What If Lydia’s Scandal Destroyed the Bennets?
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation
THE PREMISE: Lydia’s disastrous elopement with Wickham brought on tragic deaths and disappearances for the Bennet family. And two years later finds a despondent Mr. Darcy suffering a misery of the acutest kind, until he learns that Elizabeth’s fate isn’t what he believed it to be…
MY THOUGHTS:
A dramatic and gripping Pride and Prejudice variation that illustrates some dire consequences for the Bennets if Lydia was not rescued and their reputations were not salvaged by Mr. Darcy. I was intrigued by such a despairing premise and I loved how Ms. Diamond set the stage with such anguish and tragedy, yet also promises to balance the tale with some hope (according to the title…😏).
What I loved most about this story was Mr. Darcy. The fervency of his devotion blazes strong like an everlasting flame. Even though he was too late to help the Bennets, he takes on whatever actions are available to him, such as seeking retribution on their behalf and maintaining a close friendship with the Gardiners. And when the opportunity does come to be of greater assistance to Elizabeth, he seizes it with understandably effusive fervor. I love all of Mr. Darcy’s admirable and honorable actions. I loved that he acted for and thought of Elizabeth even “when existence or when hope is gone.” And even though he was in a pitiful morose state, and in the past guilty of managing the affairs of others, he displayed quite a lot of growth, patience, and selflessness in this tale that was lovely to observe.
Although this tale is very Darcy and Elizabeth centric, I enjoyed what Ms. Diamond did with the secondary characters in this story. There are some intriguing deviations with Colonel Fitzwilliam, Georgiana Darcy, and Lady Catherine that were wonderful, and at times quite diverting, to witness! Lady C and her celebrated frankness… In addition, I enjoyed the original characters we encountered, such as the Cooke family, who are invaluable to Lizzy and Jane, Mrs. Northcott, Mr. Darcy’s reliable and kind housekeeper in town, and Mr. Acker, Mr. Darcy’s teasing physician and friend. And lastly, I enjoyed the compelling and different storyline given to Lydia. I wouldn’t have minded seeing more time spent with her and her journey.
SPOILER ALERT: My quibble for this story is with Elizabeth and Jane. I know they made choices to protect and help their family, and I admire their self-sufficiency and independence. But at the same time, they caused immense heartache and lied to all the people who love them. That’s a big deal! I sometimes felt we didn’t see enough struggle or remorse from Elizabeth and Jane during these tough times and decisions. It was almost like they developed a callousness towards their loved ones which doesn’t ring true to their natures. But perhaps what they endured changed them.
Powerfully captivating and achingly romantic – Agony and Hope is yet another praiseworthy release from the pen of L.L. Diamond that ardent admirers of Pride and Prejudice and Austenesque works will enjoy. Full of ardent love, ceaseless devotion, noble sacrifices, and passionate emotions – I know I am not alone when I say I adore L.L. Diamond’s writing!
This book was one of my favorite new reads in the last few months. I recommend it highly as it is a sad but ultimately a triumphant story of survival against illness and poverty.
The triumph is so worth the heartache and sadness! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Susan!
I read and enjoyed this story.
Thank you, Sheila!
So glad to hear it, Sheila!
I’m thrilled you enjoy my books so much, Meredith! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!
We are so lucky that you have written and shared so many books with the world! Thank YOU for writing and sharing!
What a fabulous book this is! I love your description of Darcy’s continuing devotion to Elizabeth even when all hope seems to be gone. His absolute devastation and Agony made me cry! All I can say is thank goodness for the Hope! I totally loved it.
You are lovely for my ego, Glynis! Thank you 😉
Right? The payoff for all that anguish was so rewarding! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
Fantastic!
Thank you!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Another enjoyable read from Leslie! I love her regency tales the best and this one is no exception.
Thank you so much, Brenda!
Absolutely! I can’t decide which I love more – her Regency tales or her moderns!
Great review, Meredith! I wholeheartedly agree. Darcy is my favorite part about this story.
Thank you, Katie! I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.
Lovely review, Meredith. I didn’t read the spoiler as my July book order arrived and ‘Agony and Hope’ is one of them! I have a few commitments before I can indulge myself in this one…but I can’t wait!
I hope you enjoy it!
Thank you, Carole! That’s so exciting that you will be reading this one soon! I cannot wait to hear what you think of it! Happy reading, friend!
Sounds like an intense, emotional one. Appreciate getting your thoughts on it.
The first half is definitely all that. But at the same time we get to see a devoted Mr. Darcy give the tenderest and most patient of care.
I loved this story from Leslie! I couldn’t wait to get it and read it. Your description of Darcy’s fervent devotion was spot on! I hurt for him and hoped for him. Lady Catherine was a surprise and a pleasant one. The new characters were a good addition, too. Thanks for your thoughtful review, Meredith. I always enjoy reading your thoughts on books.
Thank you so much, Janet! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Yes! His love was so beautiful and moving to witness. And I agree with you about Lady C, for sure! I always love when she surprises us all like that!
Thank you so much for reading my review and for sharing your thoughts! I am so happy to read them!
Loved this enough to reread it and cried each time. Leslie sure has talent. Thanks for the insightful review, Meredith.
Thank you, Suzan!
She sure does, Suzan! I am so glad to hear you loved this one!
This is definitely on my to-read JAFF shelf!
Wonderful! I hope you get the chance to read it soon!
I gave up reading after a few chapters, since Darcy drowning his grief in alcool is not my thing and does not ring true to his character as he has too deep a sense of his responsibilities. It is something I sometimes wonder about, why authors would think that all men deal with sorrow and challenges by imbibing way too much alcool as it is quite common in fanfiction. It is certainly not a habit I find attractive in any man. I hope it is OK to leave a not so glowing comment.
It is totally fine to share your opinions, Nathalie. I’m sorry you didn’t find the opening chapters to your liking. You are absolutely, it isn’t an attractive habit. So far, I haven’t minded seeing this flaw in Darcy’s character – especially since we often see him snap out of it quickly.
I loved this highly anticipated book. The sadness at the beginning really gutted me, Darcy really felt his future would be a lonely dark hole…with his guilt and without Elizabeth. Thankfully that part of the book didn’t last very long before he was called to action.
In the real world it is quite common for people who have fallen and landed far from their families, because of substance abuse, bad decisions or other failures. People would rather live on the streets than ask for help from their families, who they know they have disappointed so much. In Leslie’s book Elizabeth and Jane were starving and sick and in rags, horrifying and mortifying to their previous pride. When people are living like that, ashamed, alone, and barely surviving all their energies go in to survival. Letting their remaining family know of their current existence would mean possible rejection and revealing the way they were living. Knowing Mrs. Bennet would anyone want her blabbing ‘her’ distress all over the old neighborhood? Once they let it go as long as they did it got harder and harder to think of the disappointment and distress they had caused their Aunt and Uncle Gardiner.
Fine review Meredith, even though I did take your one comment to task. Once again Leslie has brought us a heart-wrenchingly dramatic emotional tale, with a hard won HEA. I’m shocked it has been just a little more than a year since Undoing, it feels so much longer when you are waiting for a new book from her. Congratulations Leslie.
Thank you so much, Michelle!
Hi Michelle, I appreciate your comment and don’t mind you taking me to task at all. Although, I hope I didn’t give the impression that my quibble was with Jane’s and Elizabeth’s decision to leave their family or their decisions to not immediately run back to them once found. I agree with you about the emotional trauma and difficulties they were going through.
It was more that we didn’t see a lot of emotions displayed about this separation and the effects it had on both Elizabeth and Jane – no tears shed for missing their sisters, no desperation to learn about how they were doing, no quiet introspections that shows them lamenting the inability to see or be with the people they love. With such emotional trauma and hardships, I feel like it would have been something we would have seen them continue to struggle with, even after time has passed.
You make a really good point, Meredith. And I agree with you. We really only get to see that one scene at Darcy’s London home when Jane and Elizabeth are nervous about the Gardiners coming with no idea they will be seeing the girls. We’ll have to ask Leslie, but maybe she wanted to concentrate on Elizabeth’s shame and struggles in regards to Darcy’s offer of marriage and not wanting the world to find out about how low she fell for his benefit.
Loved all the emotions it triggers in me 🙂
Thank you, Charlotte!
Yes! It is lovely to read writing that bring out such feelings in the reader.