A Discovery of Witches by Deborah E. Harkness

My great book streak continues with A Discovery of Witches.  I really enjoyed this book and I didn't feel like I was reading just another vampire book, although vampires, witches and daemons are the main characters.  I do have on complaint - I thought she could have edited it down a tad.  I don't mind long books (hello Pillars of the Earth) but I thought there were times when the story sagged a bit.  I know that this is a series so she was setting the foundation of the continuing story but I still thought she could have paced it a bit better.  That said I would still recommend this book to everyone AND I will be first in line for the next edition.


From Publishers Weekly


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. (Feb.)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.