ARC Review: Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness

Title: Time's Convert
Author: Deborah Harkness
Genre: Adult Paranormal
Publisher: Headline Books
Published: September 25th 2018
Page Number: 480
Rating: 1/5

Summary:

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 London, where Marcus has fallen for Phoebe Taylor, a young employee at Sotheby's. She decides to become a vampire, too, and though 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 in the modern world than they were in the 18th century. The shadows that Marcus believed he'd escaped centuries ago may return to haunt them both - for ever.

REVIEW

 

Time's Convert was my most anticipated book of 2018. I was very lucky to receive one of very limited Advanced Reader Copies of the book and as soon as the proof came I dove straight in. The All Souls Trilogy told the story of Diana and Matthew on their quest to solving the mystery behind Ashmole 782. Time's Convert follows Matthew's son, Marcus and his girlfriend Phoebe while they go through their journey to be together.

 

Initially I really enjoyed the first few chapters I read. I loved being back into a world I knew and loved so much and seeing scenes with Diana and Matthew made my heart warm. However, I started to realise that what I thought would have been a story was starting to lag and feel like a diary entry. The story is told in 3 ways; Marcus' story of his childhood and how he got into the army and fought in the war. We then have Marcus' current story while being away from Phoebe and then lastly we have Phoebe's story while she goes through her transition. With this in mind I kept reading on in hopes Deborah would create a plot twist that would change the story but nothing ever came. It continued on the diary format, living each day as they came doing very basic things that Mundanes would do despite them being Vampires.

 

The one big thing that knocked me for six was the writing. The All Souls trilogy was filled with beautifully descriptive writings that captured the scenes and characters so well but everything in Time's Convert felt very simple. According to someone I spoke to on the book, Deborah said in an interview that the writing would be different because Marcus is 24 years old. However, that made zero sense to me because while Marcus was 24 years old when he was changed, he's actually over 200 years old so that doesn't really count as an excuse to the writing being lazy.

 

With the writing being lazy and choppy I decided to eventually DNF the book at page 207. I truly tried to conquer my way through the novel but I just couldn't force myself to do it. I was starting to dislike our main characters and I truly do not care for the storyline. I actually find it difficult how Deborah can carve a trilogy out of this because Time's Convert just purely feels like an after thought. As for now I'm happy to leave the All Souls series where it is. At the moment 2 episodes of the TV series have aired and I'm not liking the adaptation that much either. So maybe once the full series has aired I'll write a series review and give my full thoughts because I have a lot.

 

 

Thank you Headline for sending me an exclusive ARC to honestly review.

 

 

 

Buy the book (Wordery) | Buy the book (Book Depository) 

Books to TV Series #2 | All Souls Trilogy

I can't believe how popular the first post of this new series on my blog was. I'm....well, speechless which doesn't happen often. I'm so happy that you guys all liked the series idea and showed me support on social media.

Today's pick is the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. Now I actually have a story about this series and my love of it. This series is unlike anything I have ever read before, a lot of people, teenagers mainly compare the book to Twilight since it's their only reference but it's nothing like Twilight. And I mean nothing. It's filled with historical references, action and a lot of romance. So much swoon-worthy romance

I discovered the book in 2011, when I was 15 or 16 years old. At the time I was highly addicted to Paranormal TV shows like Most Haunted and Paranormal Witness. I may or may not have looked into learning witchcraft. I was in my local Tesco's when I spotted the book. The cover and title sucked me in and I bought it. When I got home I had tried to read it but couldn't get past the first few pages. They were kind of very mundane and so I threw the book into my bedside cabinet and forgot about it. Until a month later. I was bored one Saturday afternoon and picked it up. I got past the first chapter and before long I was falling in love with the characters and their story. By Sunday night I have read over 400 pages. And that was a whole lotta pages back then, especially with its tiny font. I had school on Monday. Did I go? Nope. I was more bothered about finishing the book, so I faked that I was ill. My mother bought it and I spent the entire day drinking tea, eating tomato soup and finishing off the last 250 pages. It's fair to say that it was the best day off I've ever had.

Anyway. Last year Deborah announced that the BBC had bought the TV rights for the series and I freaked the freak out. I was so giddy. This series was the series that got me into reading, not only that it is the one series that I have reread so many times. (No joke! I've read ADoW 23 times, SoN 8 times and TBoL once.) When Deborah announced a few years ago that the movie rights had sold I will be honest and say that I was a little annoyed. Happy but mainly annoyed. I love the series and a movie just would not work. The potential for a series and by BBC is so huge. I have faith in what they'll do and I'm sure they won't mind if I nag until I get a small role in the series myself. (Okay. That will NEVER happen, but who knows? Life is surprising) Iflist has it's own fan casting but here are some of my own fan casts.

 

Diana Bishop // Diane Kruger // Inglorious Basterds, The Host

 

Matthew Clairmont // Richard Armitage // North and South, The Hobbit

 

Ysabeau de Clermont //  Mélanie Thierry // Babylon A.D, Henry V

 

Sarah Bishop // Kathy Bates // Titanic, American Horror Story

 

Emily Mather //

 

Hamish Osbourne // Daniel Radcliffe // Harry Potter, The Woman in Black, Horns

 

Marthe // Adrienne Barbeau // The Fog, Maude, Batman (Animated Series)

 

Gallowglass de Clermont // Charlie Hunnam // Sons of Anarchy, Pacific Rim

 
Marcus Whitmore //  Dan Stevens // Donwton Abbey

Miriam Sherpard // Claire Foy // Season of the Witch, Wolf Hall

I am super excited for whatever the BBC does and I know that these fan castings probably won't happen, but it's been fun looking at who I think would make for a great series.

 

 

 

Who would you fan cast as these characters?

Let me know in the comments!

Books I'd love to see as TV Shows | Top 5 Wednesday

Top 5 Wednesday was created by GingerReadsLainey

 

Geek Girl by Holly Smale

I really think this would make a really interesting teenage show on Disney Channel or Nickelodeon. It's smart, funny and shows diversity in a great way!


Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

There's been rumours of a film for a while, but I honestly would not want a movie. The setting is quite different and definitely suits to a TV Series as they could explore to world and character relationships more. It's funny and kick-ass, I love, love, love it!


Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

We know that ABC Family have ordered a 13 episode series of The Mortal Instruments, but honestly? I prefer the time period of The Infernal Devices. It's beautiful, poetic and still have a dark undertone that would make a perfect TV series.


A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

BBC have required the rights for a TV series and I screamed in excitement. I want on that TV Show! What I love about this series is that there is something for everyone: historical detail, mystery, paranormal powers and a beautiful, yet dangerous romance. Every character is relatable and it leaves you wanting more.


Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

This is a great YA Mystery, but there's still so much to it. In most Mystery shows it focuses more or less on the evidence, while Vanishing Girls deals with the mystery aspect and family aspects, how 2 sisters can become enemies. It's incredible. Beautiful, deep and poetic.


What books to you think would make great TV Shows?

 

ARC Review: The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness

Title: The Book of Life
Author: Deborah Harkness
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Headline
Published: July 15th 2014
Page Number: 592

Summary:

 

After traveling through time in Shadow of Night, the second book in Deborah Harkness’s enchanting series, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies. At Matthew’s ancestral home at Sept-Tours, they reunite with the cast of characters from A Discovery of Witches—with one significant exception. But the real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its missing pages takes on even more urgency. In the trilogy’s final volume, Harkness deepens her themes of power and passion, family and caring, past deeds and their present consequences. In ancestral homes and university laboratories, using ancient knowledge and modern science, from the hills of the Auvergne to the palaces of Venice and beyond, the couple at last learn what the witches discovered so many centuries ago.

 

I met Deborah:

 

The lovely, Caitlin from Headline Publicity was nice enough to invite me to attend the Publication event for The Book of Life. It was on the 4th July. I had such a great time at the even. I fangirled with other bloggers about the book and we all got a bit tipsy (Some didn't.) Then we had a Q&A with Deborah where she answered some great questions and to end the night there was a raffle with some awesome prizes. Everyone that attended took home a Glamour gift bag and a signed copy of The Book of Life.

 

 

 

 

Review:

 

I must say this is going to be one of the hardest reviews to write, because this is the conclusion to the trilogy. However, there will be spoilers in the spoilers section.

 

Now if anyone knows me, A Discovery of Witches, which is the first book in this trilogy is one of my all time favourite books. This is one of my all time favourite series. It's addictive. However, this one wasn't my favourite of all three books. And that's why my star rating is undecided because I can't decide between a 4 Stars or a 5 Stars.

 

Like always, I loved most things about this book. The characters are some of my favourite and there was also some characters who appeared and shocked me. It gave me nostalgia feelings, like I was meeting them all over again. Which I kind of was, only they were older. Diana and Mathew are so perfect for each other, but I wanted a bit more Marcus and Phoebe in this book. We got a little, but not enough.

 

As a conclusion, I thought it was done very well. Not every trilogy can end as good as this one. Look at The Hunger Games, that ending was a hot mess. However, Deborah really gave the readers what they wanted and I feel like I can place it away and feel happy with it. But I still want something more from this series. It can't end just yet. I'd like some novellas or something in other characters POV's. Talking about POV's those were very annoying in this book. It constantly changed and I got confused who I was actually reading from until a two of three pages of their POV starting.

 

Another thing I didn't like about this book was the action. Some of the fighting scenes were great and kept my attention. Not all of them did. Especially the last action scene. I kind of got bored with it and felt like Deborah killed specific people off, just because.....

 

However, I still loved it.