Mystical Curses and Tenacious Forces
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Source: Gift from Publisher
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Novella with Fantasy Elements
THE PREMISE: Elizabeth is touring Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle and visits Pemberley, where she has heard the distressing tales of its inexplicably missing master. Finding Mr. Darcy’s distraught sister in need of a friend brings Elizabeth further into the puzzling disappearance of Pemberley’s master and the strange happenings in Pemberley’s garden…
MY THOUGHTS: What spectacularly unique premise for a Pride and Prejudice story! Mr. Darcy in peril, Mr. Darcy’s relations not knowing where to find him or how to help him, and Elizabeth enjoying favorable if unfathomable exchanges with Mr. Darcy – what an intriguing combination!
I loved the fantasy elements in this story, and I thought the creation of these inexplicable forces and dark arts to be well-crafted, plausible, and intriguing. In addition, I loved the encounters between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth – how she is drawn to him, how their exchanges are filled with magic, and how Elizabeth becomes Mr. Darcy’s hero and protector. Lastly, I enjoyed the tension of Mr. Darcy’s disappearance – how it effected his relations and estate and how the author connected it to events and emotions in Mr. Darcy’s recent past.
However, there were some instances with this story where I was left wanting more or couldn’t move past some niggling doubts. Such as the romance between Darcy and Elizabeth – love was declared after a few brief encounters. And while I could get behind Elizabeth falling in love with a great man she has heard so much about soon after meeting him. I couldn’t feel the same with Mr. Darcy, who in the midst of his intense and unknown turmoil falls determinedly in love with a virtual stranger. I needed a few more moonlit visits and open exchanges to fully buy in to this magical and soul-connecting romance. However, this might be my own partiality for slowly developed relationships, and readers who are fans of love-at-first-sight will be happy with this relationship’s fast-paced development.
The other area I wanted more or had some doubts were with the villains’ reasoning and purpose. In the Prologue we see that their situation has become very desperate and that they are on the brink of losing everything…yet we see them almost twelve months later in practically the same situation. How did they survive all that time? Also, they commence with this sinister scheme in order to obtain a wealthy heiress’s dowry. Why focus solely on just the one heiress for twelve months? Why not look to other heiresses too…like ones in your family and social circle? I think looking elsewhere would have brought quicker and easier results. Maybe some of this or other developments happened with these characters off-page? But since nothing was mentioned, it made their actions a little less plausible.
Despite these quibbles, Pemberley by Moonlight is a delightful and magical Pride and Prejudice fairy-tale where love has the power to save, fear and guilt are properly vanquished, and the villains earn a perfectly satisfying and comically-just punishment. I thoroughly enjoyed Stephen Ord’s imaginative and thoughtful approach to these characters, and I hope to see more from him in the near future!
I read and enjoyed this story. Thanks for sharing here, Meredith.
Like the sound of this one, and the cover is soo pretty 🙂
I was just trying to think of the name of this story the other day! The premise is intriguing. I enjoyed your review and will be adding this to my TBR list.
Thank you for such an objective review Meredith, I was also very intrigued by this premise which sounds like a great idea to develop 🙂
Thanks for reviewing this book. It has been on my tbr list but I have been hesitant due to the reviews. I think it will be back on the top of my list now.
I read and loved this story. You are correct, in that it was rushed and would’ve benefited from something more. In a way though, I was ready to read a short book at the time with less dragged out angst. Saying that, I thought it was quite creative. For a first book I am impressed with the author’s contribution to JAFF. I really hope Stephen Ord will continue to write more Austenesque stories for us.
I agree Meredith just did not do it for me.