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)

Unique

I love this book very unique from the very start. It took me a little bit to figure out where the setting was. There was various mentions of several colleges that I had to look up. Wonderful book and I love the story so far the end is definitely a huge cliffhanger, but luckily the next book is already available.

The narration of this book is outstanding!

I do the majority of my audiobooks when I’m hiking backpacking or any other type of activity where I’m on my own. The narration for this particular book was so well done. Each character came to life not just because of great writing, but because they picked the right narrator and if you do audiobooks enough, you know that the narration can make or break a book experience. Highly recommend.

Perfect quintessential dark academia vibes.

It is everything that you want fall to be, wrapped up in a single book. Set in Oxford, old France, and Madison USA. It showsthe magic of fall time at every angle you could want. With old magic and alluring romance that is brilliant but doesn't lose itself or the story in making everything about smutt, it is by far, and always will be, my favorite fall book of all time.

Great listen!

Written well and read well! I very much enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to the next.

One of a kind

Really enjoyed the voice actor and the way Deborah writes. Not entirely exciting, but enthralling nonetheless. Highly recommended!

the voice, the decriptions, the emotions

the voice, the decriptions, the emotions. the book kept me on the edge of my seat. Wonderful

Great Book

I have purchased many audible books and this is the first time I have been compelled to write a review. I loved this book! I was totally hooked in the first 5 min.,very well writen. The plot is a refreshing change from alot of other books like this. The narrator was great and really kept the story interesting. I will definately read more books by this author and narrator!!!

My first review.

I own over 610 audible books and this is my first review. Deborah Harkness has written an enthralling story. The details are mind catching and Diana and Matthew live from the beginning of the book. Jennifer Ikeda does a beautiful job of telling the story. She has lovely timing and controls her volume and pitch very well.

Harkness can not write the second book fast enough!

Really Enjoyed it...BUT

Good writing and narration but gosh darn it, it's just the beginning....we have to await the sequel and the rest of the story....

I love it - some won’t

I found the story captivating. Whereas some people expect instant gratification and minimal character-building, I enjoy detail. I didn’t mind that these books are long! I accept there’s a level of world-building required in a fantasy novel if you want to read something remotely original. This is a series, so don’t expect this 1st book’s ending to be a neatly-wrapped package. I felt the level of passion could’ve been ratcheted up between the couple - their intimacy leaves something to be desired...though there are plenty of reasonable explanations as to why that is - and something you’ll come to understand more if you progress in the series. Even so, I found it strange that they’d been married for however long, and he’d still be restricting their physical intimacy, and she doesn’t even ask questions about it. I wanted some hot, racy moments interspersed in there - even if they didn’t lead to consummation. My hopes are high that in the next book, there will be some erotic moments to pant over. The magic partly makes up for the relative lack of eroticism - I love reading about magic - there are few authors who really do the work it takes to come up with magical aspects - spells, ancient languages & symbols...and do it well. I think Deborah Harkness has accomplished that. As I said, not everyone will like this - I was surprised how polarized the reviews for this book/series are. If you are a lover of this genre, and you’re a patient reader - try it. I love the show too! I actually watched a few episodes prior to listening to the audiobook - I think Matthew and Diana were cast very well! I enjoyed reading this with a face for some of the characters already in my mind.