Title: A Discovery of Witches
Author: Deborah Harkness
Narrator: Jennifer Ikeda
Genre: Paranormal Fiction
Pages: 592
Audio: 24 hours
Year: 2011
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Source: Library
Book Rating: 3/5
Audio Rating: 4/5
Summary:
Diana Bishop descends from a powerful line of witches, but she has always suppressed that part of her preferring to work her way up in academia instead. While researching at Oxford, she comes across Ashmole 783, a book others have been searching for for centuries. When Matthew Clairmont, a very old vampire enters her life around the same time, Diana can no longer hide from her powers.
My Thoughts:
I was discussing this book with a friend and she suggested that people either love or hate it. But I am actually somewhere in between. There were times that I really enjoyed it. Then there were times that I was bored out of my mind. The thing is, I was pretty interested in the story. It was just about twice as long as it needed to be. Had this been print, I likely would have given up.
I also had some issues with the Diana-Matthew relationship. For someone who was supposed to be self-sufficient, Diana sure let Matthew boss her around. There was almost a – dare I say it – Edward-Bella thing happening.
However, looking back on it, I do think there is a very good story here and I know a lot of people who adored this book. If it looks interesting to you and you think you’re up for the task, A Discovery of Witches might be worth a try.
I’m on the fence about reading the recently-released sequel. The book ends in such a way that I am curious about what happens. And the premise of the second book sounds interesting. But it’s another 24 hours of listening and I’m not sure I want to commit to that.
Audiobook Thoughts:
Ms. Ikeda did an excellent job. She handled Diana’s voice very well but also captured the various accents of the others. Because this book can be a little slow, I’d recommend the audio if you’re going to read it.
my books. my life. 
Ugh! I couldn’t stand the bossy! I quit. I just couldn’t see how she would put up with that nonsense. You are a better woman than I.
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It was a little Bella-Edward initially, but I think it evened out and Matthew got a bit less creepy as it went on.
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I loved this book, but like you said, there was some Edward/Bella stuff going on, and I wasn’t cool with that. It was one of my favorite reads of last year, and I just got the audio of the second book, which I am just dying to start…but I still have about 10 more hours of Wolf Hall to finish listening to. That one is 24 hours as well. I liked your review. You weren’t in love with this one, but you managed to capture your likes and dislikes in a really great off the cuff way. Nice job today.
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I recently finished this and have yet to review it, but the length was certainly an issue for me. I found the repeating of the ‘you have a lot to learn about vampires…’ quip absolutely annoying, and yet… and yet… I couldn’t put it down. I just think it could’ve been slimmed down considerably without taking anything away from the plot. I’m interested in attempting the second book, but I think it’ll be another one I get from the library.
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