with each other. Many of the side characters are fascinating (arguably even more so than the two leads), although it isn't really until future books in the series that most of them get a lot of time and attention, and one of the biggest fan favourites is only introduced in book 2.
Atmospheric, carefully thought out and skillfully written, this is a gripping novel that some people will absolutely adore. It just isn't for everyone.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Torture, and Kidnapping
Minor: Murder