Time's Convert

The Bloody Dawn of the American Revolution and the Agony of Vampire Rebirth

Spanning nearly eighteen rich, historically vivid hours, *Time’s Convert* expands Deborah Harkness’s beloved *All Souls* universe into an enthralling standalone spin-off, exploring the origins of Matthew’s vampire son Marcus Whitmore and the intricate mechanics of immortal rebirth. Following the events of The Book of Life, human art historian Phoebe Taylor has chosen to marry Marcus and undergo the agonizing, months-long process of vampire transformation in Paris. Isolated from Marcus during her sensory awakening under the watchful eye of traditional Clairmont elders, Phoebe must navigate the terrifying physical reality of blood lust and heightened senses.

Running parallel to Phoebe’s modern transformation is Marcus’s sweeping historical backstory. Born Marcus MacNeil in eighteenth-century Massachusetts, he is a young battlefield medic who witnesses the brutal carnage of the American War of Independence and the fiery birth of democratic liberty. Stricken with fatal fever, he is saved by Matthew Clairmont and reborn into an ancient vampire bloodline steeped in feudal European hierarchy. Harkness brilliantly contrasts Marcus’s revolutionary passion for freedom and equality with the tyrannical patriarchy of the Clairmont vampire clan, showing how historical trauma echoes through centuries of immortal existence. Meanwhile, at Sept-Tours, Diana and Matthew raise their magical twins, offering heartwarming continuity for longtime series fans.

Narrator Saskia Maarleveld takes over the vocal reins with sublime grace, capturing Phoebe’s sharp modern wit, Marcus’s youthful idealism, and the gritty horrors of eighteenth-century military medicine with flawless distinction. Maarleveld’s French and American dialects are immaculate, enriching Harkness’s dual timelines with textured realism. For listeners who love deep character explorations, historical warfare, and sophisticated Romance on a single credit, *Time’s Convert* is an essential listen.

All Souls Reading Order: • A Discovery of Witches (Book 1 – 23h 59m) • Shadow of Night (Book 2 – 24h 50m) • The Book of Life (Book 3 – 23h 30m) • Time's Convert (Book 4 – 17h 45m) • The Black Bird Oracle (Book 5 – 17h 30m)