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bibliophilelinda's review
3.0
This book was a goodreads giveaway gift.
Review: The book has a cute and, at times, witty chick lit story but is certainly not the best or brightest book on the shelf. Jane Austen is alive today, but as a vampire named Jane Fairfax, and running a small bookstore in a backwoods town somewhere in New York State. She's written a wonderful new book, but has received 116 rejection notices from various publishing firms, despite the fact that the Austen craze is still going strong. Anyway, one publisher finally accepts the manuscript and Jane must deal with her newly growing fame. Simultaneously, a local contractor in her town is trying to court her, despite her protestations (she's afraid her "condition" might scare him off). Meanwhile, the vampire who turned her, the charismatic Brian George, who actually turns out to be Lord Bryon, comes back to reclaim her love. This all inevitably leads up to Jane having to reveal her "condition" to her assistant bookstore keeper and her love interest, while trying to promote her book and fend off the increasing persistence of Lord Bryon's declarations of love. Also, the story throws a little of the Bronte vs Austen drama in the mix. I enjoyed the guest appearances of famous authors, but this book felt crafted from the same mold as the rest of what I call "Wal-Mart" stories: quickly written stories published at precisely the height of a particular subject craze (the subject in this instance being the Austen-turned-into-horror-stories fad) and lacking that special uniqueness characteristic of great novels. In addition, the ending was so obviously left open for a sequel, which is also promoted at the end of the book, as to be ridiculous. I mean, really, why does this story need to be made into a series? In my opinion, another way to milk money out of a fad.
Review: The book has a cute and, at times, witty chick lit story but is certainly not the best or brightest book on the shelf. Jane Austen is alive today, but as a vampire named Jane Fairfax, and running a small bookstore in a backwoods town somewhere in New York State. She's written a wonderful new book, but has received 116 rejection notices from various publishing firms, despite the fact that the Austen craze is still going strong. Anyway, one publisher finally accepts the manuscript and Jane must deal with her newly growing fame. Simultaneously, a local contractor in her town is trying to court her, despite her protestations (she's afraid her "condition" might scare him off). Meanwhile, the vampire who turned her, the charismatic Brian George, who actually turns out to be Lord Bryon, comes back to reclaim her love. This all inevitably leads up to Jane having to reveal her "condition" to her assistant bookstore keeper and her love interest, while trying to promote her book and fend off the increasing persistence of Lord Bryon's declarations of love. Also, the story throws a little of the Bronte vs Austen drama in the mix. I enjoyed the guest appearances of famous authors, but this book felt crafted from the same mold as the rest of what I call "Wal-Mart" stories: quickly written stories published at precisely the height of a particular subject craze (the subject in this instance being the Austen-turned-into-horror-stories fad) and lacking that special uniqueness characteristic of great novels. In addition, the ending was so obviously left open for a sequel, which is also promoted at the end of the book, as to be ridiculous. I mean, really, why does this story need to be made into a series? In my opinion, another way to milk money out of a fad.
liralen's review
4.0
Loved it.
I'm going through a "Pride and Prejudice" sequel phase, and when I found this at the library... well, I couldn't resist. Jane Austen is alive and well (if by "alive" you mean "dead and with fangs"), running a bookstore in upstate New York and bemoaning the liberties that have been taken with her books.
The narrative has fantastic wit, especially compared to other Austen "sequels" or spin-offs - and, better yet, Jane isn't a wilting heroine who has sworn off humans. I can hardly wait for Ford's next book.
I'm going through a "Pride and Prejudice" sequel phase, and when I found this at the library... well, I couldn't resist. Jane Austen is alive and well (if by "alive" you mean "dead and with fangs"), running a bookstore in upstate New York and bemoaning the liberties that have been taken with her books.
The narrative has fantastic wit, especially compared to other Austen "sequels" or spin-offs - and, better yet, Jane isn't a wilting heroine who has sworn off humans. I can hardly wait for Ford's next book.
schottjm's review
5.0
Admittedly, when I first saw this book years ago, I thought "Oh, please...could we get OVER this whole vampire craze?" And then a couple of months ago, I stumbled on a copy for cheap, and thought "Well, I've enjoyed Michael Thomas Ford's other work, so why not?" Am I ever glad I picked it up.
This book is a light read, and very entertaining. The premise of Jane Austen having faked her death because she is a vampire is quite clever. I got wrapped up in the story very early on--I had finished half the book before I even realized--and it definitely kept me guessing the whole way through. I highly recommend this, especially if you want something fun but with substance.
This book is a light read, and very entertaining. The premise of Jane Austen having faked her death because she is a vampire is quite clever. I got wrapped up in the story very early on--I had finished half the book before I even realized--and it definitely kept me guessing the whole way through. I highly recommend this, especially if you want something fun but with substance.
flappermyrtle's review
3.0
I read this to get away from Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. And I finished it within a day. Yeaah. I won't say it's any sort of literary masterpiece, but it does manage to make Jane Austen a credible 21st century bookshop owner. Who happens also to be a vampire. So that's quite something, isn't it?I'll be doing research on Austen as a fictional character, and this book is definitely on the list. Because it simply gets some things right - likeable characters, the idea that Austen is trying to publish her novel Constance, and the chunks of said novel speckled through the book. It gives a nice touch. The novel's the first in a trilogy about Austen and a horde of other authors turned vampire (Lord Byron, Charlotte Brontë). Apart from that, there are some horrid historically unsound happenings and Lord Byron is sort of a standard irresistible gentleman vampire, which isn't very original, really. So you have to be willing to put your credulity-sensor on low, but it makes for a very entertaining read when you do.
lyssm's review
4.0
Normally, I avoid books that turn our literary figureheads, or other famous people, into vampires, werewolves, vampire hunters, etc. However, I kept seeing this book and finally just picked it up and started reading it.
I have to say that I really really really enjoyed it. Ford's depiction of Jane's character is superb. He does a great job of creating her reactions to things that people say she would or wouldn't do. Lord Byron is terrific in his mysterious, snarky kind of way. It's a lot of fun watching him keep Jane on her toes, which he constantly seems to do. At first she's sure she knows him, but by the end of the book, I get the impression she doesn't know Byron nearly as well as she thinks.
The relationships Jane has with Walter and Lucy grow really well in this book and I'm looking forward to seeing how they progress in the second book. It's a lot of fun to see Jane bend her habits to fit in today's society once her book (as Jane Fairfax) takes off. Lucy is a great friend and it's a lot of fun to see this 20-something take charge of a woman who is over 200 years older than her. Walter is sweet and it's so easy to like him due to his demeanor.
All the characters bring a great dynamic to the story. Ford did a great job of weaving together his interpretation of their personalities. I'm very glad I picked this up and can't wait to read the next one!
I have to say that I really really really enjoyed it. Ford's depiction of Jane's character is superb. He does a great job of creating her reactions to things that people say she would or wouldn't do. Lord Byron is terrific in his mysterious, snarky kind of way. It's a lot of fun watching him keep Jane on her toes, which he constantly seems to do. At first she's sure she knows him, but by the end of the book, I get the impression she doesn't know Byron nearly as well as she thinks.
The relationships Jane has with Walter and Lucy grow really well in this book and I'm looking forward to seeing how they progress in the second book. It's a lot of fun to see Jane bend her habits to fit in today's society once her book (as Jane Fairfax) takes off. Lucy is a great friend and it's a lot of fun to see this 20-something take charge of a woman who is over 200 years older than her. Walter is sweet and it's so easy to like him due to his demeanor.
All the characters bring a great dynamic to the story. Ford did a great job of weaving together his interpretation of their personalities. I'm very glad I picked this up and can't wait to read the next one!