Fantasy novel with female protagonist, British university setting?

February 17, 2019 10:16 PM

Themes of alchemy, time travel by body-hopping, eventually going all the way to the beginning of time, the paperback had black edges, which was what made me buy it in the airport bookshop... but I don't remember the title or the author, can you help? Bought in the last 10 years or so.
posted by holist to Media & Arts (8 answers total)

Response by poster: I think the protagonist's name began with an A.
posted by holist at 10:17 PM on February 17, 2019

A Discovery Of Witches? If so you're in luck, it's been adapted into a TV show.
posted by shimmerbug at 10:23 PM on February 17, 2019

Response by poster: Interesting, but, sadly, no.
posted by holist at 10:42 PM on February 17, 2019

The End of Mr Y
posted by Catseye at 11:16 PM on February 17, 2019 [3 favorites]

Connie Willis' Doomsday Book (or one of the later books in the series)?
posted by strangecargo at 11:19 PM on February 17, 2019

Response by poster: The End of Mr Y! Thank you! Bingo! >insert well-earned praise for the amazingness of the AskMeFi group mind< :)
posted by holist at 11:47 PM on February 17, 2019 [1 favorite]

I came in to be like "THE END OF MR Y!!!!" but strangecargo beat me to it!
posted by unicorn chaser at 9:10 AM on February 18, 2019

There are sequels to the Doomsday Book?? I had no idea! You can't imagine how happy I am to learn this! Without a doubt, you have made my day.

'Doomsday Book' was one of my all time favourites -- as is 'The End of Mr Y'! Maybe I should check out 'A Discovery of Witches'...
posted by EllaEm at 9:44 AM on February 18, 2019 [1 favorite]