Title: Shadows over Longbourn
Author: Jann Rowland
Publication Date: April 8, 2016
My Grade: B-
Once again, I found another intriguing Pride & Prejudice Veriation. In the case of this novel, Elizabeth’s father Mr. Bennet dies before any of his daughters are married, but before he does he manage to convince distant relative Darcy to take in his daughters so they aren’t left to his cousin Thaddeus (father of our familar Mr. Collins).
This novel is not a bad one, although I find the opening sequence of events hard to connect to the original material. Match of the characters remain the same, although Mary ends up more outspoken, and Lydia more aware (although not by much). Instead of Wickham, who appears only briefly, the main villian is the elder Mr. Collins. Its an alright story if taken by itself, although I don’t think it works as a strong variation of Pride & Prejudice. However, it is one of the better ones I have read, and at least stands in the vicinity of what the original materal gives.
Its major issue is not the content, but the formating. I feel as if the novel could have used a run or two through the editor’s pen before it was published. Often the story would change POV without a clear distinction like some empty space or a character line. There were a few other mistakes that could have been caught by an editor. This didn’t make the story unbearable, but was something that was noticable.
Sokorra Lewis 