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romancebookdragon's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to this on audiobook and I have to say that all the voices sounded like an American doing an impression of the queen and they’ve never actually heard a British person speak it was an alright book.
petrajaga's review
2.0
Elizabeth and Jane's visit to Netherfield gets prolonged due to heavy rain, and Elizabeth and Darcy unknowingly start a chess game with each other.
This had so much potential... which it promptly fell short of.
Bullet points:
- Iffy grammar and spelling. Commas either missing or all over the place. Also iffy word usage(catcalling at a wedding, really?) .
- Though the book is technically written in third person, the point of view kept switching between Elizabeth and Darcy, sometimes even within the same paragraph, which was extremely distracting.
- Such drama. Such fighting. Such insults. And here I was, stupidly expecting to read a Regency story where all disagreements are handled in with kid gloves because that's part of the fun...Collins ripping sleeves? Caroline and Elizabeth basically insulting each other every time they met (and Lizzy coming across like a bitch because of it)? Darcy attempting to barge into Lizzy's room in the middle of the night?! Just... whathowwhy?
- The whole Darcy/Lizzy arc was just kind of there. And was more of a straight line than an arc. Most of the disagreements seemed manufactured.And then, towards the end, there was literally a chapter that began with "It was a foregone conclusion that they'd end up together." Erm, if so, why am I still expected to read to the end of the book? Hmph.
- I wish the chess theme had been woven throughout the book, rather than used up at the very beginning.
- The low-key fat shaming of Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine was unnecessary, to say the least. Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine as such were pretty unnecessary too, come to think of it.
Also, 'Lizzie' and 'Mariah'. I kept expecting the latter to start riffing.
This had so much potential... which it promptly fell short of.
Bullet points:
- Iffy grammar and spelling. Commas either missing or all over the place. Also iffy word usage
- Though the book is technically written in third person, the point of view kept switching between Elizabeth and Darcy, sometimes even within the same paragraph, which was extremely distracting.
- Such drama. Such fighting. Such insults. And here I was, stupidly expecting to read a Regency story where all disagreements are handled in with kid gloves because that's part of the fun...
- The whole Darcy/Lizzy arc was just kind of there. And was more of a straight line than an arc. Most of the disagreements seemed manufactured.
- I wish the chess theme had been woven throughout the book, rather than used up at the very beginning.
- The low-key fat shaming of Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine was unnecessary, to say the least. Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine as such were pretty unnecessary too, come to think of it.
Also, 'Lizzie' and 'Mariah'. I kept expecting the latter to start riffing.
elizabaum's review
3.0
Okay, this book came highly recommended, so I hate to say this...but I didn't like it as much as I expected. It wasn't bad or anything--really more like a 3.5 star book for the writing and basic flow of the plot--but the story itself was nothing special, and thus the minor annoyances I had with it seemed that much bigger, when in a more complex or involved story those things might have faded into the background.
My annoyances were as follows:
-Darcy's initial confession of his affection seemed sudden and too strongly worded for being so early in their acquaintance, and especially considering how much more he has to struggle in canon to even admit that he likes her. I get that it was supposed to highlight his awkwardness and inability to express himself to her, but it just made me cringe. Ditto most of their later conversations where she misunderstands his meaning.
-The language seems intentionally complex, using big words where more simplistic phrasing would have sufficed. It was perfectly well done, but felt like it was trying too hard.
-Lizzie and Mariah should have been Lizzy and Maria (this always bugs me in stories).
-Elizabeth retaliates in ways that seem too petty and combative for her. I can see her throwing punch on Mr. Collins (in fact, this should be a plot point in every story from now on!), but not her comments to Lady Catherine and Caroline. It's so much better when she can get them back with witty barbs rather than bare insults.
-I like seeing a slightly more aggressive Jane, but in this case she seemed to take on too much of Elizabeth's personality. She was often teasing and impertinent, and I think there are better ways for Jane to come into her own.
-Elizabeth and Darcy's romance progressed too quickly, and their lessons were either too easily learned or never brought up. Elizabeth getting over her initial dislike and Darcy's behavior for a few days just doesn't have the same punch without adding Wickham and Jane/Bingley as conflict, or adding appropriate conflict substitutes. Caroline might have worked without the aforementioned tendency for Elizabeth's retorts to be rather childish, ruining the effect.
-Wickham's set-down was too easy and distant, and Darcy didn't even have to tell Elizabeth the truth about him and Georgiana.
Regardless of these opinions, thanks so much to Lenora and Debbie for the recommendation, and to Lenora for the loan of the kindle book!
My annoyances were as follows:
-The language seems intentionally complex, using big words where more simplistic phrasing would have sufficed. It was perfectly well done, but felt like it was trying too hard.
-Lizzie and Mariah should have been Lizzy and Maria (this always bugs me in stories).
-Elizabeth retaliates in ways that seem too petty and combative for her. I can see her throwing punch on Mr. Collins (in fact, this should be a plot point in every story from now on!), but not her comments to Lady Catherine and Caroline. It's so much better when she can get them back with witty barbs rather than bare insults.
-I like seeing a slightly more aggressive Jane, but in this case she seemed to take on too much of Elizabeth's personality. She was often teasing and impertinent, and I think there are better ways for Jane to come into her own.
-Elizabeth and Darcy's romance progressed too quickly, and their lessons were either too easily learned or never brought up. Elizabeth getting over her initial dislike and Darcy's behavior for a few days just doesn't have the same punch without adding Wickham and Jane/Bingley as conflict, or adding appropriate conflict substitutes. Caroline might have worked without the aforementioned tendency for Elizabeth's retorts to be rather childish, ruining the effect.
-Wickham's set-down was too easy and distant, and Darcy didn't even have to tell Elizabeth the truth about him and Georgiana.
Regardless of these opinions, thanks so much to Lenora and Debbie for the recommendation, and to Lenora for the loan of the kindle book!
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