Blurb:
A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.
Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.
Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series, with an extra serving of historical realism.
Review:
I believe that Deborah Harkness is a visionary when it comes to reforging old ideas of vampires, witches, and daemons while interweaving them with age-old themes of love, friendship, justice, and self-identity. I love this series and it is my most read series of all time.
Harkness delivers such a great narrative voice for this series. I got a great feel of how Diana witnesses and exists in her world because of it. We’re taken along on this great journey where Diana discovers the mysteries surrounding the world of creatures and the mysteries of her parents and herself. I loved most that Harkness was able to take the skills Diana learned and used in her profession as a historian and wove them into how she manages the conflicts she faces.
What I loved most about this novel are the lush descriptions, world-building, and backstories of every character. While reading, I was truly convinced that we live in a world where these creatures exist; just hiding in plain sight. The characters feel believable because they are multifaceted and flawed.
Fans of Outlander will love the similarities between the two; they both marry romance, history, and fantasy together beautifully.
Quotes:
“Just because something seems impossible doesn’t make it untrue,”
“Sorry, we've got ghosts.”
“All that children need is love, a grown-up to take responsibility for them, and a soft place to land.”
“If the butterfly wings its way to the sweet light that attracts it, it's only because it doesn't know that the fire can consume it.”
