A Discovery of Witches

All Souls, Book 1

By: Deborah Harkness

Narrated by: Jennifer Ikeda

Length: 23 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a major Sky original production.

The number on international and Sunday Times best seller.

A Discovery of Witches is the first in the must-have, must-listen All Souls trilogy.

It begins with absence and desire. It begins with blood and fear. It begins with a discovery of witches.

Diana Bishop, a young scholar and 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 must navigate with a vampire, Matthew Clairmont.

This manuscript, Ashmole 782, holds the secrets of their past...and the key to their future.

©2011 Deborah Harkness (P)2011 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Rich, thrilling...captivating." (E. L. James)

"Intelligent and off-the-wall." (The Sunday Times)

"A bubbling cauldron of illicit desire." (Daily Mail)

If I could give more stars I would!

Dragonfly in Amber meets Dracula,
and boy it's a good tale. I have already purchased the rest of the trilogy in anticipation. I just cannot wait to read them either, I have only got 20 minutes left of A discovery of Witches and I know despite the length of these books I will read them one after another. This tale is so involving, normally I am not a reader of anything that smacks of romance, but this one has me. I have gone up and down with the characters and cannot wait to see what happens next. The narrator is really good, she does not make it syrupy sweet so my gag reflex is not in any danger. So if you like Witches and you like paranormal (which is not something I enjoy normally so tit is a complete break in tradition for me) this book will keep you happy for at least 24 hours. I bet you get the other two books as well, just to see how the story goes, well I hope you do, because you will be missing out on a really good story if you don't.

Wonderful book

Absolutely adored this book. Erudite, dripping with history, wonderful and funny writing - could not put it down. The whole idea of the book is fascinating - make you look at people and on the street and wonder "Are they........?" Will not spoil it, but her theory could explain why psychiatry does not really work all the time!! The narrator Jennifer Ikeda was excellent....was able to do a variety of accents - a very creditable Australian accent, which so few seem able to manage, French (ancient and modern) and a Glaswegian accent!!!

Fantastic storytelling

Great characters, beautiful romance and a fantastic story! Jennifer Ikeda is a wonderful narrator who really transports you into the story that Deborah Harkness has masterfully crafted.

Amusing story and deeper than the TV series

Intriguing and fun story, slightly marred by the amateur and brackish English accent the narrator occasionally affects (and badly fails at).

Amazing

Easily one of my favorite books to listen to! The narrator is amazing!! So amazing!

awesome

This book is even better than the TVserie. Wow, great details and really magical

Wonderful

I read the book before I bought the audiobook and though I enjoyed the book greatly I love the audiobook even more. I loved the different accents Jennifer Ikeda did for the characters and I hope that when Deborah Harkness finishes and release the next book that Jennifer Ikeda will do the next one as well.

An absolute gem!

What did you love best about A Discovery of Witches?

Intelligent writing, thoroughly researched yet keeping a constant pace through the story.

What other book might you compare A Discovery of Witches to and why?

Perhaps some of the Diana Gabaldon books may come close.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved the scenes in the Bodleian, so much tension amongst those dusty tomes in the sphere of academe!

If you could take any character from A Discovery of Witches out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Matthew for sure. He'd be educational and sexy at the same time, what a combination!

Any additional comments?

This is a class act and it was a pleasure to hear it read by a reader with such a gift for appreciating the prose.

I am impressed!

Would you listen to A Discovery of Witches again? Why?

Honestly. It has been ages since I was last this impressed with a vampire story. This book has everything. Romance. True plot twists. Action. Intelectual stimulation. The narrator did a good job if you consider exactly how many characters is involved.

Yes the book is looooong. And yes it lost a star due to the lenght. But it is sure worth it.

I recommend this book and audiobook to all lovers of the genre even if you feel you have read it all now on witches and vamps...this book has some real plot twists that I really had fun exploring.

What did you like best about this story?

The novel plot twists.

What three words best describe Jennifer Ikeda’s voice?

Sooting and clear.

If you could take any character from A Discovery of Witches out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Hmmm. His mom. She is a treasure.

Any additional comments?

Cant go wrong with this one.

fantastic!

i loved it! not hard to finish at all! wish there were a fourth book!