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Up-time Pride and Down-time Prejudice
In the Year of our Lord 1633, Mary Margret Russo graduates from Grantville High School at the top of her class. The beautiful and strong willed up-timer, as the people from the future are called, is mysteriously hired by a branch of the wealthiest family in the world. Mary finds herself far from her family, living in a beautiful castle in the Inn Valley of Tyrol. There she meets Counts, Countesses, the handsome and distant Count Johann Franz, and works hard as a teacher and consultant among the one-percenters of the day.
But all is not what it seems in this gilded world, where religion, undercurrents of witchcraft, and vast sums of money create high-stakes contests, and where treachery and death await the unwary or the unprepared.
Can a resolute and intelligent girl find love, happiness, and purpose in this world where she is the ultimate outsider, out of her time, alone, and in dangers she cannot comprehend?
Using archetypes, occasional dialog, and story beats from Jane Austen, Up-time Pride and Down-time Prejudice tells the story of Mary Russo, Count Johann Franz Fugger, and Mary's journey of maturation, knowledge, and love in this 1632 adventure.
But all is not what it seems in this gilded world, where religion, undercurrents of witchcraft, and vast sums of money create high-stakes contests, and where treachery and death await the unwary or the unprepared.
Can a resolute and intelligent girl find love, happiness, and purpose in this world where she is the ultimate outsider, out of her time, alone, and in dangers she cannot comprehend?
Using archetypes, occasional dialog, and story beats from Jane Austen, Up-time Pride and Down-time Prejudice tells the story of Mary Russo, Count Johann Franz Fugger, and Mary's journey of maturation, knowledge, and love in this 1632 adventure.
- GenresAlternate History
361 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 8, 2019
38 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 31, 2021
Great fun. Firmly planted in the Ring of Fire world, but very much it’s own story. The political discourse takes a back seat to the personal stories
October 3, 2019
Good reading
I've kept up to date with the 1632 collection. Some from the lesser authors are rather good and some are rather bad. This is as good as it gets.
I've kept up to date with the 1632 collection. Some from the lesser authors are rather good and some are rather bad. This is as good as it gets.
March 15, 2020
The heart of a Spy!
I greatly enjoyed this story. I do wish it was longer. A female James Bond Mary was not. I enjoyed all the interpersonal action. Great story. Filled in a few plot gaps in the ring of rite world. Please write more.
I greatly enjoyed this story. I do wish it was longer. A female James Bond Mary was not. I enjoyed all the interpersonal action. Great story. Filled in a few plot gaps in the ring of rite world. Please write more.
February 25, 2021
Mary and the Fuggers
Five stars. This is one of the most entertaining books of the ROF series. A very good plot, well told, with numerous twists and turns. I'm not saying more - no story spoilers
from me.
Five stars. This is one of the most entertaining books of the ROF series. A very good plot, well told, with numerous twists and turns. I'm not saying more - no story spoilers
from me.
January 6, 2020
This is the best 'side story' I have read in the ROF universe (so far) and an excellent study in the culture clash of up-time and down-time. I'm looking forward to more from Mark Huston.
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April 12, 2021Girl meets boy...
On first sight she nearly kills him. But love triumphs, as it should in a romance novel. Charming, well written and some enjoyable characters, borh good and bad.
On first sight she nearly kills him. But love triumphs, as it should in a romance novel. Charming, well written and some enjoyable characters, borh good and bad.
December 16, 2021
An Excellent Read
I enjoyed reading the story for the second or maybe third time. Has a good storyline and manages to keep you engaged.
I enjoyed reading the story for the second or maybe third time. Has a good storyline and manages to keep you engaged.
July 12, 2022
great Read
Wasn’t sure on this one but well written, great main character and a cracking read. More please if you can Mr Huston.
Wasn’t sure on this one but well written, great main character and a cracking read. More please if you can Mr Huston.
November 28, 2019
Very good!
What happens when you drop a modern independent minded young woman into a situation where she has to navigate the trials and troubles of fitting into 17th century culture on her own without hope of outside aid? This novel spins an exciting answer to this question and makes a fine addition to the 1632 universe if novels as a result. Most of the novels are centered around a set of uptimer characters working together, but in this case we get the story of a single individual striking out on her own into a world that is far more hostile than she realizes before reality catches up with her.
What happens when you drop a modern independent minded young woman into a situation where she has to navigate the trials and troubles of fitting into 17th century culture on her own without hope of outside aid? This novel spins an exciting answer to this question and makes a fine addition to the 1632 universe if novels as a result. Most of the novels are centered around a set of uptimer characters working together, but in this case we get the story of a single individual striking out on her own into a world that is far more hostile than she realizes before reality catches up with her.
October 28, 2019
This was an excellent story and in my opinion the correct forum for it. There are quite a few books that have been published in as a part of the Ring of Fire series that should have been published this way and not as something that only detracts from the main story line. There I'm talking about books NOT written by Eric himself, but others.
Having gotten that off my chests, let's concentrate on this book. The story itself has not much to do with the main story arc of the RoF series, but concentrates on the experiences of a time displaced Up-Timer that takes employment with the Historical Fugger family. Needless to say, there are ups and downs for our heroine and she´s not exactly surrounded by well wishers alone. This story pays tribute to Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice in not so subtle ways and in my opinion, it does it quite well.
It is better to be familiar with the 1632-verse, but not essential. Well worth the $5.99 it costed.
Having gotten that off my chests, let's concentrate on this book. The story itself has not much to do with the main story arc of the RoF series, but concentrates on the experiences of a time displaced Up-Timer that takes employment with the Historical Fugger family. Needless to say, there are ups and downs for our heroine and she´s not exactly surrounded by well wishers alone. This story pays tribute to Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice in not so subtle ways and in my opinion, it does it quite well.
It is better to be familiar with the 1632-verse, but not essential. Well worth the $5.99 it costed.
November 8, 2019
One of the more interesting ROF side stories
Mary Russo is a fascinating, strong character. She is brilliant, beautiful, and brave. A fairy tale warrior princess with a sharp mind. Maybe we could see more of her in the future.
Mary Russo is a fascinating, strong character. She is brilliant, beautiful, and brave. A fairy tale warrior princess with a sharp mind. Maybe we could see more of her in the future.
October 20, 2019
I expected this to be closer to a re-telling of Pride and Prejudice. There were only a few scenes that directly corresponded to Jane Austen. For the most part this was a new story in the Ring of Fire universe.
Fun to read and not complicated. I don't know whether someone who hadn't read 1632 or other books in the series would enjoy it as much, but I definitely liked it.
Fun to read and not complicated. I don't know whether someone who hadn't read 1632 or other books in the series would enjoy it as much, but I definitely liked it.
October 8, 2019
A fun, fast read. The characters are relatable, the plot hits all the best P&P notes without over-working the concept, and the author has a deft touch with dialogue. I love the Ring of Fire universe, but big sweeping stories aren't always my thing, and this great personal-scale story fits nicely in the timeline beside some of my favorite big-picture books.
May 6, 2023
Nice addition to the Ring of Fire series
This reworking of “Pride and Prejudice” for the ring of fire series is fun. The characters are interesting and believable. The story moves with assurance and keeps your interest. And it has enough link ups to the other entries in the series to be a good addition to the canon.
This reworking of “Pride and Prejudice” for the ring of fire series is fun. The characters are interesting and believable. The story moves with assurance and keeps your interest. And it has enough link ups to the other entries in the series to be a good addition to the canon.
September 19, 2019
Nice story.
I enjoyed this story but at times I read notes made by the editor. That was a bit odd and it affected the flow of the story. Otherwise it’s a good addition to the Ring of Fire stories.
I enjoyed this story but at times I read notes made by the editor. That was a bit odd and it affected the flow of the story. Otherwise it’s a good addition to the Ring of Fire stories.
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October 18, 2019One of better books of great series
She's not perfect but smart, better at teaching than spying but scare her enough and you die. Cowards are smart and dangerous, bullies are dumb and doomed.
She's not perfect but smart, better at teaching than spying but scare her enough and you die. Cowards are smart and dangerous, bullies are dumb and doomed.
October 28, 2019
Disappointing
At 10 percent I thought l had discovered a gem in a bunch of mediocre Ring of Fire offshoots, but 3/4 of the way through I was hoping the bad guys would just shoot the dimwitted heroine and get it over with.
At 10 percent I thought l had discovered a gem in a bunch of mediocre Ring of Fire offshoots, but 3/4 of the way through I was hoping the bad guys would just shoot the dimwitted heroine and get it over with.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews