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A review by sonlight21
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! I found the show first and binged the whole first season within two days. When I found out they were books I got my hands on a copy as soon as I could.
For me this book felt like when you find Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, or The Spider wick Chronicles for the first time. It is a deep immersive world that doesn't destroy you with world building but slowly introduces more and more aspects of the magic place you have entered as you journey through the story, it reveals small pieces of itself as you go along, like some ancient fossil you are digging up from the ground.
The characters in the book are wonderful! Each character is a fully flushed out individual of their own. Even the "un-important" background characters (exmp. caffeine frenzy daemon) have their own personality and story. The characters change and grown in response to their surroundings and experiences. They are not stones, unmoving, they are alive and energetic.
One thing I did not love was the amount of characters that very randomly showed up for a few moments and then disappeared but were INCREDABLY integral to the plot. It was not that they felt flat or random but rather that I desired to know and understand more of the character and what role they played before they left. I wanted more time with them on page and in interactions. However the book is BURTSTING to the brim with characters each one deep and rich in their own right so I understand why some got such little time in the light (the book was 579 pages haha I am not sure it could have handled more).
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the book though there are parts I didn't love and some aspects I am sure I missed. I will say I think the show does the book justice and in some ways adds to the experience and grows the world more.
For me this book felt like when you find Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, or The Spider wick Chronicles for the first time. It is a deep immersive world that doesn't destroy you with world building but slowly introduces more and more aspects of the magic place you have entered as you journey through the story, it reveals small pieces of itself as you go along, like some ancient fossil you are digging up from the ground.
The characters in the book are wonderful! Each character is a fully flushed out individual of their own. Even the "un-important" background characters (exmp. caffeine frenzy daemon) have their own personality and story. The characters change and grown in response to their surroundings and experiences. They are not stones, unmoving, they are alive and energetic.
One thing I did not love was the amount of characters that very randomly showed up for a few moments and then disappeared but were INCREDABLY integral to the plot. It was not that they felt flat or random but rather that I desired to know and understand more of the character and what role they played before they left. I wanted more time with them on page and in interactions. However the book is BURTSTING to the brim with characters each one deep and rich in their own right so I understand why some got such little time in the light (the book was 579 pages haha I am not sure it could have handled more).
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the book though there are parts I didn't love and some aspects I am sure I missed. I will say I think the show does the book justice and in some ways adds to the experience and grows the world more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, and War