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)

Where is Jennifer Ikeda???

After listening to Jennifer Ikeda narrate the three books in Harkness’s world of witches, vampires, and daemons, I am thoroughly disappointed with narrator Saskia Maarleveld’s performance. Her vocal fry at the end of nearly every sentence was so grating that I had to turn it off.

Terrible Narrator.

Fantastic book but WHERE is Jennifer Ikeda for the narration like the All Souls trilogy?!?!? This new narrator completely ruins it. She is AWFUL and not suited to this book. Bring back Jennifer Ikeda!

Great story, awful narration

The All Souls world did not disappoint. I love the characters and the story. Hearing Marcus' story was something I had hoped for since the first book. My issue was the narrator. I'm entirely dissatisfied with the change. Jennifer Ikeda was a much better fit, in my opinion. From misprouncing names to the terrible attempt at differentiating the voices, it made what is other a pleasant story, quite unappealing.

So disappointed with narrator....

I was super excited for this book and, 4 chapters in, I’m forced to write a review because the narration is just... off. Accents are wrong, names are mispronounced, and the immersion I wanted in this world is just impossible. I’m completely distracted by the fact that Marcus now sounds completely American and not British as he did in previous books. Additionally, Marthe’s Name is pronounced incorrectly throughout. At the very least, the narrator should have taken care to listen to previous audio recordings to attempt to stay in line with the books in the All Souls Trilogy. The narration is not bad, necessarily, it just isn’t the same and it makes it very difficult to listen. I sincerely hope they will re-record with the original narrator.

A wonderful follow up

This is a wonderful follow-up to the All Souls Trilogy. It tells Marcus’s story. However, everyone from the other books is back and there are some amazing surprises that I was not expecting at all. It is my understanding this is going to be a new series and I know I will devour every single book. However, when I finish this one it felt like I’d read the complete story and I wasn’t jumping out of my skin because the next book isn’t available right now. Which for me is a good thing. Especially when really good sequels take for ever to come out. I’m sure the seeds of the overall story arc were planted and I probably just missed them, because I wasn’t really looking for anything like that. I need to go back and read it again. I highly recommend this book.

Change in reader

Comparing the narrator and f this novel to the previous 3 , she comes up short. Voices have a singular note rather than showing a range of emotions; this is particularly evident with the Matthew character

Great performance, not sold on the story

As a continuation of the Discovery of Witches series, this book falls far short. While a nice story, there’s no real plot - very little arc to the story. The main characters don’t really face a big challenge they need to overcome. Instead, the challenges are really subtle and just not anything near a match for the previous books. I could’ve done without this one entirely.

When history Mets fantasy

I love Deborah Harkness his ability to intertwine history and mysticism. I’m not as much of a fan of Phoebe and Marcus as I am of Matthew and Diana’s relationship however still found the story interesting, Fun, and romantic. IAnd thoroughly entertained by Saskia’s ability to narrate and her ability to mimic asked different accents really helps to visualize the story and the characters.

Give Saskia a break - She isn't Jennifer, move on

I was really hesitant to order the audiobook since Jennifer Ikeda wasn't going to be narrating the new series, but ultimately I am happy that I did. Once I was able to make peace with the fact that Saskia Maarleveld is NOT Jennifer Ikeda, I actually enjoyed her voice talent. The thing that bothered me the most was the lack of a true storyline, there was no climax. I am still left wanting more but troubled that the next book chronicling Marcus' life might be another letdown. Any true Deborah Harkness fan should give this book a try.

First person narrator in a supporting role?

The plot of the story lacks climax, tension, a villain and a goal, in short excitement. The plot switches from present time back and forth to Marcus's past. There in Marcus's past, the heroes of the American and French revolution have become alive, which has kept my interest up in the story. In the present time we meet Diana - the first person narrator - again with her family on the sideline.
No doubt the author has detailed knowledge of the revolutionary time at the end of the eighteenth century.