From GoodReads:

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.

I discovered this book while watching one of my favorite YouTubers, Kristina of PrettyShinnySparkly. She mentioned it in one of her favorites videos and when she described the basic premise of the story, I knew I had to go pick it up.

The story sucks you in from the beginning. Diana Bishop, the main character, is someone who is instantly likable because you understand her from the beginning. While coming from a long, distinguished magical lineage (Bridget Bishop of Salem, MA infamy) is her ancestor and her aunt, Sarah, is a good ol' spell casting, potion-making witch. Since her parents' death when she was 7 (which you learn about later in the book), Diana wants nothing to do with magic and puts all of her time and energy into academics. 

When the story begins, Diana's academic background is presented and it is that career that brings her to Oxford University and the Bodleian Library, where she encounters an old manuscript (or so she thinks that's all it is) and a vampire, Matthew Clairmont.

Matthew is not a likable character in this book. He is moody, condescending, rude, and slightly possessive. I didn't like his character until much later, when he actually started showing his more "human" side. I think that evolution of his character is what distinguishes him from other main character vampires in other books (ahem, Twilight).

Throughout the story (and the trilogy), Diana is shown over and over again that she cannot deny who she is or who she was born to be. As her power is explored and unfolds, it adds a richness to the story that completely sucks the reader in.

I absolutely loved this book. Deborah Harkness does an amazing job of bringing the reader into the story. You are convinced that you are in the library with Diana and Matthew, doing yoga with vampires, witches, and daemons at the Old Lodge, and feeling a draft in the halls of Sept-Tours.

Rating: 5 Stars

Available in paperback and for iPad/Kindle/Nook.

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