Jessica � � Silverbow � � 's Reviews > A Discovery of Witches
A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy, #1)
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Jessica � � Silverbow � � 's review
bookshelves: urban-fantasy, jerk-of-my-dreams, best-series, some-kinda-magic, the-book-boy-is-mine, vampires, angels-and-or-demons, creeptastic, rabid-reads-reviews
Nov 12, 2012
bookshelves: urban-fantasy, jerk-of-my-dreams, best-series, some-kinda-magic, the-book-boy-is-mine, vampires, angels-and-or-demons, creeptastic, rabid-reads-reviews
Read 2 times. Last read June 20, 2014 to June 24, 2014.
Reviewed by:
This book.
Have you ever liked something almost against your will? Something that encompasses roughly half of the things you hate in reference to said thing? Something that makes you scratch your head in wonder, b/c you can’t figure out why on earth you aren’t terribly bothered by those detested things in this situation?
Welcome to my life.
This book has:
1. What can be construed as insta-love. Matthew and Diana are drawn to each other from the moment they meet, BUT it’s so subtle that you aren’t sure that’s what is happening. And that’s probably why it gets a pass.
I never really thought about it (before this book forced me too), but it’s the things that insta-love seems to be comprised of, rather than the insta-love itself, that I take issue with—fluttery eyelashes, wild proclamations of ardent, enduring (but wholly untried) love, and the accompanying false sense of urgency. P-U-K-E. Get a room, already. And preferably AFTER the inevitable danger has passed.
But none of those things are an issue here. By the time it becomes obvious that, yes, these two feel more for each other than trepidation and annoyance, enough time has elapsed to almost warrant the depth of emotion, and the rest can be chalked up to fate, animal instinct, mating imperative, etc.
2. A super, special snowflake who denies her super, special snowflakeness. Not only is Diana the last in a powerful line of matriarchal witches, her father was a powerful warlock in his own right. So powerful that a union between her mother and father was strongly discouraged by the powers that be. Mom and Dad said, “Screw you, hippies!� and Diana was the result. But when her parents were killed when Diana was seven, she assumes their deaths were the result of their abilities and refuses to have anything to do with magic.
B/c that always works out so well. *sighs*
But again, it gets a pass. Diana is being just as ridiculous as every MC who tries to ignore their gifts, but this time you can’t help but be sympathetic. She’s not being obstinate simply to be a pain in the arse. She understandably believes that nothing good can come from using magic, so she’s not going to do it. And that’s not the only reason it gets a pass, but I can’t tell you the other one. Suffice it to say, there’s a darn good reason Diana isn’t using magic, and that reason is not even remotely her fault.
3. Super, secret information withholding. And this is perhaps the one I have the hardest time with. I cannot stand it when someone in a position of authority, older, more experienced, etc. unilaterally decides who gets to know what. HATE it.<——I’m audibly grinding my teeth right now.
But Matthew . . . it’s kind of the same thing that happens when I read historical romance. Am I overly fond of a woman’s only option being to marry and marry well, have children, keep house? NO. I’m NOT. But that’s the way things were, and getting mad about it isn’t going to change anything, and besides, Dukes are HAWT.
So is Matthew. AND he’s a 1500 year old vampire, so he kind falls under that same umbrella, and really, he means well. I got frustrated with him a few times, but it was obvious that he was trying, and I imagine it’d be pretty darn hard to attempt major behavior modifications to habits 1500 years in the making. So yeah. Yet another pass.
The good news is that having talked it out, I’m no longer banging my head against a wall. I now know why I like this book despite the major book peeves lurking around every corner. And besides those peeves getting passes, A Discovery of Witches is just entertaining. It might have taken me awhile to like Diana, but I instantly respected her, and I was as gone for Matthew as she was the moment he showed up. In the LIBRARY. At OXFORD.
Lots of bookish fun in this book.
Also—while I have no complaints about the pacing in the front 75% of the book, the last 25% is just riveting. The second that Matthew and Diana show up at her childhood home, I could not put the book down. The house is sentient and highly opinionated. It’s also full of the ghosts of Bishops past, also opinionated. A couple of new secondaries show up, one of which is absolutely darling. GAH. This book is awesome, just read it. Highly recommended.
This book.
Have you ever liked something almost against your will? Something that encompasses roughly half of the things you hate in reference to said thing? Something that makes you scratch your head in wonder, b/c you can’t figure out why on earth you aren’t terribly bothered by those detested things in this situation?
Welcome to my life.
This book has:
1. What can be construed as insta-love. Matthew and Diana are drawn to each other from the moment they meet, BUT it’s so subtle that you aren’t sure that’s what is happening. And that’s probably why it gets a pass.
I never really thought about it (before this book forced me too), but it’s the things that insta-love seems to be comprised of, rather than the insta-love itself, that I take issue with—fluttery eyelashes, wild proclamations of ardent, enduring (but wholly untried) love, and the accompanying false sense of urgency. P-U-K-E. Get a room, already. And preferably AFTER the inevitable danger has passed.
But none of those things are an issue here. By the time it becomes obvious that, yes, these two feel more for each other than trepidation and annoyance, enough time has elapsed to almost warrant the depth of emotion, and the rest can be chalked up to fate, animal instinct, mating imperative, etc.
2. A super, special snowflake who denies her super, special snowflakeness. Not only is Diana the last in a powerful line of matriarchal witches, her father was a powerful warlock in his own right. So powerful that a union between her mother and father was strongly discouraged by the powers that be. Mom and Dad said, “Screw you, hippies!� and Diana was the result. But when her parents were killed when Diana was seven, she assumes their deaths were the result of their abilities and refuses to have anything to do with magic.
B/c that always works out so well. *sighs*
But again, it gets a pass. Diana is being just as ridiculous as every MC who tries to ignore their gifts, but this time you can’t help but be sympathetic. She’s not being obstinate simply to be a pain in the arse. She understandably believes that nothing good can come from using magic, so she’s not going to do it. And that’s not the only reason it gets a pass, but I can’t tell you the other one. Suffice it to say, there’s a darn good reason Diana isn’t using magic, and that reason is not even remotely her fault.
3. Super, secret information withholding. And this is perhaps the one I have the hardest time with. I cannot stand it when someone in a position of authority, older, more experienced, etc. unilaterally decides who gets to know what. HATE it.<——I’m audibly grinding my teeth right now.
But Matthew . . . it’s kind of the same thing that happens when I read historical romance. Am I overly fond of a woman’s only option being to marry and marry well, have children, keep house? NO. I’m NOT. But that’s the way things were, and getting mad about it isn’t going to change anything, and besides, Dukes are HAWT.
So is Matthew. AND he’s a 1500 year old vampire, so he kind falls under that same umbrella, and really, he means well. I got frustrated with him a few times, but it was obvious that he was trying, and I imagine it’d be pretty darn hard to attempt major behavior modifications to habits 1500 years in the making. So yeah. Yet another pass.
The good news is that having talked it out, I’m no longer banging my head against a wall. I now know why I like this book despite the major book peeves lurking around every corner. And besides those peeves getting passes, A Discovery of Witches is just entertaining. It might have taken me awhile to like Diana, but I instantly respected her, and I was as gone for Matthew as she was the moment he showed up. In the LIBRARY. At OXFORD.
Lots of bookish fun in this book.
Also—while I have no complaints about the pacing in the front 75% of the book, the last 25% is just riveting. The second that Matthew and Diana show up at her childhood home, I could not put the book down. The house is sentient and highly opinionated. It’s also full of the ghosts of Bishops past, also opinionated. A couple of new secondaries show up, one of which is absolutely darling. GAH. This book is awesome, just read it. Highly recommended.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
November 12, 2012
– Shelved
June 20, 2014
–
Started Reading
June 21, 2014
–
9.0%
""Chemists don't air their dirty laundry in public. It hurts all of us at grant time. We don't want the bureaucrats thinking we're high-strung megalomaniacs. We leave that to the physicists."
LOL. Are your ears burning, Stephen Hawking??"
LOL. Are your ears burning, Stephen Hawking??"
June 22, 2014
–
29.0%
""Come to dinner tomorrow," he said softly. "My turn to cook. Can I pick you up here at half past seven?"
My heart leaped. Say no, I told myself sternly in spite of its sudden jump.
"I'd love to," came out instead.
The vampire pressed his cold lips first to one check, then the other. "Ma vaillante fille," he whispered into my ear.
Oh, oh! Pick me, pick me!!"
My heart leaped. Say no, I told myself sternly in spite of its sudden jump.
"I'd love to," came out instead.
The vampire pressed his cold lips first to one check, then the other. "Ma vaillante fille," he whispered into my ear.
Oh, oh! Pick me, pick me!!"
June 23, 2014
–
54.0%
""What are you drinking?" It was the only detail my imagination couldn't supply.
"Since when have you cared about wine?" He sounded genuinely surprised.
"Since I found out how much there was to know." Since I found out that you cared about wine, you idiot.
Yeah, you idiot. *shakes head*"
"Since when have you cared about wine?" He sounded genuinely surprised.
"Since I found out how much there was to know." Since I found out that you cared about wine, you idiot.
Yeah, you idiot. *shakes head*"
June 24, 2014
–
58.0%
"We were still behind the bed curtains when Marthe entered the room. She left the breakfast tray on the table with an officious clatter and threw two logs on the fire with the enthusiasm of a Scot tossing the caber.

*snorts*"

*snorts*"
June 24, 2014
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 62 (62 new)


The closer you get towards the end, the more edge of your seat it is IMO. I'm excited to see what you think of it in the end!!!

your will?
I know what you mean. Sometimes while reading books, even though how formulaic it was, how cringe-worthy are the lines (it's just so cheesy,..."
The same thing that's wrong with me, LOL. Sometimes you just like things despite your better judgement ;)

YES, lol!! Either that, or it's been so long that I forgot about them, but I REALLY think it's the second read that brought them out. Are you going through that too?

The last 25% is awesome. That house is hilarious, and Diana's aunts + the vampires = good times.

I agree. As long as I like one of them, I can get by, but if I like both? SO much better.

Oh gawd yes!!! I absolutely agree!!! When I first read these books, I wasn't as critical as I am now. It was pre-GR and I loved almost anything I read. Now, I'm much more picky, and I see this books flaws much more. However, with that being said, I still immensely love the story, and am in awe at how much effort Harkness put into the intricate world building, plot on top of plot, and all the sciencey and history stuff! She put soooo much effort into it!!! So ya, I'm able to overlook the flaws just as you are. :0)

Me too! I don't know if I read it pre-GR, but it was definitely pre-blogging, and I have become much more critical of books since then. BUT, like you, in this case, I'm still giving it a pass b/c AWESOME.

Exina wrote: "Another fantastic review, Jessica! :)"
Thank you, lovelies :)
Fantastic review! Not sure I realized this was your first time through. :)

But I enjoyed it nonetheless. ;)
Great review!

Thanks, Julie! It wasn't . . . just the first time I reviewed it ;)

But I enjoyed it nonetheless. ;)
Great review!"
LOL, thanks, Nenia! Even though this is the second time I read the book, I read the blurb for the first time a couple of days ago, and I did not get the Twilight comparison at ALL. Maybe they were talking about this feeling of guilt you speak of ;)

That's so true! Although I rarely have any problem with insta-love, sometimes the cheese is too much.
Love the review!xD


Just like every joke has something about it that really isn't funny, I think even the tiredest trope contains some kind of basic appeal to human nature :)
Agree, dukes ARE hawt!! Looks interesting and I love witches so YAY! :D Fab review, Jessica!


message 31:
by
Jessica � � Silverbow � �
(last edited Jun 26, 2014 10:54AM)
(new)
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rated it 4 stars

Just like every joke has something about it that really isn't funny, I think even the tiredest trope contains some kind of basic appeal to human nature :)"
Yep! It just depends on how it's handled ;) Thanks, Derrolyn!

You do love witches. I think you'd love this too, if you had the patience for it. Thank you, Lola!

Thank you! And I hope you do decide to dive into eventually. It's really good if you don't mind how MUCH there is.

Thank you! And I hope you do decide to dive into eventually. It's really good if you don't mind how MUCH there is.

Thanks, Rhonda! And you know, it's turning out that there were a LOT of us who felt this way, LOL. Really, I'm relieved, b/c I was kind of nervous about endorsing this book as being really great when it was so obviously full of commonly hated troupes.
message 36:
by
Jessica � � Silverbow � �
(last edited Jun 26, 2014 11:01AM)
(new)
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rated it 4 stars

Thank you! The last book is coming out in a couple of weeks, so now is definitely a good time to start it, if you're interested. Just know in advance that it's a bit of a slower and more cerebral read than most UF--most people who don't really like this series go into it expecting constant action like most UF, and there's definitely action . . . it's just not constant ;)


*stares broodily at Shandra* (not really . . . well, maybe . . . a little bit)
I can't wait to see what you think of The Book of Life ;)

Though I don't feel exactly the same as you do, I get where you're coming.
Things like these aren't really my concerns about a book. It all gets past me as long as they can be justified. I don't just focus on the WHATs of a story, but also on the WHYs and HOWs. I hope I'm making sense. People who judges based only on the WHAT kinda angers me. That tells me that they read books armed with their prejudices, then give up on them or give low ratings because they didn't get past that wall of prejudice that they've set for the books to climb..
message 42:
by
Jessica � � Silverbow � �
(last edited Jul 12, 2014 05:21AM)
(new)
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rated it 4 stars

message 46:
by
Jessica � � Silverbow � �
(last edited May 20, 2015 06:46AM)
(new)
-
rated it 4 stars

SO. Do you/can you:
1. Like alchemy?
2. Like books with a heavy focus on romance?
3. Tolerate a slow-paced story b/c LAYERS?
4. Tolerate a male MC who can be supremely backward thinking, but tries hard to be reasonable?
If yes, then I'd give it a shot. If no . . . *shrugs* Only if you get it sale for super cheap, and go into it planning to DNF it if it's not working.

Mmmmm. I think it could work, but I will be cautious, so if it's on sale!
Thanks Jessica

your will?
I know what you mean. Sometimes while reading books, even though how formulaic it was, how cringe-worthy are the lines (it's just so cheesy, it makes my skin crawl), love triangles.. I still end up liking them! I mean, what is wrong with me?? haha