Books Like A Discovery Of Witches – 5 Fantastic Book Recommendations

Do you have a passion for magic and fantasy? If so, you’re going to fall head over heels for A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. This book has taken the world by storm.

Books Like A Discovery Of Witches - 5 Fantastic Book Recommendations

This spellbinding debut novel centers around Diana Bishop. This Yale University professor finds a manuscript that has been missing for a long time.

Originating from a long family of witches, Diana wishes to abandon her magical heritage. 

However, this missing manuscript forces Diana to confront her magical potential. A plethora of magical beings surround the library craving the manuscript.

This soon causes Diana to meet Matthew Clairmont, a charming vampire who has spent 150 years looking for this book.

Matthew promises to protect the bold Diana. These two characters soon become intimate, pursuing a forbidden romance that breaks every taboo

Through A Discovery of Witches, Harkness develops a page-turning fantasy romance that has been inspired by real-world history. As a historian, Harkness provides a grounding force for this novel.

It is much more intelligent than the average romance novel and is ideal for anyone interested in magic, love, or history.

If you cherish A Discovery Of Witches, then you will fall in love with books like Beautiful Creatures, The Ex Hex, The Golem and the Jinni, The Night Circus, and Magic Lessons. Read here for 5 sensational suggestions that you’ll love!

Themes In A Discovery Of Witches

A Discovery of Witches: A Novel

A Discovery of Witches has proven to be a popular narrative thanks to its thrilling plot, likable characters, and interesting themes. Among the themes that it contains include: 

Magic

A Discovery of Witches introduces a world of magic. Diana is merely attempting to live a normal life, which means attempting to steer clear of magic.

Yet, Diana is nonetheless pulled into the world of magic, highlighting the power that it has over her.

Prejudice

There are lots of different groups in this magical society, namely vampires, witches, humans, and daemons. Each of these groups has a prejudiced view toward a different group.

This underlines the complex relationships between these different groups and the ridiculousness of their prejudice. 

Romance

Warlock

Many people consider A Discovery of Witches to be a romance novel. This is because it’s centered around the romance between Diana and Matthew.

Harkness offers a unique romance novel, which explores the intricacies of romance between an ordinary person and a vampire. In this sense, it’s comparable to the Twilight series.

The book also highlights underrepresented romance. For instance, Diana has an aunt named Sarah who is in an LGBT relationship.

Family And Legacy

Diana is related to a long line of witches. Despite this, Diana has been attempting to run away from her family legacy. Yet, this proves inescapable. Diana’s discovery soon brings her into the world of magic, in spite of her reluctance. 

Forbidden Love

The love between Diana and Matthew is forbidden. They come from completely different worlds. Matthew is a vampire who is familiar with the world of magic and the occult, which Diana has purposefully attempted to avoid.

Books Like A Discovery Of Witches

The Golem And The Jinni

The Golem and the Jinni: A Novel

In The Golem and the Jinni, Helene Wecker crafts a magical novel. Like A Discovery of Witches, this wonderful book combines historical fiction and fantasy to create a thrilling read (see also “Books Like Senlin Ascends – 5 Gripping Reads To Add To Your Collection!“). 

At the conclusion of the 19th century, Yehudah Schaalman crafts a female golem for the youthful Otto Rotfeld.

Otto craves a devoted wife, and so turns to this kabbalist. Unfortunately, Otto dies, which leaves the female golem trapped in a Polish town that she knows nothing about.

The golem is found by a rabbi and given the name Chava. This rabbi begins teaching Chava how to be a human.

Elsewhere, a jinni is unleashed. Without his powers, this jinni adopts the name Ahmad and begins searching for a way to reclaim his power. 

Chava and Ahmad meet and get to know one another. As inhuman beings, they are kindred spirits who develop a deep relationship. 

The Golem and the Jinni is about two outsiders who form a close bond, which is remarkably close to the narrative of A Discovery of Witches. This book is perfect for people who love complex narratives.

Pros

  • Wecker’s writing is wonderful. 
  • The characters are deep and complex.

Cons

  • The pacing is quite slow, as the book features numerous characters.

Themes: Magic, Loneliness, Immigration, Prejudice, Identity, Religion.

Magic Lessons

Magic Lessons: Book #1 of the Practical Magic Series (1)

Sticking with the magic theme, Magic Lessons is an extraordinary book that follows the history of a curse that’s been around for centuries.

Set in Salem in the 1600s, Maria Owens is accused of witchcraft. Hannah Owens recognizes Maria’s gift for magic. Hannah teaches Maria about the importance of love, a lesson that she soon enacts in her life.

Maria soon falls in love with a man. However, he abandons her and leaves for Salem. Enraged, Maria follows her former lover and places a curse on him. Yet, this curse will teach Maria things about love that she never knew before.

Magic Lessons is a vibrant read that encourages readers to acknowledge the importance of love. This gut-wrenching book is ideal for people who love books that are packed with emotions. 

If you enjoyed the mystical elements of A Discovery of Witches, Magic Lessons will prove more than suitable. Its historical features are akin to the writing of Deborah Harkness.

Pros

  • It has a powerful emotional impact that will get readers thinking.
  • The story of the curse is really interesting, especially thanks to the historical elements. 
  • The narrative has a good flow.

Cons

  • It has a somewhat disconnected writing style.

Themes: Magic, Romance, History, Curses.

The Night Circus

The Night Circus: A Novel

Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus tells the captivating story of Le Cirque des Rêves. This magical circus appears out of nowhere and offers a night of genuine magic.

But this wonderful circus has a dark secret. Its two magicians are Marco and Celia. Encouraged to be rivaled by their instructors since they were children, Marco and Celia are destined to conflict.

Their rivalry soon blossoms into love. This romance is filled with fantasy and magic.

However, this passionate love threatens to endanger everyone at the circus. This relationship is comparable to the forbidden romance between Diana and Matthew in A Discovery of Witches.

If you enjoy merging romance with fantasy, The Night Circus is the perfect book for you (see also “Books Like The Night Circus: 5 Amazing Books To Read Next“). 

Pros

  • The relationship between Marco and Celia is engrossing.
  • The circus provides a wonderful setting for this fantasy book
  • Tons of inventive images.

Cons

  • The plot is minimal.

Themes: Magic, Romance, Forbidden Love, Rivalry, Fate.

The Ex Hex

The Ex Hex: A Novel (The Graves Glen Series, 1)

If you appreciate the themes of magic and romance, The Ex Hex is a flawless recommendation for you!

Vivienne Jones is a witch with a broken heart who places a curse on her ex-boyfriend. Years later, her former boyfriend (Rhys Penhallow) returns to Graves Glen.

After tons of catastrophes, Vivi realizes that her curse may not be entirely harmless. Can Vivi and Rhys work together to save everyone before time runs out?

Fun and relatable, Erin Sterling’s The Ex Hex is great if you are searching for a lighthearted novel.

Pros

  • This is the perfect book for Halloween and the spooky season.
  • The chemistry between Vivi and Rhys is incredible. 

Cons

  • The writing is a little rushed in places.

Themes: Magic, Romance, Curses, Reunions.

Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures: Beautiful Creatures, Book 1

Our final pick is Beautiful Creatures, the first book in a sensational series of the same name. This romantic fantasy novel has a gothic backdrop that’s perfect for A Discovery of Witches enthusiasts. 

Lena Duchannes is different from everyone else in Gatlin, a Southern town. She has to try to conceal her power and a dark curse. Living in a gothic house with a swamp and rustic graveyard, Lena can’t expect to hide forever. 

Ethan Wate finds himself unable to resist Lena when she moves into a nearby plantation. He wants to find out the secret behind his connection to this mysterious woman. 

It’s this connection between these characters that makes this book akin to A Discovery of Witches. Ideal for fans of romance, this book is somewhat steamy.

Pros

  • The gothic vibes are ideal for fantasy fans.
  • The writing is much more intelligent than the average romance novel.

Cons

  • The pacing slows down toward the middle of the book.

Themes: Magic, Forbidden Love, Romance.

Final Thoughts

A Discovery of Witches is a truly enchanting read. If you crave something similar, there are tons of outstanding options out there for you.

These brilliant books have similar themes and narratives, making them perfect for fans of A Discovery of Witches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There A Sequel To A Discovery of Witches?

Yes, this book is part of the All Souls trilogy. So if you enjoyed A Discovery of Witches, it’s advised that you check out its predecessors, namely Shadow of Night and The Book of Life.

Is There A Television Adaptation Of The Book?

A Discovery of Witches has been adapted into a television series starring Teresa Palmer as Diana and Matthew Goode as Matthew. Starting in 2018, this television series lasted for 3 seasons.

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Noah Burton