What If Elizabeth Had Her Own Peculiar History With the Darcy Family?

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Source: Review Copy from Publishers

In this extraordinarily inventive Pride and Prejudice variation Mary Anne Mushatt takes readers on a journey far off canon that explores what would happen if: Elizabeth was not a Bennet, Darcy had relations that were attempting to control his affairs, and Elizabeth posed a threat to some of his relations’ future plans…Plans they are so desperate to see come to fruition that they carry out some of the most heinous and vicious acts possible!

Many years later after a traumatic abduction, agonizing familial pain, and continued selfish manipulation, the truth begins to be unearthed. Both Elizabeth and Darcy make some startling discoveries about their families, their peculiar connection to each other, and how to combat the forces of evil that are still striving to achieve their nefarious aims. With so many that wish them harm, can Darcy and Elizabeth find their way to security, peace, and happiness together?

As you can tell from the book description, this is one dramatic and enthralling story, and I thoroughly applaud Ms. Mushatt’s creativity and courage to explore such a bold and shocking premise! With recently reading (and loving) books like The Perfect Gentleman, I Never Knew Myself, and Being Mrs. Darcy, I find I am more and more drawn to stories that deviate from the Pride and Prejudice canon. It is interesting to see the variety of compelling premises and possibiilities that can develop when an author expands their purview! I loved exploring the idea of Elizabeth having different parentage and history, and I equally loved seeing a spotlight on various relations in Mr. Darcy’s family circle. This story is much more about the Darcys, Fitzwilliams, and de Bourghs than the Bennets, Bingleys, and Gardiners.

There were several aspects of this exhilarating saga that I greatly enjoyed, such as the new original characters – (especially the Raleighs, the Duke and Duchess of Northampton, and Julian) and Ms. Mushatt’s multi-perspective episodic storytelling style. I enjoyed learning the personalities and natures of these new characters and witnessing their relationships with Darcy and Elizabeth. And I enjoyed being privy to the various scenes and doings with these characters throughout the tale.

But there were also some aspects of this story of which I was not fond, and I think I can sum it by saying that it often felt very disjointed. With so many characters and storylines to follow and a lot of segmented story arcs to piece together, it felt like some cohesion was missing. There were several storylines that came to an anticlimactic resolution and some characters and developments that were introduced without purpose and then abruptly dispatched.

As a whole, the addition of these characters and their storylines sometimes detracted attention from Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s relationship, which while satisfying in some respects, sometimes felt a little briskly paced and under-developed. I would have loved for more time to be spent with Elizabeth (to witness some introspection or emotional processing of all she went through, past and present), Darcy (as his behavior sometimes felt erratic and a bit like a “half-hearted courtship”), and with both of them together (their change of hearts felt sudden and less convincing).

Despite these issues, there is surfeit of tension, excitement, and action in this engaging and entertaining Pride and Prejudice variation that I know many readers will delight in! After reading and enjoying Darcy and the Duchess many years ago, I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to read another story from the pen of Mary Anne Mushatt. I love her dynamic and imaginative approach to these characters.

NOTE: There are some scenes that allude to suggestive content and violence. I’d recommend this story for readers over the age of 14.

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