Book Review: A Discovery of Witches
A Discovery of Witches, the first installment of Deborah Harkness's All Souls Trilogy, is everything I love about magic in the real world (and more).
A BRIEF SUMMARY
A Discovery of Witches follows Diana Bishop, a historian and descendant of witches, as she inadvertently uncovers an ancient and enchanted manuscript, Ashmole 782. Her discovery sets off a chain of events that leads her into the heart of a supernatural world filled with vampires, demons, and witches. We travel the world with her as she seeks to understand why the entire supernatural world is after her, and that manuscript. It may hold the key to their very existence (and survival), but Diana will have to face the truth about herself and her family. Along the way, her relationship with geneticist Matthew Clairmont, who also happens to be a vampire, grows into something more as she learns whether or not she can truly trust him. He seems to be encouraging Diana to step into her own power, but there’s something more going on, even with him.
WHAT I LOVED
Harkness weaves together elements of history, magic, and romance in a way that kept me engaged from start to finish. The scene descriptions and vivid imagery bring the world to life, while the richly developed characters keep us wanting to learn more. While I did feel there were lulls in the pacing throughout the novel, my connection with the characters and curiosity about overall premise didn’t waver. These pacing issues become more obvious for me in subsequent books in the series (primarily book two), but this first one doesn’t suffer nearly as much from them. Again, I think this is due to the intriguing overall premise.
Diana's journey from reluctant witch to central force in the supernatural community is empowering. She discovers not only the truth about her own powers but how her family’s history shaped everything about who she is now, even though she’s tried to distance herself from it her entire life.
As I already mentioned, one of the book's greatest strengths lies in its character development. From the fiercely independent Diana to the enigmatic Matthew, each character is well crafted and multi-dimensional. I believe them. They feel real. When a book can make me want to reach into the pages and shake a character, or scream at them, or cry with them, it’s done its job. A Discovery of Witches did that.
But what truly sets A Discovery of Witches apart (aside from its compelling premise) is its ability to blend fantasy with real-world issues and themes. We all know I love a good fantasy story that’s set in a real, grounded world. It’s probably my favorite story set up, and Harkness did it well.
FINAL THOUGHTS
4/5 stars
Fans of fantasy and romance alike will find something to love in A Discovery of Witches. With its interesting storyline, richly drawn characters, and atmospheric settings, Harkness made me want to keep reading. Despite the pacing issues I noticed, A Discovery of Witches (and its subsequent books in the series) will transport you to a world where magic exists, invisible to those of us humans who don’t know any better. Whether you're a longtime fan of the genre or new to the world of supernatural fiction, this book is not to be missed.
Happy reading!
