A Discovery of Witches
A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.
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.
Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series – with an extra serving of historical realism.
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Deborah Harkness
Before Deborah Harkness ever wrote about witches, vampires, or daemons, she was chasing ghosts of a different kind—lost manuscripts, forgotten alchemists, and the hidden truths of Renaissance science. A historian by trade, she spent years immersed in the dusty corridors of academia, unraveling the ways magic and science once danced hand in hand. That lifelong fascination became the lifeblood of her fiction.
When A Discovery of Witches appeared, it wasn’t just another entry into the paranormal genre—it was something richer. Woven with real history, wine-soaked libraries, and the quiet ache of forbidden love, the story offered readers a deeper, more thoughtful kind of fantasy. At the center of it all stood Diana Bishop, a scholar who stumbles across a bewitched manuscript and is forced to confront a world she’s spent her life trying to ignore.
All Souls
The All Souls series by Deborah Harkness is a captivating blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and romance that has enchanted readers worldwide. This bestselling saga transports readers into a world where magic, history, and forbidden love collide, creating an epic adventure that unfolds across time and space. With its richly detailed world-building, complex characters, and a compelling mix of mystery and romance, All Souls stands as a modern classic in the supernatural genre.
All Souls consists of five primary books, and includes one additional book that complement the series but is not considered mandatory reads and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of two more books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
