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The Darcys #1
Elizabeth in the New World
Jane Austen's most famous lovers, Darcy and Elizabeth, return in a tale of romance, adventure, and danger set in the heart of the Caribbean. NO GREATER LOVE Darcy's sudden, passionate kiss sweeps Elizabeth into a bliss she has never known...but their love is short-lived. On a field of honor, Wickham, once again, engages in an irresponsible act, which leaves Darcy mortally wounded and Elizabeth broken. Refusing to leave Darcy's side, the last vestiges of her reputation are shattered, and when Elizabeth sees Darcy in his coffin, she is ruined in more ways than one. Devastated and without hope, reluctantly she agrees to accompany friends to Grenada, a Caribbean island on the brink of revolution. Things are not what they seem. Darcy hasn't died, but Elizabeth is gone and he fears it is too late to recapture what he has lost. As he struggles to recuperate, he must put aside his pride and his heritage in order to find the only woman he will ever love. Never before has Darcy sacrificed so much for a passion he fought against so vehemently. And never before has Elizabeth’s strength of character been stronger - it is the only thing standing between her and an end that doesn't include Darcy.
260 pages, Paperback
Published October 23, 2018
About the author
Maggie Mooha
4 books60 followersMaggie began her career by writing a Star Trek novel called A Free Radical. She got an agent who took it to the Powers-That- Be and they told her they would not read anything by anyone but the authors they already hired. OK. So much for that idea. Next, she turned to screenwriting. Working with her mentor, Madeline DiMaggio, she was a semi-finalist in the Prime-Time Television division of the Heart of Film Screenwriting Contest at the Austin Film Festival for her script “X-Files Mananangal”, and also won a screenwriting contest sponsored by Square Magazine in New York. All of these and subsequent screenplays and teleplays remain stubbornly unproduced.
Taking a different tack, she began work on Elizabeth in the New World. After finally finishing it, she set out to answer that question “Will anyone think this is good enough to publish?” One year and one large spreadsheet later filled with “no, no, no, no, thank you, but no, we are not looking for that type of manuscript at this time,” it happened. The rest is history, or really, historical fiction, which is what she writes.
She also climbed Kilimanjaro, stood on The Great Wall of China, visited Eiffel’s office on the famous tower in Paris and stood with Solidarity as they called an end to a strike in Warsaw. She also has a grown son, a very old dog and likes to cook and play the piano. But can she write? Well, read some of her stuff and you decide.
Taking a different tack, she began work on Elizabeth in the New World. After finally finishing it, she set out to answer that question “Will anyone think this is good enough to publish?” One year and one large spreadsheet later filled with “no, no, no, no, thank you, but no, we are not looking for that type of manuscript at this time,” it happened. The rest is history, or really, historical fiction, which is what she writes.
She also climbed Kilimanjaro, stood on The Great Wall of China, visited Eiffel’s office on the famous tower in Paris and stood with Solidarity as they called an end to a strike in Warsaw. She also has a grown son, a very old dog and likes to cook and play the piano. But can she write? Well, read some of her stuff and you decide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 12, 2018
This is a fabulous, thrilling, romantic adventure that also incorporates historical facts about the West Indies during the Regency period. It does take a while for the story to get to the New World, but there's lots of edge-of-your-set stuff going on right from the beginning.
The discovery of Wickham and Lydia in London leads to a duel in a London park, but first Elizabeth and Darcy declare their love for each other and share a passionate kiss. Tragically, he is mortally wounded and brought to his home. Elizabeth, who is in Town in this variation, is one of the few who can stomach the sick room and insists upon assisting the doctor and nursing Darcy around the clock despite the potential damage to her reputation. There's a deep void between the treatments suggested by a surgeon with experience treating serious battlefield wounds and a respected doctor educated at the finest schools in England, and it's Elizabeth who must make a crucial decision between the two.
Lady Catherine intervenes, contriving to have Darcy removed to Rosings and insisting her doctor dose him heavily with laudenum during the journey. Too heavily. It leads to a critical mistake, and the doctor pronounces him dead. Elizabeth is devastated. She even sees Darcy's body at Rosings in order to convince herself that he's really gone.
When Elizabeth returns to Longbourn, she is shunned by the neighbors and some members of her own family because of her "inappropriate" behavior in nursing Mr. Darcy. Jane and Bingley, who are now married and living at Netherfield, have Edward Home and his sister Barbara visiting from their estate in Grenada. Edward is already showing interest in Elizabeth and Barbara has become a close friend, so they invite her to join them on their return voyage to St. George's. With nothing left for her in England, Elizabeth agrees, not realizing that they are plantation owners with negro slaves.
During the voyage, Elizabeth makes friends with Quaker passengers and learns about their anti-slavery beliefs, which are in direct opposition to those of her hosts. Upon her arrival, she discovers a completely different culture than in England. Her maid is Poppy, a slave. Edward's father is Ninian Home (the actual Governor of Grenada at the time).
Elizabeth tries to stop grieving for Darcy, but he still holds her heart. Edward stays patient while making it clear that he wants to marry her as soon as she can accept another man's love. There's a secret about him which his family keeps from Elizabeth, as they are eager for the two to marry. In this age before telephones, airplanes, and Skype, even mail is unreliable because of pirates and the hostilities between the British and French, so she does not receive any news from home.
Subsequent events coincide with history. Elizabeth's maidenhood and life are put at risk when the Fedon Rebellion erupts. (You can look it up).
Yes, there's a happy ending because Darcy isn't really dead. (That's in the author's own book blurb so I'm not giving away a spoiler.) He goes into full hero mode. Just getting away from Rosings requires help and luck. He can't survive a long ocean voyage until he fully recovers, so he must push himself to the limit to rehabilitate as quickly as possible. Once again, Lady Catherine throws a major wrench in the works. Can Darcy make the sacrifice necessary to get to Elizabeth in time?
Lady Catherine is positively beyond redemption--scheming, poisoning, and blatantly lying for her own ends. I'm used to hating her in a P&P variation, and she's even more despicable than usual. However, much as I wanted to see her punished beyond simply not getting what she wanted, her lack of consequences fits the author's overall adherence to historical accuracy. A woman of Lady C's station probably could get away with a lot of underhanded behavior.
I love how George Wickham gets to play a surprising role here. It seems like a credible interpretation of his character when he actually finds an honorable niche for himself. Poppy and Foster are well drawn new characters who turn up as significant companions for, respectively, Elizabeth and Darcy.
There are some scenes of violence, including attempted rapes of women. (Keep in mind that these things actually did happen.) The end of the book has some mature content.
The flow of the writing is excellent and keeps the reader fully engaged. You can just feel all the heartache Darcy and Elizabeth go through. As I was reading, I was concerned that I might have to critique an overly long HEA, but it turns out that there IS additional resolution of the plot in the final couple of pages. Aside from the misspelling of one homonym (complemented/complimented), I didn't notice a single grammar or spelling error, so kudos to the author or whoever edited this so well.
The price for a kindle copy is more than I would usually spend on a book by a brand new author, but this is worth every penny--and more. Don't let the cost deter you. Highly recommend!
The discovery of Wickham and Lydia in London leads to a duel in a London park, but first Elizabeth and Darcy declare their love for each other and share a passionate kiss. Tragically, he is mortally wounded and brought to his home. Elizabeth, who is in Town in this variation, is one of the few who can stomach the sick room and insists upon assisting the doctor and nursing Darcy around the clock despite the potential damage to her reputation. There's a deep void between the treatments suggested by a surgeon with experience treating serious battlefield wounds and a respected doctor educated at the finest schools in England, and it's Elizabeth who must make a crucial decision between the two.
Lady Catherine intervenes, contriving to have Darcy removed to Rosings and insisting her doctor dose him heavily with laudenum during the journey. Too heavily. It leads to a critical mistake, and the doctor pronounces him dead. Elizabeth is devastated. She even sees Darcy's body at Rosings in order to convince herself that he's really gone.
When Elizabeth returns to Longbourn, she is shunned by the neighbors and some members of her own family because of her "inappropriate" behavior in nursing Mr. Darcy. Jane and Bingley, who are now married and living at Netherfield, have Edward Home and his sister Barbara visiting from their estate in Grenada. Edward is already showing interest in Elizabeth and Barbara has become a close friend, so they invite her to join them on their return voyage to St. George's. With nothing left for her in England, Elizabeth agrees, not realizing that they are plantation owners with negro slaves.
During the voyage, Elizabeth makes friends with Quaker passengers and learns about their anti-slavery beliefs, which are in direct opposition to those of her hosts. Upon her arrival, she discovers a completely different culture than in England. Her maid is Poppy, a slave. Edward's father is Ninian Home (the actual Governor of Grenada at the time).
Elizabeth tries to stop grieving for Darcy, but he still holds her heart. Edward stays patient while making it clear that he wants to marry her as soon as she can accept another man's love. There's a secret about him which his family keeps from Elizabeth, as they are eager for the two to marry. In this age before telephones, airplanes, and Skype, even mail is unreliable because of pirates and the hostilities between the British and French, so she does not receive any news from home.
Subsequent events coincide with history. Elizabeth's maidenhood and life are put at risk when the Fedon Rebellion erupts. (You can look it up).
Yes, there's a happy ending because Darcy isn't really dead. (That's in the author's own book blurb so I'm not giving away a spoiler.) He goes into full hero mode. Just getting away from Rosings requires help and luck. He can't survive a long ocean voyage until he fully recovers, so he must push himself to the limit to rehabilitate as quickly as possible. Once again, Lady Catherine throws a major wrench in the works. Can Darcy make the sacrifice necessary to get to Elizabeth in time?
Lady Catherine is positively beyond redemption--scheming, poisoning, and blatantly lying for her own ends. I'm used to hating her in a P&P variation, and she's even more despicable than usual. However, much as I wanted to see her punished beyond simply not getting what she wanted, her lack of consequences fits the author's overall adherence to historical accuracy. A woman of Lady C's station probably could get away with a lot of underhanded behavior.
I love how George Wickham gets to play a surprising role here. It seems like a credible interpretation of his character when he actually finds an honorable niche for himself. Poppy and Foster are well drawn new characters who turn up as significant companions for, respectively, Elizabeth and Darcy.
There are some scenes of violence, including attempted rapes of women. (Keep in mind that these things actually did happen.) The end of the book has some mature content.
The flow of the writing is excellent and keeps the reader fully engaged. You can just feel all the heartache Darcy and Elizabeth go through. As I was reading, I was concerned that I might have to critique an overly long HEA, but it turns out that there IS additional resolution of the plot in the final couple of pages. Aside from the misspelling of one homonym (complemented/complimented), I didn't notice a single grammar or spelling error, so kudos to the author or whoever edited this so well.
The price for a kindle copy is more than I would usually spend on a book by a brand new author, but this is worth every penny--and more. Don't let the cost deter you. Highly recommend!
December 13, 2018
This is a book you want to allow a lot of time to read. It will draw you in and not let go.
Debbie B. posted an excellent review which had me putting this at the top of my pile of TBR books.
As the story description tells you Darcy is wounded during a duel (and it is not actually he who is one of the duelist) and then is presumed dead after his aunt, Lady Catherine takes him (against doctor's advice) away from his town house to Rosings. Elizabeth sees him in his coffin. Soon after she (with her ruined reputation as she has tended him day-in and day-out and is not even engaged to him) leaves to travel with new acquaintances to the Caribbean island of Grenada. Here the author uses much of actual history to paint a story of slaves and their revolt against their masters aided by the French who had lost control of the island.
Back in England (and I am reminded of the book, The Fall of the House of Usher) Darcy struggles to escape death's grip!!! Then as he works unendingly to rehabilitate his body so that he can survive traveling to port to take a ship to follow Elizabeth he finds his aunt has thwarted that plan. You will suffer with the man as he now finds himself at the lowest point he can be in soul and body, but he does what he must to be able to get to Elizabeth. The drama here is so tense.
Not only are we holding our breath as to whether Darcy will leave England and survive the trip we are also cringing at what Elizabeth goes through: first of all wondering if she will marry (She is engaged.) and then secondly if she will survive as a prisoner of the rebels and it is a very close thing that she does. AND that is not without much trauma. She is left with scars that we know of as PTSD.
This is a much a historical romance as it is a romance. As I said - allow time because it will be difficult to put this book down.
Debbie B. posted an excellent review which had me putting this at the top of my pile of TBR books.
As the story description tells you Darcy is wounded during a duel (and it is not actually he who is one of the duelist) and then is presumed dead after his aunt, Lady Catherine takes him (against doctor's advice) away from his town house to Rosings. Elizabeth sees him in his coffin. Soon after she (with her ruined reputation as she has tended him day-in and day-out and is not even engaged to him) leaves to travel with new acquaintances to the Caribbean island of Grenada. Here the author uses much of actual history to paint a story of slaves and their revolt against their masters aided by the French who had lost control of the island.
Back in England (and I am reminded of the book, The Fall of the House of Usher) Darcy struggles to escape death's grip!!! Then as he works unendingly to rehabilitate his body so that he can survive traveling to port to take a ship to follow Elizabeth he finds his aunt has thwarted that plan. You will suffer with the man as he now finds himself at the lowest point he can be in soul and body, but he does what he must to be able to get to Elizabeth. The drama here is so tense.
Not only are we holding our breath as to whether Darcy will leave England and survive the trip we are also cringing at what Elizabeth goes through: first of all wondering if she will marry (She is engaged.) and then secondly if she will survive as a prisoner of the rebels and it is a very close thing that she does. AND that is not without much trauma. She is left with scars that we know of as PTSD.
This is a much a historical romance as it is a romance. As I said - allow time because it will be difficult to put this book down.
April 13, 2019
Are you ready to embark on an adventure with Elizabeth and Darcy that tests their love for each other beyond the norm? Are you ready to see them fight for what they believe in? Then this is the book for you!
Right from the start, the action begins and you are immersed in Wickham's thoughts. What that man has done will not surprise you, but what comes after will!
"Not being a man given to self-examination, nor to reverie even, it wasn't an easy task." (quote from the book)
Throughout most of this book my heart was in my throat. With Darcy near death, Lady Catherine's actions will stun you in her need for control over him. As the book description says, Elizabeth believes Darcy is dead. If not for Jane and Bingley and friends of his (Edward Home and his sister Barbara), she would be lost. So when Barbara invites her to Grenada, Elizabeth jumps at the chance. This journey will see Elizabeth learn and grow as a woman and experience life altering situations. Situations based on real events in the history of Grenada.
As for Darcy, you will be gasping for air right along with him. And like Elizabeth, his journey will have him breaking down barriers to find and win back his Elizabeth.
"Do not despair for we have come this far together..." (quote from the book)
This was a very exciting debut novel by Ms. Mooha. The research and history were fascinating and it is definitely an 'outside the box' story which I do tend to enjoy. However, I did have to suspend belief several times and I did question certain things (i.e. where was the Colonel). But these were minor quibbles in the overall scheme of things.
I was fortunate to win this book in a giveaway with no expectation for a review.
May 10, 2020
This is a wild angst filled P&P what if that starts with a duel
So mr. Darcy serves as Mr. Bennet's second and a freak accident causes him to be shot and Lizzy, who has come to her senses about him moves heaven and earth to nurse him back to health. Then lady Catherine intervenes and Darcy is hauled to Rosings where he meets his maker. And Lizzy returns to Meryton unable to mourn the man she loved. So she decided to travel to Grenada with a friend of Bingley's and his sister, to nurse her broken heart in private.
Upon her arrival she is introduced to the horrors of chattel slavery, the disquiet of ensuing rebellion and the inequities of a slave owning society. Meanwhile Darcy who wasn't completely dead is trying to get to Grenada and nothing will stop him.
And there's lots of angst, terro, worry and daring do ahead for ODC.
What i could have done without were two intimate scenes that were out of place with the rest of the book and the way the ending meandered on and on.
So mr. Darcy serves as Mr. Bennet's second and a freak accident causes him to be shot and Lizzy, who has come to her senses about him moves heaven and earth to nurse him back to health. Then lady Catherine intervenes and Darcy is hauled to Rosings where he meets his maker. And Lizzy returns to Meryton unable to mourn the man she loved. So she decided to travel to Grenada with a friend of Bingley's and his sister, to nurse her broken heart in private.
Upon her arrival she is introduced to the horrors of chattel slavery, the disquiet of ensuing rebellion and the inequities of a slave owning society. Meanwhile Darcy who wasn't completely dead is trying to get to Grenada and nothing will stop him.
And there's lots of angst, terro, worry and daring do ahead for ODC.
What i could have done without were two intimate scenes that were out of place with the rest of the book and the way the ending meandered on and on.
January 6, 2019
What a wonderful book.
November 23, 2018
Debbie summarized the story nicely.
Definitely a unique take on P&P. It’s a page turner full of angst. You really want to root for both Darcy & Elizabeth.
Definitely a unique take on P&P. It’s a page turner full of angst. You really want to root for both Darcy & Elizabeth.
February 12, 2019
omg I just couldn't put this book down. A definite must read and the reviews that came before me sums it up perfectly.
January 13, 2019
Dear Reader,
Where do I start in proclaiming the merits of this wonderfully compelling,angst filled, heartbreaking yet oddly satisfying tale?
Do I begin at the addictive first chapters where all appears lost and a beloved character,bereft at the loss of a potential life partner,makes a life changing decision,one that will have extraordinary consequences for her and those she holds dear?
This was a wonderful story which will capture your heart,tug at your emotions and have you praying for a happy resolution to the angst filled and dark events that befall Lizzy,Poppy,Will,Foster,Wickham etc.
I loved how the various threads of this tale were seamlessly embroidered to create a blanket of woe,loyalty,love and friendship, one that saw society's class system questioned and levelled previously held perceived prejudices to the ground.
Highly recommended to all JAFF enthusiasts.While there are scenes of violence against women,more is hinted at than is actually vividly portrayed.
Where do I start in proclaiming the merits of this wonderfully compelling,angst filled, heartbreaking yet oddly satisfying tale?
Do I begin at the addictive first chapters where all appears lost and a beloved character,bereft at the loss of a potential life partner,makes a life changing decision,one that will have extraordinary consequences for her and those she holds dear?
This was a wonderful story which will capture your heart,tug at your emotions and have you praying for a happy resolution to the angst filled and dark events that befall Lizzy,Poppy,Will,Foster,Wickham etc.
I loved how the various threads of this tale were seamlessly embroidered to create a blanket of woe,loyalty,love and friendship, one that saw society's class system questioned and levelled previously held perceived prejudices to the ground.
Highly recommended to all JAFF enthusiasts.While there are scenes of violence against women,more is hinted at than is actually vividly portrayed.
November 8, 2018
Historical Content, True to Austen Characters in Extraordinary Circumstances who Show Growth.
Although this is a first novel for Maggie Mooha, I consider this among the oustanding Austen variations that I have read and give it my highest recommendation. If you dislike violence this is not for you, though. It is so well written with such depth of thought and outstanding research that I really did not notice if there were grammatical flaws. It is one of the most professional and profound of this genre. I also like the way the author shows her characters staying themselves but growing from life’s experiences. What a wonderful movie this would make, and this Elizabeth is a strong, compassionate character. She does endure major obstacles which are a struggle to overcome on her part, but she also shows strength.
Darcy is shot accidentally as a 2nd for Mr. Bennet in a duel that Darcy wanted to resolve other ways, but a gun fired accidentally and Darcy was seemingly mortally wounded. Lizzy sayed beside him which would have sullied her reputation. Without knowing Darcy survived Lizzy left for Grenada with friends of Charles Bingley. Meanwhile Darcy rememberd Lizzy at his bedside and was determined to follow her after he learned where she was, even to the point of signing on as a sailor when there were no passenger ships to the new world.
Lizzy, Darcy, Wickham, and other friends and other British were thrown into a French, slave, and free black rebellion against them. Can Lizzy even survive the violence? Can her virtue stay intact?
Lizzy befriended slave woman named Poppy and taught her to read while she was a guest of the governor’s family (or assistant governor). Lizzy learned about the lot of slave women and the lusts of masters. As a prisoner she would learn of the violence and lusts of the rebels when she was just as much at the mercy of her captures.
I think Jane Austen would have liked having her characters questioning slavery (and rebellions), class distinctions, and all. Jane Austen in her own writings as Mansfield Park questioned slavery through Fanny Price and some of her cousins in that book while other English profited from it, and all lived on the bounty of products produced by slavery. There was a growing anti-slavery movement within England and discontent with class distinctions.
This book has it all, an enduring love story admist historical references to slavery, other social and class changes, and characters who grew in character while loving each other. The depth of emotion is wonderful. This is quite a masterpiece for a first book. I am a historian who specialized in the Civil War USA, and could certainly appreciate the problems of conflict and slavery, as well as the evils of it. I know Jane Austen hated it from afar in England. It is only fitting to have Darcy and Lizzy showed development of the thought processes that led to abolishing slavery in the British Empire, that is if they could survive. The book does show substantial violence which was a historical truth during the times. This is one of the most unforgettable fan fiction books that I have read, though it is a wonderful historical novel, too. What a talented writer and superb researcher Maggie Mooha is. I will certainly want to read anything else she publishes. I have to force time to review a book but thought I should review this new author and let people know this is worth reading, at least if you can handle historically accurate types of violence.
Although this is a first novel for Maggie Mooha, I consider this among the oustanding Austen variations that I have read and give it my highest recommendation. If you dislike violence this is not for you, though. It is so well written with such depth of thought and outstanding research that I really did not notice if there were grammatical flaws. It is one of the most professional and profound of this genre. I also like the way the author shows her characters staying themselves but growing from life’s experiences. What a wonderful movie this would make, and this Elizabeth is a strong, compassionate character. She does endure major obstacles which are a struggle to overcome on her part, but she also shows strength.
Darcy is shot accidentally as a 2nd for Mr. Bennet in a duel that Darcy wanted to resolve other ways, but a gun fired accidentally and Darcy was seemingly mortally wounded. Lizzy sayed beside him which would have sullied her reputation. Without knowing Darcy survived Lizzy left for Grenada with friends of Charles Bingley. Meanwhile Darcy rememberd Lizzy at his bedside and was determined to follow her after he learned where she was, even to the point of signing on as a sailor when there were no passenger ships to the new world.
Lizzy, Darcy, Wickham, and other friends and other British were thrown into a French, slave, and free black rebellion against them. Can Lizzy even survive the violence? Can her virtue stay intact?
Lizzy befriended slave woman named Poppy and taught her to read while she was a guest of the governor’s family (or assistant governor). Lizzy learned about the lot of slave women and the lusts of masters. As a prisoner she would learn of the violence and lusts of the rebels when she was just as much at the mercy of her captures.
I think Jane Austen would have liked having her characters questioning slavery (and rebellions), class distinctions, and all. Jane Austen in her own writings as Mansfield Park questioned slavery through Fanny Price and some of her cousins in that book while other English profited from it, and all lived on the bounty of products produced by slavery. There was a growing anti-slavery movement within England and discontent with class distinctions.
This book has it all, an enduring love story admist historical references to slavery, other social and class changes, and characters who grew in character while loving each other. The depth of emotion is wonderful. This is quite a masterpiece for a first book. I am a historian who specialized in the Civil War USA, and could certainly appreciate the problems of conflict and slavery, as well as the evils of it. I know Jane Austen hated it from afar in England. It is only fitting to have Darcy and Lizzy showed development of the thought processes that led to abolishing slavery in the British Empire, that is if they could survive. The book does show substantial violence which was a historical truth during the times. This is one of the most unforgettable fan fiction books that I have read, though it is a wonderful historical novel, too. What a talented writer and superb researcher Maggie Mooha is. I will certainly want to read anything else she publishes. I have to force time to review a book but thought I should review this new author and let people know this is worth reading, at least if you can handle historically accurate types of violence.
November 14, 2018
Intense dose of reality
What a story. Imagine dropping Cinderella and Prince Charming into the middle of the Syrian war without any modern technology. This is what kind of happens to Lizzy and Darcy.
The things that happened to Lizzy are just awful and she thinks Darcy is dead. This takes place on the island of Genada in the West Indies.
It really strips the artificial society of Regency England and shows the veneer of civilization can be be punctured and lost fairly easily. It was all to violent and how Lizzy was treated left me cold.
The writing was excellent, the emotions felt real and raw.
I believe lots of people will enjoy the story but I won’t be rereading it again.
What a story. Imagine dropping Cinderella and Prince Charming into the middle of the Syrian war without any modern technology. This is what kind of happens to Lizzy and Darcy.
The things that happened to Lizzy are just awful and she thinks Darcy is dead. This takes place on the island of Genada in the West Indies.
It really strips the artificial society of Regency England and shows the veneer of civilization can be be punctured and lost fairly easily. It was all to violent and how Lizzy was treated left me cold.
The writing was excellent, the emotions felt real and raw.
I believe lots of people will enjoy the story but I won’t be rereading it again.
November 17, 2018
So Very Different
Looking for a truly heroic Darcy?
Looking for an Elizabeth to admire?
Read this book.
And then, together, we can all wait for this author to write another.
Looking for a truly heroic Darcy?
Looking for an Elizabeth to admire?
Read this book.
And then, together, we can all wait for this author to write another.
July 22, 2020
When I give up my aversion to plot contrivances that are suspension of disbelief, you can tell that the book has me so hooked, I don't mind that the author is pushing her luck. This is what happened in this "Elizabeth in the New World." I won't list the crazy things that happened that were too coincidental. They would serve as spoilers, and I loath book reviews that give it all away. That's not the purpose of a review--the purpose is to report on the outcomes, the feels, the reactions to those changes, as well as the parts of the plot that were bang on believable, which was the majority here. Oh, now I've gone and made you think there was a lot of contrivance. There was not, and it depends on your tolerance whether you think these twists were realistic or not.
Some would complain that this Darcy is out of character for reasons that would again be spoilers. I always say that fiction is fiction and if the author wishes to take a portion of the character's traits and expand upon them, making those characteristics become dominant during tension and conflict, there's nothing wrong with that approach. Austen wrote Darcy not only as a very complex character, she wrote him almost as two people. There's a lot of subtlety to draw from when fleshing out Fitzwilliam Darcy in a fic, and Maggie Mooha chose the right traits for this one.
Same with Elizabeth. In canon, she runs away from conflict a lot (physically!), and can be wishy-washy and morose. She's not always the sparkling, intelligent, confident Mary Sue that too many JAFF books like to lean upon--Austen made her a real person. Maggie Mooha has her spot on Austen's character under the circumstances of this book.
The story includes a Wickham that is different than readers are accustomed to. Again, read your Austen. Find where she said he was like this and how Mooha used it to our advantage.
New characters are well written and consistent to their characterization. Mooha has included a Black character in a key role in the book as Poppy, Elizabeth's lady's maid--plus she's a lot more in the story. Mooha is ahead of the curve in the recent challenges to authors to write characters from marginalized groups since this book came out two years before them. The Caribbean location of a lot of the story necessitates a great deal of reference to Black characters' lives during the Regency as well, and those stories are told with a great deal of care given that it's during an uprising and war.
That plot line I mentioned, the one that could get fantastic at points, has a full and well organized story arc that is satisfying to the reader. It is overflowing with dramatic tension, with never a release until a good three quarters of the way through, and then it ramps up a little again. So get your big-girl panties on and enjoy the ride. At a couple of points, the angst is near painful, at most points you're just reading as fast as you can without skimming--you don't want to miss anything--to get through the stress to the point where you have the HEA that you know is promised. The author snatches it away in sneaky ways a few times; however, at that joyful reunion, it's surrounded by so much excitement in the surrounding story, your thrill factor stays high!
We're spared graphic images during the war and medical scenes--it's enough to use our imaginations. For those who don't like honesty in love, there's some detail in the steamy scenes.
The author changes voice nicely, allowing us to know what Darcy is doing and Elizabeth's world without resorting to head-hopping like so many other authors seem to lean on these days. Good job.
Clean editing left the book with no distractions, and choice of language was appropriate to the era. Complexity of language was bountiful without being a dictionary, and prose made you feel like you were there. Scene-setting was magnificent, and there were some fantastic locations to describe.
With some books, I like a them lot then forget the whole plot a month later. This is a book I will not easily forget, in particular, some of the scenes.
Here are some of those scenes devoid of context so they're not really spoilers.
- slapping his face
- boys with round eyes
- afraid of heights
- round eyes in a dirty window
- squeezing the snake
- hold on--who's a good guy?
- marry me anyway--sigh!
Disclaimer: I'm a JAFF writer and, because of this, some would consider my reviewing JAFF to be a conflict of interest. On the contrary, my reviews are honest and impartial because I was a reader first. I do not know Maggie Mooha, in fact, I just fan friended her on Facebook after reading this book. Unlike most JAFF authors who have a good 100+ fan friends, she's likely maintaining privacy of her personal life. Good for her.
Some would complain that this Darcy is out of character for reasons that would again be spoilers. I always say that fiction is fiction and if the author wishes to take a portion of the character's traits and expand upon them, making those characteristics become dominant during tension and conflict, there's nothing wrong with that approach. Austen wrote Darcy not only as a very complex character, she wrote him almost as two people. There's a lot of subtlety to draw from when fleshing out Fitzwilliam Darcy in a fic, and Maggie Mooha chose the right traits for this one.
Same with Elizabeth. In canon, she runs away from conflict a lot (physically!), and can be wishy-washy and morose. She's not always the sparkling, intelligent, confident Mary Sue that too many JAFF books like to lean upon--Austen made her a real person. Maggie Mooha has her spot on Austen's character under the circumstances of this book.
The story includes a Wickham that is different than readers are accustomed to. Again, read your Austen. Find where she said he was like this and how Mooha used it to our advantage.
New characters are well written and consistent to their characterization. Mooha has included a Black character in a key role in the book as Poppy, Elizabeth's lady's maid--plus she's a lot more in the story. Mooha is ahead of the curve in the recent challenges to authors to write characters from marginalized groups since this book came out two years before them. The Caribbean location of a lot of the story necessitates a great deal of reference to Black characters' lives during the Regency as well, and those stories are told with a great deal of care given that it's during an uprising and war.
That plot line I mentioned, the one that could get fantastic at points, has a full and well organized story arc that is satisfying to the reader. It is overflowing with dramatic tension, with never a release until a good three quarters of the way through, and then it ramps up a little again. So get your big-girl panties on and enjoy the ride. At a couple of points, the angst is near painful, at most points you're just reading as fast as you can without skimming--you don't want to miss anything--to get through the stress to the point where you have the HEA that you know is promised. The author snatches it away in sneaky ways a few times; however, at that joyful reunion, it's surrounded by so much excitement in the surrounding story, your thrill factor stays high!
We're spared graphic images during the war and medical scenes--it's enough to use our imaginations. For those who don't like honesty in love, there's some detail in the steamy scenes.
The author changes voice nicely, allowing us to know what Darcy is doing and Elizabeth's world without resorting to head-hopping like so many other authors seem to lean on these days. Good job.
Clean editing left the book with no distractions, and choice of language was appropriate to the era. Complexity of language was bountiful without being a dictionary, and prose made you feel like you were there. Scene-setting was magnificent, and there were some fantastic locations to describe.
With some books, I like a them lot then forget the whole plot a month later. This is a book I will not easily forget, in particular, some of the scenes.
Here are some of those scenes devoid of context so they're not really spoilers.
- slapping his face
- boys with round eyes
- afraid of heights
- round eyes in a dirty window
- squeezing the snake
- hold on--who's a good guy?
- marry me anyway--sigh!
Disclaimer: I'm a JAFF writer and, because of this, some would consider my reviewing JAFF to be a conflict of interest. On the contrary, my reviews are honest and impartial because I was a reader first. I do not know Maggie Mooha, in fact, I just fan friended her on Facebook after reading this book. Unlike most JAFF authors who have a good 100+ fan friends, she's likely maintaining privacy of her personal life. Good for her.
December 17, 2018
Avid Reader
It is 2:57 AM, and I sitting here blurry eyes because I couldn't stop reading this book. Lady Catherine and her dastardly behavior could not !keep out dear Darcy and Elizabeth apart. Wickham became a better man after fighting Fedon's rebellion. After months apart, Darcy rescued Elizabeth thanks to the help of a slave woman, Poppy.
It is 2:57 AM, and I sitting here blurry eyes because I couldn't stop reading this book. Lady Catherine and her dastardly behavior could not !keep out dear Darcy and Elizabeth apart. Wickham became a better man after fighting Fedon's rebellion. After months apart, Darcy rescued Elizabeth thanks to the help of a slave woman, Poppy.
June 21, 2020
Unexpected
This is Maggie Mooha's first novel, and I hope she will continue to write JAFF. What an epic story! It begins after the disastrous proposal at Hunsford, and after the visit to Pemberly by Elizabeth and the Gardiners, Darcy has discovered Lydia and Wickham in London, but that scene goes differently, resulting in a duel between Wickham and Mr Bennett. The duel goes awry, and Darcy is severely wounded. Even though near death, he makes sure that Wickham marries Lydia so that the Bennett's reputation will be saved. Elizabeth, who now knows that she loves Darcy, rejects the strictures of propriety, and insists on nursing Darcy. Through Lady Catherine's interference, Darcy is mistaken for dead, and a grieving Elizabeth leaves with some new friends for Grenada in the Carribean.
What follows is a swashbuckling tale of hardship, revolution, danger, slavery, rape, and experiences that completely overthrow the values and priorities of Elizabeth and Darcy, as they're exposed to lifestyles and opinions that are foreign to them. In their separate lives and struggles, they each find themselves questioning the principles they were raised with, and they both find themselves changed and enlightened.
I won't go into detail, but I believe the book summary should have featured a warning about the gritty content. This book is definitely for mature readers, who don't mind a lot of sexual content, and some very graphic scenes of rape and torture. After double checking the book summary, this isn't even mentioned, and that is a major oversight.
This author is a talented writer and storyteller, one who knows how to develop a plot, and how to flesh out her characters. There are some wonderful new characters introduced, and some surprising aspects of old familiar ones. I loved the portrayals of Elizabeth and Darcy, although Elizabeth's rather rapid relationship with the Home family, enough to send her on this long journey, seemed very unlikely. There were several contrived circumstances, but, putting that aside, the book is well written and well edited. I recommend it highly.
This is Maggie Mooha's first novel, and I hope she will continue to write JAFF. What an epic story! It begins after the disastrous proposal at Hunsford, and after the visit to Pemberly by Elizabeth and the Gardiners, Darcy has discovered Lydia and Wickham in London, but that scene goes differently, resulting in a duel between Wickham and Mr Bennett. The duel goes awry, and Darcy is severely wounded. Even though near death, he makes sure that Wickham marries Lydia so that the Bennett's reputation will be saved. Elizabeth, who now knows that she loves Darcy, rejects the strictures of propriety, and insists on nursing Darcy. Through Lady Catherine's interference, Darcy is mistaken for dead, and a grieving Elizabeth leaves with some new friends for Grenada in the Carribean.
What follows is a swashbuckling tale of hardship, revolution, danger, slavery, rape, and experiences that completely overthrow the values and priorities of Elizabeth and Darcy, as they're exposed to lifestyles and opinions that are foreign to them. In their separate lives and struggles, they each find themselves questioning the principles they were raised with, and they both find themselves changed and enlightened.
I won't go into detail, but I believe the book summary should have featured a warning about the gritty content. This book is definitely for mature readers, who don't mind a lot of sexual content, and some very graphic scenes of rape and torture. After double checking the book summary, this isn't even mentioned, and that is a major oversight.
This author is a talented writer and storyteller, one who knows how to develop a plot, and how to flesh out her characters. There are some wonderful new characters introduced, and some surprising aspects of old familiar ones. I loved the portrayals of Elizabeth and Darcy, although Elizabeth's rather rapid relationship with the Home family, enough to send her on this long journey, seemed very unlikely. There were several contrived circumstances, but, putting that aside, the book is well written and well edited. I recommend it highly.
January 18, 2024
A MUST READ if you are a Janeite and a Sassenach~
Darcy and Lizzy take a trip to the West Indies. Not a trip exactly, but an adventure, a matter of life or death really.
I have to say ODC in this story have even stronger/extreme characters than in P&P. Emotions struggle with reasons when life depends on everything and nothing.
The whole story developed under a fast and tense rhythm;the plot well-knit. It’s a world of events which JA knew, yet only touched the edge lightly in her work.
I’m very happy to see this ‘other half’ of history displayed in Ms Mooha’s brilliant masterpiece.
DO NOT miss this if you are both fan of Pride & Prejudice and Outlander.
Darcy and Lizzy take a trip to the West Indies. Not a trip exactly, but an adventure, a matter of life or death really.
I have to say ODC in this story have even stronger/extreme characters than in P&P. Emotions struggle with reasons when life depends on everything and nothing.
The whole story developed under a fast and tense rhythm;the plot well-knit. It’s a world of events which JA knew, yet only touched the edge lightly in her work.
I’m very happy to see this ‘other half’ of history displayed in Ms Mooha’s brilliant masterpiece.
DO NOT miss this if you are both fan of Pride & Prejudice and Outlander.
January 18, 2020
Heart palpitating page turner
I really enjoyed this story. I was unsure if I wanted to read another maximum angst version of P&P, but this was so wholly different from anything else in this genre. As a native of New Orleans it was interesting to read about a slave rebellion - something that figures prominently in our history and the cultural and racial makeup of our city. A little bit of Poe-like terror and some Southern Gothic thrown in with Regency romance made this a fantastic read. Brava.
I really enjoyed this story. I was unsure if I wanted to read another maximum angst version of P&P, but this was so wholly different from anything else in this genre. As a native of New Orleans it was interesting to read about a slave rebellion - something that figures prominently in our history and the cultural and racial makeup of our city. A little bit of Poe-like terror and some Southern Gothic thrown in with Regency romance made this a fantastic read. Brava.
April 11, 2020
5 stars
Wow, this book is an alternative ending to pride and prejudice. It’s starts where Lydia and Wickham is discovered and then it becomes its own book. The much loved Austen characters are there, but the societal and political landscape is vastly different. It’s a great history lesson into the time of slavery, slow communication, ocean travel and rebellions. Of course eliZabeth and Darcy HEA is why we read pride and prejudice variations and this HEA will not disappoint.
Wow, this book is an alternative ending to pride and prejudice. It’s starts where Lydia and Wickham is discovered and then it becomes its own book. The much loved Austen characters are there, but the societal and political landscape is vastly different. It’s a great history lesson into the time of slavery, slow communication, ocean travel and rebellions. Of course eliZabeth and Darcy HEA is why we read pride and prejudice variations and this HEA will not disappoint.
November 12, 2018
Great Read
This was more of an adventure than I was expecting. The characters were well developed and grew as real people would. It was a good insight to the conflicting world of class and standards of another time. I would definitely recommend this book as a great way to spend a day reading.
This was more of an adventure than I was expecting. The characters were well developed and grew as real people would. It was a good insight to the conflicting world of class and standards of another time. I would definitely recommend this book as a great way to spend a day reading.
November 23, 2019
New take on an old classic
Maggie Moons earned her give stars for this retelling of Elizabeth and Darcy's story. She stays true to their original characters but has them facing issues Jane Austen never dreamed of writing about,such as slavery and the horrors of war. And she does it well. I look forward to the upcoming sequel.
Maggie Moons earned her give stars for this retelling of Elizabeth and Darcy's story. She stays true to their original characters but has them facing issues Jane Austen never dreamed of writing about,such as slavery and the horrors of war. And she does it well. I look forward to the upcoming sequel.
September 14, 2020
Love the premise and the lessons
I really like this book and how Darcy and Lizzie are forced into unusual situations and are forced to face (and subsequently learn) about the trials of people
outside both their stations and then resolve to what’s in their power to make their corner of the world a better place.
I really like this book and how Darcy and Lizzie are forced into unusual situations and are forced to face (and subsequently learn) about the trials of people
outside both their stations and then resolve to what’s in their power to make their corner of the world a better place.
November 13, 2022
There are so many wonderful reviews of this book, already. I loved it, too!
I will add that there was so much to this tale: a duel, a near fatal gunshot wound, a compromise on more than one occasion, an assumed death, slavery and uprising, abuse, a hurrican and more. It is a lengthy read, but so well done. And a box of tissue on the ready might be a good idea, too.
I will add that there was so much to this tale: a duel, a near fatal gunshot wound, a compromise on more than one occasion, an assumed death, slavery and uprising, abuse, a hurrican and more. It is a lengthy read, but so well done. And a box of tissue on the ready might be a good idea, too.
July 28, 2019
Different
He believes him dead and goes to the New World where she is tested, and where she meets several interesting characters. Very angst filled in some parts, it makes an excellent read.
He believes him dead and goes to the New World where she is tested, and where she meets several interesting characters. Very angst filled in some parts, it makes an excellent read.
November 5, 2022
Very unexpected story
I enjoyed this story very much. It was touching & startling by turns. Both Darcy & Elizabeth are tested beyond endurance, learning much about themselves and their places in the world.
I enjoyed this story very much. It was touching & startling by turns. Both Darcy & Elizabeth are tested beyond endurance, learning much about themselves and their places in the world.
September 26, 2025
very nice read
What a wonderful book. The author took on some very heavy themes and wove it into a very enthralling P&P. The characters were interesting and the adventures too enthralling!
What a wonderful book. The author took on some very heavy themes and wove it into a very enthralling P&P. The characters were interesting and the adventures too enthralling!
July 6, 2020
A very good adventure story if you enjoy Elizabeth and Darcy away from England. A bit angsty for me, but the writing is good.
February 25, 2019
What if Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice went to Grenada with new acquaintances, sailing right into danger as Fedon’s Rebellion was about to start on the island? This is a question that I had NEVER asked myself (mainly because I almost never thought about Grenada and had never even heard about Fedon’s Rebellion)! But Maggie Mooha DID think about what would happen if this occurred…and she wrote a book about it.
This book is a romance (Darcy is around somewhere, so have no fear, fans of Elizarcy, or Darcabeth, or whatever their supercouple name is!) Because it is a romance novel written in 2018, it includes explicit scenes. It also contains a lot of adventure (with some scenes of violence--and grossness as the result of medicine of that time and place). It is an enjoyable read. You really never know what will happen next! But it is so much more. Themes include the politics of power (gender relationships, class, colonization, slavery) with a special focus on the status of women at the time (women’s roles in society, women’s desires, sexual violence toward women, economics). But the novel is not preachy; you learn about these things through the course of events that advance the book’s plot. Add to that the history lesson you receive while trying to figure out when and if Elizabeth and Darcy will ever get together with all of these new developments occurring and thinking about yourself as a global citizen as you read about Elizabeth’s world opening up before her eyes, and you have yourself QUITE an impressive book to read! Enjoy!
This book is a romance (Darcy is around somewhere, so have no fear, fans of Elizarcy, or Darcabeth, or whatever their supercouple name is!) Because it is a romance novel written in 2018, it includes explicit scenes. It also contains a lot of adventure (with some scenes of violence--and grossness as the result of medicine of that time and place). It is an enjoyable read. You really never know what will happen next! But it is so much more. Themes include the politics of power (gender relationships, class, colonization, slavery) with a special focus on the status of women at the time (women’s roles in society, women’s desires, sexual violence toward women, economics). But the novel is not preachy; you learn about these things through the course of events that advance the book’s plot. Add to that the history lesson you receive while trying to figure out when and if Elizabeth and Darcy will ever get together with all of these new developments occurring and thinking about yourself as a global citizen as you read about Elizabeth’s world opening up before her eyes, and you have yourself QUITE an impressive book to read! Enjoy!
March 5, 2019
Is this how I pictured things would turn out for Elizabeth and Darcy after the fact, or as a so-called sequel? I’m not sure. There is much research that has been put into the book as well as thought. We might all have had our own ideas how things turned out but now someone has put it into a very good book. The writing is very Austenesque, set in the same Georgian Era. Maggie Mooha portrays Elizabeth and her sisters as if Austen’s book is Book 1 and Mooha’s is Book 2 of the series. It truly seems a sequel. Lady Catherine is just as vicious if not moreso. Elizabeth’s mother is convinced that Elizabeth has ruined the whole family reputation just by declaring her love for Darcy and staying at his side while he is on his death bed. All of the same insensate ideas and morals of the Georgian Era exist in what is a little more modern book.
Just as in Jane Austen’s book, I had trouble at the beginning. It seemed to be a slow start for me. Maybe it’s because I wanted to know what would happen right away or maybe it was the way of the English and their frou frou ways, maybe it is even the language style.
Amongst all these comments, it was a delightful book with strong men, weak men, delightful women and horrid ones, a little romance and a daring young hero. What more could you ask?
Just as in Jane Austen’s book, I had trouble at the beginning. It seemed to be a slow start for me. Maybe it’s because I wanted to know what would happen right away or maybe it was the way of the English and their frou frou ways, maybe it is even the language style.
Amongst all these comments, it was a delightful book with strong men, weak men, delightful women and horrid ones, a little romance and a daring young hero. What more could you ask?
January 12, 2019
As a historical fiction lover, literature major, and former English literature teacher, I loved Elizabeth in the New World (full disclosure: I was a beta reader for this novel). The history is accurate and presented in a way that makes it more than just another rebellion. I didn’t know anything about Fedon’s rebellion and it has become part of my learning about the experiences of the African diaspora. I loved that the characters from Pride and Prejudice kept their essentials, but also developed in these situations that challenged them. The author included just enough personal revenge in Elizabeth’s actions to satisfy me as a modern reader. I also really enjoyed the inclusion of Wickham’s point of view (strangely enough!). My love for Darcy has waxed and waned over the years, but seeing him giving up his status, in order to win his love, brings me right back to making him my man-crush again. Maggie Mooha, the author, keeps teasing me with her ideas for a sequel! She came to my book club to discuss the novel and we developed some book club discussion questions that you can find on her website www.moohabooks.com.
January 6, 2019
In this Pride and Prejudice variation, the result of Wickham and Lydia's elopement is a duel with Mr. Bennet. This ends badly for Darcy. But then the adventure starts, not just for Elizabeth but also for Darcy as we find Elizabeth onboard a ship to Grenada in the New World. For a future without Darcy.
An enjoyable adventure story with romance as well.
An enjoyable adventure story with romance as well.
March 15, 2019
A breathtakingly original twist and continuation on a cherished Austen classic, Elizabeth in the New World opens doors to "what-ifs" and imaginative, well thought out scenarios that will leave fans of the original book enthralled and satisfied. A well written, exciting novel that is both daring and unique. I look forward to more from this author!
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