Sequels Like This One Are Greatly Needed!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
TYPE OF NOVEL: Northanger Abbey Sequel
TIME FRAME: Begins the day before Henry’s and Catherine’s wedding
SYNOPSIS: On the eve of their wedding, Henry confesses to Catherine and her parents that there is a horrid curse on his family that particularly concerns the wives of firstborn sons. But fortunately, our dear, fanciful Catherine has grown more sensible and is not quick to believe in nonsensical things like curses… So despite the danger, Catherine finds herself happily married to Henry and enjoying a pleasant life together at Woodston Parsonage. That is…. until they are summoned to Northanger Abbey and must put up with not only the General’s tyrannical behavior, but also a ghastly murder! Is there a curse on Northanger Abbey?
WHAT I LOVED:
- A Story About Northanger Abbey!: Not only am I thrilled to have the pleasure of a brand new release from the talented pen of Diana Birchall (an author we’ve enjoyed from our early days of Austenesque reading), but also elated that her new books sends readers on a gothic adventure at Northanger Abbey! Austenesque books about the characters from Northanger Abbey are in decidedly short supply and this lovely book is fulfilling a pressing need. I mean, who doesn’t want to see more of witty Mr. Tilney and adventure-seeking Catherine Morland?!?
- Curses and Murders: Oh my! This story is the stuff of Catherine’s former fantasies! Even with the modern improvements that General Tilney implemented, Northanger Abbey is even more gothic and haunting than Catherine ever imagined. All sorts of mayhem and intrigue descend upon the Tilneys at the Abbey and I love that Ms. Birchall weaved together a tale full of gothic undertones, mysteries, secrets, and everything horrid (and we aren’t just talking about General Tilney!)
- Catherine: Our poor Catherine meets many unexpected horrors in this tale, and I must say her composure and mental fortitude through them all is quite admirable. This portrayal of a more mature and rational Catherine Tilney with calm courage and strength of spirit was gratifying to witness. Although, I must admit, I was glad to see she still possessed her curious nature.
- Friends, New and Old: What a delight it was to encounter many characters from Northanger Abbey and to discover that they are very much what they ever were. Diana Birchall captured the voices and personalities of General Tilney, Captain Tilney, and John and Isabella Thorpe brilliantly. And I delighted in meeting some new characters such as Catherine’s sister, Sarah.
- Playful: Similar to Jane Austen, Diana Birchall imbues some satirical wit and ironic tone with her “horrid” gothic tale. Even though some truly horrific events take place, the light humor and irony employed kept the story from feeling too dark and gloomy. I especially appreciated the ironic big reveal, what a clever twist!
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
- Small Quibbles: Occasionally, there were some moments and elements to this story that made my eyebrow quirk up a little in disbelief, such as a family traveling and attending an assembly soon after a relative’s passing, and how the curious articles and encounters Catherine discovered and experienced did not cause more significant alarm or action with the Tilneys.
CONCLUSION:
With The Bride of Northanger, Ms. Birchall delivers a dramatic and action-packed sequel brimming with surprising twists, unexpected realities, and playful humor! The adventures Catherine and Henry face will hold readers in riveted suspense and Ms. Birchall’s skilled storytelling will delight Janeites who crave more attention for these Jane Austen characters.
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Our sincere thanks to Laurel Ann Nattress of Austenprose for inviting us to take part in this lovely tour!
Check Out The Bride of Northanger Blog Tour
October 28 My Jane Austen Book Club (Interview)
October 28 Austenprose—A Jane Austen Blog (Review)
October 28 vvb32 Reads (Spotlight)
October 29 A Covent Garden Gilflurt’s Guide of Life (Guest Blog)
October 29 From Pemberley to Milton (Excerpt)
October 30 Drunk Austen (Interview)
October 30 Silver Petticoat Review (Excerpt)
October 31 Jane Austen’s World (Review)
November 01 So Little Time… (Interview)
November 01 Laura’s Reviews (Review)
November 04 English Historical Fiction Authors (Guest Blog)
November 04 Confessions of a Book Addict (Spotlight)
November 05 More Agreeably Engaged (Review)
November 05 Vesper’s Place (Review)
November 06 Jane Austen in Vermont (Interview)
November 06 Diary of an Eccentric (Interview)
November 07 All Things Austen (Spotlight)
November 07 A Bookish Way of Life (Review)
November 07 Let Them Read Books (Excerpt)
November 08 Babblings of a Bookworm (Review)
November 08 vvb32 Reads (Review)
November 11 My Jane Austen Book Club (Review)
November 11 Reading the Past (Spotlight)
November 12 Jane Austen’s World (Interview)
November 12 The Calico Critic (Excerpt)
November 13 The Book Rat (Review)
***November 13 Austenesque Reviews (Review)***
November 14 Fangs, Wands, & Fairy Dust (Review)
November 14 The Fiction Addiction (Review)
November 15 My Love for Jane Austen (Spotlight)
November 15 Scuffed Slippers and Wormy Books (Review)
Great review Meredith. I’m looking forward to this as Northanger Abbey is one of my favorite Austen’s.
Thank you, Teresa! I so appreciate you reading my review and commenting! I hope you like this one as much as I did!
Well said, Meredith! You hit on all the good aspects.
Thank you, Sophia! You wrote a wonderful review! So glad to hear this book praised!
I, too, am happy to see a sequel to Northanger! I love sequels to any of the novels. I got a little confused above about the curse being on the wife of the FIRSTborn son and danger to Catherine because Henry is not the firstborn son? But I would love to read this.
I feel the same way, Sallianne. I love to read about all Jane Austen’s novels and characters.
It isn’t so much a danger to Catherine, but Henry feels it is definitely something she should be aware of before marrying into the family.
Hope you get the chance to read this book soon!
I do love your reviews. I am particularly excited to read this one, simply because I love Northanger Abbey so much! Also, random, but the lady on the cover of this novel kinda looks like you!
Thank you, Brigid! That is so lovely of you to say! I hope you get this chance to read this book soon!
Ah! What I kind compliment! I absolutely adore this cover!! The greens and blues are so stunning!
This continuation of NA was so refreshing to me. I adore Austen’s Henry and Catherine and Birchall did a great job of expanding their story. I really liked that Catherine, the Gothic fiction fan, got to be the heroine of her own Gothic adventure. Lovely review Meredith. I am pleased you enjoyed Bride too.
She definitely did, Laurel Ann! You have to appreciate the irony of Catherine experiencing a big gothic adventure just after saying she has put aside her fanciful notions and penchant for reading horrid novels!
Thanks for the great review, Meredith. This sounds fun, I hope. At least if it’s not too horrific, I mean it’s not Stephen King horrible is it? :/ Do I dare hope one of the murder victims is John Thorpe? Good luck on the launch of this new book, Diana, in case you read this.
Thank you for reading my review, Michelle! Definitely not Stephen King horrible! Lol! He does make an appearance, but I won’t say any more than that!
Hope you get the chance to satisfy your curiosity soon!
Northanger Abbey is my third favorite of JA’s books. This does sound intriguing. I do like mysteries and angst in my stories. I will have to check this out. Great review, Meredith.