amy_reading_23's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This book is complicated. Not as in it hard to follow (although I had watched the TV show beforehand so that gave me an advantage) but that I'm not sure what to make of it. There were some bits I really enjoyed. And some bits that made me uncomfortable. I don't like how Matthew treats Diana, I think their relationship is pretty toxic tbh and a bit misogynistic in times. They also excuse too much of his behaviour as "ifs because he's a vampire". But the plot is interesting and I still want to read the next two sometime, I'm just not necessarily in a rush.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, and Medical content
Moderate: Misogyny, Gore, Domestic abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Kidnapping
Minor: Stalking and Suicidal thoughts
flyintothestorm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Spoiler
Mira que soy fan de los finales abiertos, pero dejar una historia a la mitad y que quede bien es más difícil que pase y no es el caso para mí.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Gore, and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Stalking
kat1105's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Gore, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: War and Sexual content
arsrose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Moderate: Kidnapping, Torture, and Confinement
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
4.0
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.
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: Blood, Death of parent, Gore, and Torture
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: Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence
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: Torture, Death, Death of parent, Violence, and Gore
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: Torture, Blood, Death, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Grief, Confinement, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, and Gore
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: Blood, Animal death, Gore, Murder, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Stalking
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: Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence