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Once Upon a Story: An Austen Fairytale
It's a saying, universally told, that every fairy tale begins with the famous words, 'Once upon a time'.
A republishing of the novel 'Girl Lives Forever'. In the world of Everland, where kingdoms contain magic, curses and spells—there in this land is Elizabeth Bennet. After committing an act of immense courage and daring, is forced to live for the rest of her life in an enchanted castle, where dwells a beast that is called Darcy. Forced to live with him, she soon learns that her old life, and those she left behind in it, are in perilous danger. Her four sisters are doing much to keep their home safe. Yet a princess in another realm, Princess Marianne, needs her help in saving her sister, Princess Elinor, from a monster that has perpetually entrapped her. After persuading the beast to let her go to help her friends, Elizabeth Bennet goes off to assist her comrades. Yet it turns out that the fun and magic is just beginning... and so does the adventure of a lifetime. Follow every Jane Austen novel written as they are brought into the wonderful world that are our fairy tales and then are given a twist!
A republishing of the novel 'Girl Lives Forever'. In the world of Everland, where kingdoms contain magic, curses and spells—there in this land is Elizabeth Bennet. After committing an act of immense courage and daring, is forced to live for the rest of her life in an enchanted castle, where dwells a beast that is called Darcy. Forced to live with him, she soon learns that her old life, and those she left behind in it, are in perilous danger. Her four sisters are doing much to keep their home safe. Yet a princess in another realm, Princess Marianne, needs her help in saving her sister, Princess Elinor, from a monster that has perpetually entrapped her. After persuading the beast to let her go to help her friends, Elizabeth Bennet goes off to assist her comrades. Yet it turns out that the fun and magic is just beginning... and so does the adventure of a lifetime. Follow every Jane Austen novel written as they are brought into the wonderful world that are our fairy tales and then are given a twist!
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 18, 2016
3 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 22, 2017
You have to be in a particular kind of mood when you start reading this. It's an irreverent, crazy, unpredictable, creative, meandering tale that wanders in and out of several well known fairy tales populated by characters from Jane Austen's novels.
For example, "Princess" Marianne (Dashwood) is a version of Sleeping Beauty. Anne Elliot is sort of Cinderella. Fanny Price seems to be Rapunzel. Emma Watson is an interesting combination of Little Red Riding Hood (she has a red-hooded cloak with magical properties) and the Wolf (she's a werewolf). Henry Tilney must be Jack of Beanstalk fame. Emma Woodhouse is Snow White. Most significantly, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy are Beauty and the Beast. There are other characters and fairy tales in the mix. I really felt like I'd fallen down the rabbit hole as I read this (although Alice in Wonderland is one story NOT referenced in this book).
What also sets these fairytales on their ear is that there's a strong feminist bent. These ladies are warriors. Elizabeth Bennet, in full armor, has a serious case of wanderlust and battles all kinds of dragons, beasts, monsters, giants and a sorceress. Sometimes she's alone, sometimes with her sisters, Charlotte Lucas and their friend Emma Watson, sometimes with other female warriors she encounters on her adventures (such as Princess Marianne and Emma Woodhouse). Occasionally a man or two joins her on her mission, but this book is definitely more about the ladies. I mean, Emma's seven dwarfs are female "dwarfells," and it's the huntsman (John Knightley) who has bitten into a poisoned apple and fallen into a deep sleep in the middle of the forest with Emma determined to save him.
There are various bad guys, including Wickham/Gaston and Prince Willoughby (who tricks Princess Marianne into believing she loves him). Lord St. Claire pops in and out throughout, and he appears to be a demon who grants wishes but usually extracts a very costly price... but is he really evil or not? Interesting character!
There's a lot of conversation... modern, snappy-sounding stuff. Elizabeth frequently tells others to "shut up." Some dialogue is laced with humorous nonsense and some with profound philosophical observations. Here's a sample of the latter: The speaker is Lord St. Claire. "I've often found that Happily Ever Afters are difficult to come by, yet they are even more difficult to keep. For no one ever talks about what happens in the moment after the Happily Ever After is obtained and all the moments after it."
There are also some societal observations. For example, heroes don't always get the credit they deserve because those in power steal the credit and receive the public's accolades.
Be warned that, despite the mostly playful fairytale setting, this has content appropriate only for a mature audience. And I also warn you that, considering these dangerous adventures, not all of the good characters make it to the end of the book alive.
I found this very entertaining and fun. I kept turning pages, wondering who was going to pop up next and what fairy tale would weave its way into the plot. It's like no other JAFF I've ever read, and I don't know if it's for everyone. Actually, it's like no other book I've ever read. Period. I loved it, though.
For example, "Princess" Marianne (Dashwood) is a version of Sleeping Beauty. Anne Elliot is sort of Cinderella. Fanny Price seems to be Rapunzel. Emma Watson is an interesting combination of Little Red Riding Hood (she has a red-hooded cloak with magical properties) and the Wolf (she's a werewolf). Henry Tilney must be Jack of Beanstalk fame. Emma Woodhouse is Snow White. Most significantly, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy are Beauty and the Beast. There are other characters and fairy tales in the mix. I really felt like I'd fallen down the rabbit hole as I read this (although Alice in Wonderland is one story NOT referenced in this book).
What also sets these fairytales on their ear is that there's a strong feminist bent. These ladies are warriors. Elizabeth Bennet, in full armor, has a serious case of wanderlust and battles all kinds of dragons, beasts, monsters, giants and a sorceress. Sometimes she's alone, sometimes with her sisters, Charlotte Lucas and their friend Emma Watson, sometimes with other female warriors she encounters on her adventures (such as Princess Marianne and Emma Woodhouse). Occasionally a man or two joins her on her mission, but this book is definitely more about the ladies. I mean, Emma's seven dwarfs are female "dwarfells," and it's the huntsman (John Knightley) who has bitten into a poisoned apple and fallen into a deep sleep in the middle of the forest with Emma determined to save him.
There are various bad guys, including Wickham/Gaston and Prince Willoughby (who tricks Princess Marianne into believing she loves him). Lord St. Claire pops in and out throughout, and he appears to be a demon who grants wishes but usually extracts a very costly price... but is he really evil or not? Interesting character!
There's a lot of conversation... modern, snappy-sounding stuff. Elizabeth frequently tells others to "shut up." Some dialogue is laced with humorous nonsense and some with profound philosophical observations. Here's a sample of the latter: The speaker is Lord St. Claire. "I've often found that Happily Ever Afters are difficult to come by, yet they are even more difficult to keep. For no one ever talks about what happens in the moment after the Happily Ever After is obtained and all the moments after it."
There are also some societal observations. For example, heroes don't always get the credit they deserve because those in power steal the credit and receive the public's accolades.
Be warned that, despite the mostly playful fairytale setting, this has content appropriate only for a mature audience. And I also warn you that, considering these dangerous adventures, not all of the good characters make it to the end of the book alive.
I found this very entertaining and fun. I kept turning pages, wondering who was going to pop up next and what fairy tale would weave its way into the plot. It's like no other JAFF I've ever read, and I don't know if it's for everyone. Actually, it's like no other book I've ever read. Period. I loved it, though.
February 7, 2017
Really fought my way as far as I could. Was just too far off the center line for my taste...and the characters talk...and talk...and talk.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews