The Dragons of Kellynch

Jane Austen's Dragons, Book 5

By: Maria Grace

Narrated by: Benjamin Fife

Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

In order to secure her future, a young lady must marry well.

One would think Anne Elliot, a baronet’s daughter, would find the marriage mart far easier to navigate than a more ordinary woman. One would be wrong.

After refusing a poor, but otherwise perfect sailor, on the advice of her friend Lady Russell, Anne finds an unhappy choice before her: marry deathly dull Charles Musgrove or hope against hope that another suitable proposal might come her way before she becomes a spinster on the shelf.

Anne’s disgracefully independent choice to refuse Charles’ offer turns her world entirely arsey-varsey and not in the expected turned upside down sort of way. She begins to see things...hear things...things like dragons.

And once one sees dragons, one talks to them. And when one talks to them, nothing is ever the same again.

Must a young lady marry well if she hears dragons?

A must-listen gas lamp dragon fantasy! Jane Austen meets Anne McCaffrey with a touch of Harry Potter!

©2020 Maria Grace (P)2020 Maria Grace

Glad the Author ventured into another Austen novel

After introducing dragons to the world of Pride and Prejudice, this newest addition to the series takes us into the story of Persuasion where Anne Elliot has never recovered from her broken engagement with Captain Wentworth. However, when she learns (later in life than is expected) that she can hear dragons and is in line to be the next keeper of the dragon of Kellynch, everything changes. Lady Russell wants her to marry Charles Musgrove, the Blue Order wants her to marry the heir to Kellynch, the heir has other ideas, and Anne just wants to learn more about dragons and this new world where women might be treated as equals to men regardless of marital status. She also learns that she has a voice and can speak up for herself and what is right.

I enjoyed this audiobook a great deal. The narration by Benjamin Fife was superb as always. The characters in the story were definitely Austen's characters, but they developed based on their interaction with the dragons which was interesting to watch. Lady Russell's transformation was particularly surprising and entertaining. It was a bit confusing that Anne's sisters were named Elizabeth and Mary (since the earlier books included sisters Elizabeth and Mary Bennett), but we can blame Austen for that. I loved all the new things still to be discovered about the dragons in this saga and look forward to the rest of the story.

I received a free audiobook from StoryOrigin and have reviewed it willingly.

Look forward to listening to all in this series

This is the fifth book I have read/listened to by this author (all were in this series) and I would listen to another. I am enjoying how she has tweaked Jane Austen’s story to include the dragons. The first book follows the original story’s wording quite closely in parts and each subsequent one has taken portions of it and expanded. I love how she has been, even after this many books, able to still use the basis of the original story to go forward with the dragon concept.——-

I look forward to listening to this entire series series. ——-

This is the eleventh book I have listened to by this narrator ( Benjamin Fife ). He has now become synonymous with these characters for me. I like his interpretation of the dragon voices and he does very well with both male and female character voices. His tone of voice and slight accent is perfect for these pre-Victorian era stories. ——-

There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence, or swearing. ——-

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.

A Persuasion variation

The addition of dragons to another Jane Austen story makes for great entertainment. As I have been listening to the entire series of books in order, it took me a bit to adjust to the change of characters. I didn’t read the description ahead of time to know there was a new storyline.

Maria Grace continues to entertain with her lovely stories. I love the whole idea of dragons and a secret society that interacts with them.

Benjamin Fife really knows how to bring a story to life. I thoroughly enjoy all his different voices for the characters.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

Another excellent book.

This is another excellent book to the series, but this one ends more "unfinished" than any of the prior books. I was a bit disappointed in that. Thankfully, I already have the last book in my library and waiting to be read! Once again Benjamin Fife brings this story to life and makes listening to the book a pleasure. Excellent series! I highly recommend.
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

CAPTIVATING SERIES

CAPTIVATING SERIES.
Indeed this series had me thinking "where have you been hiding?" I found this series absolutely captivating. I was in dragon heaven I tell you, I bought the rest of the series straightaway after reading the first book. I recommend listening/reading in order except you should listen/read book 4 first as it tells you about the dragons and Jane and Elizabeth's early history but that is just my opinion. There is an underlying plot that took me several books to pick up on and had me quite excited to discover what the ending may bring.
Then there is another matter, the narrator, my goodness- his voices were exceptional and I cannot think be improved. I think the success of this whole series on this audible platform is for the most part his vocalization as he paints each description and happening with these fantastical creatures. Let me also tell you that I have listened to each book many times over and shall do so more in the future. I have added this series to my "favorites"
RECOMMENDED

Another fun tale set in Jane Austen’s world

Another intriguing tale in the Pride and Prejudice world. This one seemed a little slower – perhaps because it was a new cast to get to know. But I enjoyed seeing Ann Elliot grow into her dragonhearing, and role as a junior keeper. I look forward to the next book, to see how she fares, and also to see if she and Wentworth will get together somehow. As usual, Benjamin Fife did an outstanding job narrating. I received a free copy of this audiobook, with no obligation.

A worthy successor, though harder to get into.

Although not nearly as complex as the previous books in the 'Jane Austen's Dragons' series, this book is a reasonably worthy successor that manages to merge the travails of regency husband-hunting with the perils of coming into hearing dragons late in life.

As always, Benjamin Fife gives us an absolutely phenomenal performance. His accents are near-perfect, his voices impeccable, and his sense of rhythm and pacing are second to none. There are few audiobook narrators in the same league as Benjamin.

Now, in fairness, I struggled to get into this book. Although I should have, I didn't bother to read the description. I was so thoroughly engrossed by the previous books that I didn't think it was necesssary. So, naturally, I was caught off guard by the switch in main characters. I really liked Elizabeth, but Anne just doesn't have the same... likeability for me.

Admittedly, there are story reasons for this, which do make sense, but because of it, as a character she just didn't work for me.

That said, however, there are a number of well-drawn characters that really bring the book and the world to life. Although there isn't a lot about the Blue Order in this one, what there is does give us a deeper understanding of the Order and how it works.

I think a lot of my frustration is that, because it does take Anne so long to get on board with the idea of dragons (and hearing them) being real, I spent quite a bit of time just urging the book to "get on with it" and get to the point. I had a much easier time getting into the first book because the dragons were a natural facet pretty much from page one.

Also, I know this is a big selling point for many of Maria Grace's readers, but for me the constant politicking and min/maxing involved in a regency noblewoman hunting for a husband (or her family trying to do it for her) is ... wearying. I enjoyed the flow of the first three books largely because Elizabeth considered herself so far above all that. And while I can see what appears to be an attempt to make Anne similar in that regard (if not the same), it unfortunately just makes her come across as petulant and childish because ... well ... she doesn't seem to have a good reason to be above it.

She has this nebulous feeling of not wanting to do as is expected of her, but there's no reason I can see for her to think of things any differently than any other young woman in her position.

All that aside, there are some interesting things going on, particularly with the estate dragon and a few mysteries that I will not spoil here.

Overall, as always, building believable characters that feel compelling and real is Maria Grace's greatest strength. Almost every character that appears in the book has a unique personality and their own goals. No one is there just to serve the plot. Of course, having not read the original source material, I can't say if this is Grace's doing or Austen's (except in the cases of the dragons, of course), but it makes for good reading either way.

My biggest complaint is the one that I had for the first three books about Elizabeth Bennet as well. In short, it comes down to the fact that this book is not a complete story but a fraction of one. The first three books were, in sum, one story, and I suspect that will be the case here as well. Which is borne out by the shortness of each book. For audiobooks consumers like myself, that makes them a hard sell no matter how well written they are.

I think if I were to make one suggestion to the author/publisher, it would be to stop adapting one Jane Austen book into three books and make them one book as they should be. I know I'm not the only reader/listener who is frustrated by coming to the end of a book only to realize that you're only holding half (or less) of a complete story.

I Want More!!!!

More, I want more! These books are addicting. Not only is the writing wonderful and believable, the narration is a perfect fit. I can’t wait for more.

Ann Elliot discovers that she can hear dragons, and she also learns that her mother’s best friend has a secret. Ann gets to see the sleeping estate dragon, Kellynich. Her father is not pleased with her new abilities, and refuses to introduce her to the Blue Order, which is required. What will she do? She’s also met with marriage proposals that she cannot bring herself to accept. Will she become a spinster?

Frederick Wentworth has found himself a dragon, which he names Laconia, after his ship. He and Laconia get along well. The Blue Order approves of the match.

Will fate reunite Ann and Frederick? Will Kellynich, the dragon, accept Ann as a junior keeper? I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens.

This book provides such a wonderful blend of Austen and fantasy. The classic and the new flow seamlessly together. I highly recommend this book.

I received a copy of this book from the narrator. I thank him for his generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

Frustratingly Addictive

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Anne has some major decisions to make. Like many women she wants to marry for love but when she finally comes into her dragon hearing she is faced with an ultimatum. Is there any chance to marry for love? Or is her hand going to be forced? Oh what a cliffhanger! When the book ended I was so surprised that I even said out load “that can’t be the end!!?” I can’t wait for the next book!

A look at a different family in the same era.

I am often reminded by reading books, how the life of all females have changed, over the past 200 years. Without independent thinking and acting women, how are lives could be very different.
Yes, this is a story of such a strong willed young woman, but she has another new ability, that of 'hearing' dragons.
I was confused when I started this book, with the names of the daughters the same as the Bennett sisters. However, the Elliott family is very different from those we met in other episodes of this series, although the thing to tie this story to the previous is the "Hearing" of dragons.
This is a cliffhanger, in so far as it doesn't resolve all issues in this episode.

Great story

The author and Narrator continues to do a great job on this series.

The author makes this book very detailed and brings the story into your mind with each detail. There are others in the series that do help when reading this book (and the next one of course).

The narrator brings each character to life with each of their tones being different from each other.

I got a free audio book and am very grateful that I was able to get it. These are my own thoughts that in no reflect whether I get something free or pay for it.

I listened to this and the next one in the series a while ago and lost what I had written out in my computer cause it broke, tried to get it fixed but sadly all those reviews I had saved are gone, so I can't remember all of what I wrote sadly.

Another amazing Dragon story by Maria Grace!!!

I loved meeting new dragon estate families, as well as the Laconia's dragon, and joining Anne's adventure of coming into hearing as an adult.

I can't wait to meet Kellynch and find out more about the sea dragons with Wentworth.

fantastic

As someone who normally hates period novels, I love this series and the the fantastic writing along side the brilliant narration xxxxxxxx

Delightful

Delightful story as Ann Elliott of Kellynch (Persuasion) develops the ability to hear dragons.
This opens a whole new world to her. It is also something she has in common with her erstwhile love, Captain Wentworth.
The dragons are many and varied. Small and furry, large and scary.
Benjamin Fife does an excellent job as narrator and his dragon voices are brilliant

A great cast of new characters!

At first, I was thrown by the character names. We still have an Elizabeth and a Mary but this time around Elizabeth is the eldest, deaf to dragons and rather full of herself. Mary again is much different from the Mary of the Pride and Prejudice variation. On the other hand the second born, Ann is perfect. A late bloomer, she's dumped into the world of dragons with an unsupportive family that is negligent in their keeper tasks. I can't wait to see how Ms. Grace will further the romance of this storyline with Ann's ex.

Dragons of Persuasion

Although I am not familiar with Jane Austen’s Persuasion, I had previously listened to Maria Grace’s variation of Pride and Prejudice and thought I would give her variation of Persuasion a try. I really enjoyed this story, and look forward to listening to the second part in Kellynch: Dragon Persuasion. The narration by Benjamin Fife was excellent, as always.
I was given a free copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review.

A prelude to Persuasion

The fun continues with Grace taking on one of my all time favorite Austen novels: Persuasion.
An intriguing world infusing dragons with Jane Austen's characters really adds a whole new dynamic and dimension to the tales we all know and love. I loved Grace's Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion promises to be just as compelling and captivating.
This book makes a fabulous introduction and teaser piece, drawing you into the backstory that precedes where Austen's book begins, while adding a few twists and turns, as Grace elaborates on Anne's past and cleverly weaves within it her belated awakening to dragon hearing. This opens her up to a more colourfully vivid world, previously kept hidden and shrouded in secrets, giving her a new found thread of confidence and mastery over herself worth that has always laid dormant until now.
The narration really brings to life Anne's confusion, sense of discovery and her wrestle to follow her heart over duty. All while finding her feet, fighting her family's snooty disdain, pining for and regretting declining Wentworth and inserting her authority as junior keeper to Kellynch, as she puzzles out the rules and strictures of the Blue Order. Meanwhile, tantalising us with Wentworth's sea faring history, with his new found dragon companion, while bringing the two together in mutual mindful yearning and 'what if' only.
A great little teaser creating the backstory for Anne and Wentworth to come back together.
I do have this in e-book format too but there is just something wonderful about the way Fife gives voice to the characters that adds real charm and depth. Can't wait for the drama to unfold and the story to really begin in the next installment! A welcome addition to the series!!

good start of a new "chapter"

switching the story to a new main character and a different setting makes for a fun change, though the book is a bit on the short side.

Great narration and a fun story.