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A Discovery of Witches  By  cover art

A Discovery of Witches

By: Deborah Harkness
Narrated by: Jennifer Ikeda
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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)

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What listeners say about A Discovery of Witches

Average customer ratings
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    31,895
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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!

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great listen!

the narrator made it the book come alive. it was great to listen to and i cant wait to start the next audiobook

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Dazzling!

The information, real and imagined made these characters come to life! Such a great read!

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Really Great

I have read the whole series by book a few years ago and decided to now listen to this really great series. I am so glad that I did, it allowed me to enjoy this series all over again and it also seemed to add to the wholeness of this lovely story.

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splendid

marvelous love story with a hint of the occult. absolutely spended story. Truly wonderful book.

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it's good

Started watching the show first then about half way through that started listening to and finished the book. From what I saw of the show none of the side stories are in the book. its solely Diana and Matthew and how they fell in love with each other and it's alot of detail. Got to watch the show to get the other half of the story tho.
It's good though, if you're a fan of witches and vamps and creatures in general it's a good book.
Can't wait to see how this thing concludes, 2 books left.

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A repeat reader!

I have read and listened to this book and the rest of the trilogy more times than I can remember! I still pick up details and nuances that I missed before lol...grest writing and we'll read by Jennifer.

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5 Stars

Book: It is not for some who is impatient for action, however do not let that stop you from reading or listening. I love books that make me feel emotions and this one did just that.

Audio: I listened to another book read by Jennifer Ikeda and I love her. It's hard to listen to others when I constantly compare them to her. She voices one of my favorite books that I listen to on repeat.

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Spectacular!

I've read books 1 and 2 as well as watched the show; I love the All Souls Trilogy. The narrator does a FANTASTIC job. She captures each character so perfectly. I'm listening to book 2 now!

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    3 out of 5 stars

Slow at first

I don’t normally read this kind of novel, but the title and sample lured me in. All in all, good story and the reader was quite good too.

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