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

Like story anyway, liked her voices and accents. She gives new imagery to the story and characters.

Good Audible Book

The narrator Jennifer Ikeda has an amazing voice...the story written by Deborah Harkness was amazing. I had already watched the series on Shudder and wanted to know more about the characters and the depth of human connection that is here is to die for.... I definitely recommend this to anyone who is a lover or romance and fiction.

puzzled...

I liked the concept...magic and science...however, I did not like the ending...too much unresolved considering the 24 hours invested in listening, ...unless there is a sequel...? Characters reminded me of Twilight series cast - grownup....

LOTS of fun.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It's a fun love story with some new ideas.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I like the main character but Hamish is the best. He's funny and interesting

What about Jennifer Ikeda’s performance did you like?

Her voice is really smooth but emotive. I also like that she doesn't over perform the characters.

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

yes!

Any additional comments?

Worth a credit. Give it a try if you like witch stories.

Entertaining, a little cheesy

It's not hard to see what the authors background is. A love of history and wine is pretty evident. The story is decent, it's as if she took the twilight concept and tried to improve it. The story is entertaining but there were moments when I found myself gagging from cheesy. It is clean so you dont have to worry about having it on around kids. All said and done I'm off to buy the sequel haha

Good Story

I liked the story however its a bit wordy. Something were a bit drug out. Overall it was still good read.

Did it really have to end?!

Adored this book! Wish it would have just kept going and going. Would love if there's a sequel!

A great read, a few familiar elements.

I really enjoyed a Discovery of Witches overall. The story was easy to get into and Jennifer Ikeda is a wonderfully entertaining narrator as always. I did find a few moments of this book to be a bit predictable. The love interest is easy to spot a mile off and gives off some Twilight-y slightly stalker-y overbearing man vibes for enough of a novel I was almost turned off by it. I really enjoyed the need for the main character to find "non-magical" answers and strategies around as much of her problems as possible, to keep the reader a much of a real-world feeling novel. This book is worth a listen if you can bear the familiar trope, but even with the predictable elements I will continue to recommend the book and the series.

Exhillerating

I could not stop listening to this book! I can't wait to buy the other two books in the series! Must buy!

Spellbinding

This book kept me completely enthralled with it’s spellbinding story. I could not stop listening. Jennifer Ikeda’s nuanced vocal performance captured the essence of numerous characters, both male and female, with a broad range of accents and temperaments. In addition to the high pitched drama and mesmerizing romance a wonderful undercurrent of humour and delight sparkled throughout this adventure. I am spent but eager to begin book II as well as watch ADOC on Sundance. A very high bar has been set so it will be interesting to see if it can match this audio book performance.