Review: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Title: A Discovery of Witches
Author: Deborah Harkness
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: All Souls Trilogy, Book #1
Publisher: Penguin/Viking
Pub. Date: February 8, 2011
Received By: Publisher for Review

~ Blurb ~

A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.

If I could give out extra credit to this brilliant debut author, I certainly would! I'm convinced that this book --and series-- is the new fantasy, supernatural, romance, and suspense must-have-book of 2011 -- and maybe longer! Take what you've read about witches, daemons, and vampires, put them in a cup, cover, shake, and dump, and the results might come close to the characteristics of those supernaturals found in A Discovery of Witches! Ms. Harkness creates a spectacular fusion of historical and scientific facts, fantastical elements and creatures, fantasy, romance, and highly intellectual characters and dialogue!

The 579 pages of this rich novel are comprised of a myriad of dynamic changes -- in scenery, character development, suspenseful and mysterious circumstances -- that create and support an engaging plot and sub-plots. The brilliance and magnificence of this book and series, is that many of the circumstances encountered within the pages, are  based off of, and shrouded by, historical facts as well as loosely based parallels to moments in history. Whether directly or indirectly, handfuls of factual names, scientific information, and historical events are woven throughout the fantastical elements of the book; Effortlessly and smoothly.

A Discovery of Witches is told from the point-of-view of the main heroine, Diana Bishop, a top-notch historian with a specialty in the history of alchemy, as well as a witch descended from a line of powerful and well known witches. While conducting research in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, she calls up an ancient bewitched text that has been missing for over a century -- Ashmole 782. Her discovery and ability to open the bewitched book sends a ripple through the secretive world of witches, vampires, and daemons. Everyone has been looking for that missing manuscript for quite some time; Everyone but Diana.

Diana Bishop has renounced her identity as a witch. Well, she does use her magic occasionally, but as a scholar, she wants to achieve success on her own. Not to mention, that magic has cost her the loss of her parents at a very young age, which causes her to pull away from her deeply rooted magical identity. But, when she opens Ashmole 782, Diana soon finds that there is no escape from magic any longer. She's created a stir in the underworld of supernatural creatures that swarm upon the library at Oxford -- in search of their own answers as to why the book has finally resurfaced, and Diana is the one -- and only -- creature that has been able to break beyond its magical seal.


Diana will need all the support and help she can get if she's to evade those who seek her out. She finds an ally in a most unlikely person: Matthew Clairmont, a geneticist with a reputation of high intelligence and success in his field -- who's also a vampire. His charm, intelligence, personality, and protectiveness of Diana creates a friendship that soon develops into something neither one of them wanted, nor expected - a deep love and feeling that they were meant for each other - that dangerously draws the attention of a group of creatures set out to thwart it at all costs.

Using both their scholarly and magical backgrounds, Diana and Matthew work together to discover the truth of the missing manuscript and why it is that all three groups of creatures are determined to find it, own it, and keep it out of the hands of others.

Along the way, relationships and alliances must be established. Understanding and acceptance of each of their pasts, presences, and futures must be initiated. Denial of family names and history can not be overlooked or avoided any longer. Nobody is safe -- especially Diana and Matthew who have solidified a relationship that's forbidden. In addition, Diana and Matthew eventually learn that they may play a larger part in this war of finding the missing manuscript. Everyone starts to wonder what secrets does the manuscript really hold??

As readers, we often try to place books within categories of similar writing styles of different authors. And while I could say that some aspects remind me of Harry Potter (groups of unlikely creatures coming together to rebel against ancient  prejudices and sovereignty), Outlander (unlikely pairings; intelligent, strong female protagonist; a chance to travel between past and present), Charmed TV series (matriarchal witches -- and ghosts from the past, a forbidden love that causes supernatural upheaval), and I guess elements from Twilight and Anne Rice. 

However, with all that being said, Deborah Harkness has created a voice and world all her own. A new voice to the supernatural genre that brings us an intelligent story and dialogue, that creates subtle metaphorical representations of real life struggles brought forth by smart, carefully thought out, dynamic supernatural creatures. 

I know I keep saying this, but I loved the dynamic protagonists. Each are highly intelligent (something I value tremendously in characters), strong, independent, loyal, and persistent. Yet at the same time possess qualities, such as vulnerability,  that allows for each to grow and learn to break down barriers of prejudice, as well as learn that not all things can be solved, overcome, or achieved on one's own. You see their moments of weakness and vulnerability and naivity of circumstances, and their abilities to overcome them with the support and love of each other and their friends.

Diana and Matthew's love is subtle, strong, and real. You witness the development of feelings from casual to genuinely intense. Sex is not part of their relationship -- yet in this book, but there is some friskiness. They are still really learning about one another in this book of the trilogy, and I'm assuming that in the next installment we see them come together even more -- including physically. But, the closeness, love, and romance between them is very apparent and is depicted beautifully!

Uniquely, Ms. Harkness includes a periodic shift from the first person POV through heroine, Diana Bishop, to a third-person omniscient POV through hero, Matthew Clairmont. This combination of point-of-views allows for insight into not only Matthew's own feelings about Diana, but also about the unfolding of the suspenseful and dangerous events that are effecting them both and other supernaturals, as well as events of personal past experiences that have occurred over the course of his 1500+ years as a vampire.


~*~Final Thoughts~*~

I very highly recommend this book to anyone who's a lover of fantasy, romance, historical events and scientific information! Deborah Harkness has created an exceedingly intelligent, fantastical, and captivating world, characters, and plot that will leave readers flipping the pages through a multitude of carefully crafted turn of events. Suspense, action, romance, this book has it all!

I appreciated the way that elements were brought up in the beginning of the book and revisited again later in the book. Whether you realized it or not, everything had a purpose and place in the book, making it that more amazing that the author kept tabs on some of the most minute aspects, only to create a larger and more meaningful purpose for them in the future! 

The world building is equally dynamic as you float through the settings of scholarly libraries and buildings of England, France, and the United States. And while historical and scientific facts are peppered throughout the pages - lovers of new twists on supernatural creatures will be equally happy! Vampires, witches, daemons, and even ghosts dominate the pages. It's their story. A story where supernatural creatures live together, yet are to remain secluded, and what happens when two of them defy ancient mandates to remain together in a deep seated love. 

You'll love the characters -- each bringing something different to the table -- and their growth both personally and in terms of overcoming supernatural prejudices. Friendships and allies are forged between some of the most unlikely people. And knowledge that some tasks rely on others help, love, and support are needed to overcome dangerous and deadly events.

The author's own background as a scholarly historian and professor comes through and shines on the creation of this story - and series. It is fabulously researched -- obviously -- and Deborah's ability to carefully, almost methodically, weave the history of science and historical facts and settings throughout a world of fantasy, suspense, and romance, leaves me as both a reader and my own background in science, an immediate fan left in awe of the brilliance of this new world and story!

I applaud Deborah Harkness in her creation! This is a book that will forever grace the top row of my bookshelves and will definitely be revisited again and again. She's an author to take note of, because I think we will be hearing more and more from her and definitely about this new trilogy!