Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Paranormal Romance

In A Discovery of Witches Deborah Harkness has created a world is full of humans and creatures.  The creatures are witches, vampires, and demons.  Diana Bishop is a historian and a witch but one who does not want to use her magic.  She is at Oxford on a year’s sabbatical studying the history of alchemy.  Her life changes when she requests and receives Ashmole 782.  She senses magic in the manuscript, and sends it back after taking a few notes.  But Ashmole 782 is a manuscript that all of the creatures want and Diana is the first to see or open it in since it was put under a spell.  This is the start of an adventure that spans time and place.  Because of the Ashmole 782 Matthew Clairmont, a 1500-year-old vampire, enters Diana’s life and offers protection and much more.

A Discovery of Witches takes you on a long journey filled with fascinating characters and a lot of action.  What it does not do is finish the story of Diana, Matthew and Ashmole 782.  I hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next book.

Deborah Harkness is as fascinating as her book.  She is a student of history and alchemy and uses her knowledge to produce a fun and believable world for A Discovery of Witches.  This is her first novel but she has written and published two scholarly works.  She teaches at the University of Southern California.

After I finished A Discovery of Witches I wanted to interview Deborah.  I found that Viking published an interview with Deborah that answered my questions.  Look for parts of that interview tomorrow.  You can find out how history and fiction is combined in A Discovery of Witches.

Viking published A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness in 2011.