Author: Deborah Harkness
Title: A Discovery of Witches (All Souls, #1)
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Release Date: 8th February 2011
Narration: Jennifer Ikeda
Ratings:
Story: 5 Stars (I loved it, it was absolutely EPIC!!!)
Narration: 5 Stars (Fantastic to listen to)
Publisher’s Description:
A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.
Deep in the stacks of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries – and she is the only creature who can break its spell.
Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series – with an extra serving of historical realism.
©2011 Deborah Harkness (P)2011 Penguin
My Review:
What a fantastic first novel to a series. A discovery of witches is the most addictive novel i have read in a while. It is an intensely romantic book, with an intricate story line, based on a world where Witches, Vampires and Demons, have always walked among us, yet where forbidden to intermingle between species so as not to drawn attention from humans.
This book is fascinating, for it mixture of Paranormal romance, Evolutionary biology, Genetics, (both topics i have personally studied at university), World History, as well as the History of Science(which i have also studied at uni) and Alchemy, Religion, Wicca and Witchcraft, Magick, Greek and Roman Mythology, the Templars, and the Salem Witch Trials. I don’t think you could you possibly get anymore themes in one book, yet it all seamlessly comes together to create a beautiful world in which love can cross any boundary.
I was hooked from the first few minutes of this audiobook, and fell in love with the characters. Matthew is so romantic and loveable as the male lead, and Diana’s strength and hidden power make her a formidable protagonist, even with her issues, which only make her stronger, and made me adore her more.
The romance in this story is beautiful. I loved the relationship between Matthew and Diana, and the romantic scenes were written perfectly.
The cast of characters are well thought out and play well into the complexity of the story. At the end of the book, i was grieving its end, as i wanted it to go on forever..
The settings of the book were beautifully written, and i could clearly picture Oxford, Sarah and Emily’s home, and the Castle Matthew’s famly call home.
The narration was fantastic. Her accents were perfect. Half the time i forgot i was listening to a woman reading Matthew’s parts, as she really drew you in, and portrayed him so perfectly. I melted at certain parts of the story, as her narration, along with a fantastic story line were so incredible.
All in all, it is one of my favourite audiobooks I have ever listened to, and am waI cannot wait for the next book in the series, as i was totally enthralled with this book.