Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The best Pride and Prejudice retelling I have ever read.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
slow-paced
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have long believed that some of the best literature can be found in the midst of the millions of fanfiction works out there and works like these only prove me right. I am so glad I stumbled upon Lara Ormiston and her Pride and Prejudice retelling. Unequal Affections could be considered an alternate timeline fic (it is a fanfiction do not argue with me, Ormiston said it herself) where Elizabeth Bennet accepts Darcy’s proposal the first time. The work explores how the canonical events of Austen’s most popular novel would change in this light, and how the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy will progress.
The writing is beautiful. I have always loved Jane Austen’s writing, it has this very elegant nostalgic feeling that makes you appreciate the warmth of simple domesticity while entertaining you with passion-filled love stories. In reading Unequal Affections, I was worried that this writing style would be sacrificed, but I worried for naught. On her blog, Ormiston says she is practicing her writing through these Pride and Prejudice retellings, but the writing within this book really proves her mastery. Ormiston can evoke the strongest emotions through such beautiful and elegant writing. She does justice to Austen’s writing and the aura of the books without overcomplicating her narration. The prose is beautiful, the writing effective and clear and so so poetic you cannot help but feel every feeling of love and indignation our favorite characters feel– even before they feel it themselves. Not only that, but in completely rewriting the post-proposal portion of a well-loved story, Ormiston successfully addressed every plot point and how it would be altered by this dramatic change. Her plot flows as elegantly as is expected of work inspired by Austen, everything works very smoothly and makes so much sense. The progression of affection (or lack thereof) between the characters is gradual and realistic, so well done you cannot help but feel the love grow within you as you read.
And the characters, ahh the characters. I love Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth so much already, that I believed it would be hard to make me love them even more. However, in making this small change in Austen’s plot, Ormiston allowed herself so much more time to explore both Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet in so much more depth, I feel like I have a better understanding of them now than I did before. Reading through their character development as they learn to be a couple and grow because of it was incredibly rewarding. Getting to watch them resist confrontation when their prejudice was brought to light and then grow as people in order to grow closer was amazing. It was so well done– never unrealistic or sudden or hard to explain in the story. Ormiston truly understands and loves these characters so much, with all their flaws, and it pours into her writing. This virtue does not stop at our protagonists, but also extends to the rest of the Bennets, and even characters as disagreeable as Whickham. Ormiston takes her time peeling back the layers of each character, showing you their flaws and (for those that have them) their virtues. You learn of how broken, yet how loving, the Bennet family is, and it makes them only more lovable.
If I had a criticism, it is that we did not witness more of the post-marital life for Mr. and Mrs. Darcy! I thought I’d be getting wife and husband content, and although Ormiston gave a beautiful peek into their dedication and duty towards each other, I really wished I saw more. Ormiston if you see this, write a sequel! Give me an ARP! I’ll do anything for it, I beg you.
I love these characters and this story so much. If you too, love Pride and Prejudice and want to reenter the world but are afraid of reading something that doesn’t live up to the canonical story– fear not and read Unequal Affections, it is a beautiful alternate timeline that is so well done, I believe I have come to love Jane Austen’s work even more now that I have this new understanding of it.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes