A Discovery Of Witches

A Discovery Of Witches
Deborah Harkness













Amazon Blurb -

In Harkness's lively debut, witches, vampires, and demons outnumber humans at Oxford's Bodleian Library, where witch and Yale historian Diana Bishop discovers an enchanted manuscript, attracting the attention of 1,500-year-old vampire Matthew Clairmont. The orphaned daughter of two powerful witches, Bishop prefers intellect, but relies on magic when her discovery of a palimpsest documenting the origin of supernatural species releases an assortment of undead who threaten, stalk, and harass her. Against all occult social propriety, Bishop turns for protection to tall, dark, bloodsucking man-about-town Clairmont. Their research raises questions of evolution and extinction among the living dead, and their romance awakens centuries-old enmities. Harkness imagines a crowded universe where normal and paranormal creatures observe a tenuous peace. "Magic is desire made real," Bishop says after both her desire and magical prowess exceed her expectations. Harkness brings this world to vibrant life and makes the most of the growing popularity of gothic adventure with an ending that keeps the Old Lodge door wide open.
*****

Diana Bishop is a major historian.  She loves it and holds a doctorate in the subject, she went to Yale and now is at Oxford.  Being a witch is something she doesn't connect with, hides it actually.  While in the library doing her usual research an ancient manual, Ashmole 782 lands in her pile of books, it is enchanted and all the supes want to get their hands on it. Diana just returns it to the librarian with the rest of her books and all hell basically breaks loose.

In Harkness' tale the supes consist of witches, vampires and demons.  Matthew Clairmont is an ancient vamp who has his eye on Diana. He see's that all the otherworldly are now after her, wanting her to get that book back again and he becomes her protector.  Of course romance blossoms even though there is a Congregation that forbids the mix of species.

It ends on a cliffhanger since this is #1 of 3 with Diana and Matthew's families getting involved in helping  Diana be safe.  There is some humor and some violence, even a few sniffles for me.  What this book isn't - pnr or uf, you won't find Night Huntress or The Blackdagger Brotherhood type of love scenes in here, nor is there world building such as Kate Daniels or Rachel Morgan.  It is actually very tame, with the author building the tension between the two protagonists.

I liked this book a lot it's been on my bookshelf for many months now and I'm glad I picked it up.  It was long, 592 pgs and took me several days to read, it didn't have that all out page turner anxiety in it, but worth it in my opinion.  Diana and Matthew were wonderful characters as were all the side players as well.  Her aunt Sarah was quite funny and Matthew's Maman Ysabeau was great.  To see both these woman eventually put aside the hatred of the others species was a wonderful part of the story. I will most certainly read the next, Shadow Of Night when it comes out in July.

4 cannoli's

March Madness

Nah, not really, and I'm no basketball fan either ;) It came in like a lamb for the most part and it kinda left the same way. We really had no winter this year in so cali. No complaints from me, I hate the cold, just can't handle it any more.

Well you wanna talk about a sleepy reading month, this was certainly it!! I read two, that's right, you're seeing correctly, two books. The first was The Remains by Vincent Zandri which did nothing for me. The second was book club choice, Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult. It was classic Picoult in that you are angered, saddened, moved to feel these strong emotions. It wasn't bad, the book had a decent pace, she writes very well, but it angered me so much so,that I only gave it a three during our meeting. One gal said any book that gets her emotions going gets a five, but when something really pisses me off, especially the ending, I can't give it a five. If you like Jodi and don't mind being heartbroken, read this one.

Right now I'm reading A Discovery Of Witches by Deborah Harkness. So far so good. I'm only about a hundred pages in and I like the characters. It's a chunkster over 500 pages long, and at the pace I've been reading, this month might be a twobie also : ) Our book club choice for April is Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner. This is a first for me I've never read her before, and this is certainly chick lit from the description I read.

What else do I want to read? I have no darn idea! I'd like to read a good psycho thriller for my challenge that Marce is hosting. So far the three I've read have been busts. My reading has slowed immensely these past few months, that's ok, right now I'd just like to read something that makes me go wow, that was just fantastic :) How about you all out there, anything worth the paper its printed on?

I've noticed that almost everyone and their brother who has been stopping by  my blog has been landing on my Fifty Shades Of Grey by E.L James review.  I gave it 4 1/2 cannolis.  Ana bothered me a bit, I find it hard to believe that someone who's been away at college is just that shy and naive.  My opinion of her didn't get any better in #2, and #3 I started and actually stopped because it wasn't doing anything for me. I won't drop it, I will go back, but for me this author was a one hit wonder.  Her writing deteriorates with each book, if I have to hear one more time, "My fifty" I'm gonna puke. I also feel that she isn't true to Christian's personality or propensity to the bdsm lifestyle I should say.  Much like J.R.Ward has Vishous take a back seat with Jane and become the sub, uh uh not buying it.  That said, the gal has nailed a movie deal netting 5 million for the rights.  The Hollywood Reporter has more, click to read.  Possible Christians are going from Kellan Lutz, Ryan Gossling, to Chris Pine according to People mag, Chris Pine gets my vote.

In the meantime it's stinking April already!!!

Happy reading, happy spring : )