Spooky Reads Day 29: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Title: A Discovery of Witches
Author: Deborah Harkness
Page Count: 579
Rating: A+++++
Format Read: Hardcover
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Oxford, Tomes, History
Kid Appropriate: No

Synopsis from Goodreads:

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.

My Review:

This magical book is pure heaven to read and perfect for the fall season. Easily making it onto my favorite books of all time list, this hefty adult urban fantasy novel follows an independent historian as she embarks on an adventure after finding a mysterious book among her research materials.

This is a great pick for anyone not keen on reading yet another teenager falling in love story. Instead with this novel and the following books in the trilogy you meet a successful academic who has already made her life and dealt with sorrow now taking on new challenges and mysteries. I believe Diana is in her thirties during this first book and she is incredibly likeable. I remember frequently becoming so lost in the story that I would forget I was even reading.

I loved the fact that there aren't just a single 'creature' in this fantasy world either. The diversity created with witches, vampires, and daemons was refreshing.

Completely engrossing, I highly recommend this book for the fall season!