Miss Bennet's Dragon

Jane Austen Fantasy #1

by M. Verant

FOREWORD INDIES WINNER • ROYAL DRAGONFLY AWARD WINNER

“A fantastic fantasy retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice” (The Lily Café)

War threatens England, but Elizabeth Bennet’s battles are closer to home. She’s managing the family estate for her ailing father. Insufferable gentlemen keep bursting in to propose marriage. And most dangerous of all, she’s hiding a forbidden skill. Elizabeth can speak to draca, the small, fire-breathing dragons kept by gentry as frivolous status symbols.

When Napoleon’s spies attempt to steal draca, the distant war threatens even cozy Hertfordshire. Elizabeth seeks the aid of Mr. Darcy, the proud man whose proposal she once scorned. Amid the breathtaking halls of Pemberley, she discovers the truth: she is not the first woman to speak with draca. But with her secret revealed, the dark history of Pemberley tears her and Mr. Darcy apart.

One hope remains: her dangerous affinity to draca. But does she dare to trust legends and lost songs? And when a terrible betrayal threatens the man she loves, does she have a choice?

Miss Bennet’s Dragon is the first book in the award-winning Jane Austen Fantasy trilogy. For fans of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, and of course Jane Austen.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Dragons, Historical, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance

456 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2021

About the author

I write fantasy, sci-fi, and an occasional thriller. My books celebrate empowering themes and always have a dash of romance, so they’re… noblebright, kind of?

My latest work is Dragons of the Great Wyves, which completes the award-winning Jane Austen Fantasy trilogy. My next project is likely Tiger Seed, a contemporary fantasy rooted in ancient Indus history, although a screenplay for Miss Bennet’s Dragon is tempting…

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and help out the writing community when I can. In what spare time remains, I collect Jane Austen paraphernalia and suitably two-legged dragons.

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ stars!!

This epic tale begins as a standard re-telling of Pride and Prejudice with one Regency custom added - upon consummation of marriage, a dragon arrives and becomes part of that household. There are various species, and some are more desirable (and offer more social consequence) than others.

While the story begins with the standard storyline ("Netherfield park has been let at last"), the book slowly gets farther and farther away from canon until it's virtually unrecognizable by the end. The relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth, of course, is the central storyline, but this is as much a mystery/action/paranormal adventure as it is a romance.

It's an amazing fantasy with plot twists and turns you'll never see coming and a climactic scene that's just incredible! Beautifully written, excellent characterizations. Content is clean.

I'd borrowed this with Kindle Unlimited but enjoyed it so much I had to buy it. Highly recommend!

[Carole (in Canada) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating: 5+++

This is my third reading of 'Miss Bennet's Dragon'. I had bought the paperback after it came out. I wanted to refresh my memory as Book Three is being released at the beginning of November: 'Dragons of the Great Wyves'.

Again, I was captivated and enthralled.

Now on to Book Two 'Emma's Dragon' of which I also have in paperback.

"Things that seem simple in the complacency of self-satisfied confidence become intricate puzzles when you care enough to understand the layers and folds of another life." (quote from the book)

After reading this for the second time, I found it even more exciting! I had missed so many little clues/details in the first reading. I was enthralled again!

The second book in the Jane Austen Fantasy 'Emma's Dragon' is being released in March!


"But our estate, Longbourn, was entailed - only bound gentry could hold the property. When our firedrake left, we would be cast out, a household of women with no livelihood and no home." (quote from the book)

Step into the world of Jane Austen Fantasy and you will never want to leave. Dragons, Enchantments and Magic have added a whole new dimension to the Austenesque sphere, and M. Verant's 'Miss Bennet's Dragon' is a worthy one to be added.

"I am gentry of marriageable age. Destined to be a wyfe and bind. But today, I discovered I am woefully uneducated about draca." (quote from the book)

Dragons, legends, bonding, social injustices, intrigue and the power of good versus evil abound in this first book. Yes, this is a retelling, however there are enough differences to make it new, refreshing and riveting...how could it not be with draca and...well, you will have to read it to find out! Just know that Mr. Bennet's health is failing and when things start falling apart after the Netherfield ball, their lives will never be the same again.

"I would not abandon Jane to a nest of vipers." (quote from the book)

I was 'bound' from the beginning of this unique rendering. We see the events from Elizabeth Bennet's perspective. We learn along with her about draca and her dealings with Mr. Darcy and especially, Mr. Wickham...for they have their own secrets...though at times, I felt she should have made some connections sooner. However, I don't wish to say too much to spoil your own enjoyment! Yes, I had a quibble or two regarding the lack of draca knowledge and propriety concerns at times, but as this is a 'fantasy' novel, I went with the flow and enjoyed it immensely.

"It was good he had not come sooner. I did not wish to raise dangerous questions in the mind of a man I could not trust. Questions I could not answer even for myself." (quote from the book)

The development of Mary Bennet's character was a special bonus in this story. She is not the only sister to have a major role either. Elizabeth has her own secrets and visions, but when the darkness that lurks within certain characters comes on full display, it will leave you feeling breathless and unable to put the book down!

"I had cried myself out among the trees. Now I was calm but brittle, as if sealed with cracking varnish. My emotions parched." (quote from the book)

I have now read several Austenesque fantasy novels along with many Austenesque variations, sequels, and retellings. I recommend this well written, historical leaning novel for it's all encompassing story line, romance and suspense. Though this is only book one in the series, I felt it ended at a good place with no real cliffhanger. You just want to know where you will be taken next.

Thank you to M. Verant and NetGalley for an ARC of this book for a fair and honest review.

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: MA: Mature-reader highly suggested as this was no fluff story. Instead, it was hard, gritty reading featuring: a high-body count, trigger warnings for excessive and graphic violence to man and beast. Mob mentality due to superstitions, ignorance, jealousy, greed, and an evil influence. Insanity, murder [of men], kidnapping, abuse of female characters [non-sexual], murder [of beasts], kidnapping, violent descriptions of death [man and beast] … you get the picture. Mild sexual content. Angst Level: medium-to-high with the death of major and minor characters. Tissues needed on occasion. I swear, I had goosebumps at one point.

Source: Borrowed KU [5-9-21] Blurb: “Miss Bennet’s Dragon is a stand-alone story that begins a trilogy of Jane Austen Fantasy.” I tried to not have *** spoilers *** in this review. Cover Art: I love that cover. It didn’t seem to fit the story at the beginning. All I can say is WAIT for it. Religious element: Various religious viewpoints both the good and the bad were featured as people expressed their opinions as they saw and believed them. Scriptures and other religious writings were mentioned and discussed. Also featured were those who still held the old ways. Pagan rituals of Beltane and other rites of spring were described. Draca [dragon] lore was discussed and the ancient ways.

M Verant created a whole new universe for our P&P characters. Many of the story elements were still present along with dialogue and situations consistent with Austen’s storyline. However, this story had a new feature with the addition of creatures whose history predated the Christian Era. The Bennet family [women especially] had a strong draca bond that went back to the family’s Scottish roots. It was steeped in secret rituals and pagan lore. Old documents, journals, and stories had been part of the family for generations. In Verant’s vision, draca creatures were status symbols of the English landed gentry. The Bennet family had a fire-breathing drake [the most prestigious]. It was part of the marriage binding ceremony where the draca arrived after the wedding night and would stay with the family as long as the master of the house lived. When the master died, the draca would leave and the estate would pass to another bound couple. This was the author’s take on the entailment. Only a bound couple with their draca could possess Longbourn.

What I didn’t like: The OOC [out-of-character] behavior was a bit off-putting. Mary especially was a bit strange and really came into her own in this story. She was the intellect and was helpful in her knowledge, love of research, and helping to decipher lost draca lore. At times, Mary had even out shown Elizabeth. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Elizabeth seemed less than her usual self in spite of her powers. Kitty was just there in the shadows with her mother. Jane was a driving force that pushed Elizabeth to find a cure for her sickness. Otherwise, she was mostly off the page.

Lydia was another character that stood out only because she demanded her own way or she’d know why. She and the SBRB [scum-bag-rat-bastard] did their thing. OMG! He was horrid and … OMG! I can’t even say. Man, those two were unbelievable.

The war between France and England was escalating. France wanted draca so they could use them as a weapon. For some reason, France didn’t have draca and was attempting to infiltrate England with the goal of securing a fire-breathing creature. On the battlefield, it would be a force to be reckoned with and could turn the tide for the war. Napoleon was offering a huge reward for anyone who could secure and bring him a bonded draca. England was swarming with hunters and villains using insidious means to secure their goals.

This story felt like it was in several sections. Right in the middle of a kidnapping/hostage situation, the author took the reader on a tangent with a visit to a Briton village and their Beltane celebration. It was a delightful segment; however, it just felt out of place. What happened there was important for future situations… it just felt odd in its placement. Other than that, I really enjoyed this adventure and recommend it for those who love fantasy stories that include dragons.

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are informed in the blurb that this is the first of three but also that it is a stand alone story. It does end on a high note but there are many unfinished threads.

For one thing you must remember that this is set during the time of the Napoleonic Wars and in this story that is not just something our characters are reading about in the morning newspapers. There are rumors of French spies in the land. And there is also news that the French are attempting to train draca as part of their fighting forces. (So far the attempts have failed.)

This fantasy has a new concept. Certain couples when "bonding" on their wedding night find themselves with a draca in the morning. Not all those creatures are equal. Some are only worms while others are higher evolved ones who may even breathe fire. The Bennet women have the reputation of binding with the higher species.

In this story Elizabeth finds herself being able to communicate with draca mentally and even to command them at times. She knows of no one else who can do so and is fearful that she will be condemned as a witch if society finds out.

It is rare that a draca remains bound to the wyfe when her husband dies and society casts aspersions on the few whose bond remains. Lady Catherine is one whose draca remains with her after Sir Lewis' death but her status in society allows her exemption from that condemnation.

(The descriptions and various powers of the draca were difficult for me to keep straight as I read this story.)

Jane Bennet suffers from a wasting disease which seems to be connected with the fact that Bingley has moved back to London (and then was off to America). Elizabeth is searching for a cure or at least a temporary relief from her symptoms. A journal is found by the Bennets which seems to address many of the issues with draca but is difficult to translate. Here Mary shines as she persists in her attempts with such.

We learn that there are three special wyfes: a wyfe of healing, a wyfe of music and a wyfe of war. The first two turn out to be Anne Darcy and Georgiana. The last is not named until near the end of this first book.

There is a Scottish washer woman and then a young maid servant who play parts. The slave trade is very much a hot topic and Darcy is condemned in part due to beliefs that his wealth is founded on such.

Lydia - WOW, is this woman ever OOC. I won't even begin to hint at her changes and importance in this story. She plays a big part and influences more than her family's reputation in her actions and her powers.

The holiday of Beltane comes up near the end and it is during this time that many of the threads entangle themselves as we come to the end of this first book. Handfasting...

I enjoyed this story and highly recommend it. I eagerly await the next book. I won a copy of this story during a blog giveaway. Again this is a long story so allow time as it will keep you turning pages and not wanting to put it down.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4*
Re-read October 2025
The third and final book is out so I felt a re-read was in order.
I enjoyed it even more this time.
3.75*

Re-read 27th - 31st January 2023

With the release of the second book I felt a re-read was required.

Original review

Pride & Prejudice is the book that started my love of reading. I’ve read countless spin-offs and alternatives including Mr Darcy Vampire and Pride & Prejudice Zombies. So of course when I spotted Miss Bennet’s Dragon it was a must read.

I started reading the minute it hit my kindle but...
It took me longer to settle into than I expected. A lot longer. And I’m not entirely sure why. I think it’s probably because it sticks more closely to the original in some ways. Certain events and quotes are used whereas most if not all of the other books have been what happens after. Anyway for whatever reason I was slow to settle but once I did I was hooked. Now it’s just a case of waiting for the next book....

The blurb is good so I’m skipping my usual summary (you don’t need to read it twice).
All our favourite characters are here, plus the ones we love to hate plus dragons. What’s not to like?

Okay so I’ve sat on this review for several days. It was originally going to be a 3* read. My most common rating and not the negative it seems to be for a lot of readers. I very rarely give 5* that’s reserved for the books that come around once or twice a year if I’m lucky.
But I digress...
I can’t seem to easily move on. I want the next book and I keep thinking back to this one so I’m upping my rating.

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley

[Val F · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 * rounded to 2.

I really love fantasy, including fiction about dragons. And I really love Austen's books. Therefore, when there is a variation of P and P in which these two themes are combined, it will definitely grab my attention. So it was with this book, I was already disposed in advance to read with pleasure and love it. Alas, my expectations were not met and the novel disappointed me. Why? I'll try to explain.

First, since the narration is in the first person and we see everything that happens through the prism of Elizabeth's perception, Darcy is shown in a muffled manner. He exists in the background, a completely expressionless figure. It seems that his character’s only aim in this book is to show the growth and flourishing of the heroine from a dull young girl to a formidable, powerful and probably wise young woman. Only one of his actions in this book is memorable - a completely idiotic desire to sell Pemberley. Everything else is some kind of unintelligible stirring in the background. The same can be said for the rest of the male characters. I cannot name a single man who would stand out against the general background. Even Wellington, who for some unknown reason appeared at the end of the book. And why, in fact, Wellington? Colonel Fitzwilliam would be much more appropriate for this role. And where is the colonel? Why is there no word about him after Rosings?

Secondly, this is a retelling of P and P, so, of course, there must be a romance-related storyline.Even though there was one, it was kind of indistinct. That is, at first Elizabeth sluggishly disliked Darcy, continued disliking him... then the infamous offer, then the offer from the colonel (what for?). And suddenly a refusal due to the fact that she suddenly began to suspect some feelings for Darcy inside herself. Even considering that this is a person whom she had previously refused and who, as she knows, is responsible not only for the shattered hopes and happiness of her beloved sister, but also for her possible death. Moreover, he does not at all regret what he did. What??? Somehow I did not catch the moment when Elizabeth's feelings suddenly appeared. And the reason for them too.

And thirdly, the way the author showed Elizabeth. Elizabeth annoyed me (in varying degrees from strong to tolerable) from the beginning to the end of the book. One of Elizabeth's most important traits, which Jane Austen wrote - intelligence, was woefully absent from this book. Not only is this Elizabeth (amazing for a well-erudite 20-year-old girl) ridiculously childish at the beginning of the story, she is also so dumb that she cannot add 2 + 2 for a long time and understand why Miss Bingley behaves this way towards Darcy. Not to mention that Elizabeth had no idea that Mr. Collins was going to propose. Even if she is so unobservant and too slow-witted to draw certain conclusions, people around her have repeatedly told her about the intentions of Mr. Collins almost directly. Okay, well, let's say this Elizabeth does not exude discernment in interpersonal relationships, but maybe she is good at other things. Let's see. She discovers in herself strange abilities that she cannot explain. It would seem that there’s no better way to show her best qualities than solving this riddle? And what does she do? A couple of questions for the maid and a languid attempt to read the family book – these are all her efforts to acquire much needed knowledge. What about at least asking the servant for more detail? And trying to read and understand what is written in the book? And get at least some information from the gamekeeper when she was at Rosings? And later, when it became clear that Jane was seriously ill, persistently seek admission to the Pemberley Library, where there are books on this topic? For the sake of her beloved sister, she threw away all decorum and pride to turn to Mrs. Hirst, but why not go further, if Jane's life is on the line? ..

In fairness, it must be said that she is growing and by the end of the book her childishness finally seems to disappear and it is assumed that she has grown up and suddenly became wise. I don't really believe it.

The fantasy part of the book didn't impress me either. Apparently, according to the author's plan, we had to discover the secrets about dragons together with Elizabeth. That is why I read the book to the end. I hoped that at the end there would be exhaustive answers for many of my questions. There were partial explanations, but they raised even more questions. Well, for example, if the dragons themselves choose the people with whom they create a bond, then how could one of them choose Lydia, already surrounded by a dark and disgusting for dragons cloud?

To summarize, the book was disappointing both as a retelling of P&P and as fantasy fiction

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If fantastical dragon species lived in England during the time of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, wouldn’t it be thrilling to see how that would change Regency life and society especially for the vivacious Elizabeth Bennet and the taciturn Fitzwilliam Darcy? I was well-pleased to take up this book by a new to me author and explore this fantasy retelling of a favorite classic.

When an affianced pair of the gentry and aristocracy are wed, they produce more than a blissful union, but a binding with a draca who comes to reside and protect the family. The deeper the connection between the human couple; the stronger the species of draca they bind to them. The larger the species bound reflects on family status along with bloodlines.

Second daughter of the Bennet household, Elizabeth, slowly discovers a secret gift when it comes to draca and, at the same time, the neighborhood draca are getting mysteriously killed, and a new wealthy owner and his family entourage have taken up residence at a nearby estate. From a quiet, content life, she is now plunged into secretive matters that may change what everyone knows about draca to a quest to save a loved one’s life.

Miss Bennet’s Dragon started out a little confusing as I sorted out the fantasy world that is melded with the real world of Regency England, but once I had the gist, it was engaging all the way. Elizabeth is emotional and impulsive while Darcy is her opposite. They antagonize each other and I felt the urge to swat both of them at different times. Knowing the storyline of P&P had me in no confusion over who was in the middle of the villainy going on, but I was agasp at the author’s clever twist to another antagonist. The author tinkered a bit with characters so that the Bennet sisters had a bit more zip to them. I think the one who took me delightfully by surprise was Mary. Middle sister was not shy to speak her intelligent mind or be her own eccentric self. Jane may be pretty and gentle, but she was no feather head and worked alongside Elizabeth and Mary to figure out the mystery of the draca and their family’s connection with them.

The story built to a suspenseful climax scene and had some gritty action to it. In fact, the whole book was more robust than the original classic so the reader couldn’t get complacent. The author wasn’t afraid for injury and loss to go with victory. The page-length was longer than the average novel, but I didn’t feel those pages going by and I was reluctant to put the book down when I must.

Miss Bennet’s Dragon ended on a high note and a huge reveal and I can’t wait to see what comes from book two. All in all, this was an abso-fab blend of classic retelling and fantasy which I can heartily recommend.

My thanks to the author for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sisi_k · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great action story

Review may contain spoilers

What I liked:
• The Draca world was very interesting, not super innovative but the adding of the war with Napoleon made it different.
• The action was really good, at one point I was literally holding my breath.
• The 21st Century ideas added another thought provoking level to the story, I know this is a big no no for JAFF purists but I enjoyed it. A lot of Issues were raised, such as slavery, woman rights, religion and more, but sometimes the exaggerated PCness just made me chuckle:
”—I paused, not wishing to call them poor—“children of limited means?” yeah, right.
• The bad characters were BAAAD, I loved that.
• This was one woke Mary, I enjoyed her fight with social injustice even if it wasn't remotely Regency era appropriate.
• The way Elizabeth's character evolved, she wasn't flawless and sometimes even dense but she matures and it matters.
• The beginning of a LGBTQ romance(!!!) Between two lovely characters, I hope to see more in the next instalment.
• This quote from Elizabeth to Darcy is EVERYTHING:
" ...Inform me, then. But do not decide for me. You have a habit of secretly solving problems—real or imagined—with excessively noble solutions. I prefer more communication and less self-sacrifice.”
YAAASSS

What I didn't like:
• The romance was very underwhelming. In the first half ALL interactions between E and D were glossed over, and there is almost no dialogue between them untill DHP. At one point E asks herself something like: "I enjoyed talking to him, was he a friend?" And I was thinking 'How should I Know?! Nobody showed me anything".
• Too much telling and not just the romance part, the author relys too much on E being the narrator and sharing her feelings with the reader. I needed more substance. This also makes her quite rude, since the other characters can't read her inner dialogue and she just blurts insults randomly.
• Darcy was flat. We didn't receive any glimpse (or dialogue) from his character before DHP or saw his reformation from a prideful man to a humble one. I can't enjoy ODC's union (and this is a frequent JAFF problem), when I don't understand why Elizabeth fell in love with this douche.
• There were some plot lines that felt unrelated to the story, maybe it's foreshadowing for book 2? I don't know, it felt weird for example: why did we need Col. Fitzwilliam's proposal? It was very random

There was a lot more good than bad and I will definitely read the next book in this series.

[lori huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous

I have read other JAFF that delves into fantasy and Dragon lore, and have enjoyed the concept. M Verant does a fantastic job of creating an imaginative world of "draca," or smaller versions of dragons, complete with all of the complex supporting rules and circumstances surrounding the draca hierarchy, and the people who are "bound" to them. At the same time, many of the situations from the original P&P are worked in, along with some of the original dialogue which often is given a completely different context.

Mr and Mrs Bennett have the distinction of having "bound" a prestigious draca upon their marriage. Dark forces are converging that are related to the war with France, and France's desire to capture draca and use their powers against England. Elizabeth is discovering an ability to connect with draca through her mind, and an ability to command them. Georgiana has a peculiar ability also, related to music and singing. Darcy falls for Elizabeth, but senses that Pemberly may be a dangerous place for someone with her abilities and connections to draca, and the mysterious danger centers around Pemberly's lake.

The dialogue in this book is not the stiff and formal proper English that we're used to in these Regency era stories, but I don't care. The book is written in the first person, from the point of view of Elizabeth. I love this version of Elizabeth. She's brave, witty, clever, strong, and refreshingly candid in her speech. She speaks her mind rather than beating around the bush, while always being kind at the same time. The humor is wonderful. Elizabeth's thoughts are filled with dry, tongue-in-cheek attitudes that kept me smiling, and made me want to be her best friend.

This is definitely a swoon worthy Darcy, and the romance is lovely. Mary is given an important role, which I appreciate, and Georgiana is given a backbone and her own importance, which is refreshing. This is a story about good versus evil, and the villains will surprise you with their identity and their badness. This isn't a book for the faint of heart. There are some pretty disturbing scenes, and lots of unpleasant surprises. But if you are brave, this is a great story, and well worth the time. The humor I mentioned earlier goes a long way to balancing the drama.

I look forward to the next installment of this series. The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it highly.

[Madenna U · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has built a world where couples in the gentry class offer money and allegiance to a dragon to bless their marriage during their wedding. The understanding is that the more powerful/secure the marriage, the better class of dragon that will come to you.

Fitzwilliam Darcy understands that he is higher up in the dragon world than Elizabeth but she finds that she has a special power. Since dragons are being used in the war between France and England, all dragon knowledge is valuable. As they try to understand plans and how dragon use is involved, her power provides a special insight. Our dear couple also learns to find their happily ever.

This is the first book in a series, but I am not sure where it is going to go next.

[Sam H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023- relisten to remember before listening to VOl. 2
It's a good thing I did, as I didn't recall everything about Lydia.

4.5* Looking forward to Vol. 2

A sci-fantasy version using P&P characters. Dragons and all kinds of variations of dragons take front and center.
Lydia becomes the big bad. There is lack of clarity on just how she became aware of the whole history of their family and the legend.

Also, I would have liked more of an arc for Elizabeth and her place in the legend as a warrior.

[PlotTrysts · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be completely honest, we picked this one up because the title is a scream. Miss Bennet's Dragon? You mean, Pride and Prejudice with dragons? And yeah, that's pretty much what you get. That said, if you're looking for a "P&P with dragons" that still manages to keep the spirit of the original while also providing a fully-coherent fantasy world, this hits the spot.

The plot stays pretty close to Austen's original until Darcy's proposal. After that the motivations of several characters begin to diverge, leading to significant plot changes. This is also where our interest started perking up - sure, it's fun to read a close retelling, but we are reading a fantasy for a reason! We especially liked some deeper investigation of Lady Catherine's odiousness, a more critical eye on Mr. Bennet, and a much more sympathetic treatment of Mary.

The ending grew in scale to include more contemporaneous politics beyond handsome militia in Meryton, and this was both welcome and a little out of place. That said, the finale's more epic scope lines up well with fantasy expectations. We had great fun reading it and are looking forward to the next in the series!

This objective review is based on a complimentary advanced reader copy of the novel.

[Cheesecake · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was loving this until near the end. Then it got a little wishy washy and the last paragraph was odd.

It starts out following the original 'Pride and Prejudice' fairly closely, but then things start to change. Some for the better and some not. The whole Wickham and Lydia thing is much darker but also less angsty.
The world building is the regency period but with these creatures called Drakkar that look like dragons but are the size of dogs. I loved the mystical mystery of them although it didn't make much sense that people knew so little about them.
Napoleon is envious of Britain's Drakkar and is willing to pay a kings ransom for one.

I listened to the audio book and the reader did a great job.
Safety is fine. Both are virgins
Violence was more than I was expecting and fairly descriptive.
Why I didn't like the ending. I got tired of Lizzy trying to cover for Lydia. I mean she already knew Lydia was a murderer and she was super creepy. Then at the very end she has some kinda epiphany that she wants to change the world for the better. Whatever. The ending felt like the author intends to write a sequel or two.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

I feel that with more work from a sophisticated editor, this might have been a much better book. As it is, the reading is easy, the language fine, but the storytelling has very frustrating issues. The impression I get is like it was written from a prewritten timeline with scenes set up to tell the Pride and Prejudice story through dialogue only. Characters are inconsistent, do not react organically to situations, and there are no segues or expositions to set scenes up. I also can't help but feel that the author missed the point of Jane Austen's works and instead created very dispassionate and lowest common denominator appeal for Elizabeth Bennet.

Story: Draco are bound to aristocratic women upon marriage - through a combination of blood and money. The better the type of draco, the more powerful the marriage. Elizabeth Bennet is dealing with a rowdy family, a lovestruck older sister, and a sudden and surprising ability to communicate with and talk to dragons. When she catches the interesting of Mr Darcy while in the process of communicating with a dragon, his dislike of her turns to interest.

Most disappointing to me was that yet again, a modern retelling has to make the heroine a 'unique snowflake' in order to attract the attention of the love interest. She will do so through a dramatic act, of course, that uses her 'unique snowflakeness.' This is in contrast to Austen's works, whose underlying theme was that the love interest was attracted to intelligence, wit, or profound emotion - and that the attraction was allowed to slowly grow over time. We have none of that here and so Austen's strengths were carelessly thrown out the window, with scenes ruthlessly stripped to their barest wordage.

Another issue was that reactions to situations just didn't make sense. E.g., Jane is bitten by a creature whose poisons are known to be deadly (the scene in the original book where she is laid up with a cold at the Bingly estate). Jane knew what bit her yet calls it a bee sting and gets very ill in bed, even knowing how serious it is. Even odder, when Elizabeth learns from Jane what bit her, she says it "..is known to be fatal." Yet no one seems to have ever come across that type of poison - either to identify it or any remedies. Even the doctor decides to amputate the 'bee sting' leg. It's like it's the first of that bite in history despite Elizabeth noting that people know it is likely going to lead to death. The lack of logic here and everyone's lack of serious concern is incongruous.

That isn't one example. In another conversation, we get this line: "I believe you scored a hit, Mr. Bingley." I said before I could stop myself, for Mr. Darcy looked like a fencer acknowledging a touch, although I had only seen fencing on stage at Hamlet." So, if she only saw fencing in a play, how does she know about how fencers acknowledge each other and why would it be the first thing she thinks of here to compare the situation? And there are other situations - such as Elizabeth being obsessed about learning about dracos, having a washer woman come by who knows all about them and yet she ignores the woman and instead goes to a library and gets frustrated by the books not having much information. Too many scenes in this book happened in a strange vacuum that defied logic.

The writing is very clinical here. We don't get much set up for scenes and people just start talking to tell the story rather than letting it unfold organically and naturally (this is why the book feels like it was made from a 'scene checklist'). We just don't get much idea of what people are thinking or why they are saying what they do. E.g., Elizabeth will suddenly start asking a young chambermaid how old she is and how she got the position. Why? No idea, it's just suddenly and randomly done. Likely, it is to set up something later with that chambermaid but at the time you are reading it, it is so strange. We really need to hear Elizabeth's thoughts here (and in many other scenes) to understand why. Otherwise, everyone feels like cardboard cutouts rather than actual people - deus ex machina at its worst. And it's another case where an author needs to show, not tell all the time.

Because the characters acted so incongruously and because we never had much in the way of their thoughts or actions, this read felt mechanical and underwritten. It also jettisoned the heart of what makes Pride and Prejudice so distinct in order to pander to a modern audience that sadly seems to need their protagonists to be unique snowflakes rather than intelligent and witty individuals. I know that writing intelligent heroines takes high skill - and I fear that is why so many YA and modern romance books fall so short in creating intelligent women.

As I noted earlier, Miss Bennet's Dragon is not a terrible read. Those who have not read many books likely won't know what they are missing in terms of sophisticated storytelling. But this is a soulless read that superficially touches upon Austen and feels clinical and forced. It checks the boxes of Austen scenes without ever understanding their depth and nuance. A good editor would be able to guide the author on understanding how best to expound and improve the overall storytelling experience - and to bring some desperately needed heart, emotion, and depth to the characters and plot. This was so unromantic as to be dull. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Sue Miz · Rating 1 out of 5]

0 stars 0️⃣ of what the fuck!!!

Pride and Prejudice is my ultimate Regency Romance, so I am drawn to any book promoted as "P and P retelling"

For that, the best retelling is Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

The book exquisitely wove fantasy dystopia with Regency making the Bennet sisters badasses and as good as any man.

This one was obviously a cheap attempt to copy the path of PPZ...miserably may I add

1- where the single POV worked in PP and somewhat in PPZ, it failed here epically. DARCY was reduced to a side side side role. Lizzy was childish and irritating.

2- the word by word account, the exact recount of what happened in the original PP was clear with a sprinkle of mini- dragons here and there rendered the book boring.

3- Where is the fantasy??? Throwing in Draca's and a hit of premonition does not make a good fantasy retelling

4- I found myself skimming and skimming pages because I've read those hundreds of times with PP.


Do better



50 pages in: I'm finding thus very boring. Why? I already read P&P. This should be a retelling not a word-by-word recount

Whatever Pride and Prejudice retelling you're reading, you are always excited and waiting for that iconic open line
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that
.."

[Imogene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advance copy received from Netgalley in exchange for honest review.

It is a truth universally acknowledges, that once someone has fallen in love with Jane Austen, they are going to need as many well-written retellings as is possible.
Although with so many retellings and reimaginings on the market, it is a rare thing indeed for a book to find that gloriously different spark. To fix this problem, add dragons!
I adored Miss Bennett’s Dragon. Not only because, well dragons, or because of the delicate charm in keeping with a fantasy of manners, but because of the beautifully explored characters. Plus these explorations open up beautiful new possibilities. I mean, why can’t Mary be a social justice warrior and composer? Why can’t Georgiana Darcy be an intelligent woman, and passionate and accomplished musician who has instruments sent to her from across the world just so that she’ll try them out instead of a sweet and dainty little butterfly? Why can’t Lydia be something that I won’t discuss because a: spoilers, and b: this is a pg rating.
All of the Austen and dragons that you want, as well as the sharp social commentary, droll humour, and discussions of sexual and gender politics that you forgot were a part of what you loved about Austen in the first place TURNED UP TO 11.
(Seriously, no spoilers, but there is a moment in which two characters make eye contact over a mention of the poems of Sappho and I can’t even)

[Rita Deodato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review published at:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...

Miss Bennet’s Dragon is not so much a variation, but more of a Pride & Prejudice retelling with a flavor of dragon fantasy to it.

The book follows all the P&P events, but adds to them some mystery involving draca, a type of dragon that is bound to humans on their wedding night. The Draca and their binding is not explained to the reader in the beginning of the book, instead we are invited to discover the details pertaining this different world alongside Elizabeth, who is also trying to understand the mysteries behind the draca and her family. While this slow discovery was interesting and gave the book a mystery I appreciated, sometimes it was hard to follow what was happening because we didn’t know exactly what draca were, their motivations, how exactly they binded and what that meant. Even at the end of the book, I still felt some details were left unexplained, and for that reason I felt it difficult to travel into this draca world.

Even though the author followed P&P’s events in Miss Bennet’s Dragon, there were a few interesting twists in the secondary characters storylines, and that was one of the aspects I enjoyed the most in the book. I loved Lydia’s story and the approach the author had towards her. For once Lydia assumes a relevance that is not only associated with eloping with Mr. Whickham and I truly loved that, but above all, I loved Mary’s character. Not only had she a strong personality with passionate convictions, but she was also able to communicate and express what she was feeling, which is something we usually do not see happening with Mary Bennet. I also enjoyed the growing relationship she established with Elizabeth and later on with Georgiana, and wouldn’t mind reading a sequel with a more relevant role for Mary in it.

Because the plot follows cannon, the story is a little longer than it need to be in my opinion. I believe some scenes had little relevance to the entire draca storyline, namely the Colonel’s conversation with Elizabeth at Rosings or the anti-slavery discussions, and I would have preferred a faster paced story in detriment of scenes the reader is already well acquainted with, or those which were new but were irrelevant to the characters development or main storyline.

The pace of the book picked up after Elizabeth visits Pemberley and my interested rose at that time when the different Draca characteristics are explain, and when we finally start understanding what is happening with Elizabeth and her connection with the Darcy’s. At this point the story diverges from P&P and it was the most exiting part of the book in my opinion, with new characters and unexpected events occurring at every page.

The ending was fast paced and surprising, but also a little sudden and with some points left unanswered, but this was certainly a satisfying story and well written. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Miss Bennet’s Dragon and I recommend it to readers who like a touch of fantasy in Pride and Prejudice.

[Miriam Brookler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I jumped at the chance to read a Pride and Prejudice retelling with dragons and I am glad I did. It strikes a really good balance between Austen and fantasy, without the pretentiousness I find a lot in historical fantasy. (That in and of itself makes this book a minor miracle.) I loved the entire character of Georgiana Darcy (who has a larger role than she does in the original, although I can't say much more without spoiling it), the Bennet sisters in general are amazing, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Verant does with the rest of the series!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Pride & Prejudice fantasy variation where estates have draca, fire-breathing creatures exist, and Elizabeth can speak to them. But what about the other Bennet daughters do they find their happiness or will evil win.
An entertaining story.
(A re-read as a prelude to refresh my memory of the story before buying Book 2. Unfortunately it confirmed my supicions of Mary's possible pairing and as it is not with the Colonel I lost interest.)

[Smut Report]

Heat Factor: It’s mostly about the pride and the prejudice and the pining

Character Chemistry: More readily apparent than in the original

Plot: It is Pride and Prejudice, but it is also a completely brand new fantasy story

Overall: It was about 30% longer than I expected, but I very much enjoyed the composition of this book.

This book is playing with my brain, because it is very much its own fantasy story about a world at war with a whole dragon-related hierarchy (dragons are actually a separate thing, so it’s really draca-related)… But also the author lifts a phrase here or there directly from the original (or if not exact text then the exact sentiment for that phase of the story), so I guess I’m like a bouncy ball striking the pavement, with each strike being the touchstone that keeps me tethered to the Austen? It’s very strange. I don’t hate it.

Miss Bennet’s Dragon is set in an alternative 1812. TL;DR - when a marriage is consummated, the wyfe (ah odd spellings!) might bind a draca. The variety of draca bound is an indication of strength and status, and the binding of draca is common to the gentry and aristocracy, making the status component even more prominent. In this case also, the entail on Longbourn is dependent on the heir binding (not simply a traditional entail), which makes things a little bit interesting.

Aside: I started looking up different descriptions for different dragon-things - there is a whole world out there that I had not previously known existed. I feel so informed now!

All the players are present (plus a few more), and all of them essentially inhabit their standard roles...but also not quite. Mary is still awkward and super serious, but she’s serious about serious issues (think social justice and environmentalism) which are more fleshed out and probably more relatable to a modern audience than her preachy morality of the original. Lady Catherine is still an opinionated and intractable old woman, but she also opines on love (and sex) as it relates to binding a strong dragon (I read this and was like...Whaaat?!) and she acknowledges her plantation holdings. All of the characters are what they were, but they’re also something more, something that feels like a glimpse behind the curtain because it doesn’t feel like it’s an inaccurate representation of the characterization we already know, even if it is wholly different.

In addition, we’ve got a much more clear picture of the social and political climate of England in 1812 with very clear discussions of the war with France and of the continuing existence of slavery in British holdings. This is probably something that all of Austen’s readers were aware of at the time of publication, but a modern reader with a hazy sense of European history might not recall that the Napoleonic wars were still under way, considering that it’s not as if the original is date stamped at the beginning of each chapter, and the only references to the military are relating to the movements of the militia. In the context of this book, the war is readily discussed because of its connections with attempts to use draca as a tactical advantage. Likewise, 1812 is the in-between after the slave trade was banned but before slavery was completely abolished in the Empire, so there are frank discussions of sugar boycotts and complicated (uncomfortable) family relationships and arguments.

In short, this is really a completely different book than P&P, and it is chock full of discussions of issues that were relevant at the time but that are also still relevant and also popular topics of discussion (consider the current news discussions about the Austen family, the Austen museum, and slavery). Austen’s social commentary was for her present and this social commentary is for ours, I guess. There were some elements that were, shall we say, tried and true, and the climax of the story (at Beltane) certainly took an interesting turn. But as I said when discussing the Austen-specific moments, all of that kept me tethered to the story while I was riding the kinetic energy high of bouncing through all of the imaginative other content.

I really liked this read. It was at once familiar and completely bananas, but also the new elements created lush drama and tension. This book was thoughtfully written and executed, not just a P&P romp, and that’s just plain fun.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

[Gill M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powers and beasts of mysterious origin

Elizabeth Bennet discovers that she has a forbidden power. She can speak to draca, the fire-breathing creatures kept as status symbols by English gentry. If only Mr. Darcy would stop noticing… and hinting at his own dark secret.

M. Verant weaves the familiar romance of Elizabeth and Darcy, with delightful strands of mystery regarding the surprising origins of draca, powerful women and a battle with evil and Napoleon's forces.

The characters are those you would expect to meet in a Pride & Prejudice variation, with a rather famous addition. For the most part, they do not deviate from expected behaviour. Mary's character stands out as a campaigning woman, fighting slavery and "the patriarchy". She is a rugged individualist and very appealing for it. Another familiar character displays disturbingly sociopathic behaviour. That is the most I can say without giving a spoiler!

The book's ending leaves plenty of scope for furthering the series, but does not contain a cliff-hanger. I can happily recommend this book and look forward to reading the next in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.

[Cbackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best reenvisioned Pride and Prejudice that I’ve read. The concept is fascinating and the worldbuilding strong - this is a very convincing version of the world of the 18th-century English landed gentry if it had been shaped by deep historical traditions around dragons. My only critique is that Verant’s likes and dislikes are a bit too obvious and lack a bit of subtlety: Original Mrs. Bennet is an embarrassing social climber, but her desperation is driven by poverty; here’s she mostly just a laughingstock. Original Lydia is both unbearable and pathetic; here she’s a full-on monster essentially from the moment she appears. Mr. Bennet, meanwhile, gets off a bit too easily in this retelling. But honestly, those are minor critiques - it’s a really fantastic book, and I’d love to read more.

[E Brookhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fantastic!!

I have recently started enjoying fantasy novels, but I've been hooked on Austen since jr high. I've read hundreds of variations of Pride and Prejudice, but I rarely give 5 stars. This was SO well-planned and written!! I was immersed in the story and cannot wait for the next book in the series!

[Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book. My opinions are my own.

As a fan of both Pride & Prejudice, and books about dragons, I was very excited to get to read this book. I wasn't quite sure what to expect though. Like I said I love P&P so I was a bit scared this book wouldn't do it justice. And maybe this book isn't the next instant classic, but I've enjoyed it very much indeed!

Of course all of our well loved characters are present in this book. We get to see a bit more of Mary Bennet and of Georgiana Darcy, which I loved! They are both great characters who deserved a little more screen time, so to speak. But there are also some new elements to the story, most importantly the draca. These are small dragon-like creatures. The story begins with Elizabeth Bennett feeding her family's firedrake. She soon learns she has abilities very few people have - she can speak with draca and see the world through their eyes.

The story unfolds as you would expect, with Jane and Mr. Bingley falling in love and Elizabeth discovering that Mr. Darcy isn't as horrible a man as she thought he was. But the presence of the draca make for intriguing differences with the original story. As readers we slowly learn more and more about the origins of draca and their reasons to bind with human families.

To me, this book was thoroughly enjoyable. I just couldn't stop reading! I loved seeing Elizabeth and Mr Darcy get to know each other better and better, and finding out they were very much in love indeed. Having said that, I did feel that some of the characters didn't act the way I would have expected them to. Then again - this is a retelling, so characters are bound (ha, pun intended) to be a little different from their original counterparts. To me, the ending felt a bit rushed. I would have liked to read more about the reasons why Lydia acted the way she did and how her relationship with Wickham truly worked, for instance.

I do recommend this book to anyone who loves Pride and Prejudice, and Dragons. It's a great read if you just want to escape from this world for a bit and emerge yourself in the well-loved world Jane Austen created, with a little extra draca magic!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Pride and Prejudice and fantasy, this book is for you!!!
The first 15% of this is almost an exact replica of pride and prejudice, then it begins to deviate more but not completely from the source material. The biggest difference in this story is that each gentrified marriage binds a form of Draca to the family.
One day the Bennet family firedrake saves Lizzy and Mary from a rabid dog, which is unusual, bound Draca rarely pay attention to anyone other than the man and wyfe that they are bound to, for him to rescue them is uncharacteristic, from this point forward Lizzy learns and becomes more powerful as she develops the ability to communicate with the families firedrake followed by the other various Draca in the story.
The fantasy side of this reminds me of the first fantasy story I loved, Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey in Menolly's approach to firelizards and Elizabeth's in learning what she can of Draca. It gave me a nostalgic happy feeling :)
I do like that we spend more time with Mary in this retelling as well as all the changes and risks to the characters that are taken. I had a fabulous time with this story!!!

I received this as an ARC through NetGalley and Acerbic Press

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Obviously this is a rewritten version of Pride and Prejudice; yet it is far more than that, as well. It is a fantastically good version, including draca (aka dragons) as serious characters whose actions influence the storyline as much as any other character, and I loved it.
There is so much to enjoy; the depth of the world and character building, new facets of characters and discovering the world of draca, where the monsters are not the draconian beasts bound to married couples.

You can read the blurb to find out about the storyline, so what I will say is this: if you enjoyed the original story; if you’ve ever sighed over a historical romance novel; delighted over a fantasy full of dragons, or enjoyed the witticisms of characters then this is the novel for you - the book you didn’t previously know that you have to read... Enjoy, I did.

[Charlotte Pawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An updated retelling of Pride and Prejudice with Dragons a perfect blend, what’s not to love. Characters old and new are interwoven in this fantasy. You are introduced to draca the dragons connected to special members in families bound on a couples wedding night. Members in the Bennett family will bring to life the old stories. Good and evil will thrive. Elizabeth’s relationship with Darcy is so complicated, dark and passionate. In the background is Napoleon and the french wanting to bind their own draca to have an advantage in the war to come. This is a very exciting retelling moving along at a breathtaking pace. Elizabeth and her sisters are given a modern makeover. A time for change is on the horizon. I will certainly love to read the next instalment in this series.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[LR Shimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner for those who regularly travel through time to the Regency era. I love rereading the original Jane Austen books and thoroughly enjoyed Verant’s addition of dragons, to rework Pride and Prejudice into an active, suspenseful, and romantic retelling of the original story. His expansion of Lizzy’s family was a great surprise. I will never see Mary as the same old, rather tedious, character again!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so curious. LOL.

3.5 stars. This was just so fun. The premise is a little *ahem* unusual but overall I derived a lot of enjoyment from this story. I liked this retelling and the draca really made it very interesting. I hope the author continues on with this series.

Safety clean, some violence, and the hero was very swoony. Double virgins, if I recall correctly, no real OP drama, one attempted rape scene.

[Ili Anuar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great Pride & Prejudice retelling. The storyline kept me interested but was not a fan of the ending. It felt out of place. I would have liked the story better if it was told from Darcy's POV too. I don't really like Elizabeth in this book. Some of her actions were questionable and towards the end I was tired with all the secrets keeping from the FMC and MMC.