The Darcy Legacy: ~ A Pride and Prejudice Variation ~ in Austen Variations

Jul 01, 2018 Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing

11/28/18: I just finished listening the this book now on Audible while I did my morning 1/2 hour walk.

I have been thinking over what I want to say in this review for the last day. I hope I do it justice. Joana is one of my favorite JAFF authors. I love her prose and she has the ability to approach her variations with unique premises. This one was no different as she now enters the sub-genre of the paranormal in the lives of ODC.

Yes, we enter this story reading about the death of George Darcy and 11/28/18: I just finished listening the this book now on Audible while I did my morning 1/2 hour walk.

I have been thinking over what I want to say in this review for the last day. I hope I do it justice. Joana is one of my favorite JAFF authors. I love her prose and she has the ability to approach her variations with unique premises. This one was no different as she now enters the sub-genre of the paranormal in the lives of ODC.

Yes, we enter this story reading about the death of George Darcy and his experiences upon entering the afterlife. He meets his wife, Anne, and soon learns that they can read each other's thoughts. This has some reinforcing of good events in their lives on earth but they also learn some new sides to their spouse and they find limitations to where they can travel and with any communications with life on the other side of the veil. Sometimes they find that working together yields the result they wanted. Later in the story we also find Mrs. Bennet and another lady who in prominent in JA's story as part of the after life. The interactions and conversations between those who have passed are amusing...and sometimes totally satisfying. (You find wishes as to certain people being put down in canon being fulfilled here.)

The story builds slowly as background is not skimped on in both worlds. Mr. and Mrs. Darcy's expectations about their offspring do not always match and while they observe Darcy's relationships with Georgiana, with Bingley and with Elizabeth we again learn what is expected of Darcy due to his position and his influences upon so many. However, we also learn that one parent wants happiness above "legacy" and its demands for Fitzwilliam.

Backtracking: Mr. Bennet is a widow. While Elizabeth does not marry Mr. Collins this also makes that need just a little less dire as there is no Mrs. Bennet to rant about the hedgerows. But on the other hand Mr. Bennet is forced to change some of his behaviors as to looking at providing for his daughters' future. A trip to Kent brings about many new considerations and you will be just a little taken aback when a marriage occurs at Rosings.

There are secrets and there are manipulations in various persons attempting to influence outcomes/pairings, etc. Anne learns she can make some decisions about the estate but also seeks to do so without having her mother figure out the real end she has in mind. Jane and Bingley, again, have separated and she finds herself not completely trusting his motivation when she learns he may visit the area. Why? That is part of the mystery as to the changes for the Bennet sisters.

There is one event I love in a communication between worlds. I must not hint at it here but please, do yourself a favor and read. I will say that as it happens a certain person is thought to have heat stroke due to "insane" babblings.

I enjoyed this story and can only say that there is much more which will delight you but which I dare not share here as I want you to have the pleasure of discovery as a new surprise...not hinted at by SPOILERS. ...more

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Jul 01, 2018 wosedwew rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2018, 2021, book-reviews

Love, thieves, and fear, make ghosts. ~ German Proverb

“The Darcy Legacy” is a story of love (of course), thieves (or thief) and ghosts.

The ghosts are the best part!

Our story of the spirit world begins with the death of George Darcy. His newly-departed spirit is surprised to encounter the spirit of Lady Anne who still resides at Pemberley, keeping watch over her children. Some marital issues never disappear, even after death and the deceased Darcys encounter obstacles to their Happily-Ever-Hereaf ...more

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Jun 30, 2018 Nicole Clarkston rated it it was amazing

This paranormal romance from Joana Starnes breaks all the rules! Side-splittingly funny, touching, with just the right amount of angst and mystery, I stayed up into the wee hours to finish it. We have a thoroughly besotted Darcy, an slightly offended Elizabeth, and any number of helpful relatives trying to push the couple together... even from beyond the veil. What a pure delight! I always know I’m for an incredible story with Joana Starnes. She does Darcy angst so masterfully, and her prose is ...more

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Sep 27, 2018 Elin Eriksen rated it really liked it

Shelves: thrilling, well-written

I adored the first quarter, I loved the thrilling middle and the intriguing end but the inbetween parts was a tad slow and reflection-heavy, hence the deduction of a star.

The ghosts was a high-light in this story. Not of the gothic kind though but highly entertaining.
Entering some years prior to canon, we learn something of the Darcy's backstory.
The visit to Netherfield and the retreat was there but there was twists and turns. Soon the story left for Rosings where much of this story unfolded ...more

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Jul 08, 2018 Ceri added it

Shelves: austen-variation, austenesque-no-sex-scenes, review-copies, 2018-austenesque-challenge

Review and giveaway here: http://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot.... ...more

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Jul 05, 2018 Lenora Robinson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2018

Great book

I would highly recommend this book to everyone. The story is so very well constructed and the character s very close to cannon. I absolutely love this book and this author.

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Dec 10, 2018 M rated it really liked it

Shelves: audible-reads

It took me a couple of chapters to get into this; I wasn’t sure about the ghosts. There is even more suspension of disbelief required for the Lady C story! However once you accept those two aspects, the story is both humorous and very intriguing. I couldn’t wait to see what happened!

The book is quite long, and almost feels like a different story in the middle, with an interesting and detailed foray into happenings at Rosings, but it’s then all drawn together in the end.

Very enjoyable.

2023 re-r ...more

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Feb 09, 2020 Suzanne Brighte rated it liked it

Shelves: p-and-p

An okay story

It was okay, had some entertaining moments and definitely some funny parts too! But towards the end, I was itching to get the story over with.

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