A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness -> Restarting October 11th 2019

[Alaina]

Book one of the New York Times–bestselling All Souls trilogy—"a wonderfully imaginative grown-up fantasy with all the magic of Harry Potter and Twilight” (People)

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, and concludes with The Book of Life.

[Ashy Khaira]

Chapter 1-8 (view spoiler)[ okay i have to say i dont really understand what the hype about the book is to be frank.it all started with a manuscript titled ashmole 782,but the story just seems to keep dragging on the 8 chapters.the only thing that is interesting is the paranormal aspect to it,and how diana feels when the vampires,demona and what not looks at her (hide spoiler)]

[Ashy Khaira]

Chapter 9-16 (view spoiler)[surprise surprise,diana's parents were not murdered by humans as she thought but by witches.and now they are threatening her.isnt that like showing her that she was right to want to stay away from most of yall in the first place?oh and the two of them falling in love,vampire and witch.sweet.and on top of all that diana's genetic sequence is weird how?i am curious damn it (hide spoiler)]

[Ashy Khaira]

Chapter 17-25 (view spoiler)[ Matthew's history is quite interesting what with being part of the knights of lazarus,and also being the leader of the order.and also that the knights of lazarus still exists till date.and that the possibility of the templars being absorbed into the knights of lazarus since they gave their money and possessions to that order.diana's powers are interesting too.wonder what happened in oxford that matthew called and said he loved her and that he is coming back...hmm (hide spoiler)]

[Ashy Khaira]

Chapter 26-34 (view spoiler)[ omg i cant imagine what diana had to go through at the hands of that other witches.at least now she will listen when matthew says dont go out.maybe.interesting seeing her powers develop.and on top of it all,to find out what her parents did.....and that they went to meet their death so that diana would be safe,and that they lied to the congregation.....seems the congregation is only out for blood,not to keep peace or laws (hide spoiler)]

[Ashy Khaira]

Finished (view spoiler)[ hmmm interesting that diana and matthew are not the first two different creatures to fall in love with each other.Or that it is possible for them to have children.and to find out that diana had a twin even?and that it was a case of vts?and that she can time walk?oi vay (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

*****Restarting July 3rd*****

[Dr. Andy]

Ch. 14 (view spoiler)[ I am fascinated by the mystery of Ashmole 782. I love the overlapping of all the scientific fields of Matthew's studies. It's so fascinating and I'm really enjoying it. The whole creatures are dying out thought is probably right. I'm curious to see what Diana's blood will show. I really like Diana, but idk about Matthew yet (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Ch. 23 (view spoiler)[ I'm really enjoying Diana's time in France, but Matthew is so annoying sometimes! I hate his alpha male shit and how he blames it on being a vampire. Like no think of another excuse and stop using this misogynistic BS. I'd really like to strangle him. I'm captivated by the sudden awakening of Diana's powers, I can't wait to see what other ones she has. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Ch. 33 (view spoiler)[ So Diana is spellbound, I think it was her mother. I'm feeling a little suspicious about the tea Magrite is having Diana make too. I think it might be a contraceptive tea. Seeing Diana captured by Satu was awful. This has been one whirlwind after another. I do love Matthew and Diana but ugh sometimes Matthew drives me insane. I kinda want to reread the rest of the series after this though. The witch fire ability is a little freaky too. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Finished (view spoiler)[ So Diana is a little special snowflake. How charming. Okay sass aside I was really enjoying this. I wonder how it would've been different if Juliette was successful in killing Matthew. You'd think that incident would make Matthew more likely to divulge his secrets smfh. Why is he such a stubborn asshole??? This time walking power is a bit convenient. But I'm still so curious about everything that was revealed in relation to Ashmole 782. The alchemical stuff is seriously so cool. I wonder how Diana will deal with her powers being spellbound, because I don't think she got completely rid of it?? (hide spoiler)]

[Ashy Khaira]

Chapter 1 to 10 (view spoiler)[ hmm diana and her aversion to magic sparks some curiosity.what happened to her parents?matthe and diana are so cute together.why are both peter and gillian threatening diana for?prejudice prejudice (hide spoiler)]

[Ashy Khaira]

Chapter 11 to 21 (view spoiler)[ ooo romannce between diana and matthew.her parents were killed by fellow witches....wtf?finally diana learns about the covenant and stuff.i love her anger.marthe and ysabeau seems fun (hide spoiler)]

[Ashy Khaira]

Chapter 22 to 32 (view spoiler)[ wow satu and the group are mental.to use an opening spell that could have killed diana?wtf?how many people are the witches fonna kill that belongs to their own clan?at least matthew and baldwin found her in time.thank fook sarah and em managed to heal her (hide spoiler)]

[Ashy Khaira]

Finished (view spoiler)[ hamish is the 9th knight.interesting.and marcus made grandmaster while diana and matthew timewalks.i love how diana is slowly learning to control her magic.and what is gonna happen with diana with the bargain she struck with the maiden and crone? (hide spoiler)]

[Felicia]

*************** RESTARTING OCTOBER 11TH 2019 **************

[Sierra]

25% (view spoiler)[ what is he doing in her house?! omg what is that around her, is that her power? will he find what hes looking for? thats weird that they dont know how daemons are made only from humans. (hide spoiler)]
50% (view spoiler)[ i think he likes her! omg his house! can i please have. i wonder how old he is. all them books he could have read already. lucky (hide spoiler)]
75% (view spoiler)[ i cant believe she went to france with him. oh this isnt good. would he really kill her so no one would hurt her? i love these two so much. that man is scary will he try to hurt her? (hide spoiler)]
finished (view spoiler)[ did he really kill her? these witches are horrible. how could you do that to your own kind. i hope they get to her and i hope they pay for what they did. so many secrets, i cant believe her parents did that for her. i hope she can turn things around (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Ch 9 - (view spoiler)[ Hmm, so yoga isn't the only time that Matthew hangs out with the other species. I like Hamish, I hope we see more of him. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 16 - (view spoiler)[ That part about Marcus was interesting. So he was a bit of a bad boy in his early days as a vampire, but now he's back to being Matthew's faithful assistant? Also, I am surprised that Diana doesn't know anything about this council or the Covenant or whatever. I get that she doesn't want to do magic, but you would think that stuff would have been part of her upbringing regardless. Bring on the forbidden love though! (hide spoiler)]
Ch 20 - (view spoiler)[ This developing romance between them is so adorable. I keep waiting for Ysabeau to try to kill her though. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Ch 31 - (view spoiler)[ It's getting interesting again. I was lulled into a half-nap there for a little while. But now I want to know more about this Lazarus group and what its true purpose is and how Matthew is wrapped up in it. I also can't help but wonder how the witches justify torturing her (or any other witch) and expect her to come over to their side and join them. It seems preposterous to me. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Ch 37 - (view spoiler)[ Wow, that was intense. I was already on the edge of my seat with Juliette showing up, but then for Diana to basically have to sacrifice herself to save Matthew. Whew! I didn't understand the part about her becoming the mother though, did you? (hide spoiler)]
Finished - (view spoiler)[ I liked this book.....but it is a special snowflake isn't it? Good lord, it took forever to finish. Talk about a slow burn, this plot took a while to heat up. The excitement of the book (Ashmole 782) lit the first little spark; however, it didn't ignite much, then it just barely smoked for a while until the flame caught around the 80% mark. Now they are off on a time-traveling adventure that I felt sort of came out of nowhere. I mean, yes, it is a good place to hide but it seems strange that that is all they intend to use it for.

The writing detail was great, I just felt the pace was a bit too slow. (hide spoiler)]