Hardcover, 579 pages
English language
Published Nov. 14, 2011 by Viking.
An epic, richly inventive, historically sweeping, magical romance.
When historian Diana Bishop opens an alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, it's an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordered life. Though Diana is a witch of impeccable lineage, the violent death of her parents while she was still a child convinced her that human fear is more potent than any witchcraft. Now Diana has unwittingly exposed herself to a world she's kept at bay for years; one of powerful witches, creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires.
Sensing the significance of Diana's discovery, the creatures gather in Oxford, among them the enigmatic Matthew Clairmont, a vampire genticist. Diana is inexplicably drawn to Matthew and, in a shadowy world of half-truths and old enmities, ties herself to him without fully understanding the ancient line they are crossing.
As they begin to unlock the secrets of the manuscript and …
An epic, richly inventive, historically sweeping, magical romance.
When historian Diana Bishop opens an alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, it's an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordered life. Though Diana is a witch of impeccable lineage, the violent death of her parents while she was still a child convinced her that human fear is more potent than any witchcraft. Now Diana has unwittingly exposed herself to a world she's kept at bay for years; one of powerful witches, creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires.
Sensing the significance of Diana's discovery, the creatures gather in Oxford, among them the enigmatic Matthew Clairmont, a vampire genticist. Diana is inexplicably drawn to Matthew and, in a shadowy world of half-truths and old enmities, ties herself to him without fully understanding the ancient line they are crossing.
As they begin to unlock the secrets of the manuscript and their feelings for each other deepen, so the fragile balance of peace unravels.
I seriously could not put this one down. I'm picking up the next book tomorrow but already dreading the wait for the third. Such are the pitfalls of loving a new series of books.
I seriously could not put this one down. I'm picking up the next book tomorrow but already dreading the wait for the third. Such are the pitfalls of loving a new series of books.
I am a sucker for a good fantasy/mythology story especially one that peppers the narrative with real historical references (I did lots of research into the Frankish kings, alchemy, the Knights Templar.) But this book veered dangerously close to Twilight-level campiness at times. Overall, it wasn't a waste of time, but I'm hesitant to continue the series.
I am a sucker for a good fantasy/mythology story especially one that peppers the narrative with real historical references (I did lots of research into the Frankish kings, alchemy, the Knights Templar.) But this book veered dangerously close to Twilight-level campiness at times. Overall, it wasn't a waste of time, but I'm hesitant to continue the series.
I must give 5 stars to any book that kidnaps me this way; it's a page turner, folks! And look! I have the sequel, right here...
I must give 5 stars to any book that kidnaps me this way; it's a page turner, folks! And look! I have the sequel, right here...
really great work of plagiarism, sorry just the way I feel... If you read [b:Twilight|41865|Twilight (Twilight, #1)|Stephenie Meyer|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1307515757s/41865.jpg|3212258], just re-read it it will be more satisfying, If you have not read it try this.
Another attempt to ride on the coat tails of Twilight which would have benefited from being about a hundred pages shorter.
I had a hard time getting into this book and just couldn't continue reading it. Way too much detail, it needed a better editor.
I had a hard time getting into this book and just couldn't continue reading it. Way too much detail, it needed a better editor.
My short review.....started out really intriguing, middle was very slow, ending was suspenseful enough to actually make me look and see if I forgot to copy some CDs (I didn't realize it was a trilogy). The idea of this war between vampires, demons and vampires all over the secrets in a lost document is intriguing but the middle of the book spent too much time slogging about in Diana and Matthew's romance and Matthew's past. I found myself keep thinking let's get on with it. If I had been reading it I likely would have put the book down and maybe not come back to it right away. I am looking forward to the 2nd installment now and hoping it moves along with a bit more pace. I read for enjoyment so I don't overanalyze characters like some reviewers do but I didn't find any of the characters overly annoying. …
My short review.....started out really intriguing, middle was very slow, ending was suspenseful enough to actually make me look and see if I forgot to copy some CDs (I didn't realize it was a trilogy). The idea of this war between vampires, demons and vampires all over the secrets in a lost document is intriguing but the middle of the book spent too much time slogging about in Diana and Matthew's romance and Matthew's past. I found myself keep thinking let's get on with it. If I had been reading it I likely would have put the book down and maybe not come back to it right away. I am looking forward to the 2nd installment now and hoping it moves along with a bit more pace. I read for enjoyment so I don't overanalyze characters like some reviewers do but I didn't find any of the characters overly annoying. I would say this is worth checking out from the library to get started on this series.
