Colonel Fitzwilliam is Intrigued By Irish Legends and an Intelligent Lass

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Source: Review Copy from Author

TYPE OF NOVEL: Sequel, Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion Mash Up

THE PREMISE:  Colonel Fitzwilliam was so intrigued by the introverted and intelligent Miss Carteret in Bath that he decided to travel to Ireland for his own adventures, explorations, and maybe a chance of romance. Catherine Carteret is a singular woman who, to her mother’s great displeasure, doesn’t want to trade her pursuits and studies to have her life bound by the constraints societal expectations and motherhood. Miss Carteret has made it her mission to deter and deflect any suitors that dare approach, but Colonel Fitzwilliam insists he is aware of her wishes and only desires friendship…

WHAT I LOVED:

• Ireland: Happy day, we are off on a sojourn to Ireland! And what a fun destination to explore with Jane Austen’s characters. As most Austenesque stories take place in London, Bath, or country estates, it was exciting and refreshing to have a different setting be the backdrop for a change. While our main character is a bit of a workaholic homebody, we did get to explore around Dublin some with visits to Trinity College, private balls, and even a scandalous trip to a pub.

• Catherine Carteret: I love a fiercely independent and introverted heroine. Catherine is brilliant – she is voracious in her studies, passionate about ancient artifacts, and very accomplished with languages. I appreciated her forward-thinking feminism and nonconformity. I admired how Catherine was determined to have the life she wanted for herself even though she lived in a time where women’s options were severely limited. Even with her sharp edges and serious nature, I found her to be a sympathetic and engaging character.

• Legends and Adventures: Colonel Fitzwilliam was intrigued by the story Miss Carteret shared about a legendary Irish pirate queen by the name of Grace O’Malley, and decided to sail around the coast of Ireland to see what more he can learn. Along the way he explored the Waterford Crystal Factory, heard the tales about a Dearg Dur – an Irish female vampire, and discovered some unknown history about Grace O’Malley. These legends and sites all have real connections to Ireland and added some exciting vibrancy and entertainment.

• Colonel Fitzwilliam: He is an adventurer, a loyal friend, and a patient suitor – we love Colonel Fitzwilliam. While he is normally known for his charismatic charm and tactical talents, this portrayal of Colonel Fitzwilliam highlights his curious and eager mind. I loved seeing him attracted to Catherine Carteret’s intelligence and scholarly talents. And I greatly appreciated his understanding and patience with her. I loved that he admired the parts of her that everyone else wanted to change. And I loved witnessing how he would selflessly put her wishes above his own.

WHAT COULD’VE BEEN BETTER:

• More Dimensions: A lot of the characters – especially some of the secondary characters such as the Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple, her daughter-in-law, and her niece – felt a little one-dimensional. I wouldn’t have minded seeing some more depth, distinctive traits, and complexity to them.

• Writing Style: Similar to my comments in my review for The Matchmaker of Pemberley, there are some passages where the dialogue feels stilted and characters recite long narrations that don’t feel entirely natural. There is a lot of recitation and summarization, but perhaps not enough descriptive action and conveyed emotions.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

🇮🇪  Who wouldn’t want to go to Ireland and accompany Colonel Fitzwilliam as he explores some Irish legends and lore?

🤔  Little did we know, “plain and awkward” Miss Catherine Carteret is actually a fascinating and intelligent feminist.

📗  A great choice for readers who love stories about Colonel Fitzwilliam, appreciate characters like Mary Bennet, and are intrigued by Irish history.

Add to Cart   I   Add to Shelf