The Darcy Legacy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

By: Joana Starnes

Narrated by: Stevie Zimmerman

Length: 15 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

Pemberley’s ancient halls harbour many secrets. Which one will affect Fitzwilliam Darcy and the love of his life? How is Mr. Bennet to enjoy the comforts of a well-stocked library, when his wife’s premature demise had left him with the task of finding suitable matches for their daughters? And what of a misleading encounter on a muddy lane in Hertfordshire, that renders a country-town assembly rather more tolerable than some might have thought?  

Shades of mystery, meddlesome relations - not least a drenched Adonis - raillery, old errors and a very recent union make for a challenging courtship when Fitzwilliam Darcy is not on his own ground. Yet when love is the reward, challenges make it more worth the earning.  

“A fraught courtship? So, let it be fraught,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said with a nonchalant flourish of his hand. “A good challenge never hurt anyone.”

©2018 Joana Starnes (P)2018 Joana Starnes

An Entertaining listen.

Not quite what I expected starting off but it was entertaining j feel like Ms Starnes kept the basic personalities of the characters. She brought them out well. Really enjoyed Mr Bennet, he gave me some good chuckles. I haven’t read many variations but it was enjoyable.
Stevie Zimmerman is always an excellent narrator.

JOYFUL Reading

loved this variation. I laughed a lot, didn't want it to end. Good enough to listen twice.

Much ado about little

The narration was well done but could not make up for a very long book with little drama. Just lots of internal character angst.

Great Story! Spoilers Below

First off, the ghost are mainly in the beginning and end of the story and not the only storyline. The main plot is that in this variation Mrs. Bennet is dead and Mr. Bennet is left to take care of his girls. She has been dead for many years. Therefore, he is more of an attentive and caring father. He's also one of the funniest characters in the book. Mr. Darcy visits Hertfordshire and falls for Elizabeth right away. She also falls for him. Because of his duty and her connections he knows he can't marry her. So he convinces Bingley Jane doesn't care for him and they both leave Netherfield. It is very hard for Mr. Darcy to stay away from Elizabeth but he does. Until he finds out Mr. Bennett has married his Aunt Lady Catherine. Everyone ends up going to Rosings Park and living together. Most of the story takes place there. Darcy is very much in love at this point and wants to court Elizabeth. She on the other hand is mad he left her and resents him for not wanting to marry her before her social status went up. She pushings him away but he won't take no for an answer. No matter what she says she still cares and is very attracted to him. This leads to many stolen kisses and an awful proposal. Anne is featured quite a bit in this book because she is now Elizabeth's sister by marriage. Ive read many P&P variations and this is the only one where I like her character. She has a love interest that isn't Darcy which is pretty cute. She ends up getting poisoned causing her to become very sick. Everyone has to come together to figure out who did it. This leads Darcy and Elizabeth to become even closer. Some criticisms are I wish it had more Bingley and Jane. They get back together right as he reappears and we don't even get to hear his proposal. Also no one ever finds out Darcy was the one the separated them and its completely forgotten about. Overall I really enjoyed it. Narrator was Amazing!

Amazing!

This is an incredible story from beginning to end. Well-written and extremely well-read. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

Starnes has done it again

This paranormal story of Pride and Prejudice proves that author Joanna Starnes can write anything. Poignant, funny and smart. Narrator Stevie Zimmerman is lovely. Not to be missed.

Interesting twist with some surprises

First off, Stevie Zimmerman is a great narrator. I’m happy to listen to anything she’s read. I’ve listened to hundreds of audiobooks and I’d rather her among my favourite narrators.

The story is an interesting twist. Knowing there is a paranormal twist in it (ghosts), I wasn’t sure what to expect and I was, honestly, a little hesitant. But Joana Starnes wrote it and I have found her a very reliable author of Jane Austen inspired stories and this was no different. She tossed in one twist I have never seen before (in addition to the ghosts). There was a lot of the de Bourghs in this story. Lady Catherine was her usual self, but Anne turned out to very nice. One of the surprises relates to her chronic ill health. I was very happy to know that her story would ultimately be a happy one.

As for our dear couple - Elizabeth and Darcy - their relationship developed very nicely. There was a little twist to their early meeting which had some consequences and just enough misunderstanding and Darcy pride to keep the story interesting without adding too much angst. I enjoyed watching Darcy having to redeem himself and getting to know secondary characters better, such as Anne de Bourgh and Col. Fitzwilliam - and the ghosts. Overall, a very enjoyable story with great narration.

A Book You Can't Put Down

A wonderful story to listen to and read. It had me laughing out loud. Great characters, plot, and everything thing else a good story needs. If you like Pride and Prejudice varieties you will like this!

Hauntingly good

In the very first I was not sure that I was going to like the ghosts aspect of the story, but they are not prevalent - they just flit in and out and actually enhance the story of Darcy and Elizabeth. It is a very good book with a different twist on the Pride and Prejudice theme. First are the ghosts - then a couple of unexpected marriages - and an almost murder mystery. Otherwise the characters and atmosphere stay true to the Pride and Prejudice theme. It is a most entertaining book.

Mr. Bennet plays a big role, as do his daughters and Lady Katherine. George Wickham and the Bingley sisters play minor roles. The main characters, of course, are Darcy and Elizabeth. Mr. Bennett, Lady Katherine, and her daughter Ann are also major players. Most of the story takes place at Rosings and Pemberly, with some activity at Netherfield and Longbourne. I really enjoyed the unique approach the author took in this book - including the ghost of George Darcy which occurs in the first paragraph, and the others that pop up during the book. Well worth the credit. Narration is also very good.

Joana Starnes' best book yet

I know I sound like I repeat myself, but it really was sublime. To date it was my favourite book. I simply can not get enough of Eliza and Fitzwilliam <3
What sweet twist to be introduced to familiar characters whom we have not actually met before, eg. FD's parents.
Loved it from start to finish.
Stevie Zimmerman with her ability to read all the different voices and accents, has outdone herself. Lady Catherine's voice is class.
Anyone deciding on this book is in for a treat.