Book Review
A Discovery of Witches
All Souls Series Book 1
by Deborah Harkness
Penguin Books © 2011
Plot Summary:
Diana Bishop is a scholar, not a witch. At least, that is what she has been trying to convince herself her entire life. While researching at the famous Bodleian Library at Oxford, she comes across a powerful and magical book well-hidden for centuries. When the enchanted book opens for her, she inadvertently sets off a series of events that will change her life forever.
Matthew Clairmont is a vampire who has been searching for answers to the origins of his species for centuries. A well-known and well-respected scientist at Oxford, he is inexplicably drawn to Diana Bishop. As the enchanted book opens under the will of Diana Bishop, he recognizes the danger and must protect her while working with her to uncover its secrets.
Though relationships between witch and vampire are forbidden, the closer Diana and Matthew work together, the more drawn together they find themselves. They must work against the Counsel, an ancient organization built to impose and enforce rules regarding fraternization on otherworldly creatures.
My Thoughts:
I am not traditionally a reader who prefers fantasy books. I picked this up on a whim to share with my best friend, who loves stories of witches and vampires. I was surprised at how involved I became in this story.
Deborah Harkness does a tremendous job of balancing the romantic plot with the mystical plot. Though this book is long (578 pages), it never feels bogged down or slow. Harkness creates a world using the lives of daemon, witch and vampire in vivid detail. Each species has their own set of peculiarities and quirks. Vampires, of course, are hierarchical and exceedingly possessive, driving the romantic story, as is custom for this type of romantic storyline.
The overly possessive male and seemingly independent female felt standard for the romantic tales I’d read. Of course, the seemingly independent Diana depends more and more on the overly-possessive Matthew as the story continues. Slightly annoying to me, but not too unexpected for a love story.
The Romeo and Juliet tension of forbidden love is set up with this mysterious Covenant which rules over the lives of all “creatures”, ensuring little to no fraternization, and romance is strictly forbidden. The additional family biases of Matthew and Diana’s family gives an additional tension the two must work through in order to truly be together. Despite my bitterness, I found myself routing for these two star-crossed lovers.
This book does end on quite a cliffhanger, almost daring readers not to continue on with the lives of Diana and Matthew. I was surprised when I found myself hopping online to find the second book in the trilogy. (Separate review to come)