Book Review: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

A Discovery of Witches

Author: Deborah Harkness
Paperback: 592 pages
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (December 27, 2011)
Amazon Link

Note: I received this book free from the publiser, Penguin (Non-Classics). The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

The book tells the story of Diana Bishop, a daughter of two powerful witches. Her parents were murdered by humans and because of this, she is reluctant to use her witch power. When she accidentally discovers an old magical manuscript, every creature in the city came stalking her. They all want to have this magical manuscript and they would kill Diana if they have to. 

When Matthew Clairmont hears that the long-lost magical manuscript is found by a witch, he starts stalking her too. He befriends Diana with the intention of stealing the manuscript from her. After a few days with Diana, he develops an unwanted attraction, he accidentally falls in love with her and that is forbidden. A vampire cannot mate with a witch, or else they will be destroyed!

I loved this book! A very long book, 592 pages but I finished reading this in just three days! The author wove a great story of witches, vampires, demons, and other supernatural creatures. The story is captivating and full of emotions. I laughed and cried with Matthew and Diana, oh their forbidden love affair. I loved Matthew's mother Ysabeau and her companion Marthe. Oh I love almost all the characters and the story setting...

This is the first volume for the All Souls Trilogy and I can't wait to read the second book, Shadow of the Night which will be released on July 10, 2012. This is highly-recommended for lovers of paranormal-romance.

About the book:

In a sparkling debut, A Discovery of Witches became the "it" book of early 2011, bringing Deborah Harkness into the spotlight and galvanizing fans around the world. In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and the descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript 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 story of magic and suspense

About the author:

Deborah Harkness is a professor of history at the University of Southern California. She has received Fullbright, Guggenheim, and National Humanities Center fellowships, and her most recent scholarly work is The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution. She also writes an award-winning wine blog.