A Discovery of Witches

A Discovery of Witches
By Deborah Harkness
Fiction
Released February 8, 2011
$14.99 Kindle www.amazon.com


This book has been rockin' out the best sellers list for months! Curious about all the hype and being a fan of the whole vampire/supernatural trend- I figured I had to check this book out. Bleck. I didn't like it. If you enjoyed the "Outlander" series, or "Lasher" by Anne Rice; especially because of the history-then this book is perfect for you. It has time travel and historical details with a supernatural twist.

The story centers around Diana Bishop, a very powerful witch from a long line of witches. Diana is a professor who ignores her destiny and power. She discovers a very important book that holds a powerful key for all supernatural creatures. Enter in Matthew Clairmont, a prestigious, well-known professor who also happens to be a vampire. Clairmont and Bishop fall in love. Inter-species relationships are forbidden in the supe world but that doesn't stop these two crazy kids from being together. The story takes place in modern times and yet Matthew is a caveman when it comes to women and their roles. Ugh. A war is brewing in the world of vampires, witches, demons and all other creatures. Fighting for the control of the "book"  and their relationship, Diana and Matthew decide to stay safe the best thing for them to do is travel back in time.

I  found the book toooooooooo long. The plot is slowwwwwwww moving and not only is there a lot of  history but very detailed scientific junk that I have no interest in. There really wasn't any great action or huge climax to the story, either. Some of the traveling they did was totally unbelievable.  And a witch and vampire who practice yoga? As if! Harkness skimmed over the scenes that seemed to have potential  - only to devote more time to big, outdated words and terminology. No supernatural sex. Yawn. And too much  hemming and hawing between characters. I almost feel like Harkness was overwhelmed by the potential of this story and where it could go. She lost her writing in the details. She lost the story while trying to focus on the description and history. All the things she got wrong were the same things Gabaldon got right in "Outlander". The things that made me want to keep reading. And Ann Rice gives really good sex to her historical, supernatural books. This book needed a little of that kind of Rice spice!

Finally, the title, "A Discovery of Witches"????  I don't get it. I felt like there was no discovery of anything. All the creatures know about each other and Diana knew all along she was a witch and that she came from a long line of witches. Skip this one even if it's in the box of free stuff at the yard sale.


Recommend it: No.

But: Only if you really enjoy historical fiction. It's more history than witches versus vampires.


Bonus: This book is the first of three novels in the "All Souls Trilogy".