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Jan 06, 2012

Kristina rated it:

This is an odd book. Now that I have finished reading it, I'm not sure why I was so enamored of it. With so much discussion of spells and enchantment, I wouldn't be surprised if the book put a spell on me. Despite overall enjoying the book, there are still lots of things about it that irritated me. First, the author needed a better editor. I am finding more often that books surrounded by a certain amount of hype are not well-edited. I don't know if the editors think that every word the author wr More...

69 comments like (147 people liked it)

Jan 03, 2012

KeepCalmKelsey rated it:

First of all, I thought this book was fantastic and I CANNOT wait for the second in the series because the ending of the book, I won't give details, has you CONSTANTLY WONDERING and yearning for more.
Though it doesn't beat the Harry Potter series (and nothing ever will), it sure is up there in the running with my favorites. Have I found a new series after Potter? Well, I won't get too carried away, but this book is one of my favorites.

I have only two complaints about this b More...

7 comments like (32 people liked it)

Jul 20, 2011

Arni Vidar rated it:

It's quite difficult to gather my thoughts well enough to manage a review. I don't know how or where to begin.

I started this book 4 evenings ago, and all I really knew about it was that it was a Witches and Vampires book. Fine, I'll give that a go. As the pages wore on, however, I realized that I was barely making any headway on the % counter. Upon checking, I then found that this book is almost 800 pages long, which is more than almost all of my fantasy DTB's. Wow.

I star More...

21 comments like (115 people liked it)

Sep 22, 2011

Book Chick City rated it:

I gave this 7/10 on my blog: Book Chick City

'A Discovery of Witches' is an incredibly atmospheric novel where each page is full of lavish detail that was obviously painstakingly researched. It's a huge book, which took me a long time to finish compared to other paranormal romances. This is due somewhat to the large amount of detail, but it is no reflection on the quality of writing, which is wonderful.

Each sentence has been lovingly crafted and although this isn't a quick More...

11 comments like (24 people liked it)

Nov 09, 2011

Catie rated it:

This book kept me hanging on just enough to stop me from abandoning it. I’m not really sure who this book is aimed at; it’s a very pedestrian, traditional romance wrapped up in a nearly 600 page, painfully slow tale filled with history and science. It’s a bit like a Hallmark card wrapped up in an encyclopedia. The history and science buffs will be turned off by the cheesy center, and the romance lovers will resent having to wade through pages of endless description and detail just to get to t More...

33 comments like (73 people liked it)

Aug 09, 2011

Anne rated it:

Even now, a few weeks later, and when some of the details have become a little fuzzy, I can't stop thinking about this book. I love many different genres of books, but books like this really get me excited; they take me out of myself, to a world that my rational brain tells me doesn't exist, but which my heart whispers could be right under my nose.

I stayed up until after 1am two nights in a row to read more of this book and was even almost late back to work at lunchtime, because I w More...

12 comments like (53 people liked it)

Feb 15, 2012

Suzanne (Doppleganger) rated it:

A Discovery of Witches is a vampire romance. Let me say that again. A Discovery of Witches is a Vampire Romance.

Oh sure the title mentions ‘witches’ instead of ‘vampires’ or other vampire clichés like blood, darkness, or night. It has witchy symbols on the cover and the synopsis calls it “equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense”. But don’t be deceived, this is a vampire romance.

If you don’t like vampire romances, then this book is not for you.

Yo More...

9 comments like (11 people liked it)

Feb 15, 2012

Jenne rated it:

okay, so the good things: I liked the world/mythology/etc, and was amused by the Anne Rice reference! And I also liked the subtle pro-gay marriage message.
It could have actually been a lot of fun except for the romance part, which went like this: (SPOILERS!)

Diana: I am exceptionally good at being a historian of science, and I even have a job at Yale! I am also a witch, but I don't use my powers. Much.
Gosh this mysterious manuscript sure is mysterious!

Matt More...

11 comments like (14 people liked it)

Nov 06, 2011

Adi (Reading in the Windowseat) rated it:

Absolutely Loved It!

Though I have found books in various genres that have made me feel that exquisite thrill of reading something you positively adore and it somehow clicks inside of you a level of pleasure other books cannot, I hadn't had a read that so completely enthralled me as this one did for a very long time. Forgetting genres. Forgetting age-orientation. Forgetting style.

I loved it thoroughly!

The story was just my type, full of mystery and tragedy, o More...

10 comments like (13 people liked it)

Apr 04, 2011

Barbara rated it:

Deborah Harkness' debut novel, A Discovery of Witches: A Novel, is amazing. I was drawn in from the first and did not want to put it down. It's like a mature Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) meets The Da Vinci Code. The characters are interesting and complex, the story is exciting without being too ambitious or overcomplicated. The book held me spellbound and is responsible for a few hours of lost sleep. It's an historical-supernatural-romance-adventure-mystery--my favorite genres wrappe More...

12 comments like (60 people liked it)

Feb 18, 2012

Squee rated it:

Upon sighting this book in a soon-to-be-closed Borders store, I was intrigued. The blurb sounded interesting and the first couple of pages seemed competently written. Despite the huge discount, I hesitated, and instead checked the book out from the library.

And am I ever glad that I didn't actually buy it.

The book started out promising. Protagonist Diana Bishop, distinguished history scholar and professor (just like the author! uh oh...), repressed witch, tea aficionado, r More...

0 comments like (6 people liked it)

Apr 27, 2011

kari rated it:

THIS IS ACTUALLY ZERO stars, but it won't be listed if I put zero, so, just so you know - ZERO!.
I thought this was going to be a really entertaining read, but I'm giving up. The main character makes no sense, whatsoever. We're told that she isn't able to do magic and then she does magic. Huh???
And then we have the vampire sneaking in her window and watching her sleep, fascinated by her sleeping. Where have I read this before? Let's see....... can anyone think of where they might ha More...

122 comments like (120 people liked it)

Nov 01, 2011

Angie rated it:

I hate saying this... but man I did not like this book. I wanted to like it. I really did. So many people love love this book. I tried so hard to like it. But it just was a grown up twilight for me. It was slow to me. I loved the idea of the book. Witches, Vampires, Deamons! But there was just so much detail. What wine are you drinking, what does it taste like, what does it smell like? Ughhh if I had to read about wine again I might have thrown my book across the room, but since I was r More...

7 comments like (22 people liked it)

Jan 19, 2012

Jennifer E. rated it:

This is one of those books I wish I hadn't discovered until *after* all three books had been published. I started this book on a Friday and hardly put it down until I finished on the Sunday morning. The author did a stunning job of making the writing so vivid, I was there in the story watching it unfold like a movie, much more vividly than I normally am able to do. Books about magic are a treat for me and this one was not at all disappointing, with plenty of action and a nice balance, I thin More...

0 comments like (10 people liked it)

Jan 17, 2012

Suz rated it:

Strong 4.5 stars. Numbered points.

1. It's too wordy in the way that Diana Gabaldon is too wordy. There is an up side, though. It seems it's worst in the beginning. I have the vague sense that the author floundered a bit trying to "show not tell" while doing the world building and got a bit mired down. So the beginning seems descriptive and slow, but it does, in fairness, set a beautiful tone of academia in which you can nearly feel the book dust in your nose and the slight c More...

8 comments like (8 people liked it)

Oct 25, 2011

Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) rated it:

Edit#2 Re-reading for second time

Edit: Listening to on audiobook when I drive and LOVE the audio. I only read the book a little over a month ago but it's good enough to re-read and sure to listen to! finished the audio and it is wonderful.

Wow! This is the best book I have read this year other than the final book of a favorite series and that doesn't count! This is what I would call an epic novel. It was recommended to me on an Outlander thread and I was a little unsure w More...

4 comments like (5 people liked it)

Mar 06, 2011

Sarah rated it:

Well well, Mary Sue, Mary Sue, Mary Sue. I haven't encountered you for a few books. Now I know where you've been keeping yourself.
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Updated: March 3, 2011.

I struggled to finish this novel. The book started out so well with an interesting protagonist, a bibliophile's dream setting, and wonderful descriptions of illustrated manuscripts. The plot tugs at the small thread of 'paranormalcy' in the protagonist's life, and everything goes south from there. Literally south. More...

12 comments like (101 people liked it)

Oct 19, 2011

♡KarLynP♡ rated it:

3.5 - 4 stars. Overall good, but definitely a 'Twilight' for grown ups. Instead of teens at a high school, they are adult professors at Oxford University. He is a vampire, a she a witch and his obsession. This is just part one (of an unknown number?) in a series where the H/h's story will continue. Many questions remain unanswered. The pacing reminded me a bit of Outlander with its rich details of each character and surrounding, detailed accounts of past events...etc. But for me it was too much More...

4 comments like (4 people liked it)

Jan 27, 2012

Zoot rated it:

Short Review: Perfect Book For Adults Who Loved Twilight But Felt Kinda Guilty About It.

I enjoyed this book but it was a VERY slow read. While I was curious to see where the story went, which made me want to read it every night, it wasn't an easy read so I found myself needing breaks. There's a lot of history talk (the lead character is a Historian) and even a lot of science talk (she studies alchemy and the male lead studies genetics/evolution) so I found myself needing breaks. I co More...

8 comments like (3 people liked it)

Sep 22, 2011

Barbara rated it:

Let me first say that I absolutely loved this book! Diana has moments of stupidity and Matthew is overbearing as hell at times but as a whole, they make a great couple. He's a strong ancient vampire with many allies and abilities, and she's a dormant witch who is just coming into her powers. Which is a very good thing because their forbidden vampire/witch pairing goes against the rules of the Congregation and all of the different species (vampire, demon and witch), war is imminent. The court More...

0 comments like (8 people liked it)

Nov 14, 2011

Lyndz_♥ rated it:

4 & 1/2

So before you take this review as 100% fact you need to know that I like any book that has witches in it. If a book has witches in it, it usually bumps it up at least one full star in my book. That being said, I quite enjoyed this book. I didn’t realized until after I finished it that there is a lot of hype surrounding it and had I known that going into it I might not have thought so highly of it. I had just noticed the book on a lot of my friends read or to read lists and I saw More...

2 comments like (5 people liked it)

Jan 26, 2012

Kat rated it:

I was recommended this book by a coworker & since she is also a fellow "goodreads" addict, I figured I could trust her opinion! Now I'm going to attempt to write this review w/o any spoilers...

I loved this book. If I could, I would have given it 4.5 stars, deducting .5 ONLY because I try to reserve that for books I found to be absolutely flawless. I have to admit, my English-minded brain did not do so well w/some of the alchemical theory involved in this story :), though I More...

5 comments like (2 people liked it)

May 29, 2011

Vinh rated it:

OK, I couldn't finish this book, because I don't like it. The beginning is great, but it got bored fast when I got to the part where the vampire met up with the demon at a hideout where they could hunt animals.

So, at the point where the main vampire character met up with the main demon character, for some reason, the author confused about the main vampire character's preferences. Should he OK when it came down to be mingled with witches and demons? Should he not? At this point, More...

2 comments like (7 people liked it)

May 03, 2011

Nicole rated it:

Excerpt from Linus's Blanket - A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness is one of those books that I won’t say much about because it is really an experience book. You have to curl up with it yourself and just let the story unfold for you. You’ll have questions, you’ll get some answers, you’ll love what characters are doing, you’ll think that they should have made different choices. It’s great. The book itself will make it physically easy for you to do so as it is a hefty tome, and practically More...

7 comments like (19 people liked it)

Nov 25, 2011

Elizabeth added it

This is my frist book I received from goodreads giveaway and thus I gave the book a single star. I was surprised by how thick the book was however, I was just starting my Christmas break and thought " Cool!" a book to read during the holiday. One of the ways I rate a book is how it keeps me from reading other book. I get so absorb that I look forward to the few pages that I squeeze into my day. (waiting in line at the grocery store) With this book I was tempted several times and pla More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Dec 08, 2011

Donna rated it:

A Discovery of Witches is full of complex world building that encompasses heavy doses of history, science, alchemy with a twist on traditional myths for vampires and witches making it more of a plot driven story with many mysteries in store for the reader. The characters are multi-dimensional with a wide range of personalities from likable to terrifying.

For the most of part, there was a lot of background setup while following the reluctant heroine Diana Bishop into the discovery of h More...

7 comments like (2 people liked it)

Nov 10, 2011

Kelli rated it:

This audiobook had excellent narration and pacing that, unless you like character driven novels, might drive you crazy. I, however, loved it. I've read comparisons of other books with the Twilight novels and never seen it as anything other than a marketing ploy but really, if the Twilight series married Gabaldon's Outlander series and had a literary child, this would be it. The author clearly loves her area of academic study and included info from it in the book in such a way as to completely in More...

4 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 01, 2012

Amy rated it:

Oh, god, this is part of a trilogy? I can't even finish it. I've made it through 400-something pages. I made up a new award just for this book: The Most Pretentious and Boring Vampire Novel of All Time. This novel sounded like just my thing. Vampires, witches, history, alchemy, libraries. And it's very long and I love long novels! It should have been awesome. It should have been at least readable. Instead, it is a chronicle of the main character's naps. I'm serious. It really is. I'm usually not More...

0 comments like (13 people liked it)

Aug 31, 2011

Kirsten rated it:

I would have to say that this is my favorite read of the summer!!! I loved it! There is great chracters, great writing, a brilliant story, wonderful sexual tension, oodles of action... I mean there is nothing in this book for me to complain about. NOTHING! I was honestly captured from beginning to end and I'm dying for the sequal(which doesn't come out till next year!!!) SO let's get down to business.

1. LOVED the romance. Who doesn't love a little love? There was a slow, natural buil More...

6 comments like (5 people liked it)

Jan 23, 2012

Georgia rated it:

A Discovery of Witches, SUBTITLES: Twilight for adults and 'intellectuals'.

This was an enormous disappointment for me, given that there's been so much hype over the book. It is essentially Twilight's 'forbidden love' plot wrapped up in pseudo-intellectual talk, endless cups of tea, naps and yoga. And analysing wine. And constantly smelling each other. Not to mention the whole 'virgin' idea...

1) The essential plot is Twilight

That's right. Matthew Clairmont stal More...

4 comments like (8 people liked it)

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