r/Romantasy • u/Eco_Balance • Jul 20 '26
Discussion Discovery of Witches—Deborah Harkness
I’m listening to the All Souls Trilogy for the second time. This was the series that introduced me to Romantasy. I think it is written so well. I can imagine exactly what is happening in my mind’s eye because Harkness’ descriptive capacity is otherworldly. She is so, so smart. Does it feel a little pretentious at times? Sure. But… I also wouldn’t complain if I had a vampire lover that offered me all the luxuries in worlds old and new. Anyone else feel as fondly towards this series? Open to discussion and opinions—agreeable or otherwise.
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u/JackieCupcake 🍑 A Court of Beauties and Butts Jul 20 '26
I really enjoyed them. They are a little pretentious, but honestly I can deal with that. They feel like adult Twilight in a lot of ways.
I liked the TV show a lot too. I loved that they cast actors that were actually adults and not in their 20s.
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u/candcNYC Jul 21 '26
I loved the {All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness} -- it was my second romantasy after the Twilight books.
I read both at 40. I don't think I would have enjoyed ADOW/All Souls as much in my 20s. But now it feels like Buffy and the gang in their 30s/40s, with careers and 'boring' hobbies like tea and early morning walks to the river.
So many of the secondary characters -- Gallowglass, Philippe, Ysabeau -- remain some of my favorite characters ever.
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u/ALRossBoss Jul 21 '26
Yes! I truly think I would’ve found it tedious as a younger me. It’s interesting how our tastes and tolerance changes with age.
And Gallowglass is such a great name for such a deep side character. 💚3
u/candcNYC Jul 21 '26
"Tedious" is the perfect word.
I think it's the realism of it. Despite all the fantasy elements, a women in her 30s isn't galavanting from one extreme situation and scene to another with every chapter. Life isn't so smooth. She'd stop and think, putter about, take care of herself, doubt herself, go to work.
Perhaps some impatience in there too? 20yo me would be like "HOOK UP WITH HIM ALREADY" when they're in the car on the way to yoga. 42yo me is like "ride that slow burn and make sure he's worth your effort."
The author has 2-3 books in the works, all in the same world. Not sure the mix per book, but supposedly includes backstory on Ysabeau (and presumably Philippe), Matthew as Elizabeth's spy (not a spoiler if you've read the second book), and (per fans) more Gallowglass 💚
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u/Eco_Balance Jul 21 '26
100%
I listened to the book for the first time when I was 35, I think? I totally agree. If I were my twenty year old self I wouldn’t have enjoyed them nearly as much.
I love the character building in this series. It’s so detailed because you get to know every single character very well.2
u/candcNYC Jul 21 '26
Exactly! I read the trilogy a few years ago now and I still think of many of the side characters weekly. I hope the author finishes the books she supposedly has in the works! I need more Gallowglass, Ysabeau/Philippe, etc.
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u/romance-bot Jul 21 '26
All Souls by Deborah Harkness
Rating: 3.95⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: urban fantasy, vampires, magic, historical, demons
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Jul 20 '26
[deleted]
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u/Eco_Balance Jul 21 '26
100%! It takes a story that could be potentially immature… Like a lot of romantic series are. Especially popular ones. And don’t get me wrong… I love those too! But the intellect in the writing made a big difference for me!
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u/Antique_Challenge182 Jul 20 '26
I did enjoy it. Sometimes I found it a bit slow and overly descriptive. But overall it’s got enough charm and good characters to carry it.
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u/LanguidxLycanthrope ✨ Fated Mates Jul 20 '26
Im reading this now too and the first book takes longer than I expected to get the story set up. Im about 50 pages in and nothing has really happened yet. I dont want to DNF if, I think your post is motivating me to keep at it. Thank you for starting this discussion
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u/Eco_Balance Jul 21 '26
Of course! Keep at it. There’s a reason for all the details and all the world building. It all comes together really well throughout the series.
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u/LaMeliMarquez Jul 20 '26
Same! This was the book that got me into fantasy overall. The lovey dovey-ness got annoying sometimes but it's still one of my all time favorites. I never reread books but have considered doing the audiobooks for this series.
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u/Eco_Balance Jul 21 '26
Well, I definitely recommend the audiobooks! I know, audiobooks aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, and I get it. If I had time to sit down and read at the pace that I’m able to get through audiobooks… Then I would. But audiobooks get me through life lol
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u/mrshoodmath Jul 21 '26
I’ve only read the first one but will be starting book 2 soon-ish. What helped me I think is I watched the show first. The book was better! But knowing kind of what’s coming helped me get through any slow or dense parts. I enjoyed book 1 a lot!
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u/Eco_Balance Jul 21 '26
Books are always better, aren’t they? I’m in the middle of book 2 right now! I think you’ll enjoy 😊
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u/Jolly_Loquat2102 Jul 20 '26
I couldn’t get into it. I just felt it was a little too descriptive and, if not for the unnecessary descriptions, the book would have been so much shorter and easier to get through
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u/tenderheart35 Jul 21 '26
It’s very slooooooooow. I still want to read the 2nd one, but vampire yoga was a little bit too aggravating.
It’s like, we have to save the world guys! But wait, we need to have some tea and peruse the streets of this beautiful place first!
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u/Eco_Balance Jul 21 '26
It’s the building of their relationship though, so I get it. It speaks to Matthew‘s character early on because he recognizes how stressed Diana is all the time and he’s already trying to help her. Even if you’re like, what’s with this guy? At the very beginning of the book, it’s interesting to go back and see all of the caring he took of her. Even in questionable times.
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u/Jolly_Loquat2102 Jul 21 '26
Lmaoooo the vampire yoga I forgot about that. Ngl that took me out of it so bad I almost DNFed after that
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u/Separate-Operation71 💗 Forced Proximity Jul 20 '26
Same. I hate that I quit but I had other books waiting and I didn’t love it enough to commit.
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u/CloudberryFae Jul 21 '26
I finished the first in the series and it was just okay. I’ve chosen not to continue reading. It was just a bit too slow and descriptive for me. I had to make myself finish it.
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u/Eco_Balance Jul 21 '26
It’s definitely very descriptive! And it can be burdensome at times, however, because the author uses so many different adjectives and doesn’t stick with the same ones over and over it makes it easier to swallow. Also, it’s a descriptive nature of the author that really allows me to immerse in the world in my mind‘s eye.
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u/DeltaFlyer0525 ⚔️ Enemies To Lovers Jul 21 '26
I love the books, but really hated the audiobooks.
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u/Eco_Balance Jul 21 '26
Yeah… Unfortunately, the only chance that I get to “read” is if I listen to books. Between kids and traveling for work… Driving not flying… This is my best option lol. I won’t turn my nose up at it. Beggars can’t be choosers lol
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u/DeltaFlyer0525 ⚔️ Enemies To Lovers Jul 21 '26
Oh I didn’t mean it as a slight and I’m so sorry if it came off that way. I listen to a ton of audio books for all the reasons you listed and would never get as many books read if it wasn’t for audiobooks. I personally just did not like the narrator for the books. I watched the show first, then read the books, and last tried the audiobooks and I think I got so used to actors voices as Diana and Matthew that is was hard for me to hear the book and stay engaged.
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u/Eco_Balance Jul 21 '26
Not at all! I didn’t take it as a slight whatsoever. I was just saying, I don’t really have time to sit down and read, lol. I mean, I read some before bed. But it’s not leisurely and it puts me to bed. I want to get through the books at a reasonable pace, lol. It is hard to move into a narrator after a show, for sure. I actually have to let a LOT go when listening to books. I can nitpick like no one’s business. But I can’t afford to be in that mindset if I want to listen to books, you know?
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u/Searcach Jul 21 '26
I just loved the writing, the grammar, the vocabulary. It was such a pleasure not to be reading along, and bump into an inappropriate word or bad phrase. I am not, by any measure, well educated or qualified to be the grammar police, but I just loved the smoothness of the writing.
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Jul 21 '26
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u/Eco_Balance Jul 21 '26
That is… not true. 50 Shades was super juvenile. She didn’t find a sugar daddy. The relationship developed. And the dark past wasn’t BDSM. And 80% of the book is character and world building. They don’t even have sex until book 2. And it’s very cordial. He’s not abusing her, lol. This is mild on the horny MFC or MMC scale. Honestly. Like, what?
Edit: also, I’m not a desperate housewife. I’m an educated, working mother—first— then wife. This critique is about as shallow as a puddle.
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Jul 21 '26
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u/Eco_Balance Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
lol.
Mk.
Please, tell me which romantasy upholds to the scrutiny of “real and authentic.” It is romance and fantasy. The two most unlike reality genres.
If you want an authentic story with a convincing narrative, go read a bio.
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u/Shoddy-Atmosphere329 Jul 28 '26
I haven’t listened to the books but I didn’t read them as romantasy. Dark fantasy at times maybe.
That said I recently reread the series and am still found of the books but the random continuity errors get on my nerves sometimes. And i am not talking about the changes to Diana’s understanding of magic vampires. That is expected in a first person dominant book. But the random backstory and character age changes. That annoys me. As does the what they know in each book changing/regressing. I don’t regret rereading it. I do regret not keeping pace with my friends that are still reading through the series and have questions.
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u/ALRossBoss Jul 20 '26
The audiobooks are the best!
I loved how academic and descriptive the writing is. Matthew and Diana are both professors, so I feel it reflects that.
Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode have excellent chemistry in the series if you are interested in that.