Loads better than Discovery of Witches, in my opinion, although they aren't really at all the same, but for having an educated female protagonist and involving magic.

While Discovery felt like Twilight, a bit older and wearing glasses, The Thinking Woman's Guide was more like Through the Looking Glass/Great Gatsby/Midsummer Night's Dream/Game of Thrones.

It reminded me of Diana Wynne Jones.

While Bishop in Discovery of Witches leaves her brain behind in the Bodleian, Nora in Guide to Real Magic continues to probe, to question, to learn. Even though her subject isn't directly applicable to her new circumstances, she still has a scholar's mind. I feel Dr. Bishop in Discovery, does not.

Another thing I liked was all the literary references scattered throughout the entire book.

Also, the ending was exactly the way it should have been.

Aruendiel is a fully fledged character. He's much more than just a dark, brooding, much older man. He doesn't follow the heroine around all the time and he's not impossibly gorgeous.


In any case, I enjoyed this bit of escapism a great deal more. I hope the author writes another.

I read this, as i wanted something to buoy me after Mischling, (which was great, but a bit emotionally exhausting during a time when the world seems to be doing it's best to dampen the spirits of us all) and as this was recommended by Deborah Harkness and sounded exactly my cup of tea, I jumped in to a book with an OK blurb, bit of a cringe-fest title and a cover that i know many would scoff at at first glance.
I'm used to this: i love many books that hold no weight within the physical-book-world i occupy during my day job but they do continue to fuel my love for reading. Still, i was a little sceptical: I've read some real drivel wrapped up in similar packages.

But, my goodness i loved this book.

I know that sometimes, you read a good book at exactly the right time and it soothes and invigorates you in ways you could never have expected or hoped - the author met you at just the right time and delivered the medicine you needed. That was my experience with this book and probably why it gets 5 stars.
It's essentially a modern fairytale of secret lands full of magic and adventure with an intelligent and free spirited heroine and a brooding enigma of a (potential) romantic interest. I'm not sure why i waited so long to read this and i'm very annoyed at my past self for her procrastination.
If The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic had a family the following would be it's first cousins: Uprooted with some Pride and Prejudice and A Discovery Of Witches plus Jane Eyre. That probably paints you a rough picture of what to expect here. I've read a few reviews that have mentioned the (considerable) length of this book, but I was grateful for every word on every page: I feasted on this book and was very sad indeed to reach the end