A Discovery of Witches

A Discovery of Witches 

by: Deborah Harkness

Good Reads Book Description

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell. 

First things first, Ian Somerhalder reminds us of Matthew, dark and brooding.  Dangerous and alluring. (*I know, I know, he's already Damon - but hey - this is who I pictured, what can I say, he's a perfect vamp.*)

Couldn't you imagine a make-out session next to the apple tree with THIS!

In case anyone wondered what was underneath that.

We read this book kind-of at the same time so we could discuss; therefore, this post will be both of our ramblings on DOW. Here. We. Go!


Our thoughts? We got lots of them.  This was a very interesting read. Deborah did her research before writing this book.  We learn A LOT about things that we never thought we wanted or needed to do.  We now have knowledge of D.N.A., Alchemy, poets, playwrights, wars, the list goes on.  I didn't fact check her, but I am taking the history/medical knowledge in this book like it is a text book because she couldn't have possibly made this shit up, right?

Anywho....Neither of us had ever read a book about witches before.  Witches have made appearances in books that we have read, but we have never had the opportunity to delve in to the world of witchery.  Let's just say...Witches are bad ass.  They can do just about anything; witch-fire, witch-water, witch-wind, time-walk, read minds, the opportunities are endless (well, at least Diana's are). 

We both enjoyed the "mush" we experienced with this book...several different elements from other semi-similar books smashed together (Twilight, Outlander, Vampire Diaries and a little True Blood). We are *VERY* much eagerly anticipating the next installment of Discovery of Witches. If you enjoy Diana Gabaldon's writing style and reading about history, I would really recommend adding this to your book list. If you don't like the "vampire-book-thing", I would say skip this one. Lets face it, if you can't get past a guy wanting a girl AND her blood, you will probably will not enjoy a story focused on VAMPIRES, witches and daemons. 


The romance involved in this story is not over-kill, it instead is the glue that holds the story lines together. With so much inner turmoil with the main character, external conflicts, family issues, why not add romance to the mix. One may think this seems like a lot in one book - and you're right - but it is written in such a way that it all just fits together perfectly. You know a book is good when you go to bed thinking so much about it.

(P.S. Izzy: If Diana complains about her clothes (black trousers and a plain colored shirt), then why doesn't she just pop new clothes in her closet? I mean, hasn't she heard of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, duh?!? lol)

 Matthew, Matthew, Matthew...

*************PLEASE BEWARE LOTS OF SPOILERS BELOW***********

IM's relating to A Discovery of Witches: 

Sassy - 5/24/11 - 12:09am     =     It's 12 o'clock and I'm just finishing chapter 17! It's officially ON! I'm now losing  sleep b/c I neeeeeed to know what is happening next. Lucky for u I have to wk tomorrow & need to go to the gym during lunch, so I won't get much reading done.

I can't wait to discuss!

Izzy - 5/24/11 - 7:24am     =     Lol I read just a couple pages. I had every intention of reading last night but Nicole called and we ended up talking until 11:00. That's past my bedtime so no more reading was done! Maybe today on lunch I will read though.

Izzy - 5/25/11 - 12:59pm     =     Just starting chapter 8!

Izzy - 5/26/11 - 7:44pm     =      They are having lots of wine with dinner! Is this about to get exciting? Lol

Izzy - 5/26/11 - 9:41pm     =     Starting chapter 16 tomorrow. Am I almost caught up to you yet?

Sassy - 5/27/11 - 6:21am    =     Yes! I think I'm on 19

Izzy - 5/27/11 - 4:53pm     =     Got a bottle of Moscato to start the weekend off right

Sassy - 5/29/11 - 11:05am      =     Did u read? Need to ck your chapter... To see whether I can read yet or not. -lol   (**Wow - I'm a book bully - lol**)

Izzy - 5/29/11 - 1:08pm     =     I read some not much though. I think I am on chapter 20. They went horse back riding.

Izzy - 5/29/11 - 4:23pm     =     Starting chapter 22 now. Reading on my phone makes me so sleepy! 

Izzy - 5/30/11 - 12:56am     =     Starting chapter 27. What chapter are you on?

Sassy - 5/30/11 - 10:29am     =     Ooooh! I'm only starting 25 :) wooooohooooo!

Sassy - 5/30/11 - 1:28pm     =     So when he came home....They totally had a makeout session and full on grope-fest right next to his car?! Buddy's grabbing her boob when his mom walks out? Nonetheless, now they're sleeping in the same bed!

Izzy - 5/30/11 - 2:31pm     =     Lol. they get you worked up just to be blocked!

Sassy - 5/30/11 - 2:41pm     =     Holy freakin cow! Boyfriend just barged in holding a towel! Things are getting more interesting.   (**Or so I thought)

Sassy - 5/30/11 - 2:44pm     =     And now naked!   (**girlfriend just didn't know this was AAALLLLL the action she was going to be getting for awhile**)

Izzy - 5/30/11 - 3:23pm     =     You are pretty much caught up with me then!!

Izzy - 5/30/11 - 4:29pm     =     What chapter are you on?

Sassy - 5/30/11 - 5:37pm     =     Just about to start 29. She was just kidnapped I think!

Izzy - 5/30/11 - 6:13pm     =     I am right ahead of you. Craziness!

Sassy - 5/30/11 - 6:16pm     =     I just finished 29 she's trapped in some hole and doesn't know how to fly out

Sassy 5/30/11 - 6:18pm     =     Matthew is going to be so pissed! She promised not to leave, and then she goes gallivanting out after all sorts of fondling fun the night before! She's in heaps of trouble!  (**bahhhh-haaaaaa - we were wrong, again**)

Izzy - 5/30/11 - 7:10pm     =     I thought so too

Izzy - 5/31/11 - 9:04pm     =     We need to talk ASAP! craziness!

Sassy - 5/31/11 - 9:22pm     =     Book?

Sassy - 5/31/11 - 10:28pm     =     Hold on! The tea is a contraceptive!? There's gotta be something to THAT!

Izzy - 6/1/11 - 9:33pm     =     This is going to be a big cliff hanger. I just know it! Only 15 pages left and so much to do!

Sassy - 6/1/11 - 9:45pm     =     Okay I met Juliette! She just kissed Diana?! WTF? She is crazy!

Izzy - 6/1/11 - 10:11pm     =     Now what?

Sassy - 6/1/11 - 10:18pm     =     She's giving him blood b/c the bitch almost killed him! Holy freakin cow!

Izzy - 6/1/11 - 10:18pm     =     Intense, huh? I just finished!

Sassy - 6/1/11 - 10:21pm     =     Yes! They r trying to keep her alive now since Matthew drank so much

Sassy - 6/1/11 - 10:34pm     =     Just jotting...Deal made?   (**this helps me not forget important things that need to be discussed in actual phone conversation - sorry, most of these will make absolutely no sense whatsoever.**)

Izzy - 6/2/11 - 9:54pm     =     Reading?

Sassy - 6/2/11 - 10:08pm     =     Just got home :( bout to start though.

Izzy - 6/2/11 - 10:08pm     =     Late start!!

Sassy - 6/3/11 - 7:12am     =     10 pages left!

Izzy - 6/3/11 - 7:32am     =     You will be done today!!!

Sassy - 6/3/11 - 5:56pm     =     WTF - Again no consummation!    Matthew in love w/a man?!

Sassy - 6/3/11 - 5:56pm     =     Nevermind

Sassy - 6/3/11 - 5:59pm     =     Playhouses?

Sassy - 6/3/11 - 6:23pm     =     WTF! I'm done but WTF!

Sassy - 6/3/11 - 6:27pm     =     I'm still confused.

Izzy - 6/3/11 - 7:16pm     =     Call me!

We love us some Matthew, but a few things need to be said here. WFT!?!? NO SEX.  Normally, this is not a big deal. We aren't crazy pervs that demand sex in every book we read, but can we say COCK BLOCK? (Can we say that word on here? I guess so, since it's our blog, lol) But seriously people, Deborah got us worked up SEVERAL times in the book (didn't EVERYone think when the entire fam left the house and they were completely alone THAT would be the time???)  and they never consummated their relationship! I (Sassy) had a very hard time with this aspect of the book when all was said and done. But...how can Harkness tell us that Diana 'used' men in the past for her personal 'needs' (never mind she's in her mid 30's), and then you go below the border with your HOT boyfriend/husband but decide you're not going to press the issue of sex? BABE - I think a serious convo would have taken place - BEFORE they traveled hundreds of years in the past. Can we say anti-climatic - LITERALLY!

I must say there were quite a few scenes that we just LOVED imagining while reading. All that talk of wine tasting really had me wishing I could taste caramel, berries, purple grapes, etc just by taking a sip of wine. (Matter of fact, we are planning on a wine tasting date very soon.) We also, quite enjoyed the descriptions of when Diana's magic went hay-wire...it was so exciting discovering (he-he) it  when Diana did too!

Another thought, during the the book Matthew mentions his rules about "not telling other people's tales" and it seems it is more of an almost 'don't ask, don't tell policy', it just SPELLS trouble! Don't you think?  Poor Diana! Shit keeps hitting the fan before she can even recover from the last episode because of Matthew's rather extensive past!

Overall, the books started off a little slow to us. There were lots of details that at times slowed the story line down, but after around chapter 16 (?) things definitely picked up speed. So many clever characters throughout - Marcus (Surfer-ish?), Marian (misunderstood?), Sarah (condescending Bitch!) - Nathaniel & Sophie (what the heck - you just came from no-where into our family?). Your mind can go anywhere with this story.

Nonetheless, the home stretch of the book, we couldn't even put it down. But, man, were we left hanging. BIG TIME! Nothing in the book really got resolved. Conflict after conflict, question after question, were presented, but none of it was answered. Call us OCD, but sometimes we like things to be tied up in a bow with a little resolution.  Resolution - we did not receive.  Definitely, looking forward to the next book.  We have lots of questions that need answers. We're hooked!

Favorite quotes from the book:

"Somewhere in the center of my soul, a rusty chain began to unwind. It freed itself, link by link, from where it had rested, unobserved, waiting for him. My hands, which had been balled up and pressed against his chest, unfurled with it. The chain continued to drop, to an unfathomable depth where there was nothing but darkness and Matthew. At last it snapped to its full length, anchoring me to a vampire. Despite the manuscript, despite the fact that my hands contained enough voltage to run a microwave, and despite the photograph, as long as I was connected to him, I was safe."

"Yes, I see that you are behaving like a prince but that doesn't mean you won't behave like a devil at the first opportunity."

"Are you smelling me?" After yesterday I suspected that my body was giving him all kinds of information I didn't want him to have.
"Don't tempt me," he murmured." 

"We kissed each other, long and deep, while my legs opened like the covers of a book." (Reader's note - This shit didn't get us anywhere...don't get your hopes up)