A Discovery of Witches: A Novel (All Souls Series)

“A Discovery of Witches” by Deborah Harkness is a captivating blend of fantasy, romance, historical fiction, and the supernatural. It is the first installment in the “All Souls Trilogy” and introduces readers to a world where magic, vampires, witches, and daemons exist alongside humans.

The story revolves around Diana Bishop, a brilliant historian and a reluctant witch. She has spent most of her life denying her magical heritage, choosing instead to focus on her academic pursuits. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a mysterious, enchanted manuscript called Ashmole 782 in the Bodleian Library at Oxford University. This discovery triggers a chain of events that forces Diana to confront her magical abilities and the hidden world of supernatural creatures.

Enter Matthew Clairmont, a charismatic and centuries-old vampire geneticist. Matthew becomes Diana’s protector and ally as they delve into the secrets of the manuscript, which holds profound insights into the origins of their kind and potentially the key to their survival. As they unravel the manuscript’s mysteries, their growing attraction to each other deepens, despite the long-standing enmity between witches and vampires.

The narrative takes readers on a journey that spans across time and continents, from Oxford to France and beyond, as Diana and Matthew seek answers, confront danger, and grapple with the challenges of their forbidden love.