As summer turns to autumn and the darks nights start to close in, I love nothing more than getting cosy and watching something on the tv, fluffy socks and a blanket are compulsory of course. But this week I’m even more excited than normal for my Friday night treat and that is because A Discovery of Witches will be starting on Sky One and Now TV.
If you love all things supernatural like The Originals and Vampire Diaries or even Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Then you need to have a watch!
A Discovery of Witches is based on the first in a trilogy of novels called ‘All Souls’ by Deborah Harkness. If you haven’t read any, I definitely recommend them, as I’m currently halfway through the first one. The books have a huge international following and have been translated into 36+ languages. I realised just how big the following is at the book signing in Waterstones, Oxford. Deborah was there to sign copies of the book and Teresa, who plays the main character Diana Bishop, was meeting and posing for photos with fans. The store was full of excited chatter from fans of the book who had been waiting for hours to meet them both. The queues were half way down the street and even the rain wasn’t putting them off.
Not just your usual signing, there was also a lab set up where fans could find out if they were a witch, vampire, daemon or a human. A mock ‘DNA test’ followed by a personality quiz determined I am a Witch, although I haven’t felt any magical powers yet!
Following the signing we got to attend a private viewing of the new exhibition of Spellbound: Magic Ritual and Witchcraft, at the Ashmoleum Oxford University’s Museum.
I have always been fascinated by witchcraft, so I was particularly looking forward to this part of the evening. The exhibition didn’t disappoint, giving me goosebumps on more than one occasion. Unfortunately photography was stickily forbidden, in most of the rooms, as there were some amazing items.
I would love to go back and spend some more time looking at the artefacts spanning over eight centuries. They show how our ancestors interpreted things they didn’t understand in the world around them and even included emotional confessions from women who were accused of witchcraft. We also got to see some of the props that were used in the making of A Discovery of Witches.
Spellbound is on until 6 January 2019.
Finally we get to the moment we have all been waiting for. The screening of the first episode of A Discovery Of Witches.
I don’t want to give too much away and if you have read the book it is a little different to the first few chapters. So instead;
A Discovery of Witches tells the story of Diana – an academic at Oxford University who refuses to acknowledge she is a witch and has pushed her magical powers to the side. However she finds all kinds of darkness unfolding when she unwittingly discovers a long lost ancient manuscript, and embarks upon a forbidden love affair with vampire Professor Matthew Clairmont (played by Matthew Goode of The Crown and Downtown Abbey fame), a geneticist researching why his species seems to be dying out.
It’s a modern love story in a world where vampires, witches and daemons live and work among humans without them realising – hiding in plain sight. Teresa and Matthew set out to understand the manuscript’s secrets and why their species are in decline. But their love affair and their discoveries could shatter the fragile peace that exists in the supernatural world.
The first episode left me wanting more! It’s dark and mysterious, yet beautiful and magical at the same time. Being based in pretty Oxford it’s easy to relate to and the imagery is stunning.
I feel we have been lacking a supernatural drama series for a while now and this one is just perfect. I can’t wait to watch the rest of the series.
Will you be watching too?
A Discovery of Witches begins on Sky One at 9pm on Friday 14 September with episodes shown weekly. It will also be available to watch on Now TV.
Enter below to win your own copy of A Discovery Of Witches book. Please see full T&C. Good Luck!
*This is a collaborative post.