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)

Great Book

I have purchased many audible books and this is the first time I have been compelled to write a review. I loved this book! I was totally hooked in the first 5 min.,very well writen. The plot is a refreshing change from alot of other books like this. The narrator was great and really kept the story interesting. I will definately read more books by this author and narrator!!!

My first review.

I own over 610 audible books and this is my first review. Deborah Harkness has written an enthralling story. The details are mind catching and Diana and Matthew live from the beginning of the book. Jennifer Ikeda does a beautiful job of telling the story. She has lovely timing and controls her volume and pitch very well.

Harkness can not write the second book fast enough!

Really Enjoyed it...BUT

Good writing and narration but gosh darn it, it's just the beginning....we have to await the sequel and the rest of the story....

I love it - some won’t

I found the story captivating. Whereas some people expect instant gratification and minimal character-building, I enjoy detail. I didn’t mind that these books are long! I accept there’s a level of world-building required in a fantasy novel if you want to read something remotely original. This is a series, so don’t expect this 1st book’s ending to be a neatly-wrapped package. I felt the level of passion could’ve been ratcheted up between the couple - their intimacy leaves something to be desired...though there are plenty of reasonable explanations as to why that is - and something you’ll come to understand more if you progress in the series. Even so, I found it strange that they’d been married for however long, and he’d still be restricting their physical intimacy, and she doesn’t even ask questions about it. I wanted some hot, racy moments interspersed in there - even if they didn’t lead to consummation. My hopes are high that in the next book, there will be some erotic moments to pant over. The magic partly makes up for the relative lack of eroticism - I love reading about magic - there are few authors who really do the work it takes to come up with magical aspects - spells, ancient languages & symbols...and do it well. I think Deborah Harkness has accomplished that. As I said, not everyone will like this - I was surprised how polarized the reviews for this book/series are. If you are a lover of this genre, and you’re a patient reader - try it. I love the show too! I actually watched a few episodes prior to listening to the audiobook - I think Matthew and Diana were cast very well! I enjoyed reading this with a face for some of the characters already in my mind.

i like it!!!!!

I thought it would be something boring and weird when i first heard about this book... the name made me thing its discovering witches and so on....its a good book, but it starts in a life and ends in a total in a diferente life, it had a slow start, and i do hate that in such books, but other wise it had a great ending.. the 2nd half of this book was much much better than the fst one.

Enjoy it

Bravo!!!

I was unsure of this book when I was first considering it. After getting into the sections of the unabridged book, I couldn't get enough. I became impatient to learn more as the story unfolded. I look forward to more books by Deborah Harkness and narrations by Jennifer Ikeda. This is a truly first rate work and I am anxious for more of the same quality.

Aww...

I would have rated 5 stars but for the ending... I LOVED this book but when I was listening I didn't know it was the first in a series. There is a way to 'wrap up' certain things even if it is the first in a series, just read the Outlander series by Dianna Gaboldon. They are fantastic, and none leave you absolutely hanging at the end. This one doesn't wrap up anything!

The sequel can't come fast enough. I'm not a fan of reading something I can't finish, and this is how I feel now about this book.

Great book to introduce witches!

Any additional comments?

My ten year old daughter listened to this and loved it. She wrote a review for the second book in the series but because she loved it so much I thought I should write one for the first book for her. I have not listened to the series yet, so it might seem odd to write a review for it. It is, but... I am only stating that she LOVED the book. She asks me every time we look for a new book for her if I've listened to this one yet. I keep saying, "No, but I will." To which she says, "You better!" She's a good judge of books. If it's not interesting, she won't listen.

Love it

Addicting story line & wonderful narration. I've been searching for and failing to find a full detailed book that takes you to another place in your mind & this book provides that and more. Cannot wait to continue on with this trilogy.

Quite the codependent heroine

She actually says 'her lips said no but her eyes said yes' the very thing every anti-rape group has tried to get people to stop saying. She can be really tough at moments but the next is wanting and manipulative. I really like the story, I just don't like the character very much.