So this month Stormi and I are finally finishing up the Deborah Harkness books with the All Soul's Trilogy companion book. I think we both agree that we should have put some distance between the original series and this continuation. Read on for my very opinionated thoughts and then make sure you go check out Stormi's @ Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!
TITLE: Time's Convert (All Soul's Universe #1)
AUTHOR: Deborak Harkness
PUBLISHER: Penguin Books
PUBLISHING DATE: September 18, 2018
FROM GOODREADS: 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 eighteenth 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 channels the supernatural world-building and slow-burning romance that made the All Souls Trilogy instant bestsellers to illuminate a new and vital moment in history, and a love affair that will bridge centuries.
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 eighteenth 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 channels the supernatural world-building and slow-burning romance that made the All Souls Trilogy instant bestsellers to illuminate a new and vital moment in history, and a love affair that will bridge centuries.
MY THOUGHTS: So first things first. Until I started this review, I didn't realize this "companion" series had a name - All Soul's Universe. In all reality, it's just All Soul's Trilogy #4. See the problem??? I think they pinned the author into a trilogy without knowing it would be so popular and they might need to continue. That being said, what it means is that the reader does get somewhat of a continuation of Matthew and Diana's tale, even though they aren't the focus.
This book follows Marcus, Matthew's vampire son, and his girlfriend, Phoebe, who has decided she wants "turned" so she can spend eternity with Marcus. Because the family does not believe in incest per se, Miriam, Matthew's tech assistance, takes on the task of transforming Phoebe which means she and Marcus must stay away from each other. While Marcus is pining away for his true love, he stays with Diana and Matthew and through bits and pieces, we learn all about Marcus' history.
So... I liked the Diana and Matthew parts. I enjoyed meeting Apollo the griffin and I think any fans will too. I learned that at times, Marcus was truly despicable, but as he matured, he changed - for the better. Also Phoebe is a bratty vampire. Think terrible twos manifested in an adult fledgling vampire. In my opinion, the book did a good job of making Phoebe unlikable.
So overall, this book did have some content I was glad I encountered, and I am sure I will continue on with the next book. However, I think I should have put some space between it and the first three books. And also, if you can finish "Book of Life" and are not overly curious about what might happen next, you could always chose to let it end there. I kind of wish I did. But then Apollo - he gets a full paw rating for himself.
RATING: 3 PAWS
Looks like you and Stormi had similar opinions about this book. Sometimes it's best to stop on a strong ending, but at least you loved the original trilogy.
ReplyDeleteYea. It was an okay read and I do want to see where she heads next. There are some characters whom I'd really like a backstory.
DeleteThanks for the review I haven't read this far yet. So maybe I'll wait a bit longer.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
I think I might have enjoyed it more if we'd put more distance between it and the original 3.
Deletei think publishers are playing with us and i think it can hurt the author. sometimes more is too much. lol i love vampire stories and this has a bit of a twilight feel, which i am reading right now. i know i'm late to the party on that one and i am a bit disappointed. probably should have read the books before watching the movies
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I don't like the Twilight books now but will also admit that when they were released, I was all over them and did enjoy them. I think looking back now I can see where they were problematic.
DeleteI've not read the series but you have me so curious about Apollo!
ReplyDeleteApollo is AWESOME!
DeleteI will have to make a note to take a break after the first three books when I finally get around to this series.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely need to pick up the first three.
DeleteWe did have pretty much the same thoughts on this one. :)
ReplyDeleteYes we did!
DeleteMmm, it's a shame when you read on in a universe and aren't quite as enamoured. Do you think some of that is the move away from the original couple? I had similar feelings at first with the second Carey series - I missed Phedre and Joscelin but then the series really did pick up for me and like this I still got to read about the two original characters every now and again. It makes me wonder if a complete break would be better or not??
ReplyDeleteLynn :D
Oh I'm sure a lot of it was the move away from the original couple. I just loved them so much that it did kind of set me up for a letdown.
DeleteI'm hearing about Rob Thurman's Cal series as the fans say it comes to a natural and satisfying end on book nine. The next book was finished with a cliffhanger and nothing else has been published since so I might stop at 9 and just ignore 10. There was a zombie trilogy where the writer sadly died before finishing book three and a second writer finished it in a good way. Now someone is writing more books in that series but I'm not keen to go there as I heard a few of my favourites die in these new books! I'll just stop with the end of the main trilogy!
ReplyDeleteI'm always worried when other people finish the original author's books. I'm sure they can turn out fine but really, they can't be in that author's head so how do they know what they intended.
DeleteOoooh, I'm glad you let us know it's basically #4. I haven't read the first trilogy yet.
ReplyDeleteYea, I don't know why they didn't just slap a #4 on it.
Delete