Deborah E. Harkness

Deborah Harkness

Witch and Yale historian Diana Bishop discovers an enchanted manuscript, attracting the attention of 1,500-year-old vampire Matthew Clairmont.

A Discovery of Witches

Discovering a magical manuscript in Oxford's library, scholar Diana Bishop, a descendant of witches who has rejected her heritage, inadvertently unleashes a fantastical underworld of daemons, witches and vampires whose activities center around an enchanted treasure.

Leah Diaz 

*Now a major Sky original production* THE NUMBER ONE INTERNATIONAL AND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER. A Discovery of Witches is the first in the must-have, must-read ALL SOULS trilogy. It begins with absence and desire. It begins with blood and fear. It begins with a discovery of witches. Fall under the spell of Diana and Matthew in the stunning first volume of the No.1 internationally bestselling ALL SOULS trilogy. A world of witches, daemons and vampires. A manuscript which holds the secrets of their past and the key to their future. Diana and Matthew - the forbidden love at the heart of it. When historian Diana Bishop opens an alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, it's an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordered life. Though Diana is a witch of impeccable lineage, the violent death of her parents while she was still a child convinced her that human fear is more potent than any witchcraft. Now Diana has unwittingly exposed herself to a world she's kept at bay for years; one of powerful witches, creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires. Sensing the significance of Diana's discovery, the creatures gather in Oxford, among them the enigmatic Matthew Clairmont, a vampire geneticist. Diana is inexplicably drawn to Matthew and, in a shadowy world of half-truths and old enmities, ties herself to him without fully understanding the ancient line they are crossing. As they begin to unlock the secrets of the manuscript and their feelings for each other deepen, so the fragile balance of peace unravels... Five reasons to read A Discovery of Witches and the All Souls Trilogy 'Rich, thrilling ... A captivating and romantic ripping yarn' E L James 'Intelligent and off-the-wall ... irrestistible to Twilight fans' Sunday Times 'I could lose myself in here and never want to come out ... Utterly enchanting on every level' Manda Scott 'Exciting amounts of spells, kisses and battles, and is recounted with enchanting, page-turning panache' Marie Claire 'A bubbling cauldron of illicit desire ... an assured saga that blends romance with fantasy' Daily Mail

Now a major TV series (All Souls 1)

Jess

“Make your next move before they make theirs. Don’t wait your turn like a good girl, and don’t be duped into thinking your current freedom means you’re safe. Decide what to do to survive and do it”.

slipping into the night's darkness as if it belonged to him.

It's like he's protective, but delicate about it. 

there were touches of snowflakes all along my hair, shoulders, and back, as if he were checking quickly to make sure I was all in one piece.

'there's nothing more powerful than human fear - not magic, not vampire strength. Nothing.'

As all men should agree because that is ATTRACTIVE.

Apparently Clairmont did not approve of women who opened their own car doors any more.

he was standing with one hand on the back of my chair and the other resting on the surface infant of me. His broad shoulders were curved around me like the wings of a falcon shielding his prey.

Book one of the New York Times-bestselling All Souls trilogy—"a wonderfully imaginative grown-up fantasy with all the magic of Harry Potter and Twilight” (People). Look for the hit TV series “A Discovery of Witches,” streaming on AMC Plus, Sundance Now and Shudder. Season 2 premieres January 9, 2021! Deborah Harkness’s sparkling debut, A Discovery of Witches, has brought her into the spotlight and galvanized fans around the world. In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and a descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, deep in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont. Harkness has created a universe to rival those of Anne Rice, Diana Gabaldon, and Elizabeth Kostova, and she adds a scholar's depth to this riveting tale of magic and suspense. The story continues in book two, Shadow of Night, and concludes with The Book of Life.

A Novel

Kass Smythe

Kaari Elle

Love the magic system, love the twists turns and surprises, but I feel as though the story lost me at times and I am hopeful the romance fleshes out a little more (I want more angst, more chemistry) it is a little instant love but if a hot vampire became obsessed with me I would also give in. Excited for book two!

Monserrat Navarro 

Simply not understanding the hate this book is receiving. Taste is entirely subjective but there are few things I’d like to correct in some of these top reviews I’ve seen. 
“The book has no plot.” - It’s a romance novel. The plot is the slow burn romance, with underlying themes of trying to discover this mysterious manuscript and figuring out the origin of these creatures. It’s a journey. 
I’m not one for vampire novels- I think sometimes they’re a little comical for me with just how old the authors make the vampires in question. But it did keep me entertained. The characters are well fleshed out. The author maintains a great balance between character development, story development, and dialogue. I’ll admit Harkness goes a little over the top with the unnecessary description of wine tasting that I simply skimmed over. 
I’m pretty generous with my ratings, a 5 star for me means i enjoyed it enough to continue the series. It kept me engaged, I am truly interested to see how the story develops. It begins slowly (I believe it didn’t pick up until approximately the halfway point) 
I’m glad I didn’t listen to the reviews. The characters truly are fantastic and ultimately that’s where the 5 star comes from. It’s rare I find fleshed out characters like this.

Vicky  Nuñez 

I couldn't finish this book. I tried really hard to finish it, but it's just not gonna happen.
A Discovery of Witches is not a bad book, it is very nicely written. 
If I had to describe it in three words it would be: a better written twilight .
Even though it was so different I felt like it was something I had already read and I felt no intrigue.
So for those who loved Twilight and want a different version between older characters, this is for you.

chloe rae

*3.5

This was a strange read for me. There were some parts I really enjoyed, and then some parts I found suuuper frustrating. 
Firstly, I loved the history and atmosphere of this novel. They were so interesting! The history added something so cool to the story. And I really loved the setting as well. I want to go to Oxford and study in the library for days on end! I could just picture myself there, man. 
I also loved the chemistry between our two main characters. I actually really liked all the characters. I loved the families of both Diana and Mathew. Everyone in the book was super intriguing and I definitely wanted more from some of them in the end. 
The last half of the book was definitely my favorite. When everyone came together towards the end, I couldn’t wait to see what happened. I loved how the house almost felt like it’s own separate character. And I’m definitely excited to see what happens next!
HOWEVER 
This story was was too long. She could’ve cut out 200 pages easy. Matthew was so controlling and possessive, and they kept trying to justify it but it just wasn’t working. It was actual insta-love, which I don’t hate as much as most people, but there was a part in here that was just too much too soon. 
The TV series, which I watched before this, paced everything out so much better than the books. And I found TV Diana to be much more independent and confident than Book Diana. She could be super annoying in the books and I’d just want to knock some sense into her.
Overall, excited to continue on but definitely didn’t blow my mind.

This was a reread about 3 or 4 years after my first time reading this book and I still loved it. This book will always be firmly in my heart and will always hold my "witchy academia" interest. The blend on historical academics and magic bring on such a nostalgic feel. I've never once been to Oxford or England but the descriptions in this book make me feel like I'm sitting right there in the Bodliean with Diana. 

Cassidy Webb

Elle May

I really enjoyed the story, my biggest issue is how drawn out parts of the book were it seemed unnecessary but I'm looking forward to reading Shadow of Night next and seeing where the next part of the story takes Matthew and Diana.

Tatiana

A Discovery of Witches: 3.5/5

Deborah Harkness knows how to tell a story, and this was a damn good one to tell. The world-building is on another level. I don't think I've ever read another book with as much context or detail about the setting as this one does. It really brings these characters to life. 

I found myself really connected to Diana and actually following her emotional journey and arc. For example, feeling weary about Matthew and Ysabou and gradually coming to love them in the end. I don't know if I've ever felt so in tune with a character's feelings but I absolutely loved it.

The only thing I would say is that some of the book is pretty slow towards the middle and it takes a minute to pick up, but these parts inevitably are really important to the set up of the next book and unfurling the mysteries within the world.

Overall this was a great read and I am excited to dive into Shadow of Night.

okay i liked it! i liked how the writing style really made sense for Diana. i usually stay away from first person pov's but i liked it here. the way she was thinking really made me believe that she was a historian and just felt so intelligent. i was kind of annoyed with how she literally only had like 3 scenes where matthew wasn't there but i kind of love romance so that's okay... also the scenes in the house with everyone was so amazing! the book really portrayed how close all the characters got in such a short amount of time. by the end i really believed that aunt sarah and miriam could be besties. im super excited to keep reading the series!

bella <3

Melissa Palmer

This was a reread for me. This is one of my favorite series....Diana is a witch who doesn't know how to use her magic. She falls in love with Matthew, a vampire. Great writing and interesting characters.

Annnddddd the real-time read is finished! Super fun to do this and dive back into this series. You can see how well Deb wove things into the series and gave little hints, even in book one. It was great to read all of the little easter eggs! 

(Bre)anne✨

TW to be added later

Annnddddd the real-time read is finished! Super fun to do this and dive back into this series. You can see how well Deb wove things into the series and gave little hints, even in book one. It was great to read all of the little easter eggs! 

A book about a woman who pushes away her witch powers to be normal. Only to find a book, for her research in alchemy, that changes her life. She finds herself in the presence of vampires, demons, and other witches who are looking for a text that is said to be the beginning of their creation. Wonderful writing and waiting for the next book to be available to read!

Carmen Slzr

Dark academia fantasy vibes. I loved this book so much. The world building was amazing and fascinating. There are so many layers to Diana and Matthew and the whole storyline in general. Definitely recommend.

Melanie Knight

I loved this book! It's like a grown-up and more sophisticated version of Twilight, with a strong female witch as the main character, surrounded by a host of Witches, vampires, daemons and humans. Lots of romance, plenty of mystery and suspense and nice touches of historical references.

Cindi Coan

So far, I'm drawn into this book - I look forward to getting back to Diana and Matthew every night to see what they are doing now. I'm thankful it's a trilogy. I haven't been so quickly drawn into a world since I read the Outlander series 10 years ago.

Really good book. Very similar to the series although there is more detail and slightly different scenarios that make the book better than the series. 

Niamh

Joanna Laxon

Brooklyn Montri

Book was very good, love the plot but got confused at some parts, it’s fine i figured it out :)

“As far as I can tell there are only two emotions that keep the world spinning year after year...One is fear. The other is desire.”

Wow. This book has such a rich story and so many plot twists! When I started this I was not ready for the level of emotion and attachment I would form to this story and these characters.

Matthew seemed a little toxic at times, but I suppose he is a Vampire with heightened protective instincts so...Every other character I absolutely adored. Ysabeau honestly holds my heart; her developing relationship with Diana is so sweet. 

The last couple of chapters were so wholesome, I want to be a part of this new family. Was not prepared for the genius comedy in this book because I was ROLLING at points haha. Also this story is so cool?! The Knights of Lazarus...damn.

Excited to read the next one but need a break first lol - I'll be real, this book felt as long as it looked. Took me a whole month but when I was reading I thoroughly enjoyed the escapism. Also read listening to classical music - would recommend!

“As far as I can tell there are only two emotions that keep the world spinning year after year...One is fear. The other is desire.”

Wow. This book has such a rich story and so many plot twists! When I started this I was not ready for the level of emotion and attachment I would form to this story and these characters.

Matthew seemed a little toxic at times, but I suppose he is a Vampire with heightened protective instincts so...Every other character I absolutely adored. Ysabeau honestly holds my heart; her developing relationship with Diana is so sweet. 

The last couple of chapters were so wholesome, I want to be a part of this new family. Was not prepared for the genius comedy in this book because I was ROLLING at points haha. Also this story is so cool?! The Knights of Lazarus...damn.

Excited to read the next one but need a break first lol - I'll be real, this book felt as long as it looked. Took me a whole month but when I was reading I thoroughly enjoyed the escapism. Also read listening to classical music - would recommend!

Ayesha W

Love every single part of this book 😍😍

Hope Gamble

Honestly, I started reading this because I always try to read the book before watching the show/movie. I fell in love with the whole story. Best decision ever.

Vilandra

The first half plus of this book I would say is 5 stars. I gave it 4 because it becomes a bit Twilight-esque towards the end.

Lane Hokanson

Honestly, I did not finish this book. That's pretty rare for me - but I was 600 pages in and it was giving me all the Twilight vibes without any of the hilarity or steam. I know it's popular, but it missed me.

An epic, richly inventive, historically sweeping, magical romance.When historian Diana Bishop opens an alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, it's an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordered life.

Sophie Hutchings

Amazing. Must read for ADULTS who want a fantasy book (with vampires and witches) that is not in the teen section. Great historical references through out all three books, more mature storyline and brilliant writing.

Sade A

"A faded Aubusson rug stretched across the floors anchored with a collection of original William Morris funiture. Somehow the fifteenth century architecture, the eighteenth century rug and the nineteenth century rough hewn oak looked splendid together and gave the rooms the atmosphere of a select Edwardian gentlemen's club"
  


A Discovery of Witches is many things. An ode to old architecture, Oxford, Oxford University, the Ashmolean Musem, yoga, spelling out the exact clothes characters wear, Darwin, tea drinking, Wine drinking, even more wine drinking 
  (seriously drinking wine was crazy in this book, i'm still unsure how no-one ever got drunk with the amount of wine consumed)
, horseback riding, misogyny cavemen tendencies, what it isn't, is a good book. 

At over 500 pages, i'm tempted to believe that Deborah Harkness in her spare time, dabbles in finding inventive ways to torture people.

(view spoiler)[
  

  
Dear Diary,
Today i used my call slip to request books. Turns out one of the books in the pile was enscrolled. The Ashmole 782. Fancy that!!! Really didn't want to get into the whole witchy thing because as you know witchcraft isn't my thing. Returned book back to Sean. 
Ever loving not witch, Diana.

📌
Dear Diary,
Totally weird, but today i met a vampire. You would think i would be like super scared cos it was dark and we were alone and hello, stranger danger but phew "this one was tall- well over six feet...broad shoulders narrowed into slender hips which flowed into lean, muscular legs. His hands were strikingly long and agile, a mark of physiological delicacy..."
I know, legit seems insane right? me admiring him instead of being concerned for my safety but i get to that eventually. i mean i am the main character in this. What's going to happen?
Ever loving not witch, Diana.

📌
Dear Diary,
Matthew (The hot guy that could totally have murdered me) keeps hanging around. Enter operation fall in love. 
Why? He's hot, i'm available, we're every author's couple dream come true.
p.s: People seem to be going crazy about Ashmole 782. Should use my call slip to request for the book again.
Ever loving not witch, Diana.

📌
Dear Diary
Yoga!!!
D😊

📌
Dear Diary
Architechture. Omg wine!!!
Oh yeah should get back to important stuff.
D😊

📌
Dear Diary,
Tried to request the book with my call slip (honestly really not sure why every one is bugging this much). 
OMG!! Sean must be insane. He said the book hasn't being called up in ages. Weird!! He literally gave me this book.
p.s: Honestly, i think it would be better for everyone involved if i said the book went back into the library and i tried to use my witchy power to call it out but it didn't work this time unlike the last time. 
Yeah? That's what i'll go with now.
D😊

📌
Dear Diary,
Matthew keeps getting angry over me asking the most simple questions. I would ex him, but that's really not the story i'm going with.
Ride with him till i die. Would kick my family to the curb for him. 
Too soon? we're falling in love.
"In the center of my soul, a rusty chain began to unwind. It freed itself, link by link from where it had rested unobserved waiting for him...The chain continued to drop, to an unfathomable depth where there was nothing but darkness and Matthew. At last it snapped to its full length anchoring me to a vampire"
D😊

📌
Dear Diary,
Totally shaken. Someone really tried it!! Pictures of Mom and Dad dead in Nigeria sent to me. Matthew is taking me to France to stay with Mummy Vampire.
D😔

📌
Dear Diary,
Mummy vampire isn't crazy pleased to see me. Ashmole 782? What's that?
Going horse back riding. Drinking wine later. Fab architecture by the way.
Toodles.
D😊

📌
Dear Diary,
Some scary looking vampire showed up today. Matthew and i can't do the whole inter-species love. Ugh!!! 
I called the Aunts to yell at them. How could they not tell me about this?
What? i wasn't interested in anything witchcraft? 
This is not my fault. Aunts' at fault.
p.s ❤❤ conquers all. Matthew and Diana 4eva. In your face congregation.
Ashmole 782? Can you focus please!!!!
D😊

📌
Dear Diary,
Matthew isn't feeling the whole "in your face congregation thing". 
Something urgent came up at Oxford so he had to go back.
Almost killed myself (literally) crying tears that turned into the ocean??(i don't get it either)
p.s: Almost forgot i'm like an OG Witch. Word!!!! Can do like crazy things you can only imagine in your wildest imagination.
D😊

📌
Dear Diary,
Spending the day with Mummy Vampire. The worst!!! 
She took me on a diet hunt. Considering becoming a vegetarian after this. 
Anyways, honestly not sure what she hoped to achieve. Would love Matthew even with all the dietary restrictions.
Ashmole 782? Really??? Honestly if i have to ask you to focus one more time. My love is at stake (No pun intended)
Matt & D 4eva ❤❤❤❤

📌
Dear Diary,
MATTHEW IS BACK!!! He kissed me. We're married. No he literally kissed me and said we were married. Got freaky in bed but no sex. Totally important you should know that.
D😊

📌
Dear Diary,
THE WORST!!! 
Kidnapped and Tortured!!! France is the pits!!!
Heading back to New York to recuperate at the Aunts' place with Matthew❤❤.
D🤢

📌
Dear Diary,
Honestly New York is a blur. 
Made a deal with a goddess (long story, not sure how it plays in with witches, vampires and daemons but i feel like i'm making this up as i go along) Played scrabble though. Ashmole 782?? Look i don't know what the drama is all about with that book.
But we're building an army. You can't tell me who to love.
Doesn't correspond with Ashmole 782? Look i honestly have no idea what the fuss is with that book.
I have to go back to the past with Matthew ❤❤ now anyways.
Toodles.
Totally a Witch now, Diana

  

 (hide spoiler)]


  Honestly, wouldn't recommend this book to anyone but hey, if architecture, yoga, wine drinking, Oxford and let's be honest here, questionable love stories is something you think you can get behind, then snap this book up.

A Discovery of Witches

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