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A review by jenbsbooks
Unexpected Friends & Relations: A Jane Austen Crossover by Jayne Bamber
Did not finish book.
I've started this (audiobook) ... and I'm setting it aside for now (which I feel a little awkward about as I got it for free in exchange for an honest review). I didn't notice before requesting that this is book 2 in a series. My bad, although I wish it had been noted on the AudiobookBoom site that it was a sequel. Both books 1&2 ARE available in Kindle Unlimited (text only) -- which I have right now, but my "reading" time is so much less than my listening time, and these aren't short reads. Also, this is a mashup of MANY of Austen's works, and I'm only super familiar with P&P. I have recognized Harriet Smith (from Emma) and I know that there are characters from Sense&Sensibilities, which I'm ashamed to see I'm only vaguely familiar with. So I feel I perhaps not only need to read the first book in the series, but also S&S too, before really starting this book.
My initial thoughts ... as this began (the prologue, so it really can't be considered a spoiler, right? Although glancing at the blurb for book 1, I guess it is, except that apparently it's all included IN the blurb too) is WHAT??? Not only is Jane dead, but she was not the sweet girl from P&P. Charles doesn't seem likeable either. Georgiana had been secretly pregnant (by Wickham) and her child is being raised as Darcy&Elizabeth's daughter ... Lady Catherine, well, she's got this big backstory too. I'm just not sure if I'm up to THIS MUCH shifting of beloved characters (and I've read a ton of JAFF with many twists).
As far as the audio ... Many parts seem unnaturally fast. I had to double check my Audible setting to make sure I hadn't accidentally bumped it up. Some of the voices so far are a little shrill, which makes listening a bit unpleasant.
My initial thoughts ... as this began (the prologue, so it really can't be considered a spoiler, right? Although glancing at the blurb for book 1, I guess it is, except that apparently it's all included IN the blurb too) is WHAT??? Not only is Jane dead, but she was not the sweet girl from P&P. Charles doesn't seem likeable either. Georgiana had been secretly pregnant (by Wickham) and her child is being raised as Darcy&Elizabeth's daughter ... Lady Catherine, well, she's got this big backstory too. I'm just not sure if I'm up to THIS MUCH shifting of beloved characters (and I've read a ton of JAFF with many twists).
As far as the audio ... Many parts seem unnaturally fast. I had to double check my Audible setting to make sure I hadn't accidentally bumped it up. Some of the voices so far are a little shrill, which makes listening a bit unpleasant.