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A Discovery of Witches (All Souls, #1)

Deborah Harkness

Start date: March 1, 2015

Finish date: March 30, 2015

Discussion: Monthly Book Discussions

Why we're reading this: March Book of the Month
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Monthly Book Discussions

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What Members Thought

Jan 14, 2019 Shawna rated it liked it

Shelves: pnr-occult-magic, hh-disfigured-injured-scarred-ill, 2019-reads, star-crossed-lovers, action-adventure-treasure-hunting, all-work-no-play-on-the-job-romance, hero-stalk-me-baby-possessive, enemies-to-lovers-opposites-attract, audiobook-narration-great-fabulous, violence-not-for-the-faint-hearted

2.5-3 stars - Paranormal/Mystery/Romance

I struggled with how to rate this one. There are some intriguing aspects of the story, but it really dragged at times and could've used some editing. The relationship between Matthew and Diana lacked authenticity, emotion, and passion, and their romance was honestly pretty boring to me. I know a lot of people really like this series, but I felt underwhelmed. I'm not sure if I have enough interest to finish reading the series or not, but the TV series looks ...more

19 likes · Like · see review

Mar 11, 2011 Wendy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: may-15, apr-11

Even better the second time around :)

9 likes · Like · see review

Feb 17, 2011 Melissa rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobooks, read-in-2011, audible, read-in-2021, audiobooks-2021

Reread this for the first time since since 2011. Once again I listen to the Audible version but I bumped the speed to 1.3x and Diana sounded way less whiney. This time I view her more as a spoiler brat. I’m still not sure how spoiled brat=bravery but the fact is is still dislike Diana, her attitude, her lack of curiosity pisses me off. I still view the romance with Matthew as just a little too precious.

Now that that is out of my system I can be honest and say that enjoyed the story a lot more o ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 09, 2012 Sandy Vaughan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: listened, audible, romance, fantasy, purchased, paranormal

Don't you just love it when reviewers seem to be so divided? Made me wonder so I listened to the snippet. I liked the narrator's voice. I liked the summary of the book. I had to find out what the fuss was all about!

I love libraries! I've experienced wandering around and had a book title just sort of leap out at me. So when the story starts out in the Oxford tombs with a manuscript appearing to young scholar Diana Bishop, I'm hooked. Diana is the last in the line of distinguished witches. Unlike Don't you just love it when reviewers seem to be so divided? Made me wonder so I listened to the snippet. I liked the narrator's voice. I liked the summary of the book. I had to find out what the fuss was all about!

I love libraries! I've experienced wandering around and had a book title just sort of leap out at me. So when the story starts out in the Oxford tombs with a manuscript appearing to young scholar Diana Bishop, I'm hooked. Diana is the last in the line of distinguished witches. Unlike her predecessors, she wants NOTHING to do with witchcraft. But her bloodline will win out over her desires. She makes notes about the manuscript and returns it. Soon the tombs are filled with witches, vampires, demons. One vampire, Matthew Clairmont, sticks out to become our hero.

As in all romances, the course of true love is not smooth. Is he, like all the other creatures after her for her ability to summon the manuscript? Is he really her protector? Can he help her deal with her blossoming sorcery abilities? Can he protect her from all the other witches, demons, and vampires who are after her? Most of all, can a witch of her family line and a vampire from an equally distinguish family be allowed to have any kind of relationship?

I liked the way Deborah Harkness moved these characters along in their relationship as the tension about Diana and manuscript escalated. Thing develop smoothly and logically. Some might say "predictable". I wonder if some of that judgement came after the book was finished.

While I liked all the characters, I especially loved the house and its ghosts. I won't tell you why. You'll have to read/listen to find out for yourself!

I wanted to give Jennifer Ikeda 5 stars but couldn't as couple of times accents changed inappropriately that distracted me. (i.e., I gave her 4 stars.)

This was a well used credit! I would highly recommend this book. If the following books are as good as this one, I would recommend the series!Don't you just love it when reviewers seem to be so divided? Made me wonder so I listened to the snippet. I liked the narrator's voice. I liked the summary of the book. I had to find out what the fuss was all about!

I love libraries! I've experienced wandering around and had a book title just sort of leap out at me. So when the story starts out in the Oxford tombs with a manuscript appearing to young scholar Diana Bishop, I'm hooked. Diana is the last in the line of distinguished witches. Unlike her predecessors, she wants NOTHING to do with witchcraft. But her bloodline will win out over her desires. She makes notes about the manuscript and returns it. Soon the tombs are filled with witches, vampires, demons. One vampire, Matthew Clairmont, sticks out to become our hero.

As in all romances, the course of true love is not smooth. Is he, like all the other creatures after her for her ability to summon the manuscript? Is he really her protector? Can he help her deal with her blossoming sorcery abilities? Can he protect her from all the other witches, demons, and vampires who are after her? Most of all, can a witch of her family line and a vampire from an equally distinguish family be allowed to have any kind of relationship?

I liked the way Deborah Harkness moved these characters along in their relationship as the tension about Diana and manuscript escalated. Thing develop smoothly and logically. Some might say "predictable". I wonder if some of that judgement came after the book was finished.

While I liked all the characters, I especially loved the house and its ghosts. I won't tell you why. You'll have to read/listen to find out for yourself!

I wanted to give Jennifer Ikeda 5 stars but couldn't as couple of times accents changed inappropriately that distracted me. (i.e., I gave her 4 stars.)

This was a well used credit! I would highly recommend this book. If the following books are as good as this one, I would recommend the series! ...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Sandy Vaughan rated it it was amazing

i just finished this one and found the other 2 are also available. so my next step will be to snarf them up as fast as possible!

why? because it is a cliff hanger with wonderful writing and a really good narrator!

normally i dislike series books that have to be read in order but this is one is worth it! it has all sorts of .... weirdness (for lack of a better word). when the region is ruled by women, things are generally run well. when it run by men...different story. want to guess the sex of th ...more

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Jan 14, 2012 Ladyacct rated it it was ok

This was a lllooonnnnggg drawn out story which had its moments of interest. Unfortunately the first interest was in chapter 17 the next about chapter 29.....I won't be reading the rest of the trilogy. ...more

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