The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch

De: Melinda Taub

Narrado por: Amy Hoggart

In this "magical, brilliant" (Lev Grossman, New York Times bestselling author) reimagining of Pride and Prejudice, the youngest Bennett sister is given the spotlight.

In this exuberant retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Lydia Bennet puts pen to paper to relate the real events and aftermath of the classic story. Some facts are well known: Mrs. Bennet suffers from her nerves, Mr. Bennet suffers from Mrs. Bennet, and all five daughters suffer from an estate that is entailed only to male heirs.

But Lydia also suffers from entirely different concerns: her best-loved sister Kitty is really a barn cat; Wickham is every bit as wicked as the world believes him to be, but what else would one expect from a demon? And if Mr. Darcy is uptight about etiquette, that’s nothing compared to his feelings about magic. Most of all, Lydia has yet to learn that for a witch, promises have power . . .

Full of enchantment, intrigue, and boundless magic, The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch, has all the irreverent wit, strength, and romance of Pride and Prejudice—while offering a highly unexpected redemption for the wildest Bennet sister.

A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY PICK FOR 2023

©2023 Melinda Taub (P)2023 Grand Central Publishing

Reseñas de la Crítica

"The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch is a delightfully rendered redemption of the much maligned youngest Bennet daughter, Lydia; whose ill-advised actions that once threatened the Bennett sisters futures is finally proven to be less a girlish folly and more the result of a sacrifice made meant to save them all. Filled with magic, mayhem and manners, Melinda Taub has crafted a world both familiar and strange, faithful and fantastic. Scandalous Confessions is a welcome addition to the Austen Universe." —Amiee Gibbs, author of The Carnivale of Curiosities

Very Funny Adaptation With The Fantasy Elements Being Pure Perfection

The best compliment I can say when reading fanfiction is that the author’s versions of the characters are so compelling that they have displaced the cannon versions in my mind.

That is certainly the case here. (When reading other vagaries I had to keep reminding myself that Kitty isn't actually a cat.)

This version of Lydia Bennet is so well developed in a way that doesn't brush over her flaws but lets the good parts of her personality shine. I also really like thebsubtle explorations of how Lydia and Elizabeth share a lot in common.

I love the magic system in this world. It's dark, can't make you rich, can't overthrow the patriarchy, can go horribly wrong and requires personal sacrifice. It's great way for the fantasy elements reinforcing the themes of the orginal source material (about women needing to hold on to the power that they have.) Also, the Brighton witches and they use of bloodletters ties in great to the historical themes of slavery & the abolition movement.

It's also great how the book really allows us to spend time with cannon characters that have very little page time such as Mrs. Phillips, Harriet Foster, Mary King & Denny.

Also demon Whickham choosing the ability to cheat at cards rather than the ability to read and write was hilarious.

Miss Lamb & her interactions with Lydia and Captain Carteriet are absolutely dynamic. I couldn't get enough of Miss Lamb the multi racial heiress in love with one of the salves her grandfather owns. Also, Captain Carteriet's plan to win an heiress by loosing at gambling enough to get invited to high stakes tables and win just enough to exchange favors for gambling debts. . . . was absolutely brilliant. (Whickham take notes . . . this is how you woo an heiress).

And the relationship between witches & the sea was completely unique and captivating. When the witches all get drunk on seawater at the ball, it was such a fun scene. Lydia asking Whickham if he was going to waltz her and Whickham crying over the beauty of the music just came across as very romantic.

I loved this version of Georgianna. (Doesn't necessarily align with cannon as this version of Georgianna is obessed with mathematics not music . . . bu who cares as she is a delight.) * I also love her relationship with Darcy. . . . Snubs being Darcy's nickname and so proud of Georgianna's mathematical skills is just so cute.

Spoilers Below


My heart broke for both Lydia (when Harriet Foster betrays Lydia) as well as Harriet Foster's ultimate fate. I really hope Harriet gets to enjoy her seal life. It's a really interesting look behind the curtain about how Mrs. Bennet's attitude about only focusing on the husband catching and not the marriage itself can go so horribly wrong.

The one real complaint I have about this book is that the whole section where Miss Lamb becomes the witch queen of Brighton was very rushed and confusing.

Of course Darcy would be buying hand pies and holding the carriage door for a girl his conscious mind doesn't acknowledge is there.

* When Georgianna detroys her treatise and adds fireworks to the fire to make it witchier, I laughed out loud.

By the end, I was really shipping Lydia and demon Whickham. The reveal that Whickham really did love Lydia and that he even learned his letters to suprise her . . . was a happy ending (or a mostly happy ending) well earned.

Great story.

Am I the only Pride and Prejudice fan who also loves fantasy? This was the best! Story was great and a perfect connection to Pride and Prejudice.

Fantastic Narrator!

This is really fun book, especially if you’re familiar with Pride and Prejudice. But it’s the performance of it that I liked the best.

Good lesson in the end

I prefer books where I can believe in the characters. I was entertained by Lydia Bennet, witch.

The narration is superb

Although I listen to audiobooks almost daily (commute to and from work, you know), most of them are books already read and I listen in lieu of rereading. Rarely, I make an exception when an audiobook description is compelling enough. This was one of those situations and I have zero regrets and all the stars.

The narration is superb.

This is not a scrubbed clean Lydia. It is also not especially scandalous (but not disappointedly so). It is definitely not explicit. Her scandalous behavior is mostly related to her adventures as a witch. It is quite clear that this Lydia is a little too trusting, loves her friends and relatives deeply, and will be as brave as is required to protect them. She's as ADHD as usual, and her tangents are wonderful.

The story of how Kitty came to be is especially touching and is foreshadowing of just how powerful this girl's love is (she's roughly 17 at the end of the book).

Since the real Wickham was eaten by a baby demon sometime after trying to seduce Georgiana and before joining the militia, this one is not the same Wickham. This Wickham has serious Daddy issues, although he's his usual handsome and charming self.

I tend to be suspicious of JAFF over 9 hours long. It's too common for them to be bloated or suffer from an hour of epilogue. In this case though, there is no bloating. The book covers a large span of time, going back and forth between past and present in the most natural way I have ever experienced. It really is all tied together, every little side trip of Lydia's thoughts serving a purpose.

The magical world unfolds naturally. It is entirely a matrilineal sort of thing, which means the book is grounded in the same female dominated world. The men are Darcy, a handful of militia officers, Wickham, (and a bad dragon, I suppose). It works.

Gah! Kitty and Lydia. Best sister story ever.

A delightful retelling of the Austen-verse

A wild take on the beloved characters of Jane Austen. Here her wickedly immoral characters find a place of understanding, albeit a supernatural one. So, if you enjoyed “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” this book is for you.

I truly enjoyed listening to this!!

I was excited to continue reading this chapter after chapter. Captivating from the begining. Truly enjoyed the way the Original story was incorporated!! I'm telling everyone to read and/or listen.

Austen lover says Yes!

This book was wonderful and the voicing by Amy Hoggett was spot on brilliant! Loved this book!

Simply Wonderful!

Story and audio are A++. I was captivated throughout, and want to gift this fun, absorbing, cheeky and meticulously crafted delight to all my fellow Austen devotees.

I ate this entire book up and I’m craving more

A creative retelling of Lydia Bennett Life as a witch. I loved every minute of it!