There has been huge buzz around this book. I mean HUGE. It’s currently available in hardcover with a retail price of $28.95 –Ouch!–but is $14.77 on Amazon. Well I have a copy I’d love to give away to some random commenter. 🙂

 

A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES
Deborah Harkness
Publisher: Viking Adult
Release Date: Feb 8, 2011
ISBN 13: 978-0670022410
Pages: 592
Retail Price: $28.95

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.

In Harkness’s lively debut, witches, vampires, and demons outnumber humans at Oxford’s Bodleian Library, where witch and Yale historian Diana Bishop discovers an enchanted manuscript, attracting the attention of 1,500-year-old vampire Matthew Clairmont. The orphaned daughter of two powerful witches, Bishop prefers intellect, but relies on magic when her discovery of a palimpsest documenting the origin of supernatural species releases an assortment of undead who threaten, stalk, and harass her. Against all occult social propriety, Bishop turns for protection to tall, dark, bloodsucking man-about-town Clairmont. Their research raises questions of evolution and extinction among the living dead, and their romance awakens centuries-old enmities. Harkness imagines a crowded universe where normal and paranormal creatures observe a tenuous peace. “Magic is desire made real,” Bishop says after both her desire and magical prowess exceed her expectations. Harkness brings this world to vibrant life and makes the most of the growing popularity of gothic adventure with an ending that keeps the Old Lodge door wide open. – Publisher’s Weekly (Feb)

*Starred Review* Diana Bishop is the last of the Bishops, a powerful family of witches, but she has refused her magic ever since her parents died and, instead, has turned to academia. When a new project takes her to Oxford, she is looking forward to several months in the Bodleian, investigating alchemical manuscripts. Her peace is soon interrupted when one of the books she finds in the library turns out to have been lost for 150 years and is wanted desperately by the witch, daemon, and vampire communities—so desperately that many are willing to kill for it. But the very first creature to approach her after her discovery is Matthew, a very old vampire and fellow scholar, who seems only to want to protect her. Harkness creates a compelling and sweeping tale that moves from Oxford to Paris to upstate New York and into both Dianas and Matthew’s complex families and histories. All her characters are fully fleshed and unique, which, when combined with the complex and engaging plot, results in one of the better fantasy debuts in recent months. The contemporary setting should help draw a large crossover audience. Try suggesting the novel to readers of literary mysteries like Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnation series, as well as to those who enjoy epic and fantastic romances including Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel novels. Essential reading across all these genres. —Jessica Moyer – Booklist

Deborah Harkness is a professor of history at the University of Southern California. She has received Fullbright, Guggenheim, and National Humanities Center fellowships, and her most recent scholarly work is The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution. She also writes an award-winning wine blog, goodwineunder20.blogspot.com

Paranormals
By Giveaways45 Comments on Giveaway: A Discovery of Witches

45 Replies to “Giveaway: A Discovery of Witches”

  2. I have heard some good buzz about this book! Sounds interesting! Thanks for a chance!

  3. I would love to win a copy! I have heard really good things about this book but the HB priced ebook is not tempting me.

  8. I’ve heard really good things about this book, and would love to read it! Thanks for the chance to win!

  9. I want this book SO SO SO SO bad! I’ve been drooling over it but have a hard time dropping $28 dollars for it. Thanks for the giveaway!

  11. Wow, this book looks so good. How have I not seen anything about it? This one is definitely going on my TBR pile.

  14. I’ve heard of this book. (I guess everyone visiting blogs lately has!) It sounds interesting and I’d love to win a copy. Thanks for the generous giveaway.

  15. I’ve heard a lot of buzz about this book too. I’d love to win a copy, because it sounds like a great read.

  18. ‎​​º♥ºː̗̀☀̤̣̈̇ː̖́ÒÖÓː̗̀☀̤̣̈̇ː̖́º♥º I love magic story. The spell, romance and misery. I’d love to win this book. I’ll add in my whistlist since I’m only reading Historical, Contemporary and Paranormal series now.

  21. I have also heard a lot of good about this book. Please enter me. Thanks for this wonderful giveaway!

  22. Sounds like a great paranormal book with a bit of indiana jones-ish adventure thrown in.

  24. I bought a copy on the Kindle store when I think it was priced almost as high as the book! Anyhow I’d love to have a copy to share with friends. I was excited to read it because some reviews have compared it to The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova which was one of my favorite reads of the last few years.

  26. It sounds like a great book and I keep hearing good things about it. Awsome cover, I’d love to win.

  27. I’d love to give this a try, but I won’t even normally spend $9.99 for an ebook from my favorite authors, let alone more than that for an author I’ve never read before so I’m unlikely to actually buy it anytime soon (if I were going to buy an ebook for that price, I’d buy River Marked by Patricia Briggs, or Lover Unleashed by JR Ward, LOL). However, I’d love to win a copy. Thansk for the giveaway.

  28. I’ve heard so much about this book — most reviews seem to be positive. I’m intrigued but on a book buying moritorium until I work through some of my to read pile…

  29. I’m intrigued although not normally my sought-after reading, it has an interesting premise & looks like a unique read.

  34. Somehow I’ve missed hearing about this book. Thanks for letting me know all about it. It sounds fascinating!

  36. This sounds like a fabulous read. I have been hearing great things about it.

  38. I have this one on my Find This Book list already because of more than one review I have read. Please count me in!

  39. Oh, I have been debating over buying this book since I first saw it on the shelves. Sounds like it would be right up my alley. Paranormals are my go to reads when I am writing my historicals! Don’t want to read what I am writing when I am writing it! Thanks for the chance to win it. Bev gets ALL the good books!

  41. I’m among those who haven’t heard about this book yet. But I’d love to be included in the draw. Thanks.

  42. I absolutely cannot wait to read this book! I checked it out in Target but couldn’t afford it. I just know this is going to be a great read. 🙂

  43. You can’t live in New England and not be fascinated by witches and Salem is a must to visit. I’ve read so many great reviews on this book that it is definately on my TBR list!

  45. This sounds like it will be a wonderful read. Many good elements, an academic setting, and an academic author. It promises to be a solidly crafted piece. Can’t wait to read it.

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