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)

A magical read

A magical read, story kept me completely enthralled from start to finish and I can't wait for the next one!!

like it!

I enjoyed this audio book. the story was entertaining and moved along well. Jennifer Ikeda has a very soothing voice as well. looking forward to second book.

Amazing!

A brilliant, complex trilogy of love, danger and hope for a future filled with equality and reason. Please read all three books in order (A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, The Book of Life) to appreciate the full experience. Without a doubt, one of the best performances ever. Jennifer Ikeda did full justice to this wonderful tale by the brilliant author, Deborah Harkness. The only negative I can possibly think of is that I'm done listening to all three books. Thank you to both of these talented women for such a powerful, enjoyable, transcendent experience. Here's hoping your message of love, tolerance and unity replaces our world's current messages of ethnic, racial, national and religious disputes. After all, we have many more similarities than we do differences.

Fantastic story! Did not want to stop listening!!

I loved this book! It was a story that I wanted to listen to all the time until I knew how it would turn it. But I will give one small spoiler... this will be continued. It does not have a final ending. But now I can't wait for the next story to be released. The characters are wonderful and the love story is very sweet. I highly recommend!!!

WOW! I LOVED this book!

I'm not sure what I expected when I purchased this book, but I know now that it was a great idea. The story is compelling and the historical details are phenomenal. I'm a fan of "supernatural" fiction and this book did not disappoint. I found myself lost in the story; in the details both historical and scientific. My advise to you fellow Audible customers...Listen to this book!

Mixed feelings but overall I did enjoy it

This is very much the type of book I'd call a guilty pleasure. A few times the plot really went over the top and was bombastic. BUT while I was rolling my eyes I still completely enjoyed the reading experience. If you are not the kind of reader that can suspended belief and just roll with it you'll probably hate it. Otherwise if your into witches and like having to read more than just one book to get the full story, go for it.

One of my new favorite books of all time. A+

It only took until chapter 2 to have me captivated. I think this book has all the markers of a bestseller. I'm recommending this book to all my friends.

The Beginning of an Epic

What did you love best about A Discovery of Witches?

Harkness has created a new world of witches, vampires, and demons that breaks the traditional views and has all three "creatures" co-existing (though their true identity is still secret) with humans. In addition she has created both a conflict and a search for identity that is the basis for most Epic Adventures.

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

I cannot identify a single most memorable moment, but among the memorable events: the kidnapping and escape from a wicked witch, the vampire attack on Mathew, the haunted house with ideas of its own.

Have you listened to any of Jennifer Ikeda’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to Jennifer Ikeda's recordings of the other two book in this trilogy and she has a good dramatic flare. There are so many characters that it is a challenge for her to change tones, accents, and voices to support all of them, but she manages to keep up with the task.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

If I was going to make a film of this book my tag line would be: "A Witch, A Vampire, and A Book.

Any additional comments?

The entire trilogy is long, complex, with many characters skirting in and out. But the story holds together and when it finally comes to an end, you wish it would continue

Very entertaining and addicting!

What made the experience of listening to A Discovery of Witches the most enjoyable?

I didn't know what to expect from this book but I was almost immediately engrossed in the story. I was fairly addicted and finished this story in 1 week.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the easy romance and creature aspect of the book. It was fun to learn about her take on witches, vampires, and demons.

Have you listened to any of Jennifer Ikeda’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to her before that I know of.

fun! outstanding narrator!

this was a lot of fun. it's set apart (at least a little) from the other star-crossed vampire-ish love stories by the quality and depth of the history and literary insight. I loved the house's personality. I almost think it is my favorite character, aside from Diana.

and seriously, this narrator is fantastic!!!!!!