Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
A Discovery of Witches  By  cover art

A Discovery of Witches

By: Deborah Harkness
Narrated by: Jennifer Ikeda
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $29.25

Buy for $29.25

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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)

Featured Article: 25 of the Best Witchy Listens to Cast a Spell for Halloween


Spooky season is upon us, and it's the perfect time of the year to sink into some wonderful witchy listens—although to be honest, we don't need an excuse to enjoy great stories about the fascinating world of witches. Whether you're into fantastical fiction tales of magic, the more practical informational guides on how to practice witchcraft, or historical tales about the real lives of famous witches, we've rounded up some of the very best witch audiobooks.

What listeners say about A Discovery of Witches

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    31,874
  • 4 Stars
    8,374
  • 3 Stars
    3,247
  • 2 Stars
    1,358
  • 1 Stars
    1,074
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    30,855
  • 4 Stars
    6,338
  • 3 Stars
    1,950
  • 2 Stars
    465
  • 1 Stars
    385
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    27,628
  • 4 Stars
    7,078
  • 3 Stars
    2,857
  • 2 Stars
    1,236
  • 1 Stars
    1,150

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really engaging

The story is engaging and well written, however it's hard to get past some of the things Matthew does for Diana. He does state that hes possessive and that it's a trait all vampires have, however it goes to the extreme and all she does is make excuses for it.

I love the world the author created and the way she wove real history into the story. It makes it all very believable. I'm excited to read the next and will definitely recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy genre.

The narration is phenomenal. She does all the accents well and you always know which character is speaking! I will be adding her to my favorites list!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome Read!!!

I can't wait to start the next book! Complex, and well thought out! The Characters are well developed and the storyline is super! Wow!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Grown up Twilight

Can’t wait for the next book now! Truly great story line. This will be a series to remember

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing series

great series wonderfully written very descriptive makes you feel like you are there absolutely love it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must read for fans of Outlander, Harry Potter and Aragon series!!

I had read some bad reviews of this book and was concerned that I wouldn’t like it. But much to the contrary, I got caught right up in it! It does have parts that will remind you of Outlander and of course Harry Potter with the magic intertwined in it. But the story has its own twists and I loved it! I can’t wait to listen to the other two books!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent storytelling.

I have had a wonderful time enjoying the dips back into history, some history I had even forgot, some of it romantic and some truly dire
The narrator, Jennifer Ikeda, was excellent, able to make every character unique and alive. I am very happy to dive into the next installment with no hesitation.
Thank you Deborah Harkness and Jennifer Ikeda and all others that made this such a great entertainment

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Discovery of Witches is one of the best. Amazing characters, A unique perspective on “creatures”. Full of great description, it draws you in, you won’t be disappointed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Late to the Show

Glad I arrived. A truly fantastic read. Right up my alley. Ready for Book 2.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!!

Beautiful performance of an amazingly entertaining and delicious book. Can’t wait for the next one!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable story;talented reader

The talented reading of the story made it so easy to follow. You really begin to escape into the story.
The story itself is a wonderful twist to vampires, witches and other creatures. I am truly enjoying and I am looking forward to moving on to the next book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!