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theespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Update after 2023 reread: giving it 5 stars. I’ve read this three times now and it deserves all the love!
Before I began reading this book, someone told me that a lot of people will say it feels like Twilight for adults, but it really isn't that. Someone else told me that it reads like a textbook. And yet another person said they'd only recommend the show. So, I had a lot to consider going into this, but I did form my own opinions, not to worry.
I immediately understood why people make the Twilight comparison. There's a pretty possessive vampire love interest (he even gives the "I'm dangerous and you shouldn't trust me" speech) and a female protagonist who basically gives up her own life entirely to follow said vampire wherever he may go. However, there are some pretty distinct differences. First of which being that Diana is a witch, not a human, and she has power of her own from the get-go, making her a very strong character. She's also really smart (though she doesn't necessarily display the full degree of her intellect when it comes to anything regarding Matthew). I found her likable and interesting.
I also understood the comparison to a textbook. There is an almost unnecessary amount of information - and if you don't have a strong interest in alchemic history, there might be some times where the text loses you. I felt my mind wandering on several occasions - as the book is nearly 800 pages long and at least a quarter of the story is taken up by intense intellectual argument or discussion. However, it was also really key to the story, and I think if I had spent too much time skimming through it, I would have been confused by several of the action sequences.
While some people may say this is better as a show, I don't have an opinion on that yet. My plan is to finish the series before I even attempt to embark on the television series. I like having sound judgment going into something like that and my mind would be swayed if I didn't read the entire story first and know all the characters and plot by heart.
At first, I planned to give this book 3 stars - only because of the pacing, honestly. After finishing it, I realized it was the only book I wanted to talk with others about for nearly a week straight, which proved that it deserved a higher rating. It has now been nearly a month since I finished it and so much of it is still fresh in my mind, plus I'm still interested in seeing what happens next. All good signs! I look forward to reading the sequel and seeing how the time travel plays a part in this tale.
Before I began reading this book, someone told me that a lot of people will say it feels like Twilight for adults, but it really isn't that. Someone else told me that it reads like a textbook. And yet another person said they'd only recommend the show. So, I had a lot to consider going into this, but I did form my own opinions, not to worry.
I immediately understood why people make the Twilight comparison. There's a pretty possessive vampire love interest (he even gives the "I'm dangerous and you shouldn't trust me" speech) and a female protagonist who basically gives up her own life entirely to follow said vampire wherever he may go. However, there are some pretty distinct differences. First of which being that Diana is a witch, not a human, and she has power of her own from the get-go, making her a very strong character. She's also really smart (though she doesn't necessarily display the full degree of her intellect when it comes to anything regarding Matthew). I found her likable and interesting.
I also understood the comparison to a textbook. There is an almost unnecessary amount of information - and if you don't have a strong interest in alchemic history, there might be some times where the text loses you. I felt my mind wandering on several occasions - as the book is nearly 800 pages long and at least a quarter of the story is taken up by intense intellectual argument or discussion. However, it was also really key to the story, and I think if I had spent too much time skimming through it, I would have been confused by several of the action sequences.
While some people may say this is better as a show, I don't have an opinion on that yet. My plan is to finish the series before I even attempt to embark on the television series. I like having sound judgment going into something like that and my mind would be swayed if I didn't read the entire story first and know all the characters and plot by heart.
At first, I planned to give this book 3 stars - only because of the pacing, honestly. After finishing it, I realized it was the only book I wanted to talk with others about for nearly a week straight, which proved that it deserved a higher rating. It has now been nearly a month since I finished it and so much of it is still fresh in my mind, plus I'm still interested in seeing what happens next. All good signs! I look forward to reading the sequel and seeing how the time travel plays a part in this tale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Blood, and Death of parent
katielaine_w's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
paigereadsaw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, and Death of parent
meganpbennett's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I am not sure what I think of A Discovery of Witches. It took a very long time to build up into an interesting book, and I'm not sure I like Matthew, and I found his relationship with Diane highly questionable. I didn't like the ending - I think Harkness took the wrong page out of Gabaldon's books with that decision.
A Discovery of Witches had a witch scholar of alchemy find a rare alchemical text, and - unaware of the significance of the text - return it to the spell that kept it safe for centuries. Almost immediately, the Vampires, Daemons, and more witches show up.
The book take a long time to change from 'academic scholar researching old manuscripts' to the paranormal suspense novel it is, with vampires, daemons, and witches. And it's rarely "suspenseful" in the strictest sense, where you have to know what happens next. It's just mildly interesting. I'm not completely sold on a lot of things in the novel - from how Matthew behaves to how it ends - but maybe the (longer) second one will be more interesting.
A Discovery of Witches had a witch scholar of alchemy find a rare alchemical text, and - unaware of the significance of the text - return it to the spell that kept it safe for centuries. Almost immediately, the Vampires, Daemons, and more witches show up.
The book take a long time to change from 'academic scholar researching old manuscripts' to the paranormal suspense novel it is, with vampires, daemons, and witches. And it's rarely "suspenseful" in the strictest sense, where you have to know what happens next. It's just mildly interesting. I'm not completely sold on a lot of things in the novel - from how Matthew behaves to how it ends - but maybe the (longer) second one will be more interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
macaronsandmermaids's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Death of parent
fionac326's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, and Blood
Minor: Miscarriage