Time's Convert

August 20, 2018
In Harkness’s rich but meandering new novel, the first in a new series set in the world of her All Souls trilogy, vampire Marcus Whitmore, son of Matthew de Clermont, is set to marry 23-year-old human Phoebe Taylor, who will be made a vampire herself. Marcus’s required 90-day separation from Phoebe during the process inspires him to seek comfort at the home that his father shares with his wife, the witch Diana Bishop. Diana, through her magic, senses that Marcus hasn’t come to terms with his past as a field doctor during the Revolutionary War and the events leading up to his rebirth as a vampire in 1781, and attempts to draw him out. Meanwhile, Diana and Matthew’s delightful brightborn (half-vampire, half-witch) twins Philip and Becca are already manifesting an alarming aptitude for magic, and Philip has summoned a new familiar, a griffin named Apollo. Harkness’s busy, meticulously researched narrative moves back and forth between present-day Paris and the days of the Revolutionary War, and her easy familiarity with her fully realized characters will make readers feel at home. Phoebe’s transition from warmblood to vampire is particularly fascinating, as is the fraught history of vampires and witches. The large cast can be daunting, and those not already familiar with the All Souls trilogy may be lost, but returning readers will find this a delightful excursion.

August 15, 2018
In this adjunct to the All Souls trilogy, Phoebe Taylor adjusts to existence as a vampire while her vampire fiance, Marcus, contemplates his troubled past.Ritual and necessity demand that these two lovers remain apart for three months as Phoebe learns to control her new aptitudes and hungers. The separation inspires Marcus to recall his coming-of-age during the Revolutionary War, his troubled relationship with his abusive birth father, and the vampiric rebirth that links him to a new and powerful family. His story is coaxed out of him by the witch Diana, who also has her hands full with her half-witch, half-vampire twin toddlers, who are beginning to come into their own considerable powers. Readers of the previous three books (A Discovery of Witches, 2011; Shadow of Night, 2012; The Book of Life, 2014) will undoubtedly be thrilled to catch up with Diana, her temperamental vampire husband, Matthew, and all their connections. However, those unfamiliar with the series should not jump in here, as it is assumed we already know the backstory. Phoebe's vampiric education is interesting but also somewhat reminiscent of how Anne Rice handled the same topic in her novels (a point underscored by a cameo of Louis, the protagonist of Rice's Interview with the Vampire). The book rambles from storyline to storyline at a leisurely pace until coming to a fairly abrupt halt with some rapid epiphanies that don't feel entirely supported by what came before. Initially, it is strongly suggested that the book's pivot will involve Marcus' confessing a shocking secret, but it's actually revealed fairly early on, and another potentially climactic event, the massacre of Marcus' vampire children in New Orleans, is almost perfunctory (possibly because it was also extensively covered in Book 3).A moderately involving gift for fans, offering Harkness' usual loving attention both to historical detail and romantic/familial angst, but perhaps the author will apply her talents to fresh fictional territory in the future.

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November 1, 2018

This follow-up to the "All-Souls" trilogy begins with Phoebe Taylor preparing to be turned into a vampire to join her mate, Marcus de Clermont. The novel follows three characters-Phoebe, Diana Bishop (who is a witch), and Marcus. "Baby vampire" Phoebe is learning about the wonders and agony of being supernatural. As Phoebe moves through her transformation, Marcus begins to slowly confront the demons of his past-his childhood in colonial Massachusetts and his service in George Washington's army, where he met Matthew de Clermont, which led to his life as a vampire. His sections are rich in history and detail. Diana and Matthew are raising their toddler vampire-witch twins, who are already biting vampire relatives and using magic. Their marriage and the twins' birth have consequences in the supernatural world, and they are dealing with the political fallout. This engaging and fascinating book will appeal to supernatural and history buffs, but keeping track of all the vampire family members and politics might be daunting for those unfamiliar with the previous series installments. VERDICT A great purchase where the trilogy has a following.-Tamara Saarinen, Pierce County Library, WA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2018
After the smashing success of her All Souls trilogy, best-selling Harkness revisits the fantastical universe she conjured up so artfully in A Discovery of Witches (2011), Shadow of Night? (2012), and The Book of Life (2014). This time around, she focuses on a previously introduced minor character who demonstrates that it's not always easy to make the leap from humanhood to vampiredom.? When young surgeon Marcus MacNeill, nearing certain death, meets Matthew de Clermont during the American Revolution, he jumps at the chance at immortality proffered by Matthew. However, the transition proves to be more difficult than expected, as his background and his innate sense of self continually vie with new expectations and challenges. Effortlessly sweeping across time and continents, Harkness replaces the captivating Matthew and Diana dynamic with a passionate new love story when Marcus meets Phoebe Taylor in contemporary London. Determined that her destiny lies with Marcus, Phoebe agrees to become a vampire without fully understanding the sacrifices and adjustments required. Evoking elements of the Harry Potter?, Outlander, and Twilight ? universes, this paranormal combination of time travel, adventure, and romance will appeal to similar audiences.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

Starred review from August 1, 2018

Skillfully weaving vampire Marcus MacNeil's past in colonial America with action in contemporary London and Paris, this latest novel from best-selling author Harkness tells the story of Marcus and his human lady love Phoebe Taylor. Readers learn a great deal about the process of converting a human to a vampire as Phoebe walks this path on her way to an ever-after joining with Marcus. As she struggles through rebirth, Marcus suffers tumultuous memories of his own vampire beginnings in Revolutionary-era America. Readers familiar with Harkness's "All Souls Trilogy" (A Discovery of Witches; Shadow of Night; The Book of Life) will be delighted to catch up with Matthew Clairmont, the vampire who turned Marcus; Diana Bishop, scholar and witch, and their precocious twins. While this captivating book can stand alone, it can also serve as an excellent introduction to the All Souls universe featuring the Bishops and de Clermonts. VERDICT Harkness's worldbuilding skills are top notch, and this latest addition is destined to join her other works as a best seller. Not to be missed by historical fantasy fans. [See Prepub Alert, 3/12/18.]--Crystal Renfro, Kennesaw State Univ., Marietta, GA

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2018

A history professor when she's not writing No. 1 New York Times best sellers such as A Discovery of Witches, Harkness starts off in Revolutionary America, where young surgeon Marcus MacNeil leaps at Matthew de Clermont's offer to make him a vampire. Marcus's liberty-and-brotherhood ideals sit uneasily with de Clermont's traditionalism, a conflict that resonates all the way to contemporary times. The theme: transitioning to vampiredom is not so easy.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.