This is a very spontaneous and random post, but I started A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness last night. When I went to put it on my “currently reading” shelf, I noticed that there are a lot of one-star and five-star reviews for it. It seems to be a book you either love or hate, and I am curious to see where I fall.
It has been such a long time since I have read a book that had such conflicting opinions, and I know that a lot of people have already read A Discovery of Witches, so I was just wondering if you have read it, what did you think? I asked this same question on Instagram and people are either gushing about it or telling me how much they hated it! It is definitely a book readers seem to have strong feelings about either way.
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.
Let’s talk about A Discovery of Witches in the comments!
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I’ve read it twice and I wasn’t thrilled by it either time. It just took so long to get going and I wasn’t particularly impressed with the payoff to all that build up.
Hope you have a better experience reading it that me.
Good to know! It is so much longer that I was expecting. I just looked at the audio and it’s 24 hours!
I really, really loved this series!! But I understand that it isn’t for everyone☺️
I love that! I’m hoping I love it too
It’s the perfect book for October🍁🎃
I read it early on in October and really liked it. It reminded me of old skool reads. I did give it 4 stars as it did go on and on in some places though……
I could go for something old skool! It does seems overly long.
It was, it could probably have been done in 150 less pages but I still enjoyed it!!
Those ranges of reviews are exactly why I’ve been reluctant to start this book! It’s been on my shelf for years. Great question, Kristin💜
I’m personally getting more postivie opinions than negative, which is good!
Well, that’s encouraging!
I’m about to start this so I will let you know. I think the size of it puts people off quite quickly.
I didn’t realize quite how long it was!
I listened to the entire trilogy on audio, and absolutely loved it. I’m not sure I would enjoy it as much in written form, because the author uses tons of flowery and descriptive language, and that tends to get to me after a while. On audio, though, I love all that stuff. So if you read it, and find yourself conflicted, please give the audio a chance. Cheers!
That’s good to know!! I have downloaded the audiobook! Thanks!
I liked it! The setting is dreamy, and I have a lot in common with Diana – well, so far as the young academic + rower goes. (To my knowledge, I’m not a witch 🤷🏼♀️) It made for a fun reading experience.
You do have to take the book in context … it was published post-Twilight and pre-#MeToo, and there are some troubling sex/gender themes throughout the books. I’ll also say, the later books become … odd. Still fun and enjoyable (with some amazing characters) … but, odd nonetheless.
Also, a lot of fill. The TV series cuts out a lot of the needless details, to – I think – the show’s benefit. It makes for a tighter story.
I’m excited to watch the show!
Ah thanks for this! Someone on Instagram compared it to Twilight, so that gave me an idea. I am liking it so far, and it is helpful reading it knowing what to expect from it!
I read it when it first came out, and loved it!! I’d like to re-read the first three books, since I bought the 4th when it came out, but felt like too much time had past and still haven’t gotten around to it.
There’s four books?? I had no idea! I have the first three lol
I think the 4th was kind of an add-on — the series really has an ending at 3, and #4 came some time later. So maybe more of a spin-off? I can’t say for sure, since I haven’t read it!
I love ADOW! It’s a book series that I enjoy re-reading, and once I’m done want to re-read again. It doesn’t help that the TV series is good, different from the book, but good.
I read some time ago and remember just feeling meh about it. I don’t really have strong feelings about it. I think for me, the first book just didn’t suck me in enough to care about reading the rest of the trilogy. And while I love witch stories, I’ve never been huge on vampire romances. Happy reading!
Thank you! I still am not sure how I feel about it!
I loved the books and read them basically in one go. Have just bought the DVDs and will enjoy a “Discovery of Witches” night at Halloween.
I love it and it is one of my favourites but I can also see why a lot of people dislike it.
I read it many years ago, but I was deeply bored reading it (I think it took me months to get through it)… Gave it a generous 2 stars I think, so yeah, not for me.
I have put it down for now. I was really disliking Matthew and couldn’t get passed it!
Oooh, I don’t remember much of the characters, just an overall feel of boredom 😅