Bewitched

     When I opened Deborah Harkness's A Discovery of Witches for a quick glance I had no intention of reading the book then and there, but testament to its power to draw the reader in, I was gripped from the first page and didn't put it down. Thus, I spent the reading week in the company of witches, vampires and daemons, but really - with one or two notable exceptions - what a civilised bunch they are, and what a ripping yarn this is!

    The story begins in Oxford's Bodleian Library where academics Diana Bishop (witch and historian of science) and Matthew Clairmont (vampire and eminent geneticist) meet when Diana consults a strange alchemical manuscript, thought to have been lost for years. The book had been spell-bound, but somehow, and without her knowing how she'd done it, Diana broke the spell and was able to use it for her research on the allegorical image tradition in England. Her calling up of Ashmole 782 was innocently done, but it turns out that others have designs on the book, and their motives - and methods - are not as wholesome as Diana's.

    What follows is a fascinatingly detailed story, an unusual romance, an exciting adventure, with - overall - a certain cosiness to it and the sense that though dangers will be encountered and serious peril faced, all will be well in the end. How well, I cannot say, for the happy news is that this novel is the first of a trilogy entitled All Souls, and I look forward enormously to the next in the series, having enjoyed this one so much. Full of references, historical and literary, and arcane knowledge about the world of beings with special powers, A Discovery of Witches has been a marvellously entertaining read, hard to classify neatly perhaps, but great fun - and if you're snowed in (and much of Scotland is just now, it seems) this would be the perfect book to have to hand!

Comments

[Anbolyn]

This sounds like a great read! I just put it on hold at the library as it released until February here in the States.

[Annabel (gaskella)]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it as it is a bit of a chunkster at nearly 600 pages. I won't be so intimidated by its size when I read it soon!

[Cornflower]

Good idea to reserve it! The release date here in the UK is February as well.

[Cornflower]

Chunkster it is, but great fun!

[Coffee and a Book Chick]

What is it about witches and spells that becomes so intriguing for me? I'm going to have to track this down -- I love getting swallowed up in a book!

[sakura]

I can't wait to start reading this. I'm saving it for Christmas when it's really dark and cold:)

[Victoria]

This sounds great, I'm really looking forward to it.

[Julie Fredericksen]

This definitely goes on my TBR list!

[Simon (Savidge Reads)]

I got a copy of this in the post the other day and am saving it for Christmas time when I am trying to ignore the family bickering that always ensues. I am so pleased its good as the cover alone had me intrigued.

[Juxtabook]

I have sent the link of your review to Mr J with a Large Hint!