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A review by cluckieduck
Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I was really looking forward to this book since Marcus is one of my favourites from the original DoW trilogy, but this book is a bit of a slog to get through, and mostly underwhelming.
First of all, it’s more like 3 stories in one that bounce around the following POVs:
1 - Phoebe and her journey as a baby vamp
2 - Marcus and his backstory/history through the American & French Revolutions, as both warmblood and vampire
3 - Diana and the trials raising her Bright Born twins
Though there is attempted cohesion between the 3 storylines, it’s not executed well. Each perspective would have benefited as their own novella with a bit more fleshing out (separate from my next point), because they just seem to go nowhere.
Secondly, this book suffers from almost too much detail of non-importance. I understand that Ms. Harkness is a historian and revels in describing European history, but it gets to the point of rambling sometimes that doesn’t lend to plot or character development.
Thirdly, what is up with Phoebe?! I felt a disservice to her characterization was made - I don’t remember her being so petulant, and making her so for the sake of being a “baby vamp” missed the mark.
First of all, it’s more like 3 stories in one that bounce around the following POVs:
1 - Phoebe and her journey as a baby vamp
2 - Marcus and his backstory/history through the American & French Revolutions, as both warmblood and vampire
3 - Diana and the trials raising her Bright Born twins
Though there is attempted cohesion between the 3 storylines, it’s not executed well. Each perspective would have benefited as their own novella with a bit more fleshing out (separate from my next point), because they just seem to go nowhere.
Secondly, this book suffers from almost too much detail of non-importance. I understand that Ms. Harkness is a historian and revels in describing European history, but it gets to the point of rambling sometimes that doesn’t lend to plot or character development.
Thirdly, what is up with Phoebe?! I felt a disservice to her characterization was made - I don’t remember her being so petulant, and making her so for the sake of being a “baby vamp” missed the mark.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, War, Violence, Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Medical trauma