A Discovery of Witches

A Novel

By: Deborah Harkness

Narrated by: Jennifer Ikeda

Length: 23 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Book one of the New York Times best-selling All Souls Series—"a wonderfully imaginative grown-up fantasy with all the magic of Harry Potter and Twilight” (People).

Now “[a] hot show that’s like Twilight meets Outlander” (Thrillist) airing on AMC and BBC America, as well as streaming on Sundance Now and Shudder.

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, book three, The Book of Life, and the fourth in the series, Time’s Convert.

©2011 Deborah Harkness (P)2011 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A wonderfully imaginative grown-up fantasy with all the magic of Harry Potter or Twilight.... An irresistible tale of wizardry, science and forbidden love.” (People)

“Romantic, erudite, and suspenseful.... Harkness attends to every scholarly and emotional detail with whimsy, sensuality, and humor.” (O, The Oprah Magazine)

“A thoroughly grown-up novel packed with gorgeous historical detail and a gutsy, brainy heroine to match.... Harkness writes with thrilling gusto about the magical world.” (Entertainment Weekly)

Love this Book!1

Would you consider the audio edition of A Discovery of Witches to be better than the print version?

I would consider the audio version the best Jennifer Ikeda is a excellent Narrator. She brings each and every creature to life.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Discovery of Witches?

I love the moment she met Mathew and it changed her whole life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I tried to listen to this in one sitting but it is quite long. It was very hard to pause to handle everyday life.

Any additional comments?

I loved this book and have continued to the next in this wonderful saga.

Why did I wait so long?

This book was enrapturing. I thought about it all the time when I wasn't listening and how much I wanted to know more about the romance of Matthew and Diana. Such a slow burn but it definitely makes you want to listen more. I would recommend for the paranormal, the history and the love story. The layers and mystery within are great. Definitely a must read.

Witches, vampires and demons-O my!

What did you love best about A Discovery of Witches?

It was different than your typical paranormal stories.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Discovery of Witches?

Watching Matthew and Diana's relationship blossom.

Which character – as performed by Jennifer Ikeda – was your favorite?

Matthew's. She did great with his accent.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The intimate scenes between Matthew and Diana. While there wasn't any sex, it was still extremely passionate.

Enraptured

This was a wonderful tapestry of fantasy and romance weaved into rich details that entices the reader into a world of mystery and suspense. The sequel is eagerly awaited.

Great Story

If you could sum up A Discovery of Witches in three words, what would they be?

Interesting, entertaining and excellent

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dianna the main character, I loved the way she thinks.

What does Jennifer Ikeda bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She reads all of the accents perfectly

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I really liked how well written it was

Any additional comments?

Great book and well written for all ages.

An Enjoyable Potion

Ingredients
1&1/4 cup of Twilight (diced)
3 tablespoons of Harry Potter extract
2 cups of historical academia
1 bottle of wine (preferably an old vintage)
heat romance until steamy

Awesome Book! A must read!

This book is like a history lesson, Twilight and Harry Potter all wrapped up into one! Full of true history references, this has an adult story that is going to be made into a trilogy! This is written by an actual history professor at USC.
I have listened 3 times to this book and it does not get old. Can't wait until the next one comes out!

Good after the action begins.

Any additional comments?

I thought the first half of this book was drawn out longer than it needed to be. The cat and mouse love story was a bit over the top for me and I had trouble believing that they would "fall in love" so quickly. The trials they endured, however, would have been more than enough to solidify this.

The story began for me when Diana was taken. After that, the pace picked up, the historical references and the social impact of everything became very interesting. I like how the author portrayed witches, vampires, and demons. I also really liked how she explained away some of the "myths" about vampires and witches.

By the end, I definitely wanted to keep reading the trilogy.

Great First Book in a Series!

I really liked A Discovery of Witches. The story is innovative, and very interesting. The narrator really did the voices well, and made me feel like I knew these characters. I will continue to read books by Deborah Harkness.

GREAT READ!

If you could sum up A Discovery of Witches in three words, what would they be?

Dramatic, Mysterious and Love

Who was your favorite character and why?

Diana and Matthew. I can't name just one character because without the other there would be no story to tell.

What does Jennifer Ikeda bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoy listening to the narrarator. This book is long and very detailed. She keeps you interested because you have to pay attention. This is not a book you can casually listen to and grasp all that is happening.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This book was too detailed and informative to listen in one sitting, and too long. I enjoyed being able to engross myself in it when I could. I would find myself getting up early on saturday and sunday mornings just to pour myself a cup of coffee and sit in the living room all alone listening for hours. I also spent many hours working in the yard in the hot sun because I was lost in the book. My yard looked awesome this summer.

Any additional comments?

I was very glad the second book was already written because it is a very sudden ending. I am now almost done with the second book and can't wait to see what happens.