A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness is a 579-page epic with witches, vampires, romance, and ageless battles—something for everyone. Some of my favorite parts were the explanations of witches and vampires through DNA sequencing and the research of ancient manuscripts. I also liked the vampire cuisine: nuts, raw meats, and wine…especially wine. On the negative side, I felt that the pervasiveness of paranormal abilities and events, left the characters as victims, rather than in control of their fate—I found it hard to celebrate a success that happened by magic.
The book unfolds in stages. It is told by Dr. Diana Bishop, a historian of alchemy. She is a witch related to Bridget Bishop of Salem fame (1692). It begins with her discovery of an ancient manuscript, Ashmole 782, which has been lost for 150 years. Next is her forbidden romance with Matthew Clairmont, a vampire over 1,500 years old. He does research into the DNA of witches, vampires, and daemons.
This romance put them afoul of the Covenant that forbids such interspecies relationships. The battle starts in Oxford, but quickly moves to Matthew’s home in France, and finally to Diana’s home in upstate New York. The home in New York is haunted and introduces some comic relief when the house makes editorial comments by slamming doors and hiding and revealing things such as important documents and serving dishes. It also foresees visitors, and if they are favored, the house creates new rooms for them. Many of Diana’s relatives occupy the house as ghosts. The house and the ghosts have the most agency of the characters.
This is my first vampire book, so I can’t compare these vampires to others. The vampires have superhuman physical strengths and abilities, like speed of movement. I liked that this extended to speed reading. Now when I meet someone who reads quickly, I’ll wonder whether they are part-vampire.
Diana is often seen as strong, but in spite of this everyone feels the need to protect her. She has many witch powers but is unable to use them to her benefit. She was my favorite character and I kept expecting her to learn how to use her power. This is book one of a trilogy, so maybe that breakthrough comes later.
If you like the supernatural romance, and epic struggles, this is the book for you. If you expect characters to surmount their challenges through intelligence and perseverance, not so much.
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