Its been a long time between good reads…
Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
When historian Diana Bishop opens a bewitched alchemical manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library it represents an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordinary life. Though descended from a long line of witches, she is determined to remain untouched by her family’s legacy. She banishes the manuscript to the stacks, but Diana finds it impossible to hold the world of magic at bay any longer.
For witches are not the only otherworldly creatures living alongside humans. There are also creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires who become interested in the witch’s discovery. They believe that the manuscript contains important clues about the past and the future, and want to know how Diana Bishop has been able to get her hands on the elusive volume.
Chief among the creatures who gather around Diana is vampire Matthew Clairmont, a geneticist with a passion for Darwin. Together, Diana and Matthew embark on a journey to understand the manuscript’s secrets. But the relationship that develops between the ages-old vampire and the spellbound witch threatens to unravel the fragile peace that has long existed between creatures and humans—and will certainly transform Diana’s world as well.
This is Deborah Harkness first novel and 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.
My thoughts? If you liked the Twilight series then you may just like this, but its more grown up and full or little bit of tid bits (useless knowledge) about history which is probably why I liked it..a story, useless knowledge and the prospect that someone was going to get naked. Already there is talk of a movie and typically it has own face book page. I enjoyed Discovery of witches so much I raced out and have brought the second book however the second like the first is 600 pages long and I found it was a little long and drawn out or perhaps that’s just me in a hurry to see what happened and if the witch and the vampire ever got round to ‘doing it’ and if someone ever did get naked.
On reviews it averaged a 4 out 5 (3.98 out 0f 5 by book review site Good reads) and you can buy it from here, here and here.
Have you read it? Tell me what did you think? What have you read lately..
xx Deb
