Enjoy!
Spellbound at Pemberley by Abigail Reynolds
Gaslamp Fantasy Romance
Publisher: White Soup Press
Published: 12.5.23
Pages: 299
Rating: 4.5 stars
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Sellers: Amazon
ADD TO: GoodReads
GoodReads Synopsis:
Fitzwilliam Darcy is a powerful mage
and master of illusions. His abilities make him the perfect man for a dangerous
mission to end the devastating war with Napoleon – a mission that would leave
him little chance of returning alive. When he meets the enchanting Elizabeth
Bennet, whose magical Talents are as deep as they are inexplicable, he knows he
needs her help. And there’s only one way to get that – marriage. Immediately.
Elizabeth wants nothing to do with his plan. Marrying
Darcy would mean breaking her strong and beloved magical bond to Longbourn and
giving up the use of her Talent forever. Then dragons enter the war in Europe,
and England's survival hangs in the balance. And Elizabeth must make the
ultimate sacrifice.
In this first book of the Fitzwilliam Darcy, Mage
trilogy, dragons are already watching their newlywed journey to Pemberley, and
a shocking discovery will force them to question everything they believe. Can
they learn to trust each other and work together to save their country--and
their lives?
Sophia Rose's Review:
What could be more enchanting than Pride & Prejudice by Jane
Austen? That would be having P&P
dropped into an alternate historical fantasy world full of intrigue, mysteries,
and two people bound together in purpose that is not love. Though yes, love, like magic, finds a way.
Spellbound
at Pemberley introduces Mr. Darcy, a well-trained mage with an upcoming
secret mission that has the hopes of England riding on it. Unfortunately, his illusion spell is giving
him a devilish amount of trouble until a country miss entwines her magic with
his own and wonderful, impossible things happen.
Elizabeth learns that revealing her
Talent ability to the arrogant visitor from Pemberley has profound consequences
that upend her world all at once. A
forced match of convenience to assist Mr. Darcy in his important mission and
the shocking revelation of long-hidden family secrets is only the tip of the
iceberg. Darcy and Elizabeth have to
work together and figure things out fast because the stakes are higher and
hotter than dragon flame.
Spellbound
at Pemberley had a start that I was confident I knew what was coming, but
no, what delight, there was oh so much more than I expected (and I was already
expecting quite a bit). The complexity
of Abigail Reynolds’ fantasy world with nearly everyone holding a secret and
nothing being straight forward once the romance pair were together was sheer
delight with some new revelation with every chapter it seemed. The way she uses magic with the Land Talent
ties and more traditional mage magic that acts on the English social and
cultural rules was neat. Naturally, one
of the big turns in the story was Darcy and Elizabeth learning that their
magical world is not quite what they thought.
But, all is not just intrigue and
thrills. I did love the couple coming
together in a forced marriage and making much of it. I enjoyed the introduction of a wide cast of
characters that included Elizabeth’s falcon friend and Darcy’s Lynx
familiar. How fascinating that Lady
Anne, Darcy’s mother is a political power and a complex character. The Bennets and their extended relations are
fascinating, too.
Spellbound
at Pemberley is the first segment of a three-part story and finishes with
hints that matters are about to get more interesting. However, I liked how there was some closure
on the first act so the reader isn’t left hanging on a limb.
For those who like the magic and
intrigue set in Regency England, but hesitate because it’s mingled with a
popular Jane Austen story, don’t worry.
Fans and newcomers alike can appreciate this story equally well. If you enjoy Gaslamp fantasy, don’t miss this
one.
Author Bio:
Abigail Reynolds may be a nationally bestselling author and a physician, but
she can’t follow a straight line with a ruler. Originally from upstate New
York, she studied Russian and theater at Bryn Mawr College and marine biology
at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole. After a stint in performing
arts administration, she decided to attend medical school, and took up writing
as a way to retain her sanity during her years as a physician in private
practice.
A life-long lover of Jane Austen’s novels, Abigail began writing variations
on Pride & Prejudice in 2001, then expanded her repertoire to
include a series of novels set on her beloved Cape Cod. Her most recent
releases are Spellbound at Pemberley, The Price of Pride, A Matter
of Honor, and Mr. Darcy’s Enchantment. Her books have been
translated into seven languages. She lives on Cape Cod with her family and a
menagerie of cats who rule the roost. Her hobbies do not include sleeping or
cleaning her house.
Website: https://www.pemberleyvariations.com/
Sophia’s Bio:
Sophia
is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing,
piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments,
restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible
man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes
Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and
Chocolate.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that
Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. Sophia is a
prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many
wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading
tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and
romance. Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose
I always love variations
ReplyDeleteAnd, there is fantasy. Double score for you. :)
DeleteSounds like a fun, magical adaptation!
ReplyDeleteMost definitely, Rachel!
Delete