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Fiction. Romance. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Discovery of Witches�??look for the hit TV series �??A Discovery of Witches,�?� streaming on AMC+, Sundance Now and Shudder. What does it truly take 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, the fourth books in the All Souls Series channels the supernatural world-building and slow-burning romance that made the previous books instant bestsellers to illuminate a new and vital moment in history, and a love affair that will… (more)
User reviews
Marcus’ love, Phoebe,
The book does not have a traditional MacGuffin-driven plot, but that didn’t keep me from being completely engrossed. Harkness’ love of history is just as evident here as in the original trilogy, but her attention to detail also underpins the vampire lore in her world. Phoebe struggles to control her new speed, strength and the overwhelming sensitivity her enhanced senses bring. Cotton sheets simply will not do when you can feel every single fiber in the fabric!
I love the world Harkness has created and I am eager for her next story. May I suggest telling us Fernando’s story? Overall, fans of the trilogy will likely enjoy this as well, but I wouldn’t recommend that new readers start here. Too much is missed if you don’t have the history from the first 3 books.
Although, Marcus's story did help to lend to the back story and gave me a nice insight into just who Marcus really was and is. The past was just that...the past. It did move a bit slower then the present. Plus, as I stated previously that with the disconnect between the past and present; Marcus and Phoebe didn't interact as much right away. The latter half of the book is better. This is because, the past turned into the present and Marcus and Phoebe interacted more. I liked them together. Final thoughts are that this book is a nice read but has some room to grow.
Meanwhile, we get to visit with a number of other characters from the previous books which is always interesting. I really enjoyed the bits and pieces of history including the American Revolution and the French Revolution inserted in the stories. The drama around the twins' expanding powers makes a fun read also.
If you liked the previous books, you'll be happy with this one. I found it an enjoyable read.
The story also brings
I don't want to give too much away to those that are fans of the All Souls Trilogy. Suffice it to say - it's great to see these characters again!
Set in the same world as the All Souls books, with all the same characters, this book focuses on
Told in 3 alternating points of view, Phoebe's present day (3rd person) narrative of her transformation was the part of the book I liked least. It involved a lot of vampiric tropes that felt a bit tired, and there was a cat introduced that damn near ended the book. The cat is not harmed, but I'm not at all satisfied with the role it plays in Phoebe's new life; it felt like Harkness was purposefully screwing with readers and the unwritten rule of 'don't harm pets'. Either way, I just wasn't that invested in Phoebe - though I did like Freyja.
The second point of view was Marcus' flash-backs into his life before and after becoming a vampire. This was, if not a more enjoyable tale, one that was a hell of a lot more interesting. Rich in historical backdrops and characters, these sections were vivid and heartbreaking. The occasional small gaps in story flow were almost invisible, overwhelmed by the rich storytelling. It also helped that these were the parts that involved Gallowglass, my personal favorite character in the books.
The final point of view was, for me, the best, because it was told in first person present day by Diana and involved almost all the old characters I know and love from the trilogy. Here are Diana, Matthew, Marcus, Sarah, Ysabeau and the rest, spending the summer in the south of France, listening to Marcus tell his tale while Phoebe is in Paris learning to be a vampire and not properly appreciating her pets. Diana and Matthew's kids provide some scope for funny antics, and the overall relaxed plot of this book means it's easier for Harkness to indulge in scenes involving the kind of family dynamics everyone thinks are hilarious in other people's families. I enjoyed the humor woven through these sections almost more than I did any other part of the book.
The story is complete, but there are subtle hints that more books about the other characters may be forthcoming. Baldwin seems the most obvious choice, though I'm holding out for Gallowglass to get his 15 minutes. A girl can hope, anyway.
It's not as fast paced as the previous, but the
Can't wait for more books in this series/world!!
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Signed by the author. Waterstone's edition with additional author's note.