What do you think?
Rate this book
All Souls #4
Time's Convert
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Fantasy (2018)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Discovery of Witches comes a novel about what it takes to become a vampire.
On the battlefields of the American Revolution, Matthew de Clermont meets Marcus MacNeil, a young surgeon from Massachusetts, during a moment of political awakening when it seems that the world is on the brink of a brighter future. When Matthew offers him a chance at immortality and a new life free from the restraints of his puritanical upbringing, Marcus seizes the opportunity to become a vampire. But his transformation is not an easy one and the ancient traditions and responsibilities of the de Clermont family clash with Marcus's deeply held beliefs in liberty, equality, and brotherhood.
Fast-forward to contemporary Paris, where Phoebe Taylor--the young employee at Sotheby's whom Marcus has fallen for--is about to embark on her own journey to immortality. Though the modernized version of the process at first seems uncomplicated, the couple discovers that the challenges facing a human who wishes to be a vampire are no less formidable than they were in the eighteenth century. The shadows that Marcus believed he'd escaped centuries ago may return to haunt them both--forever.
A passionate love story and a fascinating exploration of the power of tradition and the possibilities not just for change but for revolution, Time's Convert channels the supernatural world-building and slow-burning romance that made the All Souls Trilogy instant bestsellers to illuminate a new and vital moment in history, and a love affair that will bridge centuries.
On the battlefields of the American Revolution, Matthew de Clermont meets Marcus MacNeil, a young surgeon from Massachusetts, during a moment of political awakening when it seems that the world is on the brink of a brighter future. When Matthew offers him a chance at immortality and a new life free from the restraints of his puritanical upbringing, Marcus seizes the opportunity to become a vampire. But his transformation is not an easy one and the ancient traditions and responsibilities of the de Clermont family clash with Marcus's deeply held beliefs in liberty, equality, and brotherhood.
Fast-forward to contemporary Paris, where Phoebe Taylor--the young employee at Sotheby's whom Marcus has fallen for--is about to embark on her own journey to immortality. Though the modernized version of the process at first seems uncomplicated, the couple discovers that the challenges facing a human who wishes to be a vampire are no less formidable than they were in the eighteenth century. The shadows that Marcus believed he'd escaped centuries ago may return to haunt them both--forever.
A passionate love story and a fascinating exploration of the power of tradition and the possibilities not just for change but for revolution, Time's Convert channels the supernatural world-building and slow-burning romance that made the All Souls Trilogy instant bestsellers to illuminate a new and vital moment in history, and a love affair that will bridge centuries.
448 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2018
About the author
Deborah Harkness
35 books31.9k followersDeborah Harkness is a #1 New York Times bestselling author who draws on her expertise as an historian of science, medicine, and the history of the book to create rich narratives steeped in magical realism, historical curiosity, and deeply human questions about what it is that makes us who we are.
The first book in Harkness’s beloved All Souls series, A Discovery of Witches, was an instant New York Times bestseller and the series has since expanded with the addition of subsequent NYT bestsellers, Shadow of Night (2012), The Book of Life (2014), and Time’s Convert (2018), as well as the companion reader, The World of All Souls. The All Souls series has been translated in thirty-eight languages.
The popular television adaptation of A Discovery of Witches, starring Theresa Palmer and Matthew Goode, was released in 2019 by Sky/Sundance Now, and also broadcast on AMC.
Having spent more than a quarter of a century as a student and scholar of history, Harkness holds degrees from Mount Holyoke College, Northwestern University, and the University of California at Davis. She is currently a professor at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she teaches European history and the history of science.
Harkness has published scholarly articles on topics such as the influence of theatrical conventions on the occult sciences, scientific households, female medical practice in early modern London, medical curiosity, and the influence of accounting practices on scientific record keeping. She has received Fulbright, Guggenheim, and National Humanities Center fellowships, and her most recent scholarly work is The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution.
The first book in Harkness’s beloved All Souls series, A Discovery of Witches, was an instant New York Times bestseller and the series has since expanded with the addition of subsequent NYT bestsellers, Shadow of Night (2012), The Book of Life (2014), and Time’s Convert (2018), as well as the companion reader, The World of All Souls. The All Souls series has been translated in thirty-eight languages.
The popular television adaptation of A Discovery of Witches, starring Theresa Palmer and Matthew Goode, was released in 2019 by Sky/Sundance Now, and also broadcast on AMC.
Having spent more than a quarter of a century as a student and scholar of history, Harkness holds degrees from Mount Holyoke College, Northwestern University, and the University of California at Davis. She is currently a professor at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she teaches European history and the history of science.
Harkness has published scholarly articles on topics such as the influence of theatrical conventions on the occult sciences, scientific households, female medical practice in early modern London, medical curiosity, and the influence of accounting practices on scientific record keeping. She has received Fulbright, Guggenheim, and National Humanities Center fellowships, and her most recent scholarly work is The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,317 reviews
December 11, 2018
A little disappointing, if I'm honest. I was happy to read it, and it was nice to revisit familiar characters, and to get a deeper look into Marcus's past, but the whole 400 pages felt meandering and slightly pointless. There was no danger, no urgency, no mystery--none of the hallmarks of the original trilogy that made it so absorbing to read. It felt like a history lesson of the American and French Revolutions that just so happened to include vampires. The last 100 pages seemed rushed, though the conclusion was satisfying at least. I hope if Harkness decides to return to this world in the future that she can tighten up the stories and imbue them with a little more of the magic that was so integral to the first three books.
October 9, 2021
“Miracles should leave a mark, so that we can remember how precious they are.” p. 14
I do believe I owe Marcus MacNeil an apology. I've been so anxious to read Gallowglass's story (which Harkness, bless her forever, plans on writing), that I viewed Time's Convert as somewhat of a placeholder. A way to bide my time until whenever Gallowglass's book arrives.
But I should have known better, as Marcus's story is just as worthy of being told. It was such a delight to return to the world of the All Souls series. Diana and Matthew appear throughout this story and we even get Diana's POV. But Time's Convert largely devotes itself to Marcus's backstory during the Revolutionary War and his present day relationship with Phoebe who has decided to be reborn as a vampire.
Matthew and Diana's relationship served as a great contrast to Phoebe and Marcus. They've settled into parenthood, although this is filled with many unknowns as the twins are rare Bright Borns (born to a weaver mother and vampire father who has blood rage.) I really enjoyed seeing them figure out how to parent their children and their paranormal abilities and what's the right amount of freedom and restraint. Marcus and Phoebe are separated for the majority of the book while Phoebe is transformed. The process of how vampires are made and then develop was absolutely fascinating.
Some of Marcus's past recollections are crammed, abruptly moving from "showing" to "telling" and might have worked better if he was actually telling us, instead of us reliving those periods of his life. But this was a minor misstep and I didn't care overmuch. His experiences during the war and with his abusive father were heartbreaking but I really appreciated how this pushed him toward medicine and particularly how being a vampire was an asset when it came to curing or treating epidemics.
I have missed all these characters and I'm so glad I got to reacquaint myself with them again. And of course, I treasured all those glimpses of Gallowglass. I know his first name now! Now back to biding my time...
I do believe I owe Marcus MacNeil an apology. I've been so anxious to read Gallowglass's story (which Harkness, bless her forever, plans on writing), that I viewed Time's Convert as somewhat of a placeholder. A way to bide my time until whenever Gallowglass's book arrives.
But I should have known better, as Marcus's story is just as worthy of being told. It was such a delight to return to the world of the All Souls series. Diana and Matthew appear throughout this story and we even get Diana's POV. But Time's Convert largely devotes itself to Marcus's backstory during the Revolutionary War and his present day relationship with Phoebe who has decided to be reborn as a vampire.
Matthew and Diana's relationship served as a great contrast to Phoebe and Marcus. They've settled into parenthood, although this is filled with many unknowns as the twins are rare Bright Borns (born to a weaver mother and vampire father who has blood rage.) I really enjoyed seeing them figure out how to parent their children and their paranormal abilities and what's the right amount of freedom and restraint. Marcus and Phoebe are separated for the majority of the book while Phoebe is transformed. The process of how vampires are made and then develop was absolutely fascinating.
Some of Marcus's past recollections are crammed, abruptly moving from "showing" to "telling" and might have worked better if he was actually telling us, instead of us reliving those periods of his life. But this was a minor misstep and I didn't care overmuch. His experiences during the war and with his abusive father were heartbreaking but I really appreciated how this pushed him toward medicine and particularly how being a vampire was an asset when it came to curing or treating epidemics.
I have missed all these characters and I'm so glad I got to reacquaint myself with them again. And of course, I treasured all those glimpses of Gallowglass. I know his first name now! Now back to biding my time...
February 3, 2024
RE-READ 2024
I wasn´t impressed second time arround so I have to lower my rating. Multiple POV narrative didn´t work for me this time and whole novel felt just like a filler. I truly hope that book #5 will bring back the charm that initial trilogy had.
FIRST REVIEW
Deborah Harkness is a safe bet. Story in Time's Convert follows three separated storylines that author weaves skillfully together without interupting the flow of the story. It was a pleasure to read it and I enjoyed myself immensely. This book is definitely a must-read for all fans of All Souls Trilogy.
However, without knowledge of previous books you will be lost in the story and won't be able to truly appreciate it. Time's Convert presents not only deeper insight into Marcus's life but it also further develops the lives of Diana & Matthew - main characters from original trilogy. So make sure to read All Souls Trilogy before diving into this book.
If you are All Souls trilogy fan, do not hesitate to read this novel. You will be rewarded not only with great writing as is the norm by Mrs. Harkness, but you will also get to spend more quality time with all your favorite characters. Time's Convert may not be as thrilling as initial trilogy; it lacks proper twist and plot afterall; yet I still flew through the pages eating up every single word.
I can't get enough of these characters and I will definitely read everything that Mrs. Harkness writes about this fictional world of hers!
PRE-REVIEW
MARK YOUR CALENDARS EVERYONE! Sep. 18th 2018 is THE DAY :)
I am super stoked for this book. All Souls Trilogy is my all time favorite paranormal series and I cannot wait to get my hands on Marcus's story!
Info about other books from All Souls world:
"For those of you wondering, THE SERPENT'S MIRROR (Matthew's life under Henry VIII and Elizabeth I), a book on Gallowglass, and whoever else happens to stop by and tell me their tale will follow in the future...definitely NOT in 2018." - from Deborah Harkness's Facebook
I wasn´t impressed second time arround so I have to lower my rating. Multiple POV narrative didn´t work for me this time and whole novel felt just like a filler. I truly hope that book #5 will bring back the charm that initial trilogy had.
FIRST REVIEW
"The touch we feel as a restraint when we are younger has a way of bringing us comfort later in our lives."
Deborah Harkness is a safe bet. Story in Time's Convert follows three separated storylines that author weaves skillfully together without interupting the flow of the story. It was a pleasure to read it and I enjoyed myself immensely. This book is definitely a must-read for all fans of All Souls Trilogy.
However, without knowledge of previous books you will be lost in the story and won't be able to truly appreciate it. Time's Convert presents not only deeper insight into Marcus's life but it also further develops the lives of Diana & Matthew - main characters from original trilogy. So make sure to read All Souls Trilogy before diving into this book.
If you are All Souls trilogy fan, do not hesitate to read this novel. You will be rewarded not only with great writing as is the norm by Mrs. Harkness, but you will also get to spend more quality time with all your favorite characters. Time's Convert may not be as thrilling as initial trilogy; it lacks proper twist and plot afterall; yet I still flew through the pages eating up every single word.
I can't get enough of these characters and I will definitely read everything that Mrs. Harkness writes about this fictional world of hers!
PRE-REVIEW
MARK YOUR CALENDARS EVERYONE! Sep. 18th 2018 is THE DAY :)
I am super stoked for this book. All Souls Trilogy is my all time favorite paranormal series and I cannot wait to get my hands on Marcus's story!
Info about other books from All Souls world:
"For those of you wondering, THE SERPENT'S MIRROR (Matthew's life under Henry VIII and Elizabeth I), a book on Gallowglass, and whoever else happens to stop by and tell me their tale will follow in the future...definitely NOT in 2018." - from Deborah Harkness's Facebook
February 21, 2019
Deborah Harkness has created a new genre: luxury porn.
Think about it: her vampires, at least those who belong to the de Clermont family tree, never age; are impossibly fit, no matter how much they eat (and they eat—and drink—anything and everything); are stunningly attractive and sensual; possess obscene wealth; boast genius-level IQs; and have all the attendant vampire superpowers, including super strength and speed and immunity to illness. They also get to sit around the kitchen table a lot and not really stress out too much about life.
Basically, it’s every human being’s most extravagant dream, except for that annoying need to occasionally pilfer a little life fluid from some scum-sucking lowlife who had it coming to him anyway (or some enterprising entrepreneur who markets his or her plasma to a very discerning audience, which is a thing, apparently, which shouldn’t be surprising, because there are entire websites dedicated to people getting off whilst being tickled, so life, and the humans, are just weird).
If you enjoyed the All Souls Trilogy, you’ll probably enjoy this one-off deep dive into the backstory of Marcus de Clermont, which features a lot of Revolutionary War-era and French Revolution-era history, a pellucid explication of what happens when someone gets turned into a vampire, and a lot of stunningly attractive people not aging as they eat and drink a crap load of stuff while saying intelligent things and watching over magical babies. Despite the heavy historical element, it’s a light and airy offering, absent the high stakes of its predecessor trilogy.
Certainly an enjoyable read, but don’t start here if you haven’t yet delved into the All Souls world—you’ll be lost and probably a little bit annoyed at how easy life seems for these cats (trust me, though—they’ve gone through some stuff).
Think about it: her vampires, at least those who belong to the de Clermont family tree, never age; are impossibly fit, no matter how much they eat (and they eat—and drink—anything and everything); are stunningly attractive and sensual; possess obscene wealth; boast genius-level IQs; and have all the attendant vampire superpowers, including super strength and speed and immunity to illness. They also get to sit around the kitchen table a lot and not really stress out too much about life.
Basically, it’s every human being’s most extravagant dream, except for that annoying need to occasionally pilfer a little life fluid from some scum-sucking lowlife who had it coming to him anyway (or some enterprising entrepreneur who markets his or her plasma to a very discerning audience, which is a thing, apparently, which shouldn’t be surprising, because there are entire websites dedicated to people getting off whilst being tickled, so life, and the humans, are just weird).
If you enjoyed the All Souls Trilogy, you’ll probably enjoy this one-off deep dive into the backstory of Marcus de Clermont, which features a lot of Revolutionary War-era and French Revolution-era history, a pellucid explication of what happens when someone gets turned into a vampire, and a lot of stunningly attractive people not aging as they eat and drink a crap load of stuff while saying intelligent things and watching over magical babies. Despite the heavy historical element, it’s a light and airy offering, absent the high stakes of its predecessor trilogy.
Certainly an enjoyable read, but don’t start here if you haven’t yet delved into the All Souls world—you’ll be lost and probably a little bit annoyed at how easy life seems for these cats (trust me, though—they’ve gone through some stuff).
Read
January 26, 2019Time's Convert was my most anticipated book of 2018. I was very lucky to receive one of very limited Advanced Reader Copies of the book and as soon as the proof came I dove straight in. The All Souls Trilogy told the story of Diana and Matthew on their quest to solving the mystery behind Ashmole 782. Time's Convert follows Matthew's son, Marcus and his girlfriend Phoebe while they go through their journey to be together.
Initially I really enjoyed the first few chapters I read. I loved being back into a world I knew and loved so much and seeing scenes with Diana and Matthew made my heart warm. However, I started to realise that what I thought would have been a story was starting to lag and feel like a diary entry. The story is told in 3 ways; Marcus' story of his childhood and how he got into the army and fought in the war. We then have Marcus' current story while being away from Phoebe and then lastly we have Phoebe's story while she goes through her transition. With this in mind I kept reading on in hopes Deborah would create a plot twist that would change the story but nothing ever came. It continued on the diary format, living each day as they came doing very basic things that Mundanes would do despite them being Vampires.
The one big thing that knocked me for six was the writing. The All Souls trilogy was filled with beautifully descriptive writings that captured the scenes and characters so well but everything in Time's Convert felt very simple. According to someone I spoke to on the book, Deborah said in an interview that the writing would be different because Marcus is 24 years old. However, that made zero sense to me because while Marcus was 24 years old when he was changed, he's actually over 200 years old so that doesn't really count as an excuse to the writing being lazy.
With the writing being lazy and choppy I decided to eventually DNF the book at page 207. I truly tried to conquer my way through the novel but I just couldn't force myself to do it. I was starting to dislike our main characters and I truly do not care for the storyline. I actually find it difficult how Deborah can carve a trilogy out of this because Time's Convert just purely feels like an after thought. As for now I'm happy to leave the All Souls series where it is.
Initially I really enjoyed the first few chapters I read. I loved being back into a world I knew and loved so much and seeing scenes with Diana and Matthew made my heart warm. However, I started to realise that what I thought would have been a story was starting to lag and feel like a diary entry. The story is told in 3 ways; Marcus' story of his childhood and how he got into the army and fought in the war. We then have Marcus' current story while being away from Phoebe and then lastly we have Phoebe's story while she goes through her transition. With this in mind I kept reading on in hopes Deborah would create a plot twist that would change the story but nothing ever came. It continued on the diary format, living each day as they came doing very basic things that Mundanes would do despite them being Vampires.
The one big thing that knocked me for six was the writing. The All Souls trilogy was filled with beautifully descriptive writings that captured the scenes and characters so well but everything in Time's Convert felt very simple. According to someone I spoke to on the book, Deborah said in an interview that the writing would be different because Marcus is 24 years old. However, that made zero sense to me because while Marcus was 24 years old when he was changed, he's actually over 200 years old so that doesn't really count as an excuse to the writing being lazy.
With the writing being lazy and choppy I decided to eventually DNF the book at page 207. I truly tried to conquer my way through the novel but I just couldn't force myself to do it. I was starting to dislike our main characters and I truly do not care for the storyline. I actually find it difficult how Deborah can carve a trilogy out of this because Time's Convert just purely feels like an after thought. As for now I'm happy to leave the All Souls series where it is.
September 21, 2018
You know how sometimes you think you really want something but then you get it and you wish you hadn't because you realize you were better off without it? That's how I feel about this book. It wasn't bad but it just seems like a totally unnecessary interlude. I wish Harkness had either gone totally in the past to explore a side character's life or had waited until the twins were grown up enough to actually add something new to the mix. And a griffin? Really? I felt like I was in Castle Glower.
I really did enjoy parts of the book but I still feel like I wish I could go back and unread this book so it wouldn't be a part of the series for me.
I really did enjoy parts of the book but I still feel like I wish I could go back and unread this book so it wouldn't be a part of the series for me.
May 24, 2019
This was painfully dull. There are only two things that kept this from a 1-star rating:
1. Phoebe’s chapters.
It was fun watching her struggle with becoming a new vampire. We never got to see what this process was like before now and I had a good time reading it.
And, okay...her desperation for Marcus added some much needed sexual tension/spice in between the snooze fest chapters.
2. Diana, and only Diana, is in 1st person POV.
I positively loathe when authors write multiple books in a series strictly from one character’s 1st person POV and then decide to switch to 1st person with another character later down the line.
Thankfully, Deborah Harkness stuck to what she knew—Diana’s inner thoughts/monologue—and continued the 3rd person route with everyone else. Marcus and Phoebe are the main characters, but in 3rd person only. THANK YOU FOR THAT, DEBORAH. 👏🏻
1. Phoebe’s chapters.
It was fun watching her struggle with becoming a new vampire. We never got to see what this process was like before now and I had a good time reading it.
And, okay...her desperation for Marcus added some much needed sexual tension/spice in between the snooze fest chapters.
2. Diana, and only Diana, is in 1st person POV.
I positively loathe when authors write multiple books in a series strictly from one character’s 1st person POV and then decide to switch to 1st person with another character later down the line.
Thankfully, Deborah Harkness stuck to what she knew—Diana’s inner thoughts/monologue—and continued the 3rd person route with everyone else. Marcus and Phoebe are the main characters, but in 3rd person only. THANK YOU FOR THAT, DEBORAH. 👏🏻
August 15, 2018
I was totally in for another story in this world and I was thrilled to see how Marcus and Phoebe’s story was going to play out.
I loved the format the most: we got a chapter of Marcus’s past, a chapter of Phoebe as she learns to be a vampire, and a chapter of Diana and the current household. It was such an interesting way to tell the story and get the details of how everyone was fairing. Plus, I love love loved seeing how Marcus came to be Matthew’s son.
I have a lot of feelings and I don’t know how to put it into words, so all I will say is that it is everything I didn’t know I wanted.
**Huge thanks to Mysterious Galaxy for giving me an arc*
I loved the format the most: we got a chapter of Marcus’s past, a chapter of Phoebe as she learns to be a vampire, and a chapter of Diana and the current household. It was such an interesting way to tell the story and get the details of how everyone was fairing. Plus, I love love loved seeing how Marcus came to be Matthew’s son.
I have a lot of feelings and I don’t know how to put it into words, so all I will say is that it is everything I didn’t know I wanted.
**Huge thanks to Mysterious Galaxy for giving me an arc*
September 24, 2018
I LOVE the All Souls trilogy. The books are exciting, romantic, erudite, mysterious, and full of amazing characters, history, and far-off places.
I had high hopes and expectations for this book, but I found (aside from history) it lacked all of the original books’ strengths. Where are the villains? The mystery? The suspense? The conflict? The plot? Hell - where even is the romance?
While it was nice to spend time in this world again, I do not recommend this book to anyone who isn’t already a huge fan of the first three books.
Disappointed.
I had high hopes and expectations for this book, but I found (aside from history) it lacked all of the original books’ strengths. Where are the villains? The mystery? The suspense? The conflict? The plot? Hell - where even is the romance?
While it was nice to spend time in this world again, I do not recommend this book to anyone who isn’t already a huge fan of the first three books.
Disappointed.
September 20, 2018
I loved author Deborah Harkness’ previous trilogy and was excited about this new work. I eagerly read it and quickly remembered the characters and the basic story, even though it has been awhile since I last read about them. This book, Time’s Convert, lacks focus, and I kept feeling as though I was being set up to read a multi-story arc that wouldn’t make sense until the final story. Those are my least favorite types of series; I prefer series that engage readers in character development and new adventures rather than piecemeal tales. This book has three partial stories, none of which are really very rewarding by book’s end. Phoebe becomes a vampire, Marcus reveals his human past and very early vampire years and Matthew and Diana’s twins begin to develop real personalities. The Phoebe/Marcus story could have been a good book or the twins could have been a good book but this was not enough anything to be a really good story. I remain hungry for more.
February 14, 2024
Picking this book up is like coming home. Truly, we get lots of character goodies in this. Diana and Matthew and their precocious kids, for one, but it's the whole Clermont clan that shines.
In particular, this novel is REALLY about Phoebe and Marcus. And the American Revolution. And the French Revolution.
And the best part is, I don't have to use much imagination. We get ALL of Marcus's history! And we get to see baby Phoebe as a new vamp. :)
My favorite parts are all in the past, however. Marcus had a troubled past and we get to see his start as a medic in the R. War, but probably most interesting was the French Revolution. What a nightmare.
But don't get me wrong, this book has a modern plot just as good as the past. You know, the fate of everything and all. :) Those kids are sooo cute! And bitey. :)
In particular, this novel is REALLY about Phoebe and Marcus. And the American Revolution. And the French Revolution.
And the best part is, I don't have to use much imagination. We get ALL of Marcus's history! And we get to see baby Phoebe as a new vamp. :)
My favorite parts are all in the past, however. Marcus had a troubled past and we get to see his start as a medic in the R. War, but probably most interesting was the French Revolution. What a nightmare.
But don't get me wrong, this book has a modern plot just as good as the past. You know, the fate of everything and all. :) Those kids are sooo cute! And bitey. :)
October 9, 2018
I was over the moon excited when I found that the All Souls Trilogy had a "spinoff" featuring Marcus and Phoebe. A quarter of the way into the book, my excitement ended.
The book felt like it was written by someone else, who didn't know the character backstories at all. This is labeled as a "Novel" and not as part of a saga, yet if you have not read the trilogy prior, you would be completely lost. There are references to places, people, situations and conversations mentioned in this book that occurred in the previous trilogy that had no purpose in this story.
The book is supposed to be about Marcus and is told in the third person. Every character in the book is in fact told in third person except one, Diana. Anytime a Diana storyline appears the story switches to first person. It is so disconcerting that it feels like someone interrupted the book to tell you about their day. It has no bearing on the story, the whole book could have excluded the Diana storyline and it would have been fine (and shorter).
My rant continues with the unfinished storyline of two "bright born" children's storyline which is partially told and never finished (I will not be reading any sequels), an ad nauseam trip into the French Revolution (if I never hear the word Liberty! spoken again it will be too soon!). The descriptions of that time period told in such precise and detailed it could have come from a historical documentary. Several fast forward to current time chapters that were so rushed and without detail that it makes no sense why they were even added.
I feel cheated, bitter, resentful and a little ticked off. Sixteen hours with a disappointing read is 15 1/2 hours too long. ..... and don't even get me started about the ending.....
The All Souls Trilogy was in my "Would Read Again" bookshelf, prior to reading this book. I will not be able to revisit that trilogy in the future, now knowing what a debacle follows. I am not sure I will read another book by this author at this point.
The book felt like it was written by someone else, who didn't know the character backstories at all. This is labeled as a "Novel" and not as part of a saga, yet if you have not read the trilogy prior, you would be completely lost. There are references to places, people, situations and conversations mentioned in this book that occurred in the previous trilogy that had no purpose in this story.
The book is supposed to be about Marcus and is told in the third person. Every character in the book is in fact told in third person except one, Diana. Anytime a Diana storyline appears the story switches to first person. It is so disconcerting that it feels like someone interrupted the book to tell you about their day. It has no bearing on the story, the whole book could have excluded the Diana storyline and it would have been fine (and shorter).
My rant continues with the unfinished storyline of two "bright born" children's storyline which is partially told and never finished (I will not be reading any sequels), an ad nauseam trip into the French Revolution (if I never hear the word Liberty! spoken again it will be too soon!). The descriptions of that time period told in such precise and detailed it could have come from a historical documentary. Several fast forward to current time chapters that were so rushed and without detail that it makes no sense why they were even added.
I feel cheated, bitter, resentful and a little ticked off. Sixteen hours with a disappointing read is 15 1/2 hours too long. ..... and don't even get me started about the ending.....
The All Souls Trilogy was in my "Would Read Again" bookshelf, prior to reading this book. I will not be able to revisit that trilogy in the future, now knowing what a debacle follows. I am not sure I will read another book by this author at this point.
Read
November 9, 2023I think it's safe to call this one of my highly-anticipated reads of 2018! I mean, hello...Marcus!!!!
September 28, 2024
I had several issues with this book: 1) it was Marcus’ origin story, but it was competing with his present day romance/Phoebe’s story, as well as the continuity of Diana and Matthew’s new family. Too many things vying for my attention. Would’ve been better if it focused on just one of these. 2) most stories revolving around war bore me. 3) whole I got to know Marcus’ prior life better, I still feel like I don’t really know him. Nor do I feel any closer to liking or understanding Phoebe.
What I did like: how the twins are growing up and developing. They are so cute!!!
Hoping Blackbird Oracle is a better read.
What I did like: how the twins are growing up and developing. They are so cute!!!
Hoping Blackbird Oracle is a better read.
Want to read
February 6, 2018
October 4, 2018
I absolutely loved The All Souls Trilogy! I was so excited when I saw this book coming out! I couldn't wait!!
I have now discovered that having read the Trilogy 4 or so years ago and not having it fresh in my mind is a large problem. It started on page one when I couldn't remember who the hell Phoebe is. It escalated from there.
The writing is good. The problem is I don't really care about the characters because I don't really remember who they are and there is no suspense or action occuring in the story. So at 42% I'm utterly bored and giving up.
My friend went back and re-read The Book of Life in order to get fully reoriented. She does remember Phoebe and does care about the characters. She's interested in the story. So, it seems just too much time has gone by for me....
Maybe I'll try again later when I feel like re-reading the original series....
I have now discovered that having read the Trilogy 4 or so years ago and not having it fresh in my mind is a large problem. It started on page one when I couldn't remember who the hell Phoebe is. It escalated from there.
The writing is good. The problem is I don't really care about the characters because I don't really remember who they are and there is no suspense or action occuring in the story. So at 42% I'm utterly bored and giving up.
My friend went back and re-read The Book of Life in order to get fully reoriented. She does remember Phoebe and does care about the characters. She's interested in the story. So, it seems just too much time has gone by for me....
Maybe I'll try again later when I feel like re-reading the original series....
December 11, 2019
Özlediğim karakterleri tekrar okumak çok iyi geldi. Marcus’un geçmişi ve Phoebe’nin vampire dönüşümüyle dolu dolu bir kurguydu. Ayrıca ikizleri de bol bol okuyabildiğim için mutluyum.
November 28, 2019
4 az geliyor 5 ise çok 🙈kac versem bilemedim ama hakkı 3 ,önceki seriyi cok sevdiğim ve bolca diana ve matthew olduğu için 4 veriyorum🙈Güzel kitapti,özellikle günümüzde geçen bölümlerini zevkle okudum (Diana bölümleri önceki serinin epilogu gibiydi çok sevdim) puan kırma sebebim fazla bulduğum tarihi bilgi kısmı, oralarda epey sıkıldım ayrıca marcus için günümüz bölümlerinde olay örgüsü yetersizdi daha doğrusu bir olay yoktu. ..yazar bir bilim insanı ve tabi yazar olarak hayran olduğum çok saygı duyduğum bir kadın dolayısıyla kitaplarına bu yönünü yansıtıyor ama bu sıkılmama engel olmadığı gibi kitapların güzelliğine de engel olmuyor...
July 22, 2019
Thinking that I was reading more of a history lesson than a fictional novel, I felt that this book failed to deliver on everything I had expected. Following Marcus’s background in intense detail, we are given scattering episodes of Diana, Matthew and her growing twins; and a little bit more of a focus on Phoebe, as she transcends from human to vampire. This book was not what I was hoping for and I think Harkness has taken the trilogy just one step too far.
For fans out there of this trilogy, we have all come to love Marcus and Phoebe, but really enjoy reading about Matthew and Diana. These two are what define this series but instead, Harkness has focused on Marcus and Phoebe. Told through flashbacks, we are given a detailed account of how Marcus came to be a vampire. The suffocating detail on the French and American revolutions were far too heavy for my liking. Whilst it certainly enhanced Marcus’s character, now knowing all about his background rather than the passing references offered by the previous novels, reading this book felt dry, slow and uninteresting. There is no passion, there is no real sense of danger and there is very little excitement. Having provided readers with a rough background of Marcus’s story, this book gives the full picture.
I enjoyed seeing how the different references came to life. Moments from the other books suddenly made a lot more sense and you really get an understanding into Marcus’s character. However, I wanted to read more about Phoebe’s struggle as she changes into a vampire. I also wanted to know more about Diana and Matthew as they begin to learn that they don’t just have a set of twins who are a handful.
It’s been several months since I read the last book in the series and this certainly impeded my enjoyment of the book. I found it difficult to recollect character names and their position within the de Clermont circle. My enjoyment would have benefitted from a character list at the start – from memory, only the second book in the series provides us with this reading aid. As such, it was several pages (and only after my mind had wandered), did I realise who certain characters were.
You may be wondering why, after such criticisms, I was able to award this novel a generous three stars. This is because that, despite being bored and unaffected, I did enjoy the Phoebe sections and the glimpses into Diana’s chaotic, twin-filled family life. I was hoping for Harkness to focus more on this and, I predict, that there has been enough left open at the end for another book to be written. The ending was satisfactory and I grew to like the new relationship of Marcus and Phoebe – but this was only because of the closing few chapters. Reading about Matthew and Diana did feel like slipping on a pair of comfortable shoes but, for the rest of it, this was more like a hard slog than an exciting read.
Reading more like a prequel, this instalment requires focus and drive. If you are interested in books about the French and American civil wars, than I imagine this will be more enjoyable. Nonetheless, try and approach this pretty quickly after the other novels to maintain pace and memory of all of the characters.
For fans out there of this trilogy, we have all come to love Marcus and Phoebe, but really enjoy reading about Matthew and Diana. These two are what define this series but instead, Harkness has focused on Marcus and Phoebe. Told through flashbacks, we are given a detailed account of how Marcus came to be a vampire. The suffocating detail on the French and American revolutions were far too heavy for my liking. Whilst it certainly enhanced Marcus’s character, now knowing all about his background rather than the passing references offered by the previous novels, reading this book felt dry, slow and uninteresting. There is no passion, there is no real sense of danger and there is very little excitement. Having provided readers with a rough background of Marcus’s story, this book gives the full picture.
I enjoyed seeing how the different references came to life. Moments from the other books suddenly made a lot more sense and you really get an understanding into Marcus’s character. However, I wanted to read more about Phoebe’s struggle as she changes into a vampire. I also wanted to know more about Diana and Matthew as they begin to learn that they don’t just have a set of twins who are a handful.
It’s been several months since I read the last book in the series and this certainly impeded my enjoyment of the book. I found it difficult to recollect character names and their position within the de Clermont circle. My enjoyment would have benefitted from a character list at the start – from memory, only the second book in the series provides us with this reading aid. As such, it was several pages (and only after my mind had wandered), did I realise who certain characters were.
You may be wondering why, after such criticisms, I was able to award this novel a generous three stars. This is because that, despite being bored and unaffected, I did enjoy the Phoebe sections and the glimpses into Diana’s chaotic, twin-filled family life. I was hoping for Harkness to focus more on this and, I predict, that there has been enough left open at the end for another book to be written. The ending was satisfactory and I grew to like the new relationship of Marcus and Phoebe – but this was only because of the closing few chapters. Reading about Matthew and Diana did feel like slipping on a pair of comfortable shoes but, for the rest of it, this was more like a hard slog than an exciting read.
Reading more like a prequel, this instalment requires focus and drive. If you are interested in books about the French and American civil wars, than I imagine this will be more enjoyable. Nonetheless, try and approach this pretty quickly after the other novels to maintain pace and memory of all of the characters.
September 17, 2018
I found Marcus' flashback chapters kinda boring but overall I really enjoyed being back in this world with all the characters.
January 31, 2019
I listened to the audio thanks to Penguin Random House Audio - thank you!
Unfortunately I did not jive with the narrator. About 2 hours in I got so frustrated that I put the audiobook aside for a few weeks. I only picked it back up because I wanted to know what was going to happen with Marcus and Phoebe. It was her voices for some of the characters, they didn't match the tone (in my opinion).
I stuck with it and the story was a bit boring - I can't explain it but it didn't make my heart race of leave me on the edge of my seat needing more. There is no doubt that author Deborah Harkness is a talented writer and her historian background helps her develop descriptive stories. It was like a documentary of Marcus' life with snippets of Phoebe's and Diana and Matthew's current life.
For a long story, I felt it was missing that something.
Unfortunately I did not jive with the narrator. About 2 hours in I got so frustrated that I put the audiobook aside for a few weeks. I only picked it back up because I wanted to know what was going to happen with Marcus and Phoebe. It was her voices for some of the characters, they didn't match the tone (in my opinion).
I stuck with it and the story was a bit boring - I can't explain it but it didn't make my heart race of leave me on the edge of my seat needing more. There is no doubt that author Deborah Harkness is a talented writer and her historian background helps her develop descriptive stories. It was like a documentary of Marcus' life with snippets of Phoebe's and Diana and Matthew's current life.
For a long story, I felt it was missing that something.
September 19, 2018
A lovely sojourn with old friends. Coffee with history and easter eggs, allusions, as a tasty accompaniment. A voice I love to hear speaking , a clear voice speaks in her writing. I walked into this book and literally picked up where I had left them, in my mind. Writer acumen. So fervently glad that her characters, her friends, have stories to tell. Enjoy!
May 18, 2019
Matthew’s son Marcus has found love and wants to make it official but it requires bringing his chosen one to the vampire side. The complications of this experience plus all the memories from his past it stirs up may be more than they can all bear.
I am horrible about keeping up with new releases even when they are by authors I love. I currently only track three and I am lousy enough at it that my husband keeps track of two of the three for me. I live in this world where I float from book to book on my to read list and where my deepest thought into the future is about how long it will take me to complete that list. Adding thinking about any and all new books that I would want to add to that list is something I prefer to avoid.
Imagine my surprise when this book appeared before me after scanning many different shelves and seeing nothing of interest or nothing that I would want to pay full price for. I had no idea that there were going to be more books in the series that I had fell in love with because the last book I had read left me feeling like it had come to an end. I guess technically this isn’t another book in that series and it should be classified as more of a spin-off story. This is my review so I am going to lump it in with the original series because it has enough of the original characters in play to be labeled as such.
I eagerly dove in to this one and was quite happy with the speed in which I fell back in with the characters and their lives. I don’t have a memory of a story recap so I would say I didn’t notice it, which is how it should be. As mentioned in previous reviews, I find it annoying as hell when most of the first part of the book is devoted to it and it is so blatantly obvious that is what it is. A good author can weave it into the story without the reader being none the wiser.
Things weren’t all rainbows and puppy dog farts with this one. Marcus's back story was a bit boring at times and the Revolutionary War name-dropping was extremely annoying. I am a character driven reader so knowing that one of the main characters knew of a Mr. Guy I Remember from History Books did nothing for me. I have zero shits to give about any character interactions that are not bringing value to the core story.
Three stars to a book that did not do a good enough job of returning me to a series that I once loved.
I am horrible about keeping up with new releases even when they are by authors I love. I currently only track three and I am lousy enough at it that my husband keeps track of two of the three for me. I live in this world where I float from book to book on my to read list and where my deepest thought into the future is about how long it will take me to complete that list. Adding thinking about any and all new books that I would want to add to that list is something I prefer to avoid.
Imagine my surprise when this book appeared before me after scanning many different shelves and seeing nothing of interest or nothing that I would want to pay full price for. I had no idea that there were going to be more books in the series that I had fell in love with because the last book I had read left me feeling like it had come to an end. I guess technically this isn’t another book in that series and it should be classified as more of a spin-off story. This is my review so I am going to lump it in with the original series because it has enough of the original characters in play to be labeled as such.
I eagerly dove in to this one and was quite happy with the speed in which I fell back in with the characters and their lives. I don’t have a memory of a story recap so I would say I didn’t notice it, which is how it should be. As mentioned in previous reviews, I find it annoying as hell when most of the first part of the book is devoted to it and it is so blatantly obvious that is what it is. A good author can weave it into the story without the reader being none the wiser.
Things weren’t all rainbows and puppy dog farts with this one. Marcus's back story was a bit boring at times and the Revolutionary War name-dropping was extremely annoying. I am a character driven reader so knowing that one of the main characters knew of a Mr. Guy I Remember from History Books did nothing for me. I have zero shits to give about any character interactions that are not bringing value to the core story.
Three stars to a book that did not do a good enough job of returning me to a series that I once loved.
October 19, 2018
This is a companion volume to Harkness’s All Souls Trilogy, which is like the thinking gal’s Twilight, as written by a historian of science. I read the first book, A Discovery of Witches, in 2011 and surprised myself by completely loving the story of the witch Diana Bishop, who researches alchemy at the Bodleian Library and falls hard for a centuries-old vampire, Matthew de Clermont. Although Time’s Convert is likely intended to stand alone, I felt it could do with a dramatis personae at the start as I’d forgotten who many of the minor characters were.
Diana and Matthew are still major characters, though not at the heart of the book. One strand has Diana and her family staying in the French countryside. She and Matthew now have toddler twins, Philip and Becca, who are just starting to show magical powers: Philip summons a griffon named Apollo as his familiar. Another is set in Paris, where Phoebe Taylor is willingly being transformed into a vampire so she can marry Matthew’s son, Marcus. A final strand recreates Marcus’s experiences during the American and French Revolutions and onward: he was born in Massachusetts in 1757 and was a surgeon during the Revolutionary War before he met Matthew and received the offer of immortality.
I almost always feel that sequels fail to live up to the original. Time’s Convert is most like Shadow of Night, the second book of the series and my least favorite because it spends so much time in 1590s England. Here the three different story lines split my focus and I resented being taken away from Diana’s first-person narration, which is much more engaging than the third-person material. I would only recommend this volume to diehard fans of the series.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
Diana and Matthew are still major characters, though not at the heart of the book. One strand has Diana and her family staying in the French countryside. She and Matthew now have toddler twins, Philip and Becca, who are just starting to show magical powers: Philip summons a griffon named Apollo as his familiar. Another is set in Paris, where Phoebe Taylor is willingly being transformed into a vampire so she can marry Matthew’s son, Marcus. A final strand recreates Marcus’s experiences during the American and French Revolutions and onward: he was born in Massachusetts in 1757 and was a surgeon during the Revolutionary War before he met Matthew and received the offer of immortality.
I almost always feel that sequels fail to live up to the original. Time’s Convert is most like Shadow of Night, the second book of the series and my least favorite because it spends so much time in 1590s England. Here the three different story lines split my focus and I resented being taken away from Diana’s first-person narration, which is much more engaging than the third-person material. I would only recommend this volume to diehard fans of the series.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
November 5, 2023
"We are, all of us, asked to grow up too quickly. It is the way the gods remind us that life, no matter how long, is still but a breath."
°•*⁀➷
I loved the history in this story, how it seemed to intertwine in the present. It was Marcus and Phoebe's story, but it was also such a continuation of the series as a whole. Beautiful, and enchanting, just like the original series. I loved seeing Diana and her family be all domestic, learn new things about their lives, and work towards where it will go next.
The history really pulled me in. One of my favorite things about reading D Harkness is how she is so clearly motivated by her research in the way she writes. The story seems to take a backseat to all the name dropping, and it's utterly perfect for my curious mind. I'm a sucker for history, for the life is still breaths into the present, and this book really took it to another level.
I was a huge fan of Shadow of Night for that reason, but this one was American history, and wow did it mean something to me. I loved the personalization of stories I grew up memorizing and learning, I was enchanted by the new life Harkness breathed into them. It never gets old reading new accounts of George Washington, for me. He just feels like such a cemented part of the past, of the United States of America. If there weren't so many accounts of him, I'd think he was fiction.
But isn't that the beauty of reading? Fiction breathed into nonfiction. Personal accounts, historical accounts, breathed into a new life, a new reason. I want more! I don't think I'll ever get enough of that story telling.
While I loved the comfort of this story, it was lacking in a final destination, one that with more story, wouldn't feel like a loss. I want to know so much more! I don't want to feel like I was left hanging. Deborah, give us more!!!
- Paige
°•*⁀➷
I loved the history in this story, how it seemed to intertwine in the present. It was Marcus and Phoebe's story, but it was also such a continuation of the series as a whole. Beautiful, and enchanting, just like the original series. I loved seeing Diana and her family be all domestic, learn new things about their lives, and work towards where it will go next.
The history really pulled me in. One of my favorite things about reading D Harkness is how she is so clearly motivated by her research in the way she writes. The story seems to take a backseat to all the name dropping, and it's utterly perfect for my curious mind. I'm a sucker for history, for the life is still breaths into the present, and this book really took it to another level.
I was a huge fan of Shadow of Night for that reason, but this one was American history, and wow did it mean something to me. I loved the personalization of stories I grew up memorizing and learning, I was enchanted by the new life Harkness breathed into them. It never gets old reading new accounts of George Washington, for me. He just feels like such a cemented part of the past, of the United States of America. If there weren't so many accounts of him, I'd think he was fiction.
But isn't that the beauty of reading? Fiction breathed into nonfiction. Personal accounts, historical accounts, breathed into a new life, a new reason. I want more! I don't think I'll ever get enough of that story telling.
While I loved the comfort of this story, it was lacking in a final destination, one that with more story, wouldn't feel like a loss. I want to know so much more! I don't want to feel like I was left hanging. Deborah, give us more!!!
- Paige
September 30, 2018
3.5-4 stars
I finished this several days ago, but I'm so behind, I didn't get to mark it until now...and I don't remember much anymore. I just know that it was great to be back in this world, I wasn't as invested in Marcus and Phoebe going into this and not much that happened in this book changed that. But the fact that Matthew and Diana had a rather large role helped to make this a mostly enjoyable read.
I finished this several days ago, but I'm so behind, I didn't get to mark it until now...and I don't remember much anymore. I just know that it was great to be back in this world, I wasn't as invested in Marcus and Phoebe going into this and not much that happened in this book changed that. But the fact that Matthew and Diana had a rather large role helped to make this a mostly enjoyable read.
March 29, 2023
I’ve read the series but this book just didn’t do it for me. It seemed to have so much more gore. It was still interesting. I started and stopped it numerous times. Finally finished , and it left a smile on my face.
July 6, 2019
Review is up on the blog here.
I came late to the All Souls books and have read them all in the last eight months or so, thoroughly enjoying the first three as a whole. I've liked Marcus throughout the books and I thought this book was about him and whilst he is in the fore, alongside Phoebe, it is more the Bishop/de Clairmonte families as a whole.
TIME'S CONVERT picked up where THE BOOK OF LIFE left off and that feeling of continuation was familiar and comforting. The twins were important in this story, Diana and Matthew were finding their place as parents and the senior members of the family were equal parts infuriating and supportive.
What I loved about this story was the parallel journey of Marcus slowly revealing his past and his transition to a vampire as we simultaneously witnessed Phoebe doing the same in the present. The past was mostly intriguing but sometimes slow, thus the loss of one star. I came to appreciate the long life Marcus had had when I had previously misjudged him as a bit of a pup. Phoebe was a much more interesting character than I had given her credit for in THE BOOK OF LIFE. I continued to miss Gallowglass in this book and I hope this is purposeful building of anticipation for a story of his own.
The narration for TIME'S CONVERT was great. Saskia Maarleveld had an easy voice to sink into as she transitioned between a multitude of characters so seamlessly. I recommend audio as a format for this book.
I came late to the All Souls books and have read them all in the last eight months or so, thoroughly enjoying the first three as a whole. I've liked Marcus throughout the books and I thought this book was about him and whilst he is in the fore, alongside Phoebe, it is more the Bishop/de Clairmonte families as a whole.
TIME'S CONVERT picked up where THE BOOK OF LIFE left off and that feeling of continuation was familiar and comforting. The twins were important in this story, Diana and Matthew were finding their place as parents and the senior members of the family were equal parts infuriating and supportive.
What I loved about this story was the parallel journey of Marcus slowly revealing his past and his transition to a vampire as we simultaneously witnessed Phoebe doing the same in the present. The past was mostly intriguing but sometimes slow, thus the loss of one star. I came to appreciate the long life Marcus had had when I had previously misjudged him as a bit of a pup. Phoebe was a much more interesting character than I had given her credit for in THE BOOK OF LIFE. I continued to miss Gallowglass in this book and I hope this is purposeful building of anticipation for a story of his own.
The narration for TIME'S CONVERT was great. Saskia Maarleveld had an easy voice to sink into as she transitioned between a multitude of characters so seamlessly. I recommend audio as a format for this book.
January 5, 2024
As a story, it was decent, but as a romance it failed miserably. We missed Marcus and Phoebe falling in love (with the exception of the first meeting in book 3 of All Souls) and they were barely together. (Like 6% of the whole book!)
I dreaded the flashbacks at first, then they became my favorite part, then I disliked them again. Marcus had promise as a character in past books, but between his depression in the present and his foolishness in the past, I was just annoyed with him.
Rant warning:
Like Marcus, Phoebe seemed like an interesting character before, but as a fledgeling vampire she wasn't anything special or even particularly likable.
In the end, I read for the glimpses into the future for Diana and Mathew's twins and all of my favorite minor characters from the original trilogy. Freya was a welcome addition to the family. I like her far more than either of our "main" characters.
Am I glad I read this book? Not really. I wish I'd just skipped over all the Marcus/Phoebe stuff. (You know, most of the book.)
I dreaded the flashbacks at first, then they became my favorite part, then I disliked them again. Marcus had promise as a character in past books, but between his depression in the present and his foolishness in the past, I was just annoyed with him.
Rant warning:
Like Marcus, Phoebe seemed like an interesting character before, but as a fledgeling vampire she wasn't anything special or even particularly likable.
In the end, I read for the glimpses into the future for Diana and Mathew's twins and all of my favorite minor characters from the original trilogy. Freya was a welcome addition to the family. I like her far more than either of our "main" characters.
Am I glad I read this book? Not really. I wish I'd just skipped over all the Marcus/Phoebe stuff. (You know, most of the book.)
September 24, 2018
Positively brilliant. A richly woven story with huge magical heart. Loved it. Full review to follow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,317 reviews