Flashback Friday hosted by Fiction Fare and Swoony Boys Podcast
I initially read A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness prior to blogging...way prior to blogging because I read this book right when it came out thus making this wait for the final book even more agonizing but I digress. But it also leads me into why I was so excited to re-read this book before the final installment came out...and I am so glad I did...
This book is even better the second time around. The characters are so well-developed and complex that going back to the beginning is like visiting old friends. I feel completed transported while reading and I cannot tell you enough how much I love being in Matthew and Diana's world. I can see the Bodlein library, I can perfectly envision Sept-Tours, and I feel like a visitor myself to Sarah and Em's epic house.
None that make any sense to you? Well, you should definitely put this on your TBR list then. Why? Because while the book is big and the print is small every sentence is, dare I say it?, magical. I truly love reading every word of this book. The writing of Deborah Harkness, while verbose, feels necessary. I can't really explain it more than that except when planning my re-read I told myself I'd be able to buzz through it and skim sections. Not the case. I found myself completely lost in the story, that I already knew, and wanting not to skim anything. That's how I good I find this story and the writing. I love long books because when done well they give you a perfect sense of the story without being rushed. That is exactly this book. SO MUCH PLOT HAPPENS but nothing is rushed or overlooked and all the characters get to know each other and vibe off each other, it is just amazing.
Did I mention there's a romance?...THERE'S A ROMANCE. And a damn freakin' good one at that. Matthew Clairemont has been in my top ten book boyfriends list for years. He is the first vampire my Twilight phobia heart fell in love with. Le sigh. And he's French. Does that help? It should. I want to faint every time he calls Diana mon coeur. I also want to learn French...sigh.
SO! Check back next week for my Flashback Friday to Shadow of Night, the second book in the series and then shortly after my review for The Book of Life! Eeep! Excuse me while I go start in on book 2 :)
Ball Status?
VIP
Genre: Adult Fantasy & Paranormal
Publisher: Viking Penguin
Pages: 579
Publication Date: February 2011
This book has been sitting on my shelf for more than one year and a half... I need to read it NOW, your review just wants to make me grab it instantly!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it's "mon coeur" ("cour" is a courtyard), and I'm telling you as a French girl, this is the best way to be called ;)
I've been admittedly curious about this book! I've not read it yet, as it's always intimidated me. But I do love the sheer enthusiasm in your review, and you're DEFINITELY making me want to read it. I think I might just have to give it a try soon :)
ReplyDeleteI completely agree Kelly, It's SOOO much better the second time around. I just started Shadow of Night because after rereading Discovery, I just can't not reread this one before I start the third ... and I'm so in love. I think this is going to be one of those series where I reread every year ... I'm so excited for The Book of Life :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post! I started reading this book a few years ago and tried reading it at all the wrong times (like while using the elliptical machine at the gym) and could never get into it! That's probably because I wasn't giving it as much attention as I should have. You've inspired me to pick this one up again and give it another try -- thanks!
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