Book One
All Souls
All Souls
Fall under the spell of Diana and Matthew in the stunning first volume of the No.1 internationally bestsellling ALL SOULS trilogy.
A world of witches, daemons and vampires. A manuscript which holds the secrets of their past and the key to their future. Diana and Matthew - the forbidden love at the heart of it.
When historian Diana Bishop opens an alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, it's an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordered life. Though Diana is a witch of impeccable lineage, the violent death of her parents while she was still a child convinced her that human fear is more potent than any witchcraft. Now Diana has unwittingly exposed herself to a world she's kept at bay for years; one of powerful witches, creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires. Sensing the significance of Diana's discovery, the creatures gather in Oxford, among them the enigmatic Matthew Clairmont, a vampire genticist. Diana is inexplicably drawn to Matthew and, in a shadowy world of half-truths and old enmities, ties herself to him without fully understanding the ancient line they are crossing. As they begin to unlock the secrets of the manuscript and their feelings for each other deepen, so the fragile balance of peace unravels...
WARNING: Review may contain spoilers...
A Discovery of Witches, a love story between Deborah Harkness and Matthew Clairmont... I mean, Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont.
In all seriousness, this does read like a fanfiction between the author and a vampire, a Romeo and Juliet love affair. Now that's okay, I mean, who doesn't have fantasies of themselves in a love affair. But Diana Bishop, if she is 100% like the author, then I can't stand her.
I've never met a character who is so full of themselves, treating people like they are below her. Not sure if it's the way I was raised, but the way she disrespected her elders for no reason at all. Especially her aunt. These people want to protect her, and the way she talks made me put the book down a few times.
She also claims to be smart, and she hints at it a lot throughout the book, but I found it hard to believe with the amount of stupid things she says and does. Half-way through the book she finds out that she has been using magic all along with her study and work. I can see now how she got where she is in a short matter of time.
And don't get me started on the "love" between her and Matthew.
Talking about Matthew, it's funny how vampires can move with time like electricity and technology and whatnot, but still have the mindset of a caveman.
How is this romantic? How can a strong, modern day woman think it's okay for a man to tell her what to do 24/7 and it be called love?
He even treats female vampires like they are below him.
Actually, the more I think on it, Diana and Matthew deserve each other.
Going back to the way she treats her aunt.
Right from the start, and a lot throughout the book, we are told that she doesn't want to use magic. Wants nothing to do with witches. Okay, if you feel that way, fine. No one is forcing you. But don't you dare act all in a huff and puff when you don't know anything about actually being a witch.
Diana's aunt is right, why should she have told you about the details when you refused over and over again that you want nothing to do with that part of your life.
The way she talks down to people was the straw that broke the camels back with this character. That and of course she turns out to be the most powerful, most brilliant witch of them all. How ironic to make a character that is basically you the most powerful and sort after person on the planet.
So, saying all that, hating the two main characters with a fiery passion, if it literally wasn't for everyone else and including the "bad guys", I think I would've given this a one star and wouldn't think about picking up the next book.
With all Deborah Harkness' flaws, she does know how to keep you trapped in a story, wanting to know what will happen next.
So yes, I will read book two. Not straight away, I need a break from Diana and Matthew.
In all seriousness, this does read like a fanfiction between the author and a vampire, a Romeo and Juliet love affair. Now that's okay, I mean, who doesn't have fantasies of themselves in a love affair. But Diana Bishop, if she is 100% like the author, then I can't stand her.
I've never met a character who is so full of themselves, treating people like they are below her. Not sure if it's the way I was raised, but the way she disrespected her elders for no reason at all. Especially her aunt. These people want to protect her, and the way she talks made me put the book down a few times.
She also claims to be smart, and she hints at it a lot throughout the book, but I found it hard to believe with the amount of stupid things she says and does. Half-way through the book she finds out that she has been using magic all along with her study and work. I can see now how she got where she is in a short matter of time.
And don't get me started on the "love" between her and Matthew.
Talking about Matthew, it's funny how vampires can move with time like electricity and technology and whatnot, but still have the mindset of a caveman.
How is this romantic? How can a strong, modern day woman think it's okay for a man to tell her what to do 24/7 and it be called love?
He even treats female vampires like they are below him.
Actually, the more I think on it, Diana and Matthew deserve each other.
Going back to the way she treats her aunt.
Right from the start, and a lot throughout the book, we are told that she doesn't want to use magic. Wants nothing to do with witches. Okay, if you feel that way, fine. No one is forcing you. But don't you dare act all in a huff and puff when you don't know anything about actually being a witch.
Diana's aunt is right, why should she have told you about the details when you refused over and over again that you want nothing to do with that part of your life.
The way she talks down to people was the straw that broke the camels back with this character. That and of course she turns out to be the most powerful, most brilliant witch of them all. How ironic to make a character that is basically you the most powerful and sort after person on the planet.
So, saying all that, hating the two main characters with a fiery passion, if it literally wasn't for everyone else and including the "bad guys", I think I would've given this a one star and wouldn't think about picking up the next book.
With all Deborah Harkness' flaws, she does know how to keep you trapped in a story, wanting to know what will happen next.
So yes, I will read book two. Not straight away, I need a break from Diana and Matthew.
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