Time's Convert

A Novel

By: Deborah Harkness

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 15 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

From the number one New York Times best-selling author of A Discovery of Witches - now a hit TV series on AMC and BBC America and streaming on Sundance Now and Shudder - the fourth novel in the All Souls series. 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 18th 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 book in the All Souls series, channels the supernatural world-building and slow-burning romance that made the previous books instant best sellers to illuminate a new and vital moment in history, and a love affair that will bridge centuries.

©2018 Deborah Harkness (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

A USA Today New Book You Won't Want to Miss This Week

A New York Post This Week's 6 Must-Read Books

A PopSugar New Book Your Friends Are Going to Be Talking About This September

“Harkness brings her keen historian’s eye to the American and French revolutions, drawing parallels between the two periods through not only the vampire witnesses to history but the appearances of historical figures: the Marquis de Lafayette, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine.” (Los Angeles Times)

“In Time’s Convert, Deborah Harkness, the author of A Discovery Of Witches, spins a tale of life-ever-after, romance, and family drama, and it is gloriously entertaining.” (Bustle)

“This vampire book is set during the American Revolution, when a young man named Marcus MacNeil is offered a chance to escape his puritan upbringing (boring!) and become immortal (fun!). From the bestselling author of A Discovery of Witches.” (New York Post)

Please have Jennifer rerecord this book. Please

I have been waiting for months. I've been crossing off the days on the calendar for this to come out. These are my favorite books. I wanted to be submursed back in their world. the new narrator can't even pronounce Mart right. It just throws the whole vibe off. She has a great voice, just not for this series. I know important people read the reviews so I hope if enough people complain something will be done.

good story, HORRIBLE narration

American history isn't as interesting or captivating for me, however, I was glad to be back in these characters world. Sadly, he narrator was absolutely unbearable. Her accents were atrocious, I had to stop listening 25% through when my book was delivered! Hoping that Jennifer Ikeda is available for the remainder of this series!

Sigh

Well it was not what I was hoping for, although it did feed my need for the story to keep going.

The good:

Was just what I said above. My interest and curiosity and desire to have more of these characters was fed a tiny morsel just enough to appease but certainly not enough to satisfy.

The best part for me was getting to see a little bit of how the twins evolved from infants to funny toddlers. I definitely loved that and wanted a lot more

We got to see a little more of periferal characters like Freya and Francois. Well more than in the main trilogy.

We get to go through the rebirth of both phoebe and Marcus with the greater emphasis on Marcus.

Then the bad:

Narration. Well much has been said about this already. While in general I enjoy saskia maarleveld as a narrator, I too was greatly disappointed that Jennifer Ikeda wasn’t used or available. After three really long books she is definitely the voice of these characters. Her voices were very distinctive and not even close to the voices used by ms maarleveld. I doubt she even listened to the previous versions.

The author seemed to forget some of the characters she previously wrote about. This coupled with such different voices from th narrator made me confused often as to who was talking and why that character was so different from what I had grown to love.

Miriam was a prime example. She is originally a tiny blonde with a snarky personality she has a piping soprano voice and wears a lot of T-shirts with funny sayings. Where was that Miriam?

Mathew and isabeau have no French accent. The list goes in.

Finally the worst part of the story is basically where is the story? It’s more like reading a diary of Marcus and phoebe.

We get a pinch of dianna and the kids to throw in the mix and that’s it.

I hope that we get more from this author as I want more of the kids and galloglauss (sure I mangled his name). This time with a full story and ms ikeda!

Loved it

I had just finished listening to the 3rd book in the Discovery of Witches series and couldn't wait to read Time's Convert. A review caught my eye and I saw that the reviewer did not like Saskia Maarleveld's narrative of this story. I looked at other reviews that also expressed disappointment over the narrator so I will admit I was swayed and backed off from purchasing this. Would I be ruining a good run on the story? Should I get the book instead and avoid disappointment? The audio preview sounded fine but something must be up! No, nothing was up and Ms. Maarleveld did what I consider to be a great job. I just listened to all three previous books so those are all fresh in my memory. Yes, it's a bit different but not a detriment to the book. Her performance was wonderful, the continued story of Marcus and Phoebe was wonderful as well as how the other characters were included in the story so we didn't have to say goodbye to them. I can't wait for the next story.

Sometimes I wish someone would have warned me about a bad performance from a narrator but this is not one of them. I don't give 5 stars often but this one deserved it.

Narrator's can change everything

It's been a struggle to finish. The change in narrator has been nothing but a distraction and disappointment. Her impressions of the characters are flat and unvaried. Her French accent is grating and comes nowhere close to her predecessor. Over all, I just want my credit back. On a positive note, this has been a good motivator to read the physical book. So far I cannot give an accurate rating of the story itself until I can actually focus.
I've listened to Jennifer Ikeda present the entire trilogy that precedes this story and I don't believe I'll purchase any other novel with these characters (if there are any planned) without Jennifer Ikeda as narrator. She made the story come alive.

I love Deb Harkness

Well worth waiting for although it's quite different from the Trilogy.

We have the same characters, a year after the end of THE BOOK OF LIFE. We learn a lot about Marcus's early life as a human and later as a young vampire. We experience Phoebe's transformation. And the twins are becoming interesting creatures. Anything else I say may be spoilerish.

I didn't love this book as much as I did Deb Harkness's first three amazing books but it is still 5-star worthy. It lacked drama and any conflict.

The narrator of the audiobook, Saskia Maarleveld, had a lot to live up to, taking over from a much enjoyed narrator who read the Trilogy books. She did a marvelous job and made the transition seamless. Brava to Saskia and Deb on a job well done!

Time's Convert

The narrator takes the reader vividly through each time, place, event, and language as if the story was hers to tell.
The author has me tied to each book similar to the spells Diana weaved.
My favorite parts of each novel was when the reader is taken back in time. The author and narrator ascends the reader in picture perfect view of the past well enough to hear, taste, and smell each event as it unfolds.

Missed Trilogy Narrator

Enjoyed being back in the All Souls world. The story was unexpected and interesting but may have had too many story lines. The most off putting element of the audio book was not having narration done by Jennifer Ikeda from the Trilogy. I had gotten to know the characters through her interpretation and it was difficult to relate to them through a different voice. Matthew’s voice was especially off, completely changing his personality.

Happy For More of the story.....

but it would have been better to have Jennifer Ikeda do the narration. I was really looking forward to it but it all of characters sound completely different than in the All Soul’s books. :(

Narration

I have listened to other books that Saskia Maarleveld has narrated, and she does a great job, but I hate it when the narrator is changed in the middle of the series. It feels like the characters are no longer the same people, and I'm lost. Please have Jennifer Ikeda return to this role. I would love to hear her read this book and all future All Souls Books.