Hi readers! I’m excited to welcome back author, Lari Ann O’Dell who just released a brand new book – Mr. Darcy’s Phoenix. –  yesterday! and is celebrating with a blog tour!! Lari Ann’s latest release is a fantasy Pride and Prejudice variation replete with magic, visions, and curses! 🔥 Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it?

Lari Ann is here to share an excerpt from Mr. Darcy’s Phoenix! We hope you enjoy! 🙌🏼

Hello, Meredith. I am so glad to be back at Austenesque Reviews to share an exclusive excerpt from my new fantasy variation, Mr. Darcy’s Phoenix.

I had so much fun writing my first fantasy variation. In this story, fay folk, magical creatures, mages, and non-magical people live together peacefully. Instead of having Darcy and Elizabeth meet at the Meryton Assembly, I created a more magical occasion. They first meet at a ball on the Summer Solstice. At the ball, fay folk and humans come together to celebrate. This is a grand and much anticipated event for Meryton society, so having Darcy and Elizabeth meet here seemed fitting.

I hope you enjoy Darcy and Elizabeth’s first meeting!

Darcy had never been fond of large crowds, even when everyone gathered was of his social sphere. Therefore, as soon as he arrived at the fete celebrating summer solstice, he immediately felt restrained and uncomfortable. He knew Dante was somewhere overhead, and the proximity to the majestic bird eased his spirits more than anything else could.

In only five minutes of observation, Darcy was convinced that the people of Meryton were largely uncouth and vulgar, with little beauty, magic, or style. Bawdy songs filled the air, sung by gentry and fay alike. Though everyone was likely dressed in their best, there was little of true London fashion on display. It was as far apart from the gatherings he had grown accustomed to since reaching his majority.

“Lord, Charles, where have you brought us?” scoffed Miss Bingley, glowering at the assorted company.

Bingley, however, paid his sister no mind, for he was waving to a portly man dressed in a manner that was at least nearly appropriate for a presentation at court, though several seasons out of date.

“Bingley, my good fellow, we had begun to fear that the Netherfield party might never arrive. You are very welcome here, sir. And who are your friends?”

Bingley cheerfully made the introductions. Naturally, his cousin Richard and Bingley were overtly civil to the man. Darcy gave him a slight bow. Miss Bingley and her sister, Mrs. Hurst, simpered and curtsied, and Hurst had gone straight toward a refreshment table laden with several bottles of elf-made wine.

Sir William Lucas, the apparent host of the occasion, took great pleasure in guiding the Netherfield party through the festivities. Somewhere between the dance floor and a small stream, Sir William came upon a woman who appeared to already be slightly in her cups. Behind her were five young ladies, presumably her daughters.

“Ah, Bingley, you must meet Mrs. Bennet and her daughters. They are the finest young ladies in the neighborhood.”

Further introductions were made, and Darcy could see that Bingley’s attention was immediately captured by the beautiful blond Miss Bennet. Darcy’s first observation of the lady was that she smiled too much. Even the flowers blooming underfoot showed a disappointing control of nature magic. Though, Darcy supposed, that made her Bingley’s equal, at least where magic was concerned.

Bingley immediately asked the eldest to dance, and Richard seized Darcy’s arm so that they might converse with the other Bennet ladies. The two youngest, a pair of giggling girls not much older than his sister Georgiana, pointed at Richard’s regimentals; though he was honorably discharged, his dress uniform was the best attire he had at present. Richard smiled congenially, used to such female attention. Darcy, however, glowered at the overtly coquettish display.

“You appear very miserable, sir. It is at odds with the festivities. The summer solstice is a joyous occasion.” The voice was light and melodious, and nearly as entrancing as Dante’s song. Darcy turned to find himself being observed by the second of the Bennet sisters, Miss Elizabeth. “Are you a mage? If you are not, I could understand feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of fay folk.”

Darcy stared at her. It was almost impossible that his name should have been unfamiliar to her. Surely, tales of Pemberley, his ten thousand a year, and the old magic of the Darcy family had already been bandied about by the gossips for days.

“I am,” he said, at a loss for anything else to say.

Miss Elizabeth smiled, and it caused something within him to crackle and spark. His fingertips tingled, and he had the strangest notion that his perfect control over fire might slip. “You may want to try smiling, sir, if you wish to make a good impression.” Miss Elizabeth’s tone was impudent and challenging. “Or perhaps you would prefer me to cast a concealment spell upon you, so you might continue your severe observations without witnesses.”

Darcy blinked at her. No one, let alone a lady he had just met, had ever spoken to him in such a fashion.

“I assure you I am perfectly capable of preforming the spell on my own,” Darcy snapped, not really understanding why the words of an insignificant country miss provoked him so.

“Then I shall rescind my offer,” Miss Elizabeth said pleasantly. “I wish you a good evening.” She curtsied hastily and crossed a grassy patch to stand beside a young lady with dark ringlets. He watched as she spoke with animation and heard her laughter floating over the rest of the noise of the fete. Darcy scowled. He was unaccustomed to being laughed at.

Fay, mages, and the Summer Solstice – sounds like an assembly I’d very much want to attend! I love how Elizabeth initiates conversation with Mr. Darcy in this scene. But I’m afraid he might still deliver his infamous insult about her later…😠

Thank you so much for sharing this excerpt with us, Lari Ann! We wish you all the best with your release of Mr. Darcy’s Phoenix! 🤗.

~ Book Description ~

A phoenix brings them together. Will a curse keep them apart?

When the hauntingly beautiful song of a phoenix lures Elizabeth Bennet to the Netherfield gardens, she has a vision of an unknown gentleman. He whispers her name with such tenderness that she wonders if this man is her match. Unfortunately, her gift of prophecy has never been exactly reliable.

Mr. Darcy is a celebrated fire mage, the master of Pemberley, and the man from her vision. But he is not tender; he is haughty, proud, and high-handed. His insult of her during the Summer Solstice celebration makes her determined to dislike him in spite of her love for Dante, his phoenix familiar.

After Mr. Darcy is called away by his duties, Elizabeth’s magic runs wild, and it is only their reunion at Rosings that offers her any hope of controlling it. They are drawn together by their love of magical creatures and their affinity for fire. But Elizabeth soon has another vision about Mr. Darcy, one that may portend a grave danger to his life.

Can Darcy and Elizabeth overcome misunderstandings, curses, and even fate itself?

~ Connect with Lari Ann ~

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~ About Lari Ann ~

Lari Ann O’Dell first discovered her love of Pride & Prejudice when she was eighteen. After reading a Pride & Prejudice variation she found in a closing sale at a bookstore, she said, “This is what I want to do.” She published her first novel, Mr. Darcy’s Kiss, two years later.

Born and raised in Colorado, she attended the University of Colorado in Boulder and earned a bachelor’s degree in History and Creative Writing. After graduating college, she wrote and published her second novel, Mr. Darcy’s Ship. Her third novel, Mr. Darcy’s Clan, is her first supernatural variation, and she is working on two more fantasy variations. She is now back at school and pursuing a degree in Nursing. She adores her two beautiful nephews, Hudson and Dean. She currently works at a middle school and writes whenever she can.

~ GIVEAWAY TIME! ~

Lari Ann O’Dell is generously giving away  4️⃣ ebook editions of Mr. Darcy’s Phoenix! in conjunction with this blog tour!!  Woot woot!  

 Commenting on this post and filling out the rafflecopter widget on this blog enters you in a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

• This giveaway is open worldwide.  Thank you, Lari Ann!
• This giveaway ends September 1st!

Thank you to Janet Taylor and Lari Ann O’Dell for making this blog tour possible!