Mr. Darcy’s Dragon
Author: Maria Grace
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: DNF
October’s optional theme: Here There Be Monsters
What I’m Talking About:
I have heard wonderful things about the Jane Austen’s Dragons series by Maria Grace for years now and thought Pemberley: Mr. Darcy’s Dragon would be the perfect book to read for this month’s optional TBR theme of Here There Be Monsters. It’s been on my TBR for years.
Right from the start of the book, I found myself confused, partially because the author tosses the reader into the world with little to no information. It’s an alternate history in which dragons co-exist with humans, primarily hidden in plain sight. I think the other reason I struggled is that I have not read the source material, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. In fact, I have little knowledge of historically written romances by authors like Austen and the Brontë sisters. In general, I haven’t enjoyed them, so maybe it should be no surprise that I couldn’t get into Pemberley.
Generally, I did not like the characters other than Elizabeth. Her family is so annoying, between Mrs. Bennet who only seems to care that her daughters marry well, and Mr. Bennet who expects Elizabeth to take over as the dragon handler, yet questions her every action and casts doubts on her abilities. Her sisters and mother come across as simpletons. The neighboring women are vapid and petty. Even though Darcy is disagreeable, I do understand that is his role. He is the grumpy to Lizzie’s sunshine, which is fine.
After forcing myself to read the story for almost two weeks, I finally gave up. While the premise is interesting, and I imagine (and hope) the plot picks up, it was simply too slow to pique my interest.
My Rating: DNF – Did Not Finish at 54%
Jen
About the Book:
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a dragon.
Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley has the good fortune to be in possession of the first English firedrake egg laid in a century. Or, at least, he was until some miscreant stole it.
Mr. Darcy tracks the thief to Hertfordshire. Catching the thief, however, proves to be an entirely different kettle of brimstone, especially when he encounters fellow Dragon Keeper, Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn.
Elizabeth Bennet’s deep connection to dragons and remarkable grasp of their lore make her the ideal companion for finding the egg. It’s too bad that from their introduction she finds Darcy arrogant, conceited, and selfishly disdainful of the feelings of others.
Time is running out for Darcy to win Elizabeth’s trust and recover the precious egg before it hatches, and the fragile peace between humans and dragons is lost forever.
Release Date: October 25, 2016
Publisher: White Soup Press
Series: Jane Austen’s Dragons #1
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance, Pride and Prejudice variation
Format(s): paperback (333 pages), e-book, audiobook
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds