Time’s Convert 🕰️

By Deborah Harkness.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5.

“No act of creation has ever been painless,” she continued. “Miracles should leave a mark, so that we can remember how precious they are.”

Marcus Whitmore was made a vampire in the eighteenth century. Over two hundred years later, he finds himself in love with Phoebe Taylor, a human who chooses to become a vampire herself.

With tradition enforcing separation from Marcus, Phoebe’s transformation proves as challenging now as it once was for Marcus when he first encountered his sire, Matthew de Clermont.

Having loved the original trilogy, I was keen to return to the world of A Discovery of Witches and finally explore Marcus’s story in more depth.

The book follows his background in intense detail, with scattered episodes of Diana, Matthew and their growing twins, alongside a greater focus on Phoebe’s transition.

For fans of the trilogy, the heart of these books has always been Matthew and Diana, yet here the spotlight shifts to Marcus and Phoebe. Told mainly through flashbacks, we are given a thorough account of how Marcus became a vampire. The heavy emphasis on the French and American revolutions made it difficult to remain entertained. Although this historical depth adds context to Marcus’s character, the story itself felt slow, dry and lacking in passion or urgency.

There are positives, though. I enjoyed seeing familiar references come to life and appreciated the new understanding of Marcus’s past. The sections focused on Phoebe’s transformation were far more engaging, as were the glimpses into Diana’s chaotic, twin-filled household. These parts reminded me why I fell in love with Harkness’s world to begin with.

You may wonder why, despite my criticisms, I have given this book three and a half stars.

That is because, while much of it left me underwhelmed, the closing chapters offered a satisfying conclusion. The evolving relationship between Marcus and Phoebe was touching, and revisiting Diana and Matthew felt like slipping into a pair of comfortable shoes.

Time’s Convert reads more like a prequel and requires focus and patience. Readers particularly interested in the French and American revolutions may find more to enjoy here than I did. My advice is to read it soon after finishing the trilogy to maintain continuity and familiarity with the characters.

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