A Discovery of Witches (2011) by Deborah Harkness is the first installment in the All Souls Trilogy, a richly detailed blend of historical fiction, romance, and supernatural fantasy. The novel follows Diana Bishop, a reluctant witch and Yale historian who stumbles upon a mysterious alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, in Oxford’s Bodleian Library. This discovery draws her into a dangerous world of vampires, daemons, and witches—most notably Matthew Clairmont, a centuries-old vampire geneticist with whom she forms a forbidden, soul-deep connection.
Harkness, herself a historian, weaves together academia, alchemy, and mythology, crafting a story that spans from modern-day Oxford to Elizabethan England. The novel balances scholarly intrigue with gothic romance, exploring themes of power, prejudice, and the search for belonging. Its lush prose and meticulously researched historical elements set it apart from typical paranormal fiction.
A Discovery of Witches became a bestseller and was later adapted into a popular TV series (2018). It appeals to fans of Outlander (for its historical depth and sweeping romance) and The Historian (for its bookish supernatural mystery). The sequels—Shadow of Night (2012) and The Book of Life (2014)—expand the story across time and continents.
