A Discovery of Witches

Book one of the New York Times bestselling All Souls series, from the author of The Black Bird Oracle.

Look for the hit series “A Discovery of Witches,” now streaming on Netflix

“A wonderfully imaginative grown-up fantasy with all the magic of Harry Potter and Twilight” (People).


Deborah Harkness’s sparkling debut, A Discovery of Witches, has brought her into the spotlight and galvanized fans around the world. In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and a descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, deep in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont.

Harkness has created a universe to rival those of Anne Rice, Diana Gabaldon, and Elizabeth Kostova, and she adds a scholar's depth to this riveting tale of magic and suspense. The story continues in book two, Shadow of Night, book three, The Book of Life, and the fourth in the series, Time’s Convert.

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Published Dec 27, 2011

579 pages

Average rating: 7.41

543 RATINGS

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SoBu Books & Brews

SoBu Books & Brews is a Vermont-based book club in search of the trendiest coffee shops, tea shops, craft breweries, and bars in the Greater Burlington area where we can share the love of books! Let's get a drink, mocktail, tea, or coffee, and chat! 

Women's Sci-fi & Fantasy Book Club

The Women's Sci-fi & Fantasy Book Club is a casual social group open to women in the Davis area and meets in-person one Wednesday per month.

Wednesday Book Group

The Wednesday Book Group, formerly known as the CTC Mall Book Group, began as a joint venture between the Kanawha County Public Library (KCPL) and Charleston Town Center (CTC) Mall in Charleston, West Virginia. This group is now under the sole purview of the KCPL.

Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *A Discovery of Witches* offers a richly detailed world blending history, magic, and romance, set against Oxford’s charm. Many agree the c...

Cresta McGowan
Dec 25, 2025
4/10 stars
Tried to read. Tried to like. But nope-it’s literally a story about nothing. The two stars are because they drank good wine.
Rena M Led
Dec 09, 2023
10/10 stars
I loved this series. Witches, vampires, Shakespeare and historical fiction as well as a love story.
AmaliaSilva
Nov 21, 2025
I just finished rewatching A Discovery of Witches on Discovery Plus, and it reminded me why I fell in love with this series all over again. While the magic on screen is fantastic, my own experience with the streaming service wasn't without its frustrating hiccups. I actually found it helpful to read through other viewers' experiences on a discovery plus reviews page when I was troubleshooting. Despite those small technical glitches, the show itself is so beautifully done that it was easy to get completely swept away by Matthew and Diana's world.
KBRielly
Mar 28, 2025
Our Group Rating 6.8
Yannika
Dec 05, 2024
9/10 stars
While this book started off with what seemed like a cliche spicy novel storyline, the story arch is much more than that! I finished this book and immediately purchased the next one (and the rest of the series) because I was so invested. This is a great series to read if you want a little romance/spice and are interested in creature lore! Definitely recommend.

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