Time’s Convert
By Deborah Harkness
ISBN13: 9780399564512
Author’s website: deborahharkness.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Omar
Summary
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Discovery of Witches, 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.
Review
After the events of the All Souls Trilogy, we meet the lovers Marcus Whitmore and Phoebe Taylor as they try to start a new life together as Immortal Vampires. Phoebe has decided that she wants to be a vampire and marry Marcus under Vampire laws and because Marcus loves, he accepts to her wishes. Giving that Marcus has Matthew’s blood and it might have Blood rage in it, they have searched for different vampires to Sire Phoebe and after much looking they decide for Miriam Shephard, Matthew’s friend, and colleague. Because after the conversion the newborn vampire takes time to learn about its new life, Phoebe won’t be able to see Marcus for 90 days after her conversion. For the lovebirds, these 90 days are going to be torture, but Marcus’ Aunt, Fanny, has offered to host Phoebe and help her get through the 3 months of a newborn. Being a vampire, even a new one, is not easy and Phoebe is going to learn it the hard way.
At the same time, Diana and Matthew are dealing with raising their twin children. Philip and Rebecca are starting to show signs of parentage and it’s becoming harder for Diana and Matthew to adjust to the changes they are going through. For the 3 months of Phoebe newborn life, Marcus decides to crash in their house and mope around. This also gives Diana a chance to learn more about Marcus’ life, as he is dealing with haunting memories from his past.
After the 3 months, Marcus hopes that Phoebe might still love him, as he doesn’t know if the conversion will change her mind.
I really like Time’s Convert, the world of this series is very impressive and interesting that it was nice to see it through the eyes of other characters in the book. Reading how vampires are created and what they have to go through in their first days was very interesting.
One of the aspects of being a newborn and vampire that I liked was learning that their memory of being human was not the best. I liked the explanation that they gave about having too many thoughts and information in their mind to remember everything. It was interesting to learn that blood memory was not reliable and hazy.
It was great to read about Diana using her magic more in this book and in front of other people. I also liked that we got to see Diana as a historian and researcher again.
The twins are special. One is magical and the other more vampire, and Diana and Matthew have their hands full with them. It was so cute to read about the twins and their abilities, and how they interacted with other grown-up characters.
If you are a fan of Deborah Harkness and her work, All Souls Trilogy, then I recommend you, Time’s Convert. In this book, new lives and old ones interlace with one another, as new and old stories are told to the reader. Can love survive a vampire conversion? And how does one raise their half-witch half-vampire children?
