Pride and Paranormal

Souls and Shadows #1

by Adrienne Blake

What do love potions and banshee karaoke have to do with one of the greatest enemies-to-lovers tales of all time? Izzy may be the only responsible witch in her poor family of misfits, and as such, she has duties to uphold. Only a hot, mysterious, and infuriating warlock is determined to get in the way. When the rich and handsome Darcy Fitz blows into town, sparks fly. The wrong kind... He has earned her ire as much as her eye with his constant harsh words and acts, but what will happen when a bit of magic goes awry, and Izzy needs the help of this powerful man she claims to hate? Will Izzy's pride get in the way of saving her family's welfare and reputation? Find out in this witty, funny, fantasy retelling of Pride & Prejudice.

Genres: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Witches, Retellings

316 pages, Paperback

First published May 20, 2021

About the author

Adrienne Blakes lives in the Mid-Atlantic surrounded by rarely-seen neighbors whose lives are shrouded in mystery. Forever peeping through the curtains, she dreams of catching one to learn of their covert ways and the secret behind their bizarre WiFi handles. Adrienne lives to read and write and is forever in search of that one character that makes sense of it all. You’ll find her stalking out her next adventure at her website AdrienneBlake.com, on Facebook, www.facebook.com/AuthorAdrienne/, or send her an email: authoradrienneblake@gmail.com.

Reviews

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

“That settles it, no more books about vampire before bedtime.” –Amanda Ashley

Rating: MA: due to adult themes and discussions, no sex but sexy descriptions: language: modern cursing: I found that using their deity wasn’t as offensive to me as when they used mine. Religious references to Gaia, Mother of Earth [Goddess Mythology]. Some magic words, use of wands, and only a few incantations. Angst level: minimal. SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** spoilers ***

Book 1 in the Souls and Shadows Series. No other books are listed in the series at this time. This was a modern Pride and Prejudice AU [alternate universe] where there be vampires, a ghost with a mystery to solve, werewolves, dragons, shifters, trolls, pixies, fairies, witches, warlocks, and wizards. Yeah, this was interesting as our P&P story played out with a paranormal twist. Most of the character names stayed the same while a few were different. [ex: Izzy and Fitz]. I had a hard time relating to those names.

I don’t think someone would have to know the source material [Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice] in order to enjoy the story. Although this could read as a stand-alone the reader might miss the joke or the punchline as characters followed a timeline set forth in Austen’s canon account. I was always aware of where we were in the story and what was about to happen or should happen. Since this was a modern alternate universe, I was curious where the author would take us.

The Bennet family was one hot mess. I didn’t like any of them. I have to exclude Jane in that as she was rather milquetoast. Now Lydia, on the other hand, was a nightmare spoiled brat. Their father was completely absent and withdrawn even more than canon. Meanwhile, mother Bennet was allowing her youngest to dress provocatively and act inappropriately without restraint or guidance. The story ran similar to the canon account but with a modern flare. A scandal, whether during Regency time or modern, is still a scandal and can ruin a family. It seemed that Lydia was hell-bent on creating a scandal. She thought it was a fine joke and couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about. Of course, the SBRB [scum-bag-rat-bastard] Wickham played his cards and lost in a big way. This time something far greater than he wanted to mess with was on his trail and was not about to let up.

“He’d used the amulet to read my thoughts again. I pictured smacking him in the face.” –Priya Ardis, Ever My Merlin

I would have liked more romance between our main characters. It was rather bland, other than their fighting all the time. Izzy was one angry witch. A few times there were swoon-worthy moments. I just wanted more. I recommend this for those who love paranormal stories.

[E.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful paranormal reimagining of Pride and Prejudice! Fans of Jane Austen along with readers of paranormal romance will adore Pride and Paranormal. Blake does a fantastic job of blending the classic tale along with this modern world with magic, while making it all feel timeless and classic. It's always so much fun to see people take these such well known characters and put them in a new environment with a new spin. So grab your broomstick and fly off to get this magical book!

*I received a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

[Anjali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Romance books (without an overload of steamy); I love Fantasy books; I love books about Witches, and I love Retellings...

Pride and Paranormal is not just all of this, it is specifically a retelling of my favourite Jane Austen book - Pride and Prejudice... where Izzy and Darcy are a witch and a warlock...

The author has done a fantastic job of reimagining Austen's story in a contemporary, fantasy setting... missing out on none of the intricacies of the original plot...

In addition, there's a dragon; and a sub plot that is about vampires, that makes this an even more peppy read.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Pride and Paranormal” is a delightful twist on “Pride and Prejudice” with all the drama of Jane Austen’s original story, and the added fun of a paranormal cast!

Read full review in the 2021 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Katheyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Pride and Paranormal” the first instalment in Adrienne Blake’s “Souls and Shadows” puts an entertaining, witty, and funny urban paranormal on Austen’s classical tale. But rather than a mere retelling, expect a fresh, captivating version of the story, set in a Misty Cedars, a lovely small town populated with vampires, werewolves, warlock, witches, and everything else in between.

Izzy Bennet is a strong, independent, and capable witch, as well as member of a large family of daughters, whose father is under the pressure of a distant cousin and her own boss, her mother’s only concern is marrying her daughters off to wealth. And them Fitz Darcy happens, a hot and mysterious warlock, who seems to have nothing good to say about the Bennets, something Izzy cannot let be. And so, it goes 😉 Anyone acquainted with the original Austen tale, will enjoy the parallels, while rejoicing in all the modern twist that make the story refreshing. And those who has managed to stay under a rock, without access to Austen, are welcome to enjoy “Pride and Paranormal” as their very first step into Darcy & Izzy 😊

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhhh!!! I love Pride and Prejudice! And this paranormal retelling is fantastic!!
The characters are wonderful!! I enjoyed getting to know them with Blake's take on them.
The world building was explained well, with the rules/consequences, and the different species included.
I quite liked the magic, how it needed to be grounded, people needing to practice it to master it, and the different types of it as well. I also liked that there were actual spells, rather than just hand waving and poof: magic.


Note: If you've read P&P, you'll enjoy the reveal of characters and places in this story, but if you haven't, that won't take away any enjoyment from it!!

[Jennifer Layne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read! I have to say I have never read anything by Jane Austin but this was still fun!

I like Izzy, she has fire 🔥 and whew a temper. She seems to lack a filter most of the time but she fiercely loves and protects her family. Even the sisters who don't want to be protected or think they need to be protected. They are usually the ones who need it most!

I even grew a soft spot for Mr. Darcy who did seem most unlikable. Charlie was just a shy mess but perfect for his female counterpart Jane, Izzy's sister.

A happy ending is always fun!

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars
It is absolutely no secret that my main book love lies squarely in the paranormal realm. So when I saw this was a paranormal take of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, I was extremely intrigued. Pride and Paranormal takes us on a wild ride through the paranormal world where vampires and witches and dragons, Oh my! (wait sorry, twisting in another story, my bad!)

**Having some first-hand knowledge (through book or movie) would help to better understand references and plays on P&P would be recommended, but not entirely necessary. **

The Bennet family is a magical witch family in a relatively small town. Jane and Izzy are bearing the brunt of their mother's less than subtle meddling and matchmaking. On a night out, Izzy and her BFF run across some new faces to town, including the scowling and judgemental Fitz Darcy. Izzy, not being a wilting flower, takes quite the exception to the less than cordial reception the group gives their local hangout. As fate and meddling her mother keep throwing the group together, Izzy finds she has a great distaste for that Fitz Darcy that she cannot quite stop herself from obsessing over.

I will say Ms. Blake does a wonderful job of weaving a very intriguing and enchanting paranormal world. We get a somewhat different take on vampires, hags, dragons, and all sorts of fae folk weaved into this cross-over historical/paranormal/modern world. That being said, I feel like the era that the story was being told in should have been left in the historical timeframe. I think, as a modern woman, it's easier to go "oh yeah, they were like that back then", as to not get your back up like you would comparing the happening with more modern standards. The matchmaking mama's and the marrying a cousin told in a more modern standard is a bit... much.

Lydia, oh Lydia! Boy, oh boy was that girl like the awkward lynchpin here. She was vapid, selfish, and scantly clad so much so that it helped inadvertently created this weird dichotomy in the story where she added this hyper-sexual tone that is not there. This is a clean book. While Lydia does provide some very not-needed T&A, there are not saucy times at all. A kiss. That is it. A kiss is as far as this story goes, BUT because of Lydia and her antics, I wouldn't necessarily let my pre-teen, early teenager read this.

Needless to say, this was a bit of a miss for me. I really had some high hopes for this book, there were, I felt, some missed opportunities to create a really badass story using the paranormal realm to fix, to what I saw, were issues with P&P. I am not one of those romantic readers that pinned for a Mr. Darcy. He was an ass and I just didn't get the draw to him... ever. So, let that yardstick be your guide. I had a difficult time with the very innocent and then oddly hypersexual parts that also detracted for me, but again, I am probably a minority.

Overall, I did enjoy the book, I look forward to the author creating more paranormal takes on historical romances (if that is the ultimate goal of the Souls and Shadows series, I don't actually know. But, it's a hope).

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pride and Predjudice Alternate Universe Retelling

Pride and Paranormal is book one in the Souls and Shadows books by Adrienne Blake. This is the first book I've read by Adrienne and I was not disappointed. This book had me pulled in from the start and kept my interest the whole book. I read this book in two days because I had to know how it ended for some of the characters. If you loved Pride and Predjudice by Jane Austen you'll definitely love this paranormal alternate universe. Adrienne Blake does a great job of keeping the classic tale alive while adding the modern twist of magic and paranormal creatures.
In this book we follow the story of the Bennet family, who just like all families, have struggles, chaos, and love all thrown together. This book is told in the point of view of Izzy Bennet. Izzy is strong willed, independent, and extremely capable young witch. The love interest of Izzy, is the handsome but mysterious warlock, Fitz Darcy.
Throw in some misunderstandings, miscommunication, and a slew of other paranormal creatures, and you have an attention grabbing story.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pride and Paranormal was a 3-star read for me. For fans of retellings, it captures Pride and Prejudice reasonably well, hitting all the key plot points while also including a few ideas of its own. Izzy came across well as a character; however, some of the other figures seemed a little too underdeveloped. There were plenty of fun moments I enjoyed, but some of the paranormal elements felt tacked on just for the sake of it, or because the author suddenly needed them for the plot. This made the book feel a bit overloaded with magic at times. Overall, this was a book I didn't hate. I read though and had fun at certain times, but it never fully captured my heart and I never invested in any of the characters' relationships.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*’s. A paranormal twist on Pride and Prejudice set in modern times was very entertaining to read. I enjoyed Izzy quirky personality as well as all of the comebacks floating through her head throughout the story. Having familiar characters existing in the paranormal world allowed for so many magical things to be possible. Vampires, pixies, werewolves, witches and warlocks all added something different to the plot. While there was some romance consistent with the classic story, I felt there was more focus on the overall suspense aspect. I suppose in a way I missed more in depth relationship dialogue/interactions. Despite this, most details were resolved or addressed in the end. For fans of the classic story, this would be an entertaining read.

I received an ARC and am voluntarily sharing my honest review.

[Lissa Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all I have to say that this genre of vampires , witches and warlocks and such are not the norm for me.. However I think Adrienne Blake has converted me!! Her rendition of this paranormal Pride And Prejudice is spot on especially with the characters of Izzy and Fitz and all the other misfits!! I love the banter of all the players she has created and at times there was tons of humor making this a very entertaining read! This author has got my attention and I am looking forward to many more reads by her!!

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

Although this is an amusing retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, I felt the characters lacked depth and the paranormal parts were an add on to the story rather than being fully integrated.

Unfortunately this just does not measure up to the original which you cannot help but compare it too.

Overall an easy read without straining the brain too much.

[Cayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for anyone who loves to combine paranormal with classics. If you ever read Jane Austen's work, then you won't have trouble following this book. It's updated, but with a paranormal twist.

As a story, I found the character development to be fairly predictable with the exception of Charlotte. I thought Charlotte needed some more work. Toward the end, I felt disappointed by her. As far as her friendship with Izzy goes, I wasn't very impressed. Throw in Collins and it was just...whatever.

I don't think this is a book that I would keep for my personal library. I'm just not "the right target," but I wholeheartedly acknowledge that this book is perfect for anyone who loves the paranormal genre.

[Nikita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It stays true to the original characters while adding a new spin and twist all in all a brilliant story and I loved the magic that flowed. It keeps the spirit of the characters while keeping the story fresh.

[Regina Kiddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witches, Warlocks and vampires oh my. What happens when one headstrong witch butts heads with one handsome but haute warlock? Lots and lots of fireworks!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

[Paula lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when I saw the title I was like OMG it has to be a Pride and Prejudice retelling, and I laughed and I was right. So I did briefly read the description and requested the ARC.



I loved the book so much, definitely will reread at some point. There were some things that were changed from the original plot but nevertheless it was very much enjoyable and I think it added more to the book itself as it was not just a repetition of the original. I laughed, and I cried at some point, and don't let me even start on Darcy. Oh well, I will lol.



Darcy was such a cinnamon roll here. I mean he always was but because this book was set in modern times it was even more highlighted, and I would die for him, My Mr Perfect.



Oh and Izzy, she won me over and over, as always she is headstrong, independent, loved by her father and sister, and well me :D In this book the plot with Wickham is dealt pretty fast as our Izzy does not develop even a crush which I legit relished. And I was like yeah girl, you go girl.



Also, there is some magic as in this universe, there are witches, warlocks, vampires and all the other magical creatures, which I find quite fitting to the whole plot. I mean considering there is a book and movie with zombies, why not some magic and magical creatures.



I totally recommend this book for original P&P fans, so cute, totally enjoyable.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the eARC of this book.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Izzy and Darcy . . .

The author did a good job with the twist added to a favorite classic. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions. In this story, Izzy is a witch and Fitz Darcy is part warlock and part geomancer, attractive and mysterious, with no kind words about the Bennet family. That alone raises Izzy’s ire! Let the battle ensue!

Grab your copy and follow their adventures as Izzy, to her dismay, needs Darcy’s help. You will enjoy this new telling with a little bit of paranormal sprinkled throughout. Give it a try and see what you think!

[Jeanette Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am trash for all retellings of P&P, you know it, I know it. I loved the worldbuilding in this and bringing new stakes to the long told story of Elizabeth and Darcy.

[Cassidy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated to hate this. But when Darcy says “Ummm” almost every time he has a line and Izzy (Elizabeth) says “Comprendez?” Whenever she’s upset when there is no other Spanish usage in the book, I can’t continue reading. I’m a sucker for any version of Pride & Prejudice, but this is my first DNF of the year because I just couldn’t keep cringing. DNF at 64%.

[Cassie The Ghost · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title drew me at first sight. Learning it was a spin on Pride and Prejudice with a paranormal twist was right up my alley and it did not disappoint.

I absolutely love the way the author writes the characters. The love and hate towards Fitz was done well and you cheered the heroine (Izzy) on when she managed her digs (one-liners and snark) and cried when she got in her own way (poor Izzy!) to find love. I only mention a few times I fell out of the story with some of the dialogue. There were times I swore it felt almost like American characters and other times British. A few times I confused myself as to the setting only to realize again, yes, it was still in the states. (I'm fine with either British or American, but some of the slang bounced a bit.) I do know the author was born in the UK and lives in the US now so that's what I chocked it up to and honestly, it's really not that big of a deal once you get used to it happening. Overall, I loved the story and characters (except a few I won't mention due to spoilers) and hope that this might be a series for the author although the story can be well rounded standalone.

I would definitely read more from this author!

(Will be Cross Posting to my Blog and Instagram and will provide links)

Thank you to the author, City Owl Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchanged for an honest review.

#PrideandParanormal #NetGalley

[Rukshy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a magical retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Izzy Bennet is the second of 5 sisters, and part of a magical family in debt. It is hate at first sight when she meets the handsome warlock Fitz Darcy. What ensues is a lovely story, full of magic and great character building. I would have liked to have seen more Izzy/Fitz scenes at the end, but it was an enjoyable read. 4/5 stars

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pride and Paranormal by Adrienne Blake is a wonderful story to read. This is book number one in this wonderful start to a brand new series that I am so hooked on and can not wait to read the rest. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about urban fantasy, contemporary and paranormal romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Buturot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a Christian, some parts made me cringe. However, the author made the story so enticing I had to continue reading. Loved Izzy's initial reaction to Fitz especially when she directly told him she doesn't like him. (I felt bad for Fitz but he started it ;) Truly an enjoyable story - touch of paranormal, humor, family drama on top of the love stories.

Highly recommend reading. This is truly a bewitching, romantic modern P & P variation.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. (There were some grammatical errors but they did not detract from the story)

[Kat Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrienne Blake charms in this absolutely delightful paranormal twist on the classic P&P tale! Pride and Paranormal brings it all-banter, suspense, humor, family antics, romance, and a strong female lead- with panache. A light, whimsical tone paired with compelling and well-rounded characters suits the story perfectly, and the writing is deftly finessed with nary a wasted word. A unique, effervescent take on paranormal elements makes for a refreshing read as well. This is my first read by Adrienne Blake, and I look forward to picking up more of her books.

*Thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A paranormal Pride and Prejudice twisted sideways

Can love flourish among hurt hearts, unrestrained youth and powers, and oh so stubborn pride?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting take on the classic story made a bit more intriguing by the paranormal aspects in my opinion. I enjoyed the drama and intrigue. It was a fun read.

I requested a copy of this book and am voluntarily writing a review.

[Lauren Erzsebet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this book and had high expectations, however it didn't fully reach them. I found the character of Izzy to be strong and well fleshed out but the other Bennett family members annoying. I'm sure this was done on purpose to show their impropriety. I did like the conclusion to the story and tried not to compare this to the classic P+P.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[tburbr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great way to start a series. This was a nice twist on an old classic. The characters were well written and entertaining.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Aineenmarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a nail biter of a page turner. A great read. I loved the book. The plot was very well written and I cannot wait for another book. I really enjoyed the book and new author for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.