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A review by krisrid
Bespelling Jane Austen by Susan Krinard, Janet Mullany, Mary Balogh, Colleen Gleason
5.0
This book was unexpectedly delightful and I loved every page of it!
Normally, I don't care for short story collections. I usually feel like everything is too short and too rushed and if I like a story I'm just getting into it when it finishes and I am left wanting more. But this book did not leave me at all unsatisfied. In fact, I really enjoyed all four stories, which is also unusual for me - normally, I might like some in a short story collection, but don't care for others. Not so with this one.
This collection did have a secret weapon that made it more likely to be a hit with me - all the stories were Jane Austen books that had been re-imagined or given a paranormal twist. Not only is Pride and Prejudice my favourite book, but I love all things paranormal, so this book really had a good chance of me liking it.
All four of the authors - non of whom I was familiar with, interestingly, since I read a lot of paranormal and a lot of Regency romances - created wonderful, entertaining, creative and fun stories. They went a step further, and very cleverly wove the original Austen story they were recreating in with a paranormal slant. But each story, while using variations of Austen's stories and characters, did a tremendous job of really making these stories their own. These were creative, unique and highly entertaining stories that kept me turning pages quickly once I'd started this book!
My favourite of the four, unsurprisingly, was the P&P adaptation - Blood and Prejudice - but I really enjoyed the other three stories as well. I am looking forward to exploring what other books all four of these authors have written, because if their short storied in this book are any indication of what they have to offer, I may be adding titles to my "to be read" list.
If you like Jane Austen's books, and you enjoy paranormal stories, I highly recommend this book as a great way to experience both in several brief [each story is around 100 pages] but very enjoyable vignettes. Fast, fun easy-reading stories that are highly entertaining. Loved this!!
Normally, I don't care for short story collections. I usually feel like everything is too short and too rushed and if I like a story I'm just getting into it when it finishes and I am left wanting more. But this book did not leave me at all unsatisfied. In fact, I really enjoyed all four stories, which is also unusual for me - normally, I might like some in a short story collection, but don't care for others. Not so with this one.
This collection did have a secret weapon that made it more likely to be a hit with me - all the stories were Jane Austen books that had been re-imagined or given a paranormal twist. Not only is Pride and Prejudice my favourite book, but I love all things paranormal, so this book really had a good chance of me liking it.
All four of the authors - non of whom I was familiar with, interestingly, since I read a lot of paranormal and a lot of Regency romances - created wonderful, entertaining, creative and fun stories. They went a step further, and very cleverly wove the original Austen story they were recreating in with a paranormal slant. But each story, while using variations of Austen's stories and characters, did a tremendous job of really making these stories their own. These were creative, unique and highly entertaining stories that kept me turning pages quickly once I'd started this book!
My favourite of the four, unsurprisingly, was the P&P adaptation - Blood and Prejudice - but I really enjoyed the other three stories as well. I am looking forward to exploring what other books all four of these authors have written, because if their short storied in this book are any indication of what they have to offer, I may be adding titles to my "to be read" list.
If you like Jane Austen's books, and you enjoy paranormal stories, I highly recommend this book as a great way to experience both in several brief [each story is around 100 pages] but very enjoyable vignettes. Fast, fun easy-reading stories that are highly entertaining. Loved this!!