I was originally led to A Discovery of Witches by a review that called it "Twilight for adults." That was enough to get me to buy it but once I started reading, I could quickly see that there is so much more to this novel than another simple girl-meets-vampire story. Author Deborah Harkness has created a brand new world that incorporates vampires, witches and daemons and it never fails to entice and engage. A history professor, Harkness incorporates her intense knowledge of and love for history into her debut novel (and what better way to do this than with a vampire who happens to be 1500 years old!). So, along with a thrilling plot involving a love affair between two species who, heretofore have been forbidden to intermingle, she introduces us to historical events which enrich the plot and characterization significantly. In addition, the locations she utilizes -- Oxford, England; Sept-Tours, France; upstate New York -- add colorful and interesting backdrops to the proceedings. Diana Bishop is a witch who has denounced her bewitching abilities so she can focus on keeping her scholarly research as pure as possible. But, when she calls up a book from the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library -- Ashmole 782 -- she is suddenly surrounded by witches and daemons and one very handsome and intelligent vampire (Matthew Clairmont). It seems everyone is intrigued by Diana's interest in this book, which has been hidden for many years, and they want to see how the magic in it affects Diana or how Diana's magic will affect the book. But, their interest in Diana and her magic puts her in grave danger so Matthew steps in to protect the young scholar. He flies her to France to keep her safe in his family's castle. There, the two can no longer deny their love for each other, which introduces an even more dangerous situation -- the threat of The Congregation (made up of witches, daemons and vampires), whose mission is to keep the three species from intermingling. But, most threatening of all is a witch named Satu who is ordered to learn just how much magic Diana has in her soul. Diana and Matthew must use their wits and considerable abilities to stay one step ahead of the dangers that threaten to end their lives...and their enduring love. I was completely swallowed up in the world created by Harkness. (And, this from a reader who has never fully embraced the fantasy or science-fiction genres!) The book includes a compelling plot that incorporates interesting moments in history but it succeeds because of the two main characters. Diana is a feisty, strong and intelligent scholar who does not shirk from danger. Meanwhile, Matthew is a powerful, smart and protective vampire whose history (and passions) run deep. Together, they are a complex pair who work through their difficulties in an intelligent, mature way. But, complicating matters are the mysteries each keep secret from the other and by the emotions that develop from keeping these secrets; this is where the soul of the book is found. This is the first of a planned trilogy of books and the conclusion of this volume has apparently disappointed some readers because of its lack of a typical conclusion. But, the ending excites me and makes me hope the second volume will be published sooner rather than later (it is planned for 2012). Harkness has introduced us to a plethora of intriguing, complicated and engaging characters who truly get under your skin! Imagining their adventures in Volume 2 promises even more fun for the reader. If you are looking for a simple love story, this book is not for you. But, if you are ready for a mature story that incorporates mature characters, deep emotions, moments in history and a wild-and-woolly plot, you should go straight to to the 1-Click button and buy it! I loved A Discovery of Witches and look forward to reading it several more times before Volume 2 is released!

It's rare to find a book that you think about even when you're not reading it and whose world you're more involved in than your own. But that's how it was for me with Deborah Harkness' A Discovery of Witches - a book that's pure magic to me (no pun intended). It's now in a three-way tie for my all time favorite book (with Jennifer Lee Carrell's Interred with Their Bones and Anne Fortier's Juliet, in case you were wondering). The very fact that I wanted to read it again right away and was actually sad to have to return it to the library says a lot. (I've since purchased a copy from Amazon of both the hard back and audio book.) The story centers on Diana Bishop, a 30-something historian who specializes in Medieval alchemy. When researching at Oxford, she accidentally calls up a long-lost, spellbound manuscript, Ashmole 782. She senses something strange about it and opens it, but doesn't read it. Although she's descendant from a long line of witches, she wasn't trained to use magic and so doesn't realize the impact of her ability to break the spell. She returns the manuscript just like any other book. That's when a host of vampires, demons and other witches start following her every move, all desperate to unlock the mystery of Ashmole 782, even if it costs Diana her life. Along the way she discovers she does indeed have magical powers (something else those otherworldly creatures are interested in) and forges an unlikely bond with vampire Matthew Claremont, an alliance that will both threaten and change her life in ways she could never imagine. I've seen this book described as "Twilight for the academic set." That's like comparing foie gras with a hot dog. Yes, they both have controlling vampires. That's where the similarities begin and end, in my opinion. Twilight was a teenage love story with nothing more at stake (seriously, no pun intended) than Bella's life and heartbreak. This book is about the interaction of witches, humans, vampires and demons (which could be seen as an analogy for racial tolerance), evolution and the future of all of their kinds. It's about magic and mystery and their place in a scientifically dominated world. I'd say the stakes are a little higher here. I had no idea there were vampires in this book when I picked it up. It contains three of my very favorite things: ornate libraries, an old, mysterious book, and magic (the Wiccan kind, not the Harry Potter kind), so I was hooked immediately. Even if that doesn't do it for you, the mystery surrounding the manuscript of Ashmole 782 will. I'm a huge fan of character-driven fiction and a Discovery of Witches excels in character development. You learn so much about them from their day-to-day lives and interactions with each other. Some are likeable, others are not, and there are a few you don't know if you can trust. Diana is by far my favorite, but then again, I relate to her on a number of levels, including her love of history, old books and unfortunate propensity toward panic attacks. For some odd reason, I was captivated by Diana's hobby of rowing (sculling to be precise) and plan to take that up myself as a result of having read this book. Matthew, despite being the main love interest, doesn't make me fall in love with him. I like him as a character, but I think it's my inability to trust him that keeps me at a distance. My favorite character is Marthe. Somehow, her mix of humor and down-to-earth wisdom is the perfect foil to Diana, Matthew and Ysabeau, all of whom can be too serious. The world, writing and plot of this book are also handled with expertise. I've never been to any of the locations, nor had I ever seen sculling before, but thanks to Harkness' evocative descriptions, I could see and hear it all. And all of the meals and wine that were described kept me hungry and in need of a drink (in a good way)! I especially love the Bishop House, which really is a character unto itself. It gave the book some much-needed levity. A Discovery of Witches seems to be a love it or hate it book, judging from the number of one- and five-star reviews on Goodreads. It's a very layered story, and if you only take the time to focus on one point, you're going to miss a lot. This is a book that should be savored. But that doesn't mean it's not without its flaws. There were some plot points I didn't believe and others that I felt deserved more explanation, but I'm trusting Harkness has her reasons for handling things the way she did. That's one of the problems with not being able to read a series all the way through. A lot of times the author does things a certain way that will make perfect sense once you can see the story as a whole as she does. But as readers, we don't have that option along the way (at least not until all the books come out). (This is the short version of my review. If you want to read my long, spoilery, very passionate review, you can find it on Goodreads under Nicole Evelina - but I would suggest reading the book first because I touch on almost all the major plot points.) PS - If you get the chance to listen to the audio book, Jennifer Ikeda does an incredible job as the narrator.