A Discovery of Witches

It all began in a library at Oxford University.......

Diana Bishop, a witch, who doesn't fully understand her powers has just been hired as a professor at Oxford University, She is in the Oxford library doing research on her thesis about alchemy when she locates a book that has not been located by any other supernatural being for thousands of years. Her location of this book and touching it creates a power surge that is felt by all the other supernatural beings in the world.

Matthew Clairmont is also a professor at Oxford University. He is walking near the library when he feels the power surge. As Diana Bishop is leaving the library, Matthew becomes aware of her presence as a woman and a witch. He also realizes that she is the reason for the power that he just felt.

Matthew introduces himself to Diana and warns her about the book that she located and touched, a book that no other supernatural being has seen much less touched in thousands of years. At first, Diana has no reason to trust Matthew. She detects his powers and is aware that he is a vampire. However, she learns very quickly that witches and vampires begin watching her and trying to make contact with her. Their attempts are futile, but allow her to see some of the power that she actually possesses as a witch. Matthew who is also there secretly watching Diana helps her escape all of these attempts for these supernatural beings to capture her or to use her to call the book again.

Little by little, Matthew and Diana not only form a friendship but also a forbidden relationship. It is forbidden for supernatural beings to mix or form romantic relationships with other supernatural beings that are not of their kind. A group of supernatural beings called the Congregation rules over all the supernatural beings and they forbid the beings to intermix. According to their laws, war will be declared against anyone who breaks this law or has a child with another supernatural being.

Also, Diana is unaware of the power she possesses. She was raised by her mother's coven because her parents were murdered when she was a child. Right before her parents' murder, they bound her powers to protect her from members of the Congregation. Diana and Matthew who have formed a relationship and an alliance to stop the Congregation from obtaining the "Book of Life" discover why Diana's parents bound her powers as a child. They also discover how powerful she really is and the potential for power that she possesses within her.

Diana and Matthew realize that she needs a teacher to help her unlock her true power, but they are not able to find one. As Diana is discovering her true identity as a witch, she somehow unlocks a new power. She learns that she is also a time walker, a power which she inherited from her father. Diana practices this power and learns that she has to think of the time and raise her foot to transcend herself to that time. She is also able to transcend Matthew to the same time by holding his hand.

Since Diana is not able to find a teacher in the present time, she and Matthew who is a vampire and a history professor at Oxford University travel back to the 16th century to find a teacher there. This is a time in England when witchcraft is really beginning to spark among amateur witches and they are fine tuning their craft. Diana is able to find a teacher and a coven who help her discover her true witchcraft and unlock her abilities. Matthew also travels with Diana to his father's castle where he learns about his father's struggle with the vampires and their legacy. His father also plays a huge part in Diana's awakening as a witch and he is able to leave his wife, Matthew's mother, an important message in a book for their future problems with the Congregation.

I was not impressed with the series when I first began watching it. I had a hard time following the story and it was difficult for me to stay engaged with the plot. However, the more I watched it, the more I really understood the story and the relationship between it and segregation from our history. Diana and Matthew have a love story that perseveres no matter what they are up against or how hard members of the Congregation and the supernatural community don't want them to be together. Their love story just like any non-supernatural couple is one with its ups and downs. Their desire to love one another and their commitment to each other lasts no matter what they face. Their family members and coven support them even though they disapproved of their relationship at first.

I fell in love with both characters, Diana and Matthew. I admired their families and coven for supporting them even though they also had negative encounters with members of the Congregation. If you like love stories and want to be spellbound, please watch "A Discovery of Witches". I believe you will enjoy the series as much as I have.