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The Mistress of All:
“The Mistress of All” is a complex novel, that mixes romance and angst. It is recommended for a mature audience, due to the subjects of violence and abuse – that are often mentioned but never detailed other than in Elizabeth’s recollections.
This is the story of Elizabeth Bennet, thrown by fate and unfortunate circumstances into the middle of an ordeal from which she struggles to escape, fighting for her life. Her character, her strength and her determination are tested more than ever before. She has to enter into a battle which she must win, or the loss will be immeasurable. She has a strong ally in Darcy, first from afar, then by her side. The man she rejected just a month before will return to prove his loyalty, and the depth of his feelings.
Elizabeth also benefits from the loyal support of a friend – a young woman of colour – who struggles to prove her worthiness and find her deserved place in a society unwilling to accept her.
The story begins when Elizabeth returns from Kent and stays in London for several days. She is surprised to find her sister Jane and aunt in a new, but rather close acquaintance with a young earl and his mother. Over those several days, the nightmare slowly envelops the Bennets and Gardiners, and the threat of ruin and misery weighs heavily on them.
To their apparent salvation came a hasty and strange – but so timely – marriage proposal from one of the most illustrious gentlemen of the ton. Despite her reasoning, her suspicions, her fears and her lack of feeling for the man she barely knows and even less respects, she does not dare refuse a third marriage proposal, which would throw her entire family into ruin.
By the time of her marriage, Darcy has returned to London and Mr. Bingley has returned to Jane. Things appear to have improved for the Bennets. But for Elizabeth, it is too late.
Trapped in a marriage as dark as a nightmare, never consummated but dreadful nevertheless, she must protect herself and those around her from the evilness and cruelty of a horrid man and his supportive mother and friends.
With fate’s mercy, Elizabeth’s ordeal will not last long. Circumstances turn her into a widow, one of the wealthiest and most influential women in London, with a power she is not yet ready to use.
Darcy’s feelings are the same, while Elizabeth's are quite the opposite compared with those she expressed in Kent. Darcy is the only man she can trust. Near him she feels safe, protected and supported. But her heart is so full of hate, distrust and plans for revenge, that it has little room for love and happiness.
Darcy’s feelings for Elizabeth have remained strong and deep, but the woman he adored had changed dramatically. She is now above him in terms of position, wealth, and power.
While she accepts him as a friend, and gratefully benefits from his support, Elizabeth is not ready to surrender to the power of another man yet, even if she has no reason to doubt his affection, his honour or his character.
Elizabeth Bennet is now Lady Barrington – smart, well educated and beautiful, with the power and means to treat those around her as she pleases. Her old sweetness, her teasing wit, the smile that made her eyes sparkle, her musical laugh and tendency to joke seem lost. But they are only deeply buried under fear, and hate and are just waiting for the right moment and the right man to bring them back up into the light again.
This is the story of Elizabeth Bennet, thrown by fate and unfortunate circumstances into the middle of an ordeal from which she struggles to escape, fighting for her life. Her character, her strength and her determination are tested more than ever before. She has to enter into a battle which she must win, or the loss will be immeasurable. She has a strong ally in Darcy, first from afar, then by her side. The man she rejected just a month before will return to prove his loyalty, and the depth of his feelings.
Elizabeth also benefits from the loyal support of a friend – a young woman of colour – who struggles to prove her worthiness and find her deserved place in a society unwilling to accept her.
The story begins when Elizabeth returns from Kent and stays in London for several days. She is surprised to find her sister Jane and aunt in a new, but rather close acquaintance with a young earl and his mother. Over those several days, the nightmare slowly envelops the Bennets and Gardiners, and the threat of ruin and misery weighs heavily on them.
To their apparent salvation came a hasty and strange – but so timely – marriage proposal from one of the most illustrious gentlemen of the ton. Despite her reasoning, her suspicions, her fears and her lack of feeling for the man she barely knows and even less respects, she does not dare refuse a third marriage proposal, which would throw her entire family into ruin.
By the time of her marriage, Darcy has returned to London and Mr. Bingley has returned to Jane. Things appear to have improved for the Bennets. But for Elizabeth, it is too late.
Trapped in a marriage as dark as a nightmare, never consummated but dreadful nevertheless, she must protect herself and those around her from the evilness and cruelty of a horrid man and his supportive mother and friends.
With fate’s mercy, Elizabeth’s ordeal will not last long. Circumstances turn her into a widow, one of the wealthiest and most influential women in London, with a power she is not yet ready to use.
Darcy’s feelings are the same, while Elizabeth's are quite the opposite compared with those she expressed in Kent. Darcy is the only man she can trust. Near him she feels safe, protected and supported. But her heart is so full of hate, distrust and plans for revenge, that it has little room for love and happiness.
Darcy’s feelings for Elizabeth have remained strong and deep, but the woman he adored had changed dramatically. She is now above him in terms of position, wealth, and power.
While she accepts him as a friend, and gratefully benefits from his support, Elizabeth is not ready to surrender to the power of another man yet, even if she has no reason to doubt his affection, his honour or his character.
Elizabeth Bennet is now Lady Barrington – smart, well educated and beautiful, with the power and means to treat those around her as she pleases. Her old sweetness, her teasing wit, the smile that made her eyes sparkle, her musical laugh and tendency to joke seem lost. But they are only deeply buried under fear, and hate and are just waiting for the right moment and the right man to bring them back up into the light again.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2020
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102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
November 5, 2020
This is a different kind of book than readers have come to expect from Ms. Lilian - and I don't mean that in a bad way. While the romance between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy remains the heart of the story, their relationship takes a back seat to other topics: aristocratic debauchery, domestic abuse, gender inequality, and racial prejudice. (While the abuse is not overly graphic, there's enough of it to warrant a strong trigger warning.) It's worth mentioning that a black woman of questionable parentage, Cecilia, is significant figure in the book who becomes very close to Elizabeth - a very welcome addition to the usual Pride and Prejudice lily-white cast of characters.
As the story opens, Elizabeth (now Lady Barrington) has been rescued from having been separated from her family and imprisoned, her husband is dead, and she's relieved to finally be safe from a nightmare she's been living. The events that precede it are revealed in flashbacks.
The flashbacks begin with Elizabeth staying with the Gardiners in London after leaving Kent. She is surprised when her father joins them, and she learns that he and Mr. Gardiner are very concerned that they will sustain heavy financial losses neither can afford from an investment that appears to have gone bad. The stress causes Mr. Bennet to suffer a stroke, and the family fears for his life.
Just preceding this crisis, Jane, Elizabeth and the Gardiners made the acquaintance of Lord Barrington. For an earl, he gave them markedly unusual attention, even inviting them to his London townhome to meet his family. They come to understand that the elderly matriarch of the family, Lady Sedgewick, is in poor health and that Lord Barrington, who is her nephew and closest male relative, must meet certain requirements - including marriage to a respectable woman - before she will sign legal documents to make him heir to her estates and financial holdings.
With Mr. Bennet apparently at death's door, Lord Barrington offers marriage to Elizabeth. It's presented as a business proposal - marriage to a respectable gentlewoman will ease Lady Sedgewick's mind in her final weeks (and she would officially make Lord Barrington her heir), and in return, he would provide an estate for Elizabeth's family and support them for as long as she lives. Although she has serious misgivings, Elizabeth feels she has no choice but to agree. Things go downhill quickly even before they wed, but Elizabeth and Lord Barrington take their vows, and Mrs. Bennet is delighted to crow that her daughter is now a countess!
Suffice it to say that Elizabeth's marriage goes from strange to bad to worse, and the reason Lord Barrington sought out a woman unfamiliar with London society whose family has no apparent connection to the aristocracy becomes clear. Elizabeth needs to be rescued before her husband can kill her.
She's amazed to discover Mr. Darcy was a key player in orchestrating her escape, as they had seen each other only once, and very briefly, since she'd spurned his marriage proposal at Hunsford. As she recovers from her ordeal, she relies heavily on his advice and expertise in order to confront Lord Barrington's family members and closest friends and to ameliorate the atrocities her husband perpetrated against his staff. She is also eager to fulfill the legal conditions attached to the inheritance - specifically, Lady Sedgewick's charities - that Lord Barrington had ignored.
Ms. Lilian's writing is lovely. It's a very taut, engaging plot; I believe the various events are woven together in the storyline more cohesively than in the author's other books. While it doesn't have the same volume of pages describing Darcy and Elizabeth yearning for each other, the two spend a large chunk of the book working together. There's a nice buildup of steam leading to a marvelous proposal scene - and, eventually, a crackling hot wedding night.
I must point out that the evil-doers in the book are all irredeemably bad and the good characters are unbelievably perfect. Elizabeth, in particular, is a candidate for sainthood, behaving like an avenging angel whenever the circumstances warrant. I don't have any personal experience with PTSD, but she doesn't seem to suffer the extreme symptoms I would expect after her horrible ordeal. While the narrative indicates she has some lingering nightmares and irrational fears, I found her ability to face some of her previous tormentors so soon after her narrow escape defied credibility.
However, this is, at its heart, a romance novel and not real life, and it's VERY satisfying to see the bad guys soundly punished and the good guys living happily ever after.
There is some Adult Content. As noted above, Trigger Warning for domestic violence and attempted sexual assault.
As the story opens, Elizabeth (now Lady Barrington) has been rescued from having been separated from her family and imprisoned, her husband is dead, and she's relieved to finally be safe from a nightmare she's been living. The events that precede it are revealed in flashbacks.
The flashbacks begin with Elizabeth staying with the Gardiners in London after leaving Kent. She is surprised when her father joins them, and she learns that he and Mr. Gardiner are very concerned that they will sustain heavy financial losses neither can afford from an investment that appears to have gone bad. The stress causes Mr. Bennet to suffer a stroke, and the family fears for his life.
Just preceding this crisis, Jane, Elizabeth and the Gardiners made the acquaintance of Lord Barrington. For an earl, he gave them markedly unusual attention, even inviting them to his London townhome to meet his family. They come to understand that the elderly matriarch of the family, Lady Sedgewick, is in poor health and that Lord Barrington, who is her nephew and closest male relative, must meet certain requirements - including marriage to a respectable woman - before she will sign legal documents to make him heir to her estates and financial holdings.
With Mr. Bennet apparently at death's door, Lord Barrington offers marriage to Elizabeth. It's presented as a business proposal - marriage to a respectable gentlewoman will ease Lady Sedgewick's mind in her final weeks (and she would officially make Lord Barrington her heir), and in return, he would provide an estate for Elizabeth's family and support them for as long as she lives. Although she has serious misgivings, Elizabeth feels she has no choice but to agree. Things go downhill quickly even before they wed, but Elizabeth and Lord Barrington take their vows, and Mrs. Bennet is delighted to crow that her daughter is now a countess!
Suffice it to say that Elizabeth's marriage goes from strange to bad to worse, and the reason Lord Barrington sought out a woman unfamiliar with London society whose family has no apparent connection to the aristocracy becomes clear. Elizabeth needs to be rescued before her husband can kill her.
She's amazed to discover Mr. Darcy was a key player in orchestrating her escape, as they had seen each other only once, and very briefly, since she'd spurned his marriage proposal at Hunsford. As she recovers from her ordeal, she relies heavily on his advice and expertise in order to confront Lord Barrington's family members and closest friends and to ameliorate the atrocities her husband perpetrated against his staff. She is also eager to fulfill the legal conditions attached to the inheritance - specifically, Lady Sedgewick's charities - that Lord Barrington had ignored.
Ms. Lilian's writing is lovely. It's a very taut, engaging plot; I believe the various events are woven together in the storyline more cohesively than in the author's other books. While it doesn't have the same volume of pages describing Darcy and Elizabeth yearning for each other, the two spend a large chunk of the book working together. There's a nice buildup of steam leading to a marvelous proposal scene - and, eventually, a crackling hot wedding night.
I must point out that the evil-doers in the book are all irredeemably bad and the good characters are unbelievably perfect. Elizabeth, in particular, is a candidate for sainthood, behaving like an avenging angel whenever the circumstances warrant. I don't have any personal experience with PTSD, but she doesn't seem to suffer the extreme symptoms I would expect after her horrible ordeal. While the narrative indicates she has some lingering nightmares and irrational fears, I found her ability to face some of her previous tormentors so soon after her narrow escape defied credibility.
However, this is, at its heart, a romance novel and not real life, and it's VERY satisfying to see the bad guys soundly punished and the good guys living happily ever after.
There is some Adult Content. As noted above, Trigger Warning for domestic violence and attempted sexual assault.
July 30, 2023
“My mother was a good mistress to her servants, taking care of them in their sicknesses, not sparing any cost she was able to bestow for their recovery.” –Margaret Cavendish
Rating: MA: mature audience: adult themes: trigger warnings: violence and spousal abuse, physical violence due to master/servant atrocities, physical violence due to a fight scene. The above opening quote won’t be relevant until later in the story. This was a second edition and with a new cover.
Angst Level: OMG! High angst due to violence and anxiety of and for our dear character. The reader discovers right away that something horrible has happened in the life of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I kept waiting for the ax to fall and La! I did not have long to wait. Then, as the story progressed, it became far worse than I could imagine. This was not a story for wimps but a multi-layered story with so many threads happening that I found it difficult to break it down in a review. So, I will just say, read it. It was amazing.
What I liked: immediately, our author [Lory Lilian] grabbed the reader by the throat and did not let go. It was full-on. I was hooked by the prologue. ICNPID. I actually liked the cover of the 1st edition better. This one was amazing but I still preferred the other. And, I love the title; it was so appropriate to this story. OMG! Was it ever appropriate!!! The juxtaposition of scenes vs flashbacks was spot on. We were given bits and pieces of the backstory that was so shocking, I couldn’t believe our dear girl survived. She almost didn’t. She wasn’t supposed to and that was our story.
Mr. Bennet: “Indolence is sweet, and its consequence bitter.” –Voltaire
Oh, Mr. Bennet, what have you done? Rather, what have you NOT done? I am afraid this train wreck landed right at his feet. Years ago, he could have made good decisions that would have established a big difference in the lives of his wife and daughters. But he did not, would not. He would now feel the consequences of that decision; however, it would soon pass.
Fitzwilliam Darcy: “Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are, “It might have been.” –Kurt Vonnegut
Poor Darcy, I hurt for him. I ached with him. After the DHP [Disastrous Hunsford Proposal], he went to Pemberley to lick his wounds. While there, Elizabeth’s world fell apart and he learned too late of her fate. I wanted to grieve with him. This just hurt the soul.
Elizabeth Bennet: “There was a long hard time when I kept far from me the remembrance of what I had thrown away when I was quite ignorant of its worth.” –Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
Her feelings and guilt for her actions with and against Fitzwilliam Darcy would haunt her forever. She was consumed with that old saying ‘shoulda—coulda—woulda—didn’t.’ Oh, to go back to that fateful time in April. I felt for her. She was caught between a rock and a hard place. Unwise decisions made by the ‘loving’ adults in her life forced her to go against her instincts and do the unthinkable. As she watched the family implode, she felt she was the only person who could help/save them all. However, within her breast was the feeling that what she was about to do would not end well. She was right.
The many errors that were pointed out in the 1st edition were removed in this 2nd edition. I first read this through KU [1-6-21]. I highly recommend this for an exciting and different Austen variation.
.
Rating: MA: mature audience: adult themes: trigger warnings: violence and spousal abuse, physical violence due to master/servant atrocities, physical violence due to a fight scene. The above opening quote won’t be relevant until later in the story. This was a second edition and with a new cover.
Angst Level: OMG! High angst due to violence and anxiety of and for our dear character. The reader discovers right away that something horrible has happened in the life of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I kept waiting for the ax to fall and La! I did not have long to wait. Then, as the story progressed, it became far worse than I could imagine. This was not a story for wimps but a multi-layered story with so many threads happening that I found it difficult to break it down in a review. So, I will just say, read it. It was amazing.
What I liked: immediately, our author [Lory Lilian] grabbed the reader by the throat and did not let go. It was full-on. I was hooked by the prologue. ICNPID. I actually liked the cover of the 1st edition better. This one was amazing but I still preferred the other. And, I love the title; it was so appropriate to this story. OMG! Was it ever appropriate!!! The juxtaposition of scenes vs flashbacks was spot on. We were given bits and pieces of the backstory that was so shocking, I couldn’t believe our dear girl survived. She almost didn’t. She wasn’t supposed to and that was our story.
Mr. Bennet: “Indolence is sweet, and its consequence bitter.” –Voltaire
Oh, Mr. Bennet, what have you done? Rather, what have you NOT done? I am afraid this train wreck landed right at his feet. Years ago, he could have made good decisions that would have established a big difference in the lives of his wife and daughters. But he did not, would not. He would now feel the consequences of that decision; however, it would soon pass.
Fitzwilliam Darcy: “Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are, “It might have been.” –Kurt Vonnegut
Poor Darcy, I hurt for him. I ached with him. After the DHP [Disastrous Hunsford Proposal], he went to Pemberley to lick his wounds. While there, Elizabeth’s world fell apart and he learned too late of her fate. I wanted to grieve with him. This just hurt the soul.
Elizabeth Bennet: “There was a long hard time when I kept far from me the remembrance of what I had thrown away when I was quite ignorant of its worth.” –Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
Her feelings and guilt for her actions with and against Fitzwilliam Darcy would haunt her forever. She was consumed with that old saying ‘shoulda—coulda—woulda—didn’t.’ Oh, to go back to that fateful time in April. I felt for her. She was caught between a rock and a hard place. Unwise decisions made by the ‘loving’ adults in her life forced her to go against her instincts and do the unthinkable. As she watched the family implode, she felt she was the only person who could help/save them all. However, within her breast was the feeling that what she was about to do would not end well. She was right.
The many errors that were pointed out in the 1st edition were removed in this 2nd edition. I first read this through KU [1-6-21]. I highly recommend this for an exciting and different Austen variation.
.
November 1, 2020
Unrelenting
The bad guys are unrelentingly bad and the good guys are unrelentingly good. No shades of gray anywhere in the story. Lizzy needs rescuing and is rescued pretty early in the book. No angst between Lizzy and Darcy. Majority of the story is about how awful some of the aristocracy is and nearly impossible it was to keep them at bay. Last 2/3rds of the book seemed preachy and wasn’t compelling. Lizzy is an unbelievable saint.
I probably won’t read it again.
The bad guys are unrelentingly bad and the good guys are unrelentingly good. No shades of gray anywhere in the story. Lizzy needs rescuing and is rescued pretty early in the book. No angst between Lizzy and Darcy. Majority of the story is about how awful some of the aristocracy is and nearly impossible it was to keep them at bay. Last 2/3rds of the book seemed preachy and wasn’t compelling. Lizzy is an unbelievable saint.
I probably won’t read it again.
January 10, 2021
Good Read
In a time when the Jane Austen fan fiction genre has been repeatedly accused of not being inclusive enough, kudos to Lory Lilian for contributing to change it, while not stealing from the Elizabeth-Darcy story. I really enjoyed that aspect of the book and the characters related to it.
Upon returning to London from Hunsford and Darcy’s failed proposal, Elizabeth marries early in the narrative for convenience/sacrifice sake (partly so Jane doesn’t have to) when her family is threatened with financial ruin due to a lost Gardiner/Bennet investment and Mr. Bennett’s ill health. She marries a Lord who is also seeking a wife of convenience. Unfortunately, his intentions are not honourable. Elizabeth befriends Miss Cecilia, a black woman, who is/was the protégée of Lady Sedgwick, Elizabeth’s benefactress and the aunt of her husband, who upon the death of her husband inherits her fortune. Of course, we must have a happy ending for ODC, so at the request of Jane and Bingley, Darcy comes to the rescue at right time and their relationship is restored.
I enjoyed the book very much. Proofreading is much improved from the last couple of books, but I thought the editing was still a bit weak. For example, the book title/phrase “mistress of all” became too repetitive in my opinion. The meaning and intent could have been maintained by a simple rewording. The people of colour were referred to as “black”. I had no problem with that per se, but it left me wondering if that was the usual nomenclature during Regency. I did a search to find something on my own, but couldn’t find anything definitive. Perhaps a footnote, afterword or source could have been helpful for education purposes. There were also some misused and misspelled words—widow instead of widower. In one instance, rumours instead of murmurs, perhaps?
As a fan of this author, I have to admit I missed her usual hot mush ending. This one had a bit of spice, but for me, not enough time was given to ODC’s courtship and honeymoon.
There is abuse in this story, and while not extremely graphic, it could trigger some who have experienced it themselves.
In a time when the Jane Austen fan fiction genre has been repeatedly accused of not being inclusive enough, kudos to Lory Lilian for contributing to change it, while not stealing from the Elizabeth-Darcy story. I really enjoyed that aspect of the book and the characters related to it.
Upon returning to London from Hunsford and Darcy’s failed proposal, Elizabeth marries early in the narrative for convenience/sacrifice sake (partly so Jane doesn’t have to) when her family is threatened with financial ruin due to a lost Gardiner/Bennet investment and Mr. Bennett’s ill health. She marries a Lord who is also seeking a wife of convenience. Unfortunately, his intentions are not honourable. Elizabeth befriends Miss Cecilia, a black woman, who is/was the protégée of Lady Sedgwick, Elizabeth’s benefactress and the aunt of her husband, who upon the death of her husband inherits her fortune. Of course, we must have a happy ending for ODC, so at the request of Jane and Bingley, Darcy comes to the rescue at right time and their relationship is restored.
I enjoyed the book very much. Proofreading is much improved from the last couple of books, but I thought the editing was still a bit weak. For example, the book title/phrase “mistress of all” became too repetitive in my opinion. The meaning and intent could have been maintained by a simple rewording. The people of colour were referred to as “black”. I had no problem with that per se, but it left me wondering if that was the usual nomenclature during Regency. I did a search to find something on my own, but couldn’t find anything definitive. Perhaps a footnote, afterword or source could have been helpful for education purposes. There were also some misused and misspelled words—widow instead of widower. In one instance, rumours instead of murmurs, perhaps?
As a fan of this author, I have to admit I missed her usual hot mush ending. This one had a bit of spice, but for me, not enough time was given to ODC’s courtship and honeymoon.
There is abuse in this story, and while not extremely graphic, it could trigger some who have experienced it themselves.
November 15, 2020
Okay, not great
I am a huge Elizabeth and Darcy fan. I love their story. I was sorely disappointed in this being primarily an Elizabeth story. It focuses on her taking on the world, with Darcy taking a significant backseat. It was not the love story I was hoping for. The storyline was decent enough, but fairly boring in Darcy's absence.
The writing was decent except for two glaring exceptions: the author is overly fond of exclamation marks, and the use of the phrase "the mistress of all." There were so many unnecessary exclamations, it seemed like the characters were shouting with excitement over unnecessary things. Then the overuse of "mistress of all" (which occurred no less than fourteen times) forced me to Google whether that is a phrase that I should know and understand (it's not). It doesn't make sense, and I found myself increasingly angry every time it popped up. Surely, there was a better way to phrase it, especially since not once did they say what the "all" was. Yes, the author leaves you with no doubt what is being referred to, but it is an incredibly awkward phrase, used in abundance, and when unnecessary. Overall, I would not have missed it had I not had a chance to read it, though it could have its uses for some.
I am a huge Elizabeth and Darcy fan. I love their story. I was sorely disappointed in this being primarily an Elizabeth story. It focuses on her taking on the world, with Darcy taking a significant backseat. It was not the love story I was hoping for. The storyline was decent enough, but fairly boring in Darcy's absence.
The writing was decent except for two glaring exceptions: the author is overly fond of exclamation marks, and the use of the phrase "the mistress of all." There were so many unnecessary exclamations, it seemed like the characters were shouting with excitement over unnecessary things. Then the overuse of "mistress of all" (which occurred no less than fourteen times) forced me to Google whether that is a phrase that I should know and understand (it's not). It doesn't make sense, and I found myself increasingly angry every time it popped up. Surely, there was a better way to phrase it, especially since not once did they say what the "all" was. Yes, the author leaves you with no doubt what is being referred to, but it is an incredibly awkward phrase, used in abundance, and when unnecessary. Overall, I would not have missed it had I not had a chance to read it, though it could have its uses for some.
July 1, 2021
15/5 stars. Wow! I do not even know where to start with this book. We meet Elizabeth at her husbands funeral, Earl Barrington whom she married only a month after rejecting Mr. Darcy’s proposal in Hunsford Parsonage. Now four months later her husband is dead, his family hates her, and Mr. Darcy is the only person Elizabeth trusts. This Mr. Darcy is great deal improved after Elizabeth’s rebuke and he comes out as one of the most amiable, gentle and wonderful Mr. Darcy in all JAFF.
Beware! There’s discussion and little description of physical and sexual abuse, racism, and violence.
Beware! There’s discussion and little description of physical and sexual abuse, racism, and violence.
November 23, 2020
This was a difficult read. On one hand, not just because of all the assault and abuse, but because the author writes of E's rage and anguish so well you can't help but be swept up in all the feels.
ODC relationship almost takes a back seat to the dramas and consequence of E's marriage.
ODC relationship almost takes a back seat to the dramas and consequence of E's marriage.
November 1, 2020
This book grabs you by the throat and pulls you in from the very first page. Elizabeth is at Darcy house. She's injured and we know he had been involved in rescuing her from an abusive husband - who is now dead. We know they have only seen each other once since the proposal at Hunsford and this is just a few months later. This opening chapter is incredible. Its dark, but there is such an incredible sense of intimacy between Darcy and Elizabeth. We are then taken back to see what has happened and how Elizabeth ended up married to the worst man in London....
There is some violence in this book and reference to sexual violence and abuse. Most is done in the form of reflecting back afterwards or hinting at what's gone on without lots of detail. There are some important issues in this book about violence, attitudes to women both in terms of ownership and property. We also have a black character. I can get frustrated sometimes with the perfect Elizabeth we can get in stories with difficult issues tackled - she always says and does the right things and her thinking is way ahead of her time. In this book I think Lory Lillian gets away with it as Elizabeth is surrounded by a support network who are all the same... they are all perfect and amazing - not just Elizabeth!
The romance with Darcy is real slow burner... a real true and deep friendship develops. Elizabeth becomes unexpectedly wealthy and it is nice to see a more uncertain Darcy... and a more uncertain Elizabeth too. I found a few moments in this book where I found myself thinking 'really??'... but i just loved the story so much I was happy to go along with these things... I also felt we got the same messages over and over about Cece being black... but I understand this would have been an unusual situation for a black woman in the early 1800's so was prepared to let that go too. I think the difference in how Cece was received by different people was accurately portrayed overall.
Overall I really enjoyed this book - its dark and difficult to read at times but Elizabeth has such tremendous strength in her! Her relationship with Darcy is deep and complex and I just loved seeing how their relationship developed. The intimacy between them is there from the beginning - they really know each other and understand each other in a way that separates them from everyone else. This is really skillfully done as the reader senses it from their actions - we aren't told it, you feel it. Its difficult to put down once you start and is a full length novel.
There is some violence in this book and reference to sexual violence and abuse. Most is done in the form of reflecting back afterwards or hinting at what's gone on without lots of detail. There are some important issues in this book about violence, attitudes to women both in terms of ownership and property. We also have a black character. I can get frustrated sometimes with the perfect Elizabeth we can get in stories with difficult issues tackled - she always says and does the right things and her thinking is way ahead of her time. In this book I think Lory Lillian gets away with it as Elizabeth is surrounded by a support network who are all the same... they are all perfect and amazing - not just Elizabeth!
The romance with Darcy is real slow burner... a real true and deep friendship develops. Elizabeth becomes unexpectedly wealthy and it is nice to see a more uncertain Darcy... and a more uncertain Elizabeth too. I found a few moments in this book where I found myself thinking 'really??'... but i just loved the story so much I was happy to go along with these things... I also felt we got the same messages over and over about Cece being black... but I understand this would have been an unusual situation for a black woman in the early 1800's so was prepared to let that go too. I think the difference in how Cece was received by different people was accurately portrayed overall.
Overall I really enjoyed this book - its dark and difficult to read at times but Elizabeth has such tremendous strength in her! Her relationship with Darcy is deep and complex and I just loved seeing how their relationship developed. The intimacy between them is there from the beginning - they really know each other and understand each other in a way that separates them from everyone else. This is really skillfully done as the reader senses it from their actions - we aren't told it, you feel it. Its difficult to put down once you start and is a full length novel.
June 29, 2021
This is a long story which will capture your attention immediately and make it difficult to put down. There are several long reviews which give us complete outlines of this story. I do have to say as others did that this is a story in which Elizabeth comes across as "superwoman" in the telling.
Upon returning to London after her visit to the Collinses in Hunsford Elizabeth finds herself in a position to save her family. She now regrets turning Darcy down as she accepts a marriage of convenience needed when Mr. Bennet suffers a stroke (If he dies Longbourn is lost.) and also faces financial ruin as he and Mr. Gardiner have made an investment which fails. Lord Barrington (and his vile mother) have met Jane while out walking and come visiting at the Gardiners. When Jane falls ill he turns his attentions towards Elizabeth.
We now get a lesson in the politics of marriage. He needs a "suitable" wife as only then will his wife inherit his aunt's estates and fortune. She (Mrs. Sedgewick) supports many charities and several schools for the less fortunate. What he plans is that since as a widow he would then, in turn, inherit all his wife's possessions...he will become a widow.
Thus after marrying Barrington Elizabeth begins to discover the abuse with which he treats his servants...and then her. She becomes a prisoner and only in her cunning letter to her relatives is she able to send a "coded" plea for help.
Yes, she is saved (long story) and now the tale turns to how she manages all that has been left in her hands, aided by Mr. Darcy as per her request. There is a special emphasis put on her relationship with Cece, an very intelligent black woman who had a very close relationship to Barrington's aunt, Mrs. Sedgewick. Elizabeth must call upon her legal team many times to back up her standing as the manager of all these properties and charities left in her hands. As you can imagine Elizabeth begins to change her opinion about Darcy even as he thinks he does not have more than a supporting and advising role in Elizabeth's life.
I recommend this story.
Upon returning to London after her visit to the Collinses in Hunsford Elizabeth finds herself in a position to save her family. She now regrets turning Darcy down as she accepts a marriage of convenience needed when Mr. Bennet suffers a stroke (If he dies Longbourn is lost.) and also faces financial ruin as he and Mr. Gardiner have made an investment which fails. Lord Barrington (and his vile mother) have met Jane while out walking and come visiting at the Gardiners. When Jane falls ill he turns his attentions towards Elizabeth.
We now get a lesson in the politics of marriage. He needs a "suitable" wife as only then will his wife inherit his aunt's estates and fortune. She (Mrs. Sedgewick) supports many charities and several schools for the less fortunate. What he plans is that since as a widow he would then, in turn, inherit all his wife's possessions...he will become a widow.
Thus after marrying Barrington Elizabeth begins to discover the abuse with which he treats his servants...and then her. She becomes a prisoner and only in her cunning letter to her relatives is she able to send a "coded" plea for help.
Yes, she is saved (long story) and now the tale turns to how she manages all that has been left in her hands, aided by Mr. Darcy as per her request. There is a special emphasis put on her relationship with Cece, an very intelligent black woman who had a very close relationship to Barrington's aunt, Mrs. Sedgewick. Elizabeth must call upon her legal team many times to back up her standing as the manager of all these properties and charities left in her hands. As you can imagine Elizabeth begins to change her opinion about Darcy even as he thinks he does not have more than a supporting and advising role in Elizabeth's life.
I recommend this story.
November 24, 2020
After rejecting Darcy at Hunsford, Elizabeth Bennet is put in an impossible situation by her family where she must marry in order to save them from financial ruin. Her fiancé must marry a girl who will carry on his aunt's charity work in order to inherit her wealth. Elizabeth is aware that he does not love her and that it is a business arrangement. What she does not know is that he is a certain brand of evil until after the wedding. His untimely death and some rather unusual but fully legal documents makes her the Mistress of All - a very unique situation in the time period. A woman legally in charge of estates, money, etc. Luckily for Elizabeth, a very patient Fitzwilliam Darcy is willing to help her find her way - with her legal topics, estate management, and her heart.
Elizabeth's compassion is by far the star of this story.
Elizabeth's compassion is by far the star of this story.
January 2, 2021
Marriage made in heaven
A gorgeous love story between two adults who have had some bitter truths about the world realised. Elizabeth is both faithful to Austens original characterisation and believable in her decisions before and after her disastrous marriage. As with all Lorry Lilian its a romp in angst but with a beautiful rich landscape, fleshed out characters and worlds and of course a happy ending.
A gorgeous love story between two adults who have had some bitter truths about the world realised. Elizabeth is both faithful to Austens original characterisation and believable in her decisions before and after her disastrous marriage. As with all Lorry Lilian its a romp in angst but with a beautiful rich landscape, fleshed out characters and worlds and of course a happy ending.
June 21, 2023
Sacrifice, Support, and Slow Healing
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation
THE PREMISE: Desperate to save her family, Elizabeth sacrifices herself in a marriage of convenience to a virtual stranger, the Earl of Barrington. But her marriage ends up being more horrific than she could have ever imagined. And now she once again encounters and enlists the support of the man whose proposal she rejected just a few months before…
MY THOUGHTS: I am intrigued by this darker premise and all the new characters and circumstances it introduces.These new adversaries – who are extremely cruel, abusive, and manipulative – present some interesting new obstacles for Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. And I was curious to see what their path to each other would like now that Elizabeth has experienced an excruciating first marriage.
The first half of this story is full of excellent drama and tension as Lory Lillian oscillates between the shocking present-day life-altering events that Elizabeth is slowly coming to terms with and flashbacks to scenes of her traumatic marriage (NOTE: a few incidents of physical abuse take place and are later mentioned again). Such a premise had me riveted. I couldn’t wait to see her escape this nightmare situation and heal from all she experienced.
And that is what the second half of the story illustrates – Elizabeth’s journey to healing and happiness. In this part of the story readers witness Elizabeth’s impressive strength, resilience, and extremely selfless heart. There are many wrongs she makes right, she provides new opportunity and grace to burdened victims, and she uses her newfound wealth and power to help any who might need it. Her actions and efforts are indelibly admirable and it was wonderfully inspiring to see how someone who experienced such trauma can then make such a positive impact on the world around them.
Elizabeth has a strong team of supporters that assist her with her management of her numerous new responsibilities – the Bingleys, her aunt and uncle, estate trustees, solicitors, and most importantly – Mr. Darcy. It was gratifying to see Elizabeth work alongside such respected allies, and I loved all the good they accomplished and small battles they won, but part of me wished for something more still. There was so much to do with inheritances, estate/charity management, supervising responsibilities – it was front-and-center the primary focus of this tale. And Elizabeth’s relationship with Mr. Darcy was very much secondary. So much so, that any overt relationship development between them only began within the last forty pages of the book. I wouldn’t have minded more balance between the two – fewer repetitive scenes about estate/charity management and more expressive scenes of emotional development and depth between Darcy and Elizabeth. Given that this is a Lory Lillian story, I may have gone in with expectations of seeing some “hot mush.” 😘
In addition, my other quibble for this tale is that so much is told to the reader rather than shown. With so many characters experiencing such intense emotions and compelling obstacles, I would have loved to have felt connected to them and experienced their emotions and thoughts firsthand. And to spend more time in their heads as they dealt with these different and more harrowing hardships.
Poignant and empowering – The Mistress of All is a gripping and inventive tale that beautifully illustrates Elizabeth rising from burnt ashes like a glorious phoenix. I loved seeing Elizabeth Bennet traverse such a different and brave path! I cannot wait to see what Lory Lilian writes next!
Austenesque Reviews
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation
THE PREMISE: Desperate to save her family, Elizabeth sacrifices herself in a marriage of convenience to a virtual stranger, the Earl of Barrington. But her marriage ends up being more horrific than she could have ever imagined. And now she once again encounters and enlists the support of the man whose proposal she rejected just a few months before…
MY THOUGHTS: I am intrigued by this darker premise and all the new characters and circumstances it introduces.These new adversaries – who are extremely cruel, abusive, and manipulative – present some interesting new obstacles for Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. And I was curious to see what their path to each other would like now that Elizabeth has experienced an excruciating first marriage.
The first half of this story is full of excellent drama and tension as Lory Lillian oscillates between the shocking present-day life-altering events that Elizabeth is slowly coming to terms with and flashbacks to scenes of her traumatic marriage (NOTE: a few incidents of physical abuse take place and are later mentioned again). Such a premise had me riveted. I couldn’t wait to see her escape this nightmare situation and heal from all she experienced.
And that is what the second half of the story illustrates – Elizabeth’s journey to healing and happiness. In this part of the story readers witness Elizabeth’s impressive strength, resilience, and extremely selfless heart. There are many wrongs she makes right, she provides new opportunity and grace to burdened victims, and she uses her newfound wealth and power to help any who might need it. Her actions and efforts are indelibly admirable and it was wonderfully inspiring to see how someone who experienced such trauma can then make such a positive impact on the world around them.
Elizabeth has a strong team of supporters that assist her with her management of her numerous new responsibilities – the Bingleys, her aunt and uncle, estate trustees, solicitors, and most importantly – Mr. Darcy. It was gratifying to see Elizabeth work alongside such respected allies, and I loved all the good they accomplished and small battles they won, but part of me wished for something more still. There was so much to do with inheritances, estate/charity management, supervising responsibilities – it was front-and-center the primary focus of this tale. And Elizabeth’s relationship with Mr. Darcy was very much secondary. So much so, that any overt relationship development between them only began within the last forty pages of the book. I wouldn’t have minded more balance between the two – fewer repetitive scenes about estate/charity management and more expressive scenes of emotional development and depth between Darcy and Elizabeth. Given that this is a Lory Lillian story, I may have gone in with expectations of seeing some “hot mush.” 😘
In addition, my other quibble for this tale is that so much is told to the reader rather than shown. With so many characters experiencing such intense emotions and compelling obstacles, I would have loved to have felt connected to them and experienced their emotions and thoughts firsthand. And to spend more time in their heads as they dealt with these different and more harrowing hardships.
Poignant and empowering – The Mistress of All is a gripping and inventive tale that beautifully illustrates Elizabeth rising from burnt ashes like a glorious phoenix. I loved seeing Elizabeth Bennet traverse such a different and brave path! I cannot wait to see what Lory Lilian writes next!
Austenesque Reviews
December 6, 2020
Awesome awesome awesome! Couldn’t put this book down! A definite must read. Though now I have twice as much work to do because all I’ve done for the past 24hours is read.
April 22, 2024
“Her mind told her she had no reason to be frightened any longer, but the fear was still part of her being and screamed at her to prepare to fight the terror.” (quote from the book)
From the opening chapter, the reader is pulled into Elizabeth’s mind. How did it come to pass that she is so frightened? How did life spiral out of control for her?
“The day that her own choice had ruined her life.” (quote from the book)
This was a captivating read as we learn the circumstances in which Elizabeth Bennet marries the Earl of Barrington. Little did she know the nightmare she was stepping into. Little did she know the depravity and evil lurking within her husband.
“You are the only person in the world who possesses the knowledge to disentangle the claims of the law, the power and the connections to challenge the infringement of it, the honour to fight by my side for the truth, and the willingness to do so. I have none but you. I put my whole life in your hands now and I can only pray you will not reject me, although you have every right to do so.”
But Darcy knew what type of a man her husband was, but he learned too late to stop her. He was nursing his heartache after being refused in Hunsford. However, when Mr. and Mrs. Bingley request his help in determining Elizabeth’s well-being, he immediately assists. I loved this Darcy and all he did for his Elizabeth.
“With bitterness and irony, she considered that she had gained an enormous fortune, due to an enormous misfortune.” (quote from the book)
This was an emotional read with complex inheritance issues that Elizabeth had to learn and address. A large fortune brought with it heavy responsibilities, and Elizabeth was determined to take them all on with the help of her new friend, Cecilia, the trustees, her family, and Mr. Darcy.
I do recommend it but heed the warnings if you are triggered by violence.
November 3, 2020
The Mistress of All
I was interested in this story, due to the cover, the Title, the Author and synopsis! So I pre-ordered it! What a story! It was incredible! Lory Lillian outdid herself! Lizzie was just returning from Lunsford and was at the Gardeners! Due to a family financial disaster she accepts a 3rd proposal! Not knowing what she is getting into! Please do yourself a favor. And pick up a copy! By the way, there is some violence but Mozzie manages it end up as Mistress of All!
I was interested in this story, due to the cover, the Title, the Author and synopsis! So I pre-ordered it! What a story! It was incredible! Lory Lillian outdid herself! Lizzie was just returning from Lunsford and was at the Gardeners! Due to a family financial disaster she accepts a 3rd proposal! Not knowing what she is getting into! Please do yourself a favor. And pick up a copy! By the way, there is some violence but Mozzie manages it end up as Mistress of All!
November 3, 2020
Avid Reader
Elizabeth almost loses her life after she marries an opium addicted sexual abuser. She doesn't realize the type of man that she has married because she is so desperate to help her family and her Uncle Gardenier. Mr. Bennet has a stroke, and Jane falls I'll with a bad cold. She makes friends with an English woman, Cece of African descent.
Elizabeth almost loses her life after she marries an opium addicted sexual abuser. She doesn't realize the type of man that she has married because she is so desperate to help her family and her Uncle Gardenier. Mr. Bennet has a stroke, and Jane falls I'll with a bad cold. She makes friends with an English woman, Cece of African descent.
October 13, 2025
before I start this review, I need to say that the phrase "the mistress of all" is used 18 times in that novel, which is about 15 times too many.
this could've been interesting, yet it wasn't
Besides a few typos very early in the text, the most glaring error was the fact that, despite Elizabeth becoming a (?)countess (wife to an earl), she was called Lady Barrington, and not Lady Elizabeth. Her husband wasn't a mere knight, the wives of earls are usually called Lady [first name] in conversation. Lady Catherine (daughter to an earl) retained her name, Fitzwilliam Darcy's mother was Lady Anne (also daughter to an earl). It's a big thing in the text that Elizabeth HATED being called "Lady Barrington", and yet no one ever called her Lady Elizabeth. So that caused so many instances of Darcy calling her "Lady Barrington... Miss Bennet", or just "Miss Bennet", when it was proper to call her Lady Elizabeth - which would be an extremely pleasing title for Darcy as it used Elizabeth's first name!
Gist of Plot (spoiler for the first 30%):
After Kent, Elizabeth comes to London. Gardiners & Jane met with an Earl Barrington and his mother Lady Augusta. For some weird reason, Earl Barrington proposes marriage to Elizabeth. Situation is thus: Lady Sedgewick (grandmama to Earl Barrington) is the main owner of family's wealth - and is also very old and about to die - and is willing to pass it down to Earl Barrington only if he marries a good woman, otherwise she wants to disinherit him. Lady Sedgewick approves of Elizabeth, so the earl proposes to her. Elizabeth is worried for her family's future as Papa Bennet is sick, so she agrees.
Earl is a blackguard, he only wants an heir from Elizabeth and then is planning on disposing of her. He chose specifically her cuz she's a country nobody with no fortune or connections; there's no one high enough who could bring him to justice who would be concerned about her.
But somethingsomething happens and he's dead (the book starts with it), making Elizabeth The Mistress of All.
The Earl wants an heir. He never consummated his marriage cuz he was too excited that night to party with his rake friends. He doesn't consummate his marriage for the next few months. One one night when Elizabeth finds out his depravity, the Earl, drunk & high on opium, tells her "hey, maybe it's finally the time to consummate the marriage" but Elizabeth escapes. A few days later, he tells Elizabeth "I'm not gonna kill you yet because you might be with child"
????????
???????????
??????????????
So, even in the most drunk & high condition the Earl KNEW they never consummated the marriage, yet sober in the middle of the day he was sure Elizabeth was pregnant. Plot convenience, a stupid device for dramatic effect.
Lady Sedgewick had a black companion Cece, and the Lady was afraid for the woman's safety after her death, and told Elizabeth Cece has an independent house and the means to get there after Lady's death. All of that gets conveniently forgotten about, as Elizabeth is fearful for the safety of Cece and rouses everyone to search for her, until Elizabeth slaps herself in the head, remembering about the house.
Elizabeth asks Darcy to help her with legal matters, and instead of Darcy calling HIS trusted lawyers, he says "yeah, sure, I know everything". The entire premise of the story is on shaky grounds. Darcy is only there to oversee legal matters, when he should be hiring an outside lawyer since Lady Sedgewick lawyers couldn't be trusted yet. Hire another lawyer AND take a look at stuff personally. Not hiring an additional guy made the whole premise stupid.
And let's talk about GOVERNESSES, or the lack of. Elizabeth got fortune, but didn't take Kitty and Lydia in reins. She didn't send them to a school, she didn't hire governesses for them. They were still intent on flirting and embarrassing themselves, Lizzy was a bit more cautious about it, but not enough to take any long-term measures.
Elizabeth also didn't think about saving up for their dowries, nor ever ended up making a will despite the subject coming up (chekhov's shotgun! If you mention it, it has to shoot).come to think of it, there were many different shotguns on the wall that didn't end up being shot
The author was also confused about Fitzwilliam Darcy's family tree which also made me confused about Fitzwilliam Darcy's family tree as Uncle Darcy somehow ended up being related to Darcy's Earl family.
I also LOATHE the trope that is often found within Elizabeth-an-heiress-trope which is "Lady Catherine is stupid and deaf and doesn't recognize Elizabeth as a rich lady no matter how many times she's told to STAWP embarrassing herself".
there were a lot, a lot of other things I can talk about, but I don't want to spend even more time on reviewing this book.
This is a shame, because I think the idea is really strong, and yet the execution is just not. Elizabeth's hate of "Lady Barrington" yet insistence of the text that she was her ALONE cannot allow me to give it any more than 2 stars, as that was a constant annoyance.
this could've been interesting, yet it wasn't
Besides a few typos very early in the text, the most glaring error was the fact that, despite Elizabeth becoming a (?)countess (wife to an earl), she was called Lady Barrington, and not Lady Elizabeth. Her husband wasn't a mere knight, the wives of earls are usually called Lady [first name] in conversation. Lady Catherine (daughter to an earl) retained her name, Fitzwilliam Darcy's mother was Lady Anne (also daughter to an earl). It's a big thing in the text that Elizabeth HATED being called "Lady Barrington", and yet no one ever called her Lady Elizabeth. So that caused so many instances of Darcy calling her "Lady Barrington... Miss Bennet", or just "Miss Bennet", when it was proper to call her Lady Elizabeth - which would be an extremely pleasing title for Darcy as it used Elizabeth's first name!
Gist of Plot (spoiler for the first 30%):
After Kent, Elizabeth comes to London. Gardiners & Jane met with an Earl Barrington and his mother Lady Augusta. For some weird reason, Earl Barrington proposes marriage to Elizabeth. Situation is thus: Lady Sedgewick (grandmama to Earl Barrington) is the main owner of family's wealth - and is also very old and about to die - and is willing to pass it down to Earl Barrington only if he marries a good woman, otherwise she wants to disinherit him. Lady Sedgewick approves of Elizabeth, so the earl proposes to her. Elizabeth is worried for her family's future as Papa Bennet is sick, so she agrees.
Earl is a blackguard, he only wants an heir from Elizabeth and then is planning on disposing of her. He chose specifically her cuz she's a country nobody with no fortune or connections; there's no one high enough who could bring him to justice who would be concerned about her.
But somethingsomething happens and he's dead (the book starts with it), making Elizabeth The Mistress of All.
The Earl wants an heir. He never consummated his marriage cuz he was too excited that night to party with his rake friends. He doesn't consummate his marriage for the next few months. One one night when Elizabeth finds out his depravity, the Earl, drunk & high on opium, tells her "hey, maybe it's finally the time to consummate the marriage" but Elizabeth escapes. A few days later, he tells Elizabeth "I'm not gonna kill you yet because you might be with child"
????????
???????????
??????????????
So, even in the most drunk & high condition the Earl KNEW they never consummated the marriage, yet sober in the middle of the day he was sure Elizabeth was pregnant. Plot convenience, a stupid device for dramatic effect.
Lady Sedgewick had a black companion Cece, and the Lady was afraid for the woman's safety after her death, and told Elizabeth Cece has an independent house and the means to get there after Lady's death. All of that gets conveniently forgotten about, as Elizabeth is fearful for the safety of Cece and rouses everyone to search for her, until Elizabeth slaps herself in the head, remembering about the house.
Elizabeth asks Darcy to help her with legal matters, and instead of Darcy calling HIS trusted lawyers, he says "yeah, sure, I know everything". The entire premise of the story is on shaky grounds. Darcy is only there to oversee legal matters, when he should be hiring an outside lawyer since Lady Sedgewick lawyers couldn't be trusted yet. Hire another lawyer AND take a look at stuff personally. Not hiring an additional guy made the whole premise stupid.
"We could not afford governesses"MR BENNET! YOU HAVE 2k A YEAR! my gosh, this is literally one of the biggest TRAGEDIES in the original text. Mr Bennet is in the 10% of the landed gentry, he's WEALTHY. Yes, there're men of 10k like Mr Darcy, but that's like comparing a man of 30 million with a man of 200 million. There's a difference, but both can afford a life of luxury.
And let's talk about GOVERNESSES, or the lack of. Elizabeth got fortune, but didn't take Kitty and Lydia in reins. She didn't send them to a school, she didn't hire governesses for them. They were still intent on flirting and embarrassing themselves, Lizzy was a bit more cautious about it, but not enough to take any long-term measures.
Elizabeth also didn't think about saving up for their dowries, nor ever ended up making a will despite the subject coming up (chekhov's shotgun! If you mention it, it has to shoot).
The author was also confused about Fitzwilliam Darcy's family tree which also made me confused about Fitzwilliam Darcy's family tree as Uncle Darcy somehow ended up being related to Darcy's Earl family.
I also LOATHE the trope that is often found within Elizabeth-an-heiress-trope which is "Lady Catherine is stupid and deaf and doesn't recognize Elizabeth as a rich lady no matter how many times she's told to STAWP embarrassing herself".
there were a lot, a lot of other things I can talk about, but I don't want to spend even more time on reviewing this book.
This is a shame, because I think the idea is really strong, and yet the execution is just not. Elizabeth's hate of "Lady Barrington" yet insistence of the text that she was her ALONE cannot allow me to give it any more than 2 stars, as that was a constant annoyance.
November 6, 2020
The Best Variation of Pride and Prejudice!
I have read DOZENS of variations of Pride and Prejudice and none of them even come close to this one. The story was riveting and had me hanging on to every word. I would love to see this made into a movie. It really is that good. The ending did not leave you unfulfilled and disappointed. It felt complete and I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the characters of Pride and Prejudice!
I have read DOZENS of variations of Pride and Prejudice and none of them even come close to this one. The story was riveting and had me hanging on to every word. I would love to see this made into a movie. It really is that good. The ending did not leave you unfulfilled and disappointed. It felt complete and I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the characters of Pride and Prejudice!
October 27, 2022
Wow
A very good story, a love story a feel good make amends story and a story about overcoming adversity fear and mistreatment and making a better world!!! I loved Darcy and Lizzy in this story!!!
A very good story, a love story a feel good make amends story and a story about overcoming adversity fear and mistreatment and making a better world!!! I loved Darcy and Lizzy in this story!!!
April 20, 2022
The Mistress of All: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
I loved it, like everything Lory Lilian writes, she wrote one of my favorite variations "Rainy Days" I recommend this variation to any P&P fan.
I loved it, like everything Lory Lilian writes, she wrote one of my favorite variations "Rainy Days" I recommend this variation to any P&P fan.
November 9, 2020
Worst lory Lilian by far
Are we sure this is the same author? All telling, no showing, no plot or character development. At least it was free.
Are we sure this is the same author? All telling, no showing, no plot or character development. At least it was free.
May 4, 2021
Mistress of All: aka Elizabeth Bennet, The Great White Hope
I had high hopes when I saw that this story included characters of color. Unfortunately, the character of Cece seems to be no more than a prop to show off Lizzy’s goodness. She’s barely substantial as a character on her own. Everything about her is there to make Lizzy look kind and generous.
Everyone is falling all over themselves to tell Lizzy over and over how good and kind and (cough cough rich) she is. She rights all wrongs and has enough compassion and cash to take care of everybody and their second cousin’s uncle’s old college roommate.
Between the almost constant fawning over Lizzy and the endless and repetitive business discussions, my jaw got sore from yawning.
I had high hopes when I saw that this story included characters of color. Unfortunately, the character of Cece seems to be no more than a prop to show off Lizzy’s goodness. She’s barely substantial as a character on her own. Everything about her is there to make Lizzy look kind and generous.
Everyone is falling all over themselves to tell Lizzy over and over how good and kind and (cough cough rich) she is. She rights all wrongs and has enough compassion and cash to take care of everybody and their second cousin’s uncle’s old college roommate.
Between the almost constant fawning over Lizzy and the endless and repetitive business discussions, my jaw got sore from yawning.
February 9, 2023
Will not be reading again. Very angst ridden.
Well written.
Well written.
November 18, 2020
Wonderful and dramatic
After the disastrous proposal at Hunsford parsonage, Elizabeth is back in London, and her world starts to fall apart. Her father and Uncle Gardiner suffer a severe loss on an investment, threatening both families' livelihoods. Mr Bennett suffers a stroke. Jane is still upset about losing Bingley. Out of nowhere, an earl, Lord Barrington, offers a marriage of convenience to Elizabeth, and she accepts in order to save her family. The marriage turns into a nightmare situation, and Elizabeth must fight for her life and the lives of the servants at her new homes.
The story becomes quite oppressive at this point, and the activities of Elizabeth's husband and his friends are hard to stomach. This isn't a story for the faint-hearted, or for anyone looking for just a light, romantic work. However, the writing is good, the suspense and drama are well developed, and since this is JAFF, we know there must be hope for something better, and indeed there is.
I love Darcy in this version. He is swoon worthy, steadfast, and becomes the bright light at the end of a dark tunnel for Elizabeth. Fortunately for the reader, Elizabeth gets her vindication, as the title suggests. It's a testament to the skill of the author that your emotions become engaged, and the story enters a bleak stage that feels insurmountable. Our heroine, Elizabeth, has to call on all of her well known courage and intelligence in the face of intimidation. Most of all, though, the importance of the support of family and friends is stressed.
The story introduces some new and truly diabolical villains, and also some new and wonderful characters. The romance is lovely, and it's a heart breaking and heartwarming story that is profoundly moving. Some very serious issues are covered, including spousal abuse, child abuse, and racial discrimination. It's well written and well edited. I recommend it highly, but only if you don't mind some serious subject matter.
After the disastrous proposal at Hunsford parsonage, Elizabeth is back in London, and her world starts to fall apart. Her father and Uncle Gardiner suffer a severe loss on an investment, threatening both families' livelihoods. Mr Bennett suffers a stroke. Jane is still upset about losing Bingley. Out of nowhere, an earl, Lord Barrington, offers a marriage of convenience to Elizabeth, and she accepts in order to save her family. The marriage turns into a nightmare situation, and Elizabeth must fight for her life and the lives of the servants at her new homes.
The story becomes quite oppressive at this point, and the activities of Elizabeth's husband and his friends are hard to stomach. This isn't a story for the faint-hearted, or for anyone looking for just a light, romantic work. However, the writing is good, the suspense and drama are well developed, and since this is JAFF, we know there must be hope for something better, and indeed there is.
I love Darcy in this version. He is swoon worthy, steadfast, and becomes the bright light at the end of a dark tunnel for Elizabeth. Fortunately for the reader, Elizabeth gets her vindication, as the title suggests. It's a testament to the skill of the author that your emotions become engaged, and the story enters a bleak stage that feels insurmountable. Our heroine, Elizabeth, has to call on all of her well known courage and intelligence in the face of intimidation. Most of all, though, the importance of the support of family and friends is stressed.
The story introduces some new and truly diabolical villains, and also some new and wonderful characters. The romance is lovely, and it's a heart breaking and heartwarming story that is profoundly moving. Some very serious issues are covered, including spousal abuse, child abuse, and racial discrimination. It's well written and well edited. I recommend it highly, but only if you don't mind some serious subject matter.
December 3, 2020
Not to be missed
I have to say this might be my favorite PPV. I thought the characters while in events and some circumstances altered, were much the same in essence. The new characters added in were also very well written. The story had highs and lows that had me eagerly turning the pages.
Many rewrites I’ve read and I have certainly read my share tend to put our dear Elizabeth into more difficult or terrifying circumstances to see what she would do. This was beautifully done and actually believable. Often, I want to cringe or argue with what the writer would have Lizzy do or say or even be found in such a situation. But in this I more often thought Yes! That is so Lizzy, she would do just that.
I also love the addition of a man who is far more awful and all the bad things Elizabeth believed of Mr.Darcy in the original, so we can then see the dichotomy of how such a man would compare to Noble Darcy. I applaud the way the novel also touches on the very real challenges that faced those with little power and no champion in that time.
The writing and story telling are both superb. And I can tell the author loves these characters just as much as we do for it is lovingly written. Thank you for writing this. I will definitely read it again with pleasure.
I have to say this might be my favorite PPV. I thought the characters while in events and some circumstances altered, were much the same in essence. The new characters added in were also very well written. The story had highs and lows that had me eagerly turning the pages.
Many rewrites I’ve read and I have certainly read my share tend to put our dear Elizabeth into more difficult or terrifying circumstances to see what she would do. This was beautifully done and actually believable. Often, I want to cringe or argue with what the writer would have Lizzy do or say or even be found in such a situation. But in this I more often thought Yes! That is so Lizzy, she would do just that.
I also love the addition of a man who is far more awful and all the bad things Elizabeth believed of Mr.Darcy in the original, so we can then see the dichotomy of how such a man would compare to Noble Darcy. I applaud the way the novel also touches on the very real challenges that faced those with little power and no champion in that time.
The writing and story telling are both superb. And I can tell the author loves these characters just as much as we do for it is lovingly written. Thank you for writing this. I will definitely read it again with pleasure.
November 9, 2021
well written but not as satisfying as I had hoped
I like the plot. But characterization left me disappointed. Cece was a very cool opportunity to explore a new character, for example, but we don’t get to know much of anything about her. And although i saw it coming and kept saying no no no, pairing her up with the only other character of colour in the whole book who we also learn nothing about was not my favorite. And Lizzy was a bit too perfect for me, which is never my favorite Lizzy. With that said, the romance and relationship between her and Darcy was well done . You’ll probably enjoy this one fine, I did in many ways. But the ending with Cece was just too much opportunity lost. :-(
I like the plot. But characterization left me disappointed. Cece was a very cool opportunity to explore a new character, for example, but we don’t get to know much of anything about her. And although i saw it coming and kept saying no no no, pairing her up with the only other character of colour in the whole book who we also learn nothing about was not my favorite. And Lizzy was a bit too perfect for me, which is never my favorite Lizzy. With that said, the romance and relationship between her and Darcy was well done . You’ll probably enjoy this one fine, I did in many ways. But the ending with Cece was just too much opportunity lost. :-(
September 13, 2023
A new dynamic to an old relationship
Elizabeth goes through the fire to come out stronger on the other side. The violence and abuse is present in the beginning of the story so if you are uncomfortable with it, you can move past it pretty quickly. The story beyond is worth it. Elizabeth is known for her courage rising to meet any challenge, but what she goes through is tough. On the other side she finds herself surrounded by her family and some friends to help her find her place in a new world. Her biggest struggle is that she has lost herself. The path back to Elizabeth Bennett from Lady Barrington may not be possible since her life has changed so much. I will be reading this story again.
Elizabeth goes through the fire to come out stronger on the other side. The violence and abuse is present in the beginning of the story so if you are uncomfortable with it, you can move past it pretty quickly. The story beyond is worth it. Elizabeth is known for her courage rising to meet any challenge, but what she goes through is tough. On the other side she finds herself surrounded by her family and some friends to help her find her place in a new world. Her biggest struggle is that she has lost herself. The path back to Elizabeth Bennett from Lady Barrington may not be possible since her life has changed so much. I will be reading this story again.
November 5, 2020
Not quite a romance, but still a good read
This story is about Elizabeth navigating through the trials and tribulations that resulted in her marriage to the vicious Earl. Although I like Darcy being a friend and confidant to Elizabeth, which was well done, I did sorta miss the romance just a tad. Overall, I thought the book was well done.
A little side note: There are many good variations out there. It's not too often I find a book that doesn't have some character that annoys me endlessly. This story has villains and silly Bennets, but it wasn't over done where it became a joke.
This story is about Elizabeth navigating through the trials and tribulations that resulted in her marriage to the vicious Earl. Although I like Darcy being a friend and confidant to Elizabeth, which was well done, I did sorta miss the romance just a tad. Overall, I thought the book was well done.
A little side note: There are many good variations out there. It's not too often I find a book that doesn't have some character that annoys me endlessly. This story has villains and silly Bennets, but it wasn't over done where it became a joke.
November 15, 2020
Elizabeth grows into a strong woman
This story is sad and a bit disturbing but no real details thankfully. Elizabeth accepts a proposal from a stranger to benefit her family not knowing he is not a good man. Things are bad when she is rescued and during that confrontation her husband dies. Elizabeth’s strength continues to grow as she slowly takes control of her life and helps others along the way.
I enjoyed this book but would have liked to have more Darcy and Elizabeth happiness together. It was way too short.
This story is sad and a bit disturbing but no real details thankfully. Elizabeth accepts a proposal from a stranger to benefit her family not knowing he is not a good man. Things are bad when she is rescued and during that confrontation her husband dies. Elizabeth’s strength continues to grow as she slowly takes control of her life and helps others along the way.
I enjoyed this book but would have liked to have more Darcy and Elizabeth happiness together. It was way too short.
November 22, 2020
Loved it!
This one of many many variations that I have read and really love. It is well thought out, with a good solid storyline and though completely different for the original, the main characters all the same in essentials. The characters were allowed to develop completely and Darcy and Lizzie weren’t forced together too soon. My only minor complaint is that once Elizabeth was saved by Darcy there was ALOT of gratitude going back and forth between the two....just a smidge too much. But as I said, just a very minor complaint! Highly recommend!
This one of many many variations that I have read and really love. It is well thought out, with a good solid storyline and though completely different for the original, the main characters all the same in essentials. The characters were allowed to develop completely and Darcy and Lizzie weren’t forced together too soon. My only minor complaint is that once Elizabeth was saved by Darcy there was ALOT of gratitude going back and forth between the two....just a smidge too much. But as I said, just a very minor complaint! Highly recommend!
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