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Mr. Darcy, Vampyre

Sourcebooks Landmark, the leading publisher of Jane Austen-related fiction, is excited to announce a major release: Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by international bestselling author Amanda Grange.

Amanda Grange, bestselling author of Mr. Darcy's Diary, gives us something completely new—a delightfully thrilling, paranormal Pride and Prejudice sequel, full of danger, darkness and deep romantic love…

Amanda Grange's style and wit bring readers back to Jane Austen's timeless storytelling, but always from a very unique and unusual perspective, and now Grange is back with an exciting and completely new take on Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre starts where Pride and Prejudice ends and introduces a dark family curse so perfectly that the result is a delightfully thrilling, spine-chilling, breathtaking read. A dark, poignant and visionary continuation of Austen's beloved story, this tale is full of danger, darkness and immortal love.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Excerpt

Excerpt

PROLOGUE | December 1802

My dearest Jane,

My hand is trembling as I write this letter. My nerves are in tatters and I am so altered that I believe you would not recognise me. The past two months have been a nightmarish whirl of strange and disturbing circumstances, and the future…

Jane, I am afraid.

If anything happens to me, remember that I love you and that my spirit will always be with you, though we may never see each other again. The world is a cold and frightening place where nothing is as it seems.

It was all so different a few short months ago. When I awoke on my wedding morning, I thought myself the happiest woman alive…

CHAPTER 1 | October 1802

Elizabeth Bennet's wedding morning was one of soft mists and mellow sunshine. She drew back her bedroom curtains to see the dreaming English landscape lying serene and beautiful beneath a soft white quilt. The mist was at its thickest by the river, lying voluptuously over the water, then thinning out as it spread over the fields and pastures before disappearing, wisp-like, into the trees.

The birds were silent, but there was a sense of expectancy in the air. It was as though the world were waiting for the sun to rise and burn away the gauzy veil, revealing the true
colours of the countryside, not muted white and grey, but green and blue and gold.
Elizabeth sank onto the window seat and pulled her knees up in front of her. She wrapped her arms around them and her thoughts drifted to the ceremony that was to come. Images floated through her mind: she and her father walking down the aisle, Darcy waiting for her, the ring slipping onto her finger…

She was not the only one to have risen early. Her mother was already awake, complaining to anyone who would listen to her about her nerves, and Mary was playing the piano.

Kitty was calling out, 'Has anyone seen my ribbon?' and Mr Bennet was adding a full stop to his dry reply by closing the library door.

Beside her, Jane was still sleeping.

As she watched the world waking outside the window, Elizabeth thought of the past year and of how lucky she and her sister had been. They had both met men they loved and now, after many trials and difficulties, they were to marry them.

Elizabeth could not remember whose idea it had been to have a joint ceremony but she was glad to know that her sister was to share the happiest day of her life—no, not the happiest, for she was sure that was yet to come—but the happiest day of her life thus far.

As the sun rose and the mists began to lift, Jane stirred. She blinked and then lifted herself on one elbow, pushing her fair hair out of her eyes and smiling her slow, beautiful smile.

'You're awake early,' she said to Lizzy.
'And so are you.'
'Here.' Jane climbed out of bed and took a wrapper from its peg behind the door, then draped it over her sister's shoulders. 'You don't want to catch cold.'

Lizzy took the wrapper and put it on, then she caught her sister's hand impulsively and said, 'Only think, in a few more hours we will be married. I will be on the way to the Lake District for my wedding tour, and you will be on your way to London, to visit Bingley's relations there.'

Jane sat down on the window seat opposite Elizabeth and Elizabeth made herself smaller, to give her sister more room. Jane raised one knee and let her other leg dangle over the edge of the seat, with her foot swinging idly an inch or two from the floor. She looked absently out of the window and twirled one fair curl idly round her finger, then she turned to face her sister and she said, 'Do you wish we were going on our wedding tours together?'
'Yes,' said Lizzy. 'And no.'
Jane nodded thoughtfully.
'I will miss you, Jane, but we need some time alone with our husbands,' said Lizzy, 'especially to begin with. You will write to me, though, won't you?'
'Of course. And you will write to me?'
'Every day. Well, perhaps not every day,' said Lizzy with a sudden smile, 'and perhaps not at all just at first, but I will write often and tell you what I am doing, and you must do the same.'

They heard the sound of footsteps on the stair and they knew it was their mother, who was coming to hurry them into dressing, even though the ceremony would not begin for another three hours. They greeted her with affection, being too happy to worry about anything this morning, and listened to all her anxieties, both real and imagined. They reassured her that Kitty would not cough in the ceremony and that Mrs Long would not steal Mr Bingley for her niece at the last moment—'for I am sure she would be capable of trying,' said Mrs Bennet.
'Mr Bingley loves Jane,' said Lizzy.
Mrs Bennet smiled complacently.
'I cannot wonder at it. I knew she could not be so beautiful for nothing. Now, girls, you must come downstairs.

Breakfast is ready in the dining-room.'
Elizabeth and Jane exchanged glances. They could not face the thought of a family breakfast, with their mother fussing and Mary moralizing.
'I am not hungry,' said Elizabeth.
'Nor I,' said Jane.
Their mother protested, but they would not be persuaded and at last Mrs Bennet went downstairs, calling, 'Kitty! Kitty, my love! I want to speak to you…'

Elizabeth and Jane breathed a sigh of relief when they were left alone again.
'We should eat something, though, even if we don't really want it,' said Jane.
'I couldn't eat a thing,' said Lizzy. 'I'm too excited.'
'You should try,' said Jane, standing up and looking at her sister with affection. 'It will be a long morning and you don't want to faint in the church.'

'All right,' said Lizzy, 'for you, I'll eat something, but only if we don't have to go downstairs.'

Jane swirled her own wrapper from the peg and let it fall round her shoulders, then she drifted out of the room. Elizabeth leaned back against the window and her eyes looked towards Netherfield. She imagined Darcy rising, too, and preparing himself for the wedding.

Her thoughts were recalled by Jane, who returned with a tray of delicacies, and together the two of them managed to make a passable breakfast. They broke off small pieces of hot rolls and ate them slowly, in between sipping hot chocolate.
'What do you think it will be like?' asked Elizabeth.
'I don't know,' said Jane. 'Different.'
'You will still be here, at Netherfield,' said Elizabeth, 'but
I will be living in Derbyshire.'
'With Mr Darcy,' said Jane.
'Yes, with my beloved Darcy,' she said with a long smile.

Reviews

Reviews

#1 Amazon.com Reviewer Harriet Klausner
Mr. Darcy, Vampire
Amanda Grange
Sourcebook, Aug 11 2009, $14.99
ISBN: 9781402236976

In October 1802, Elizabeth Bennett believes she is the luckiest woman in England because this is her wedding day to her beloved Mr. Darcy. It is actually a double wedding as her sister Jane is marrying Mr. Bingley. The ceremony goes off without a hitch. After the gala instead of going to the Lake District, Darcy tells Elizabeth they are heading to Paris since the truce remains steady between Napoleon and England.

In France, she meets Darcy’s friends, exuberant sybarites who disapprove of the marriage because of her bloodline. They feels he should have wedded one of his own. Elizabeth won his heart but though he loves her Darcy fails to consummate their marriage. From Paris they visit his uncle in the Alps, but at the chateau, this blood relative tells them to go when a mob storms the places because they disapprove of Elizabeth. They head to Venice where she finally learns the truth about her husband when he kills one of his own kind. She must decide whether they separate, a thought she loathes, or consummate the marriage knowing what he is.

Mr. Darcy’s reservations, temperament and apparent aloofness are explained in a most unusual way by Jane Austen guru Amanda Grange (see the diaries saga) as he hides what torments him from his beloved. Readers tour the continent with the pair, but see Europe through Darcy’s eyes that also enables the audience to learn more about him, past and present. Weird but entertaining as Ms. Grange understands Darcy as if he is a living “undead” family member she knew back during the Napoleonic Era.

Harriet Klausner

Yankee Romance Reviewers Terra Studer
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange is not your typical Pride & Prejudice rendition. This story is a true love story with paranormal influence and a grand adventure no less exciting than that of Indiana Jones.

I think almost the entire population of the cultured world must know about our beloved Mr. Darcy and his beautiful Lizzy. What they don’t know is the dark secrets that will chase the couple all across Europe thrusting them into a frenzy of action and adventure while questioning their love and their sanity.

A heady mixture of events that will lull poor Lizzy into a thrall yet send her skittering away at the drop of a pin. Shattered nerves be damned!

Our author has given us a treasure of culture to please even the most delicate palate, a delicious romance of times gone by and a fantasy world that will surely make you quake in your boots. Ms. Grange has taken us through the most important cities of Europe that will make the ton of England titillate in anticipation for the tasty tales of a wedding tour that is sure to be the best of the best.

Bravo I say, Bravo!

Booklist
The sequels and continuations of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice are almost too numerous to count, but 2009 has offered ghoulish spins on the beloved novel, first with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and now with this entry, which reimagines Elizabeth Bennet’s beloved Mr. Darcy as a noble bloodsucker. Elizabeth’s wedding is everything she hoped for, but after they’re married Darcy opts for the Continent instead of the Lake District for their honeymoon. More troubling: though he’s as affectionate as ever to Elizabeth during the day, he parts ways from her at night and the marriage remains unconsummated. Making their way through France, into the Alps, and Italy, Elizabeth starts to wonder about her husband’s mysterious friends-and questions his love for her. Though Elizabeth is uncharacteristically and frustratingly placid and incurious about her husband’s reserve and his determination to drag her all around Europe, there’s some novelty to be found in the idea that Mr. Darcy’s forbidding nature has to do with a dark secret he’s keeping. Vampires are all the rage now, so expect interest.

• Kristine Huntley

Sia McKye’s Thoughts Over Coffee Danzo Sia McKye
I’ve read Pride and Prejudice more than once as well as many of Jane Austen’s stories. I’ve also enjoyed the screen adaptations of Pride and Prejudice. I will confess, however, I’m not a big fan of Austen fan fiction.

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, aroused my curiosity. It was certainly a different take on the characters of Pride and Prejudice. Beloved Darcy as a Vampire? I wondered how Amanda Grange would handle the whole thing. Would she be true to the characters and the flavor of the era? Would she totally modernize the vocabulary and the actions of the characters and settings or maintain the expressions and culture of Regency England?

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, starts out like a sunny day with a storm brewing on the horizon, which gradually hides the sun and changes the atmosphere. The storm blows in and is frightening but as with all storms the clouds dissipate. The sun does return and the world is made new and peace is restored.

The story opens with Elizabeth and Jane preparing for their wedding. They are close friends as well as sisters and the essence of who they are was reassuringly present as was the dry commentary of Mr. Bennet and the flighty nerve wracked Mrs. Bennet. Proud Mr. Darcy is true to the original but slightly softened in his apparent affections for Lizzy.

The story is told from Lizzy’s point of view as was the original Pride and Prejudice. Through her eyes we see her thrill of marrying Darcy and her surprise that her honeymoon tour is not to be in Lake District, as she had thought, but will be a European tour. Lizzy is innocent in many ways, which is true to the women of the era, but she’s intelligent and perceptive. Through her eyes we see the sights and fun they’re having among the ton in Paris and the affection between them. Their travels take them beyond Paris to the Swiss Alps, Venice, and Italy. The author’s research is evident as she shows us the rich history and social culture in each location.

Amid the wonders and excitement of their travels, the tale slowly changes. Lizzy’s troubled because her expectations of her honeymoon isn’t met. Much of this is revealed in Lizzy’s letters to her sister, Jane. We also begin to see difference with Darcy and Lizzy’s growing unease as they meet many of Darcy’s ‘old’ friends. There are things said and done which puzzle her. The reader also sees some of Darcy’s previous actions in a different context as well as Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s oppositions to Darcy’s attachment to Lizzy.

Ms. Grange skillfully builds the tension and expands the darker thread into danger. She highlights Darcy’s growing fear for Lizzy and of himself. There is a powerful and dangerous foe operating behind the scenes. The visit to Darcy’s uncle has a true gothic feel to it and is well done.

I’d actually classify this story as a gothic in many ways. It’s not a light and frothy Regency as we’ve come to know of late. While it’s a love story it’s darker.

I admire the skill of the author. Amanda Grange tells the story true to Austen’s characters and time; yet she is able to weave in a believable world of events within that time. This takes a talented storyteller because we have a precedent set in the original. For example, Darcy was present during the day, attended church, and there were no unexplained deaths in the area. She is also able to capture and blend the attitudes, perceptions, and the superstitions of the era. She also has the ability to touch our emotions with her characters; we fear for Lizzy and Darcy as danger surrounds them. She paces the story well and is very good with building conflict, tension, and peril.

I won’t spoil the ending, suffice to say, I loved it and the way she plays up the adventurous spirit of Englishmen of that time. It was a well-written story and one I enjoyed reading.

Grumpy Dan’s Journal Dan Karpf
To be in love and married to a vampire without knowing it. This is the fate of Elizabeth Bennet. As they travel on their honeymoon to many exotic places in Europe, Elizabeth wonders why her husband won’t share her bed. Before she gives up on the marriage, things begin to happen and she learns more than she could ever expect. Amanda Grange’s story “Mr. Darcy, Vampyre” is truly and step back in time and you would almost think this is a natural progression from “Pride and Prejudice”. Fascinating tale!

Anna’s Book Blog Anna Lemkau
When I got this review request I actually squealed. Being a fan of both vampires and Pride and Prejudice, I couldn’t wait to read this one.

This new story continues where Pride and Prejudice ended. Elizabeth & Darcy are off on their honeymoon. What Elizabeth thinks to be a trip to the Lake District turns into a trip across Europe. She senses right away that something isn’t right, but she can’t quite figure out what is wrong...

I felt that the beginning was a bit slow, but it soon picks up. Amanda Grange has done a wonderful job creating a new adventure for the much loved characters. Mr. Darcy, Vampyre is a dark, captivating read. I think Austen fans and new readers alike will gobble this one up.

Did you enjoy the book: Yes
Would you recommend this book: Yes
Score: 4 Stars

Grace’s Book Blog Grace Loiacano
I am not normally a big fan of the vampire phenomenon. It just has never appealed to me. But I could not resist a vampire version of my Mr Darcy by my favorite Jane Austen sequel author. I love Amanda Grange’s Diary books (especially Colonel Brandon’s Diary) and could not resist this one.

I was not quite sure how this would work ,to tell you the truth. I was kind of scared that it would be Pride and Prejudice and Oh Yeah Some Vampires. I am not really a fan of that trend and I was pleased to find that this was not at all like that. How would Grange explain away Darcy’s rather human behavior in Pride and Prejudice and would it make sense? It turns out that in the process of explaining away all of this canon knowledge of Mr Darcy, Grange creates her own vampire mythology and weaves it seamlessly into the story of Darcy and Elizabeth’s early marriage.

The romance between Darcy and Elizabeth was also great. It wasn’t the typical smooshy and romantic as we normally want to see from Darcy and Elizabeth in the early days of their marriage but it was full of tension. Darcy is clearly conflicted about his feelings for Lizzy and how they should go forward with their relationship and Lizzy is frustrated and dismayed by Darcy’s lack of action. I really loved Lizzy in Mr Darcy, Vampyre. She was as witty and intelligent as she was in P&P and she was just as unwilling to let Darcy get away with anything. I loved this version of Lizzy and Darcy. The new characters were also a welcome addition to the story. They helped create the ambiance and really worked well with both Lizzy and Darcy.

Overall, this was a really great sequel to Pride and Prejudice especially if you like something special, like a little vampirism, thrown in. So, if you love Pride and Prejudice and vampires, this is the book for you.

Debbie’s World of Books Debbie Suzuki
If you do not know already, Pride and Prejudice is my all time favorite book and I have found it really hard to find any good related/sequel books. Since I love vampires and Pride & Prejudice I was really curious how this book would turn out. I’m glad to say I am pleasantly surprised by how well it was written.

The story picks up right before the wedding between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth and Jane and Mr. Bingley. I felt Grange stayed true to Lizzie’s character even while she is dealing with all the strangeness that occurs after her wedding day. What I enjoyed was that this book was not all blood and gore with the secret revelation by Mr. Darcy coming early on and it being an action/horror book. The main focus was still the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth. The style of writing was fun and enjoyable (is that redundant?). I enjoyed the little bits like when Elizabeth eats spaghetti for the first time.

If you are a fan of Pride and Prejudice then you should definitely check this one out. There are a lot of references to the original book but even so I think people who have not read Pride & Prejudice would still enjoy this book.

A Bibliophile’s Bookshelf Bella McGuire
Mr Darcy Vampyre is the sequel to the classic Jane Austen story, Pride and Prejudice.

Elizabeth Darcy is the happiest woman alive when she steps into the carriage that is to take her on her wedding tour – until she sees the look of torment on Mr Darcy’s face and discovers that he has a deep, dark secret that may nearly destroys their love, their marriage and even her very life.

I discovered Pride and Prejudice as a teenager, and since then I have been in complete rapture over this classic love story. Therefore it was with much trepidation that I accepted a review copy of the new release Mr Darcy, Vampyre. While I have enjoyed Amanda Grange’s previous novels, I was a little worried that she, nor anyone else, could write a good sequel, with our beloved hero, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, as a vampyre.

I am pleased to say I was wrong.

Vampyre stories date back to the 1800’s, with the first most successful novel being The Vampyre by John Polidori. Since then vampyre stories have taken a twist and turn, as they have achieved recent popularity. While Mr Darcy, Vampyre comes in a time when paranormal novels are aplenty, there is something very refreshing, and almost classic about this tale.

In Mr Darcy, Vampyre, the newly wedded Lizzy Darcy is taken away from her home in England, into the mysterious Continent, through Paris, and the Alps, as Darcy searches for answers to the thing that torments him the most.

Many Jane Austen sequels are set in England, and I really enjoyed the way Amanda Grange has taken our most loved couple abroad. It is refreshing to be in a new country, with interesting, new characters. In particular, I enjoyed the friendship between Lizzy and Katrine, who Lizzy meets in Paris.

At their introduction…

“We have not been introduced. I am Katrine du Bois, and that is my brother, Philippe.”
There was an air of warmth about the woman which was missing from many of the salon guests, and Elizabeth sensed in her a friend. And yet there was something melancholy about her, as though she had suffered a great disappointment from which she had never recovered.

As Katrine and Lizzy become friends, we get the earliest hint of Darcy’s true nature, and the enduring love he has for Lizzy…

“Does he wear something around his neck?”
“Yes, I bought him a crucifix yesterday. The shops in Paris are very tempting,” said Elizabeth. “He refused to take it at first, but he has given me so much and I had given him so little that I insisted and at last he allowed me to fasten it around his neck.”
Katrine’s voice was reverent. “He must love you very much,” she said.
“Yes, I believe he does.” said Elizabeth.

Amanda Grange weaves a beautiful, timeless tale, that feels as compelling as the original Pride and Prejudice.

As the story unfolds, and Darcy and Lizzy make their way across the continent, facing danger, their immortal love is ever present…

“You don’t know how good you smell, or how ravishingly appealing you are,” he said as his mouth moved closer, his breath trailing seductive and tantalising pathways across her skin. “Your neck is so delicate, so precious, so fragile. You are so tempting, Lizzy.” He brushed away the tendrils of hair that curled in the nape of her neck and kissed it reverently. “So white, so pure, so alluring. You are ambrosia to me. I have tried to resist you, but it is so hard… so hard…”
She was almost swooning in rapture.

Along with the adventure, it is the enduring love of Darcy and Lizzy that kept me glued to every page, eager to find out what would happen to my favorite couple.

I highly recommend Mr Darcy, Vampyre. Whether you are a devoted fan of Pride and Prejudice, or can’t get enough of the dangerous and sexy vampires, there is something in Mr Darcy, Vampyre for everyone. It is a page turner of danger and immortal love, that left me wanting to re-read this beautiful sequel again and again.

Romance B(u)y the Book Amy Kennedy
Darcy, Darcy, Darcy! It’s always Darcy!

Lately, I’ve been thinking about Austen’s most famous hero, too. How could I not when everywhere I turn there’s another book related to, based on, or continuing the story of ‘Pride and Prejudice.”

I’m not complaining – hardly that – I love “Pride and Prejudice,” and all its characters. But the real truth is the one universally acknowledged by many readers: We can’t get our fill of Darcy.

“Mr. Darcy, Vampyre” — a thought provoking and seductively gothic tale written by Amanda Grange — helps fill our Darcy void and makes us want to slap our foreheads and say, Yes, of course he was a vampire; that explains so much of all that brooding.

The novel begins as Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy marry. But it’s not exactly Elizabeth’s dream come true. After the ceremony Darcy receives messages, presumably from well-wishers, and as he reads them on the way to the wedding breakfast, Elizabeth sees Darcy evince a look of pure love one moment followed by one of abject torment the next.

Then, practically mid-carriage ride, Darcy changes their plans from traveling to the Lake District, to traveling to France, on to his uncle, The Count’s castle (cue the darkly melodious music), and finally to Italy. He says he needs to discuss a familial situation.

During the tour Elizabeth tries to be excited, she really does, but she’s growing concerned; Darcy hasn’t made her his wife “in truth.” Is he fearful for her well-being, or is it something more ominous? Because omens do follow them. Elizabeth fears several unexplained events really are portents: A bat beats at her bedroom window, an angry mob storms the castle, and a mysterious stranger enters her dark dreams, dreams which suddenly feel too real.

In Italy, Elizabeth has had enough. She concludes Darcy must think he’s made a mistake in marrying her. With outside urging she finally takes matters into her own hands, causing a series of incidences that either will lead to wedded bliss — or the death of her Darcy.

Grange has continued a beloved story and added a darkly clever twist. She doesn’t let the reader down as she draws us deeper into the mystery that is Darcy. Grange makes us wonder what other classics we might have been wrong about.

I’d say, any reader in possession of a great imagination will want to —

Buy the book.

The Bookworm 07 Naida Milenkovic
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre starts off with Jane and Elizabeth Bennet getting ready for their double wedding. The two sisters are excited and nervous about the special day, and both are happy as can be. Once the ceremony is over, Darcy and Elizabeth head on out on thier wedding tour.
As the days pass, Elizabeth is worried because Darcy has not visited her bedchamber at all. She wonders why he is acting so distant.

“He sat with his face turned away from her and she watched him, examining his profile. It was strong, with handsome features, yet there was an air of something she could not quite place. He was the man she had married, yet different, more reserved, and she wondered if it was just because of the tiring nature of the journey or whether he was reverting to his former aloof ways.”

First they go to France, where Lizzy meets Darcy’s friends and family. They then travel to a remote castle in the Alps, where Darcy wants her to meet his uncle, Count Polidori. While inside the gloomy castle Elizabeth has a bad feeling and wants to leave. She knows the servants are whispering about susperstious things, there is a creepy tapestry hanging above her bed and the Count himself is a bit odd. The one request Lizzy has for her room is a mirror, which she is denied because for some reason there are no mirrors in the castle. Then one evening the Count has a dinner party in her honor, and a mysterious fortune teller shows up. She reads Lizzy’s palm and warns her about grave danger. The Darcy’s continue on thier wedding tour and end up in Venice.

“Strange tales began to come back to her, folk tales she had read in the library at Longbourn, stories of strange creatures that preyed on the living and haunted the forests of Europe, half men, half beasts, mesmeric and seductive but evil and dangerous, creatures who bit their victims, piercing thier skin and drinking thier blood; beasts which could be held at bay by garlic.”

I really enjoyed Mr. Darcy, Vampyre . I’m a sucker for anything Pride & Prejudice related and I like vampires, and the two came together perfectly in this book. It was fun and interesting and the plot had me sucked in from page one. I like how Elizabeth keeps thinking back to her home in Meryton and her beloved sister Jane. She continues to write Jane letters while she is on her honeymoon.

“Oh, Jane! If I could only tell you half the things that have happened to me since leaving Longbourn. There have been many difficult and frightening things in my life but there has been much of great beauty too; the dread and awful majesty of the Alps as Darcy and I rode over thier snow-capped heights; the peaceful tranquility of Piedmont; the great river Brenta with its weeping willows trailing thier branches in the water; Venice rising like a dream from the lagoon, basking in the morning sunlight, ageless and timeless and serene.”

All About the {n} Nely Sanchez
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre brings us back to that final moment in Pride & Prejudice - it picks up right before Lizzie and Mr. Darcy’s wedding and takes us along with them on their wedding tour. To her surprise they will not be touring the Lake District but instead will be traveling through Europe. Shortly after their nuptials, Lizzie starts seeing some changes in Mr. Darcy’s demeanor - could it possibly be that he is becoming even more aloof then he was when they first met? Her worrying increases when he will not visit the marriage bed - but she still tries to make the best of their trip and makes herself as pleasant as possible while introduced to some of his "old" friends, family and acquaintances.

Ms. Grange does a wonderful job in building tension throughout her novel. Yet through it all she makes it believable enough to where there are no discrepancies between Pride and Prejudice and her sequel. She does a fine job in weaving Mr. Darcy’s "vampiric" attributes with what we already knew about him. As the Darcys travel through Paris, to the Swiss Alps, Venice, and Italy - we are taken from splendid balls, to meeting a mysterious Count who strangely resides in a mirror-less castle, the threat of a mob lynching, to beautiful masquerade balls and eventually to being the guests of a Prince - whose actions might not be so princely. You fear for the innocent Lizzy and hope that their love can overcome Mr. Darcy’s deep, dark secret. Yet Ms. Grange does justice to the Lizzy we know and love - she continues to be the strong, opinionated young woman that stole our hearts.

I loved that the story was riddled with garlic, cross’s, mirrors - or a lack thereof, remote bats and plenty of superstitious townfolk who cross themselves when the Darcys and their acquaintances pass by. All these minor details were interspersed throughout the story and couldn’t help bringing a smile to my face.

Full of plenty of mystery, intrigue and adventure not to mention the scrumptious Mr. Darcy - a vampire! This is Austen fan-fiction at its best and required reading for any lover of Pride and Prejudice.

AustenBlog.com Maggie Sullivan
When Lady Catherine de Bourgh tells Elizabeth Bennet that Mr. Darcy comes from an ancient family…well, she isn’t just being a snob.

The beginning of the newlywed Darcys’ life together, in which Mr. Darcy takes advantage of the Peace of Amiens to show his wife continental Europe, should be a time of unalloyed happiness for Elizabeth Darcy–after all, if adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad–but her joy in her marriage and her love for her husband are dimmed by worry. Why did she surprise a look of pure torment on Darcy’s face only a few hours after their wedding? Why does he not consummate their marriage, despite the obvious passion that they share? And why is Elizabeth dreaming of events that occurred over a hundred years previously–and of a mysterious, compelling gentleman who is not her husband? The mystery builds to a thrilling, chilling climax and a completely satisfying ending. There is plenty of romance and a few dangerously tender moments between the newlyweds. (Let’s face it, the whole bloodsucking thing is not a metaphor for playing whist, know what we mean?)

However, Mr. Darcy, Vampyre is more than just the simple addition of vampire lore to P&P; instead, Amanda Grange has crafted a clever homage to the Gothic novels that Jane Austen so enjoyed. As in all of Ms. Grange’s Austen-inspired novels, she has clearly done her homework, and Mr. Darcy, Vampyre most strongly echoes Ann Radcliffe’s tales of psychological horror, incorporating all the elements that knowledgeable fans of the Gothic expect: a trip through the roughest and most picturesque parts of the Continent; loving descriptions of the scenery (though fortunately, unlike Radcliffe, they don’t go on for page after tiresome page, and there is no doggerel poetry further slowing things down); mysterious castles with oddly-behaving servants; banditti, mercenaries, and fearful, violent villagers; an accident that, Elizabeth is told, portends death; a story of another young lady just like Lizzy who arrived under similar circumstances and met a bad end; and there even is a “black veil” moment, when our heroine sees something so horrid she has no choice but to swoon. The reader is not immediately enlightened to the horror, though we can guess it; and, again fortunately unlike Radcliffe, Ms. Grange does not keep us hanging until the end of the book and then come up with a lame afterthought to close the loop. We also felt echoes of Dracula, Polidori’s seminal story “The Vampyre,” Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Twilight, and even a smidgen of Harry Potter.

The book is an homage, not a parody, but there is a deep-lurking humor that recognizes the fun in Gothic novels, a tone set by the dedication (we won’t give it away, as we were not expecting it, and it made us laugh for a solid minute), and one that seems to us peculiarly English, and peculiarly in the style of Jane Austen’s humor. Just because Jane parodied The Mysteries of Udolpho and other horrid novels in Northanger Abbey doesn’t mean she didn’t like horrid novels. Like Henry Tilney, Jane likely read them in two days, her hair standing on end the whole time, and afterwards laughed at herself for falling for it; she could not have written such an affectionate parody in Northanger Abbey otherwise. Make no mistake: Mr. Darcy, Vampyre is absolutely not the kind of thing that Jane Austen wrote, but it certainly is the kind of thing she read.

Unlike recent Austen/monster “mashups,” nothing is overdone, there is not as much angst as one might expect, and there are no gross-outs. This is an Austen-inspired scary story for Janeites, by a Janeite, done with affection and delivered with a very subtle British wink, and completely suitable for a 21st-century audience. Our inner Catherine Morland thought it was tremendous fun, and knows not to take it too seriously; like the heroine of a horrid novel just kidnapped by three villains in horsemen’s great coats, hang on and enjoy the ride.

Starting Fresh Gaby Lupus
This is Amanda Grange’s latest entry into the creative interpretation of Pride and Prejudice and my first time to read a creative interpretation of this sort. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how much of a purist I would turn out to be. I enjoyed reading Amanda Grange’s characterization of Elizabeth and Darcy because she captured their personalities and interaction so well. For those willing to imagine Elizabeth and Darcy taking an odd turn into an alternative reality, this book is an enjoyable read. You have your beloved characters in a new setting.

I highly recommend Mr. Darcy, Vampyre to those who enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and would be interested in exploring different directions that Elizabeth and Darcy might take, particularly those who enjoy vampire stories along the lines of Anne Rice.

Maymay’s Memos Shawn Remfry
Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy have finally been married and are setting of on their marriage tour. When Darcy decides to change the route of their tour, Elizabeth finds this odd. The changes in Darcy’s behavior make her question her new life even further. The fact that Darcy refuses to visit her at night and consummate their marriage, leads her to the belief that Darcy regrets marrying her. As they set out on a dark, madcap tour of Europe, Elizabeth wonders if she’ll find the answers she seeks, while Darcy grows further and further from her.

Grange’s writing is a smart blend of both Jane Austen and Bram Stoker. She retains Austen’s characters, mannerisms, and description. At the same time she uses that to paint Stoker’s underground vampire world. The story of Elizabeth and Darcy seemlessly continues where Pride and Prejudice end. The way that she weaves in the vampire world is believable. Thankfully, Elizabeth doesn’t come across as too much of a nitwit. She knows something is wrong, she just can’t piece it together.

This is a great book for anyone who wants a classical read. The description is bountiful and alive. The tone of the book is easily reset to each scene. Personally, I found myself wanting to skip several paragraphs due to several areas of the book being too verbose. Though I know that description is important to the story, my mind can imagine the flowers without having each one described. I don’t need to know what everyone is wearing every second of the day. This is not the book to pick up when you want a joyride, it’s more of a slow simmer.

A Curious Statistical Anomaly Gayle Surrett
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre starts on the morning of the wedding of Elizabeth and Jane to Darcy and Bingley. Austen always married her heroines off and ends with the wedding or the wedding on the horizon. I imagine that she wanted us all to dream of their happily ever afters. Austen had enough couples around her to know that not all matches ended in happiness — so she never went beyond the joyful anticipation of the wedding.

Jane and Elizabeth are nervous and ecstatically happy to be marrying men they love — that these men are also rich adds to the joy of the day. Immediately after the service Darcy and Elizabeth are to tour the Lake District. But once in the carriage, Darcy reveals that he has changed their plans and they are going to Paris. Elizabeth is surprised but not against the plan. However, as the days pass, she become uneasy as Darcy seems to be struggling with some inner turmoil. Even more troubling to Elizabeth is that he hasn’t yet come to her room. She fears that he’s regretting the match.

It’s hard to discuss Mr. Darcy, Vampyre — or even read it — without being reminded of Bran Stoker’s Dracula; though the author said she was more influenced by Dr. Polidori’s The Vampyre. Jonathan Harker kept a journal. It was the pages of his journal that let the reader and his dear Mina vicariously experience the terror of his ordeal. These journal entries, as well as the more familiar narrative and newspaper reports, give Dracula an immediacy and a sense of reality to unrealistic events. In Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, Elizabeth writes letters to Jane trying in her own way to share her fears and misgivings about her marriage, Darcy’s withdrawn nature, and their erratic travels, and the people that they meet.

Darcy moves them from Paris to visit a relative he wants to consult with. They travel through the Alps and beyond where people greet the carriage by hastily crossing themselves. There’s more journeys to Venice and then Italy. Elizabeth is sure that something more is going on than what she sees or hears, but she’s unsure what it means or what to do. Phrases that don’t make sense. Lady Catherine showing up to fight with Darcy over his marriage. No matter how much she begs Darcy to talk to her he demurs and puts her off.

Elizabeth is such a strong character in Pride and Prejudice that her confusion and insecurity is cause for alarm in the reader. The parallels with Stoker’s Dracula echo throughout the narrative — subtle but enough to cue readers into what’s going on even if the title has been Mr. Darcy and his Bride. The book is dedicated to Catherine Morland of Northanger Abbey, but Elizabeth is no Catherine lost to her imagination and waiting to be rescued. Elizabeth’s “courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate” her. She stands up for herself making some difficult decisions. She doesn’t wait to be rescued she takes matters into her own hands.

Grange deviates significantly from the traditional tropes of vampire fiction. While the differences are significant there are other authors who have used some of these same deviations so a fan of vampire fiction would not scoff at the books –at least not until they read the ending. However, fans of Pride and Prejudice, with some exceptions, will be willing to forgive the deus ex machine ending simply because it allows of our favorite literary couples to continue their journey.

This is not a spoof of Gothic literature but a true melding of vampire fiction with a Pride and Prejudice follow on story. If you’re a Austen purists you probably won’t pick the book up anyway, but if you enjoy taking a chance on something a bit different, I think you’ll find the Darcy and Elizabeth of Pride and Prejudice working through some tough, and rather unexpected problems as they settle into their marriage.

The Epic Rat Celia Pham
My boyfriend does not understand this sudden popularity with Austen-meets-monster books. First, zombies, then sea monters, and now vampires? Oh, my! I have to admit, for whatever reason, I have not tired of seeing what new monsters Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy must face - or in this case, become.

Lizzy and Mr. Darcy finally get over their differences and are well on their way to a happily-ever-after. First , they share wedding bliss with Jane and Mr. Bingley - and afterwards they leave for a wedding tour where Mr. Darcy and the new Mrs. Darcy will make their rounds to all the appropriate parties. However, instead of staying within comfortable English borders, Mr. Darcy surprises Lizzy with an continental tour that begins in Paris!


Page 7
Elizabeth looked at herself in the mirror and thought that she looked somehow different. Elizabeth Bennet had almost gone, but Elizabeth Darcy had not yet appeared. For teh moment she was caught between the two worlds, neither one thing nor another. She would be sorry to let the former depart and yet she was longing for the latter to arrive: a new name and with it a new world and a new life.
Delightful? Yes indeed, but Lizzy soon realizes that Paris would be even more romantic if her husband would stop avoiding her bedchamber and she did not fall asleep in her chair while waiting for his appearance. One night is understandable - very considerate of him to give her space to adjust to being a Mrs. - but several nights? Every night? It is a little too much, and she is ready to face the bedroom festivities.

Instead Mr. Darcy smiles quite lovingly at his wife during daylight hours and fails to make a nightly appearance that is expected of doting husbands. Once in a while, she may catch him with an expression that borders on troubled, but it disappears when she blinks. Lizzy simply does not understand, nor does she feel comfortable among his friends who are strangely pale and a tad eccentric in their speech and habits. Sometimes it almost feels like they resent her marrying Mr. Darcy.

From page 73
’Enjoy it?’ asked Lady Catherine with a bitter laugh. ’You will not enjoy it. Every moment will be a torment to you. You know you cannot marry a woman like this and be happy. Your pride should have prevented it, pride in who you are and what you are and a pride in your place in the world. And if your pride was sleeping then your conscience should have forbidden it.’
She could care less about what Lady Catherine and the others think, but what if Mr. Darcy has come to his senses? Why ails Mr. Darcy, and why the bloody hell does Lizzy feel like she is often left in the dark?

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre was a delightful book that could have used a little more blood - or at least love bites. Although told in third-person, the novel focuses more on Lizzy’s thoughts and reactions to Mr. Darcy’s strange behaviors. I wish that had not been the case! It would have been interesting to see a little into Mr. Darcy’s head - or at least, know his whereabouts even if Lizzy did not.

Amanda Grange presented vampyres in a unique manner, that is, one that I had not encountered (not that I have read many vampire novels). She re-invented what a vampire can and cannot do, yet still managed to preserve certain well-known aspects in some way. Mr. Darcy was an atypical vampire, in my mind, but it works for this story. The ending is a complete surprise, though quite a happy one!

Tonight I also read a blurb The history behind Mr. Darcy, and I thought that gave the novel a whole new perspective! It is pretty neat to find out how Amanda Grange became inspired by Polidori and Mary Shelley while writing Mr. Darcy, Vampyre! After reading this, I can see some similarities between the writing styles of Frankenstein and Mr. Darcy, Vampyre - or at least, how the story slowly unfolds and builds up to the terrifying climax. I have not read Dracula yet, so I cannot say if this also bears a resemblance to that.

I would say that Mr. Darcy, Vampyre was not as disturbingly scary as Bad Girls Don’t Die. I am not entirely sure why, but I don’t find vampires or zombies as frightening as ghostly possessions! I know, weird, but it’s the truth! If you enjoyed Frankenstein or a nice vampire story with a Jane Austen twist, then sink your teeth into Mr. Darcy, Vampyre and enjoy its rich detail to traditional vampire lore!

Diary of an Eccentric Anna Horner
In Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, Amanda Grange offers a supernatural take on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, providing a different reason for Mr. Darcy’s moodiness.

The book opens just before the double wedding of Elizabeth and Jane Bennet to Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. As she and Darcy are leaving for their honeymoon, Elizabeth learns they will not be traveling to the Lake District but to Europe. She’s excited about seeing new places, so she doesn’t complain, but the mood of the novel turns dark as the Darcys travel to Paris, Venice, and the Alps. Darcy has friends in all of these places, some creepier than others.

"She has no taste for your company," he said.

"No?" said the gentleman. "But I have a taste for her."

Hers, thought Elizabeth. He should have said hers.

"Let her go," said Darcy warningly.

"Why should I?" asked the gentleman.

"Because she is mine," said Darcy.

The gentleman turned his full attention toward Darcy and Elizabeth followed his eyes.

And then she saw something that made her heart thump against her rib cage and her mind collapse as she witnessed something so shocking and so terrifying that the ground came up to meet her as everything went black. (page 210)

Readers follow Elizabeth and Darcy on their travels, and most of the book is about Elizabeth being introduced to Darcy’s friends in various locales and Elizabeth wondering why her husband doesn’t come to her at night to consummate their marriage.

Grange does a wonderful job setting the scene. Her description of the cities, the clothes, and the architecture seemed realistic to the time period and made me feel as though I was there with the Darcys.

However, while there were a few action scenes, the pacing was a little slow, mainly because the book is told from Elizabeth’s point of view. She doesn’t know Darcy’s secret, so she’s wondering what’s wrong with him, whether he actually loves her, and whether it was a mistake for her to marry someone from a higher social class. But we know Darcy’s secret from page one, and that’s my biggest problem with the book. I think the title Mr. Darcy, Vampyre does a disservice to the book. Grange includes clues about Darcy’s secret, with scenes about a bat, garlic necklaces, and villagers crossing themselves, etc., but these are more for Elizabeth’s benefit. I would have preferred a different title—one that would have aligned me with Elizabeth in wondering about Darcy’s behavior. It all seemed a bit anticlimactic to me.

But that doesn’t mean Mr. Darcy, Vampyre isn’t a good book. Overall, I enjoyed it and thought it was a fun take on the beloved Austen novel. I liked seeing Darcy and Elizabeth in new settings with new characters. And the supernatural storyline doesn’t feel out of place in the world Grange creates. There also were some entertaining scenes with Lady Catherine, which were among my favorites. If you enjoy Pride and Prejudice sequels and aren’t an Austen purist, I think it’s worth a try.

Thanks to Danielle Jackson from Sourcebooks for sending me a copy of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre for review.

Leslie’s Psyche Leslie Gladnick
Many readers have very fond memories of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. And with good reason. But if you’ve ever wondered what happened after the wedding, well Mr. Darcy, Vampyre is certainly one interesting version. When I first heard of this twist on the brooding Darcy I was intrigued but cautious. Would the author stay true to the characters of Darcy and Lizzy or would they be faded version of the originals?

As I began reading I was quickly caught up in the story. I had no problem believing I was reading what might have happened to Darcy and Lizzy if their lives had taken a paranormal direction. :) I found myself waiting with anticipation of finding out what Darcy’s strengths and weaknesses were as a vampire. How did he become a vampire and what are his true motives towards Lizzy? Would the author make Darcy seem authentic without coming off as a spoof of the original character? Not to worry, Grange did a fantastic job of not only recreating the characters of Darcy and Lizzy but also weaving the history of the original story into the new plot.

The story opens on the wedding day of Elizabeth Bennet and her sister Jane. They are like most brides ~ nervous and excited and looking forward to starting their new lives with their husbands. But Lizzy is in for a surprise when she finds that her honeymoon trip will not be to the Lake District as she thought but to Paris instead. There are more surprises in store for Lizzy as she and Darcy travel to Paris, a castle in the Alps and then to Italy. Lizzy soon realizes all is not well in her marriage and Darcy may not be the man she thought he was.

Throughout the story we get to read Lizzy’s letters to Jane. Lizzy writes of her love for Darcy and her new experiences in her travels but she also writes of her concerns regarding Darcy’s lack of attention in the bedroom. She mentions her encounters with Darcy’s family and friends and the strange undercurrent that she sometimes feels with Darcy. As if something isn’t quite right but she’s unsure as to what it is. The letters show how important Lizzy’s family is to her and the closeness she shares with her sisters, especially Jane. I liked reading the letters, seeing Lizzy pour out her feelings of frustration and uncertainty to Jane. There are times when you can feel how lonely Lizzy is without her family nearby and only the brooding Darcy to comfort her.

Lizzy fears that Darcy has already come to regret their marriage. When she voices her concern to Darcy he assures her that it isn’t the case and he loves her very much. I never doubted that he loved her but he was very distant at times and he definitely did some major brooding. There are moments when Darcy and Lizzy are the carefree newlyweds, enjoying each other’s company. But there is an underlying menace that follows them and eventually catches up with them, forcing Darcy to confront his past and protect Lizzy from it.

The vampire factor is not at the forefront of the story. Rather, the reader is given clues throughout the book to explain Darcy’s suspicious actions and his need for Lizzy even while he refuses to follow through on that basic need. I was surprised at how understanding Lizzy was when Darcy continued to decline to visit her bedroom. She questions him about it but doesn’t push the issue the way I would expect her to. Still, she is not an experienced woman and the honeymoon journey is proving to be a great distraction. Between the parties and salons in Paris, the harrowing trip through the Alps, traveling to Venice and being introduced to so many new people, Lizzy deals with the changes quite well.

There were moments of darkness and moments of lightness. At times I wasn’t sure how safe Lizzy was in this new world and if Darcy would be able to save her if she needed him. I liked that uncertainty. We know from the title that Darcy is a vampire or vampyre but I didn’t always know where Grange was going with it. The unknown made the story that much more interesting. And the other characters, I caught myself wondering ~ Is he a vampire? Is she? There were characters that I was certain were vampires and others I wasn’t sure of. I liked the way Grange used the various myths of vampires to create Darcy’s legacy. By the end all the little clues added up and make sense. Even with the problems facing them, Darcy and Lizzy remain in love and stay true to that love.


There was a gothic feel to the story, especically when they were at the castle, the home of Darcy’s uncle. Lizzy could feel the darkness there and was relieved to leave that place and travel to Venice. Add in the running for your life in the dark and dangerous night and you have an enjoyable story.

While Mr. Darcy, Vampyre is different from my usual reads it proved to be a nice change for me. If you’re looking for something that’s well written and gives some interesting twists and turns to a beloved classic then Mr. Darcy, Vampyre could be the book for you.

Amanda Grange has written a number of books set in the time of Jane Austen. You can find out more about this author on her website.

Rating: A-

Peeking Between the Pages Darlene Smoliak
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre is one of the sequels to Pride & Prejudice that are so popular right now that picks up where Pride & Prejudice ends and I thought it was great. Pride & Prejudice is my favorite Austen novel and I love reading vampire stories so for me this was the perfect mix.

The story starts with Elizabeth and Jane Bennet preparing for their double wedding. Both are excited to begin their lives with the loves of their lives. Afterwards Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have a change in plans. Mr. Darcy has decided to take Elizabeth to Paris for their wedding tour. She’s surprised but excited as well since she’s never been out of England. From the beginning though there seems to be trouble in paradise. Mr. Darcy is acting very peculiar and very distant. Lizzy is becoming quite distressed that he does not seem to want to visit her room at night and she has still not really become his wife. More troubling is that anyone, even Lizzy, can see that he is madly in love with her.

Along the way Lizzy is meeting all of Mr. Darcy’s relatives along with a Count who lives in an old rambling castle in the middle of nowhere in the Alps. It is here that she notices more than a few strange things happening. There is a lot of gossip and her maid keeps telling her strange stories that she’s heard passed around the household help. Lizzy herself is finding it strange there too. More than once she finds herself falling into a dreamlike state and seeming to live another life in some other place. What is going on? Elizabeth is quite sure that Mr. Darcy is keeping something from her but he just keeps telling her that there are things she doesn’t know and he can’t tell her the truth.

Finally Lizzy learns the truth about Mr. Darcy and from here they are on the run for their lives. They have to find a temple and maybe a way out of this nightmare for both Lizzy and Mr. Darcy, quite possibly a way for them to live their lives as normal. I was on the edge of my seat a few times here. I loved that even though Lizzy learns the horrible truth about Mr. Darcy - that he’s a vampire - it doesn’t lessen her love for him. She’s willing to do anything it will take for them to have the life they dream of having.

If you’re looking to read a good sequel to Pride & Prejudice and you have a fondness for the paranormal, then I suggest you give this one a try. The only thing I would have liked to have seen is maybe a little more drama surrounding Mr. Darcy being a vampire. This novel could very well have taken a different turn at the end and I would have liked to have seen that as well although I can’t really elaborate on that as I don’t want to give the ending away.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I read it in a couple of days and it kept my attention throughout.

Passionate Booklover Andreea Ghiura
Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books, so when I heard of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange, I knew that I would have to read this book, especially since I also love gothic stories!

Danielle Jackson from Sourcebooks kindly sent me a copy of this engaging book and I must say that I really enjoyed reading it!

Amanda Grange’s Mr. Darcy, Vampyre begins with the marriage of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy; it is a wonderful October day and Elizabeth believes that she is the happiest woman in England. She can’t wait to become Darcy’s wife and spend the rest of her life with the man she loves. However, Elizabeth doesn’t know that her life will take a dangerous and unexpected turn, just after the wedding.

While embarking on their wedding tour throughout Europe, Elizabeth notices some strange changes in her husband’s behaviour. Darcy seems to be reserved and gloomy, instead of being happy and excited. Moreover, he is refraining from any physical affection, and Elizabeth begins to wonder if she is responsible for his retention. She even begins to think that Darcy might regret their marriage, especially since his relatives were not pleased with their union. However, when she confronts Darcy, he denies all of it and assures her that everything is perfect.

As they travel to wonderful places such as Paris and Venice, strange things begin to happen and Elizabeth cannot enjoy her wedding tour. Darcy’s relations and friends seem just as odd as his own behaviour and Elizabeth is only comforted by the thought of her beloved sister Jane. She writes to her sister, relating the peculiar events that have taken place so far. Elizabeth tells her sister about Darcy’s unnatural behaviour, about her horrifying nightmares and about the sinister places she has seen.

While the newlyweds reside at an old, crumbling castle, an axe displayed above a doorway mysteriously falls, missing Darcy only by inches. This incident is seen as a sign, an omen, meaning that Elizabeth will cause Darcy’s death. Other strange events take place and Darcy seems even more aloof and gloomy. That’s when Elizabeth decides to leave Darcy and return to England. She is convinced that Darcy doesn’t love her and that he regrets their marriage; however, what she doesn’t know is the fact that she is in great danger.

Will Darcy be able to rescue his wife and finally tell her his dark secret? And how will Elizabeth react to his disclosure?

If you want to find out if their love is strong enough to overcome everything, then you’ll have to read this captivating Pride and Prejudice sequel! I really liked this book, since it is such a suspenseful story, full of gothic elements, dark secrets and danger! Bestselling author Amanda Grange has done an excellent job creating a dark and gloomy atmosphere throughout the story and I truly recommend this book to everyone out there who loves gothic stories and Pride and Prejudice!

Night Owl Romance
Amanda Grange puts a new spin on the Vampyre myth in Mr. Darcy, Vampyre. I loved how he was able to go out in sunlight and not get harmed. The romance and mystery in this story melded together perfectly. I would definitely read more of her books; this one is a real page-turner.

Elizabeth Bennet has just gotten married to Fitzwilliam Charles George Darcy. Instead of going to the Lake District for their Wedding Tour Darcy changes their plans and tells her they are going to the continent instead. He wants to show her Paris and tells her that they should see it while it is safe to do so and the wars are not going on. Once in Paris parties, soirees and meeting his friends and family overwhelm her. Some of his friends and family accept her with open arms and some do not.

One such family member is his Cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam, who tells Darcy that it was not fair to her and that he should send her home and that if he wouldn’t at least talk to his Uncle about it and get his guidance. Darcy said he was not sending her home and that he had already planned on speaking to his Uncle about it. Elizabeth doesn’t understand the exchange between the two of them, and when Darcy tries to give a bit of an explanation she doesn’t understand. He lets her know that there are still things about him and the family that she doesn’t know.

Once she has decided she has seen enough of Paris they go off on the rest of their journey and to meet his Uncle and get his guidance. When they reach his Uncle’s home in the Alps, they have a bit of a scare when they walk in an axe that is over the door falls and comes close to hitting Darcy. This makes the servants talk because the same thing happened to his Aunt and Uncle when they arrived; and this makes them think Elizabeth will get him killed, because it landed closer to his Aunt and she met with an untimely death after that happened. Weird things are happening around Elizabeth that she doesn’t understand, including why they haven’t consummated their marriage yet. What she doesn’t know is that she will shortly learn their family secret and it may not be something that she wants to learn.

Bloody Bad Books Katrina Hall
Darcy and Elizabeth are on their wedding tour. They explore Europe like no other; going to Paris, the Alps, Venice and everywhere in between. After their marriage, Elizabeth expects Darcy to be the attentive and affectionate husband she has always imagined but he does not live up to her expectations. He becomes more aloof and secretive than he was in Pride and Prejudice and she can not figure out why he is holding back his affections. Mrs. Grange has an amazing ability to describe a scene so completely it is as if you are sitting there with the character.

Imagine you are walking through a crowded shopping mall. As you walk you catch brief scents of things like the newest perfume, cinnamon buns, coffee, rubber soled shoes and human sweat. With each scent is attached a memory. The cinnamon buns remind you of the time your best friend was pregnant and everything she ate had to come from Cinnabon. The coffee reminds you of sitting at your favorite book store when you read that book, remember the one I’m talking about. The rubber soled shoes remind you of school clothes shopping with your mother, what a nightmare that was. . . Each memory is as brief as the scent is, they do not linger. That was the sensation I had when reading Mr. Darcy, Vampyre. I would catch a phrase, paragraph or sentence that would briefly, but not quite remind me of other books and movies I had once enjoyed. A bit of Dracula here, but not really. Almost a piece of Radiers of the Lost Ark, but no. . . Was that Twilight I saw, couldn’t be. . . It was amazing how Grange was able to do this all the while making the vampire story her own.

I worried before reading this book that the vampyre story had been over done and there was nothing new a writer could bring to the table. I admit, I was wrong. Grange is able to make her vamprye utterly new and different. My favorite part of any vamprye story is their history, what have they done with all this time they have had to live? Grange is able to make her vamprye’s history compelling, heart breaking and triumphant all at once.

Who would enjoy this book? Any fan of vampire stories, regency period fiction or Austen sequels should check this book out.

The Duchess of Devonshire’s Gossip Guide to the 18th Century Heather Carroll
Now, I will admit when I heard that there was a Pride and Prejudice sequel coming out where my beloved Mr. Darcy was a vampire, I was skeptical. In fact, I went as far as "tweeting" about it, "Would be more open to Mr. Darcy, Vampyre if this massive vampire (cough cough Twilight) craze wasn’t going around." That is when the publishers said give it a chance, so I did.

So I attempted to be in a neutral frame of mind when I opened Amanda Grange’s book, but the silly concept was still in the back of my mind. Now, I’m quite the fan of vampire films and literature as well as Jane Austen film and literature but combining the two was not what I had in mind. I find vampire stories need three essential elements 1) A sexy vampire 2) Amounting sexual tension 3) A healthy dose of cheese (you can’t avoid camp in vampire romances). Luckily for me Grange’s book contained all three aspects.

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre begins on the day of Jane and Lizzy’s wedding when the two blooming brides are bubbling over with excitement. But as soon as Lizzy is in the carriage after the reception that things begin to get weird. Instead of heading for Pemberley the carriage takes a sudden turn for a honeymoon on the continent, much to Lizzy’s surprise. So begins a strange series of events for the Darcys in which Mr. Darcy’s mixed signals confuse the new Mrs. Darcy. She begins to think Mr. Darcy has grown indifferent to her. But could it be something else?

I was surprised at how quickly I became engrossed in this novel. Amanda Grange has a nice flow of words which I like. She also knows her settings and (very importantly, I might add) her period clothing. She made a gripping story that sucks you in; although I found it is not the same Lizzy and Darcy we came to know in Austen’s work. Still, Grange’s talent lies in her ability to tell a very entertaining vampire tale and for that she should be commended.

There was only a few things that bothered me. Darcy and Lizzy would constantly reflect and tease each other about their past which would consist of directly quoting Pride and Prejudice. Whenever this would happen it seemed forced, unnatural, and didn’t seem to harmoniously work with the characters. It seemed as if it was inserted to remind readers that this book was, in fact, a Pride and Prejudice sequel. There was also a Je ne sais quoi at the end of the book where it seemed that Grange lost her momentum in the story in hopes to be able to neatly wrap up the ending.

My final consensus on Mr. Darcy, Vampire is that it is a good book and deserves a chance. The book is highly entertaining and well written. I tend to avoid historical novels like the plague because of confusions over what is true and what isn’t, but Grange shows her knowledge in the many subjects she covers and harmoniously blends them with her storytelling.

Love Romance Passion Keira Gillet
Amanda Grange picks up where Pride and Prejudice ends. Jane and Elizabeth are getting ready for their double wedding, both eager and anxious about the life spreading out before them. On the way to the wedding, Elizabeth experiences a brief foreboding chill but shrugs it off as wedding nerves. The ceremony goes smoothly, Darcy’s vows stirring deep emotions in both.

It’s when they leave the reception that things start taking a turn for the worse. Through the reflection in the glass of their carriage Elizabeth spies a flash of torment crossing Darcy’s features, but a quick look at the real man shows smooth features. Elizabeth believes she has imagined it… unexpectedly he changes their wedding tour plans and routes them from the Lake District to a direct route to France over the channel.

Elizabeth is unconcerned about this change, but wholly concerned with Darcy. She can’t help but compare her expectations to the reality of her marriage to Darcy. He does not visit her bedchamber the first night or the next or the next. When they are together during the day Darcy is everything attentive, kind, and devoted, but at night he disappears.

As Elizabeth struggles to find reasons for this strange behavior, she meets a dizzying array of friends, family, and strangers over the continent. Some people and places inspire a great deal of trepidation in Elizabeth and she spills her worries to Jane in a series of letters.

It’s not until the last one hundred pages that things really begin to unravel and Darcy’s mysterious behavior is revealed. I was surprised by how flawless the transition was from Austen’s Regency romance to Grange’s Gothic flavored romance. Grange has a talent with words and uses this talent to create a believable paranormal filled with stunningly chilling atmosphere and mystery.

Amrchair Interviews Patty Inglish
Like a much-awaited fanzine blooming between sci-fi films, Mr. Darcy, Vampyre delights lovers of Jane Austen that are looking for more. Austen appreciation has given rise to a wide variety of pastiche novels, including the detective mystery and the romance. This one is a gothic romance in Regency England, adding to the author’s Mr. Darcy’s Diary and others.

Vampyre picks up superbly where Pride and Prejudice left off. It is the morning of Elizabeth Bennet’s and Mr. Darcy’s wedding. Gossip and advice flow between the Bennet sisters, while the preparations, the wedding, and the following luncheon go well in the English sunshine. By nightfall, things take a turn for the interesting–darker, richer, full of apprehension and anticipation. Day by day, life becomes a little more frightening and darkly delicious.

Jane Austen is from an era when gothic tales hit their stride and Vampyre fits right in. The gothic helps to relate the horrors and prejudices of the Napoleonic War: the Continent is always “dangerous.” Mr. and Mrs. Darcy journey to that dangerous France on their wedding trip. The French relatives are generally reserved toward Elizabeth, when they are not downright rude and odd. Darcy never visits Lizzy’s bedroom, either, and he’s too quiet and moody. The French Darcys wear strange, flimsy clothing–or is it simply French?

Vampyre is laced with questions and suspense, all woven with humor. It describes family members on both sides of the Bennet-Darcy union, highlighting intriguing relationships and quirky foibles. The close relationship of the Bennett sisters detailed through letters is particularly well done, as is the Darcy history.

Character development is substantial, although some vampire lovers would enjoy more violence and blood. Amanda Grange provides fresh twists to reinvigorate this genre, and this is no story of the undead leaving coffins by night to seduce unsuspecting youth, only to die by splintery stake and sunburn. Some will miss Bela Lugosi and Frank Langella as Dracula, but Mr. Darcy makes an inordinately attractive vampire himself.

Readers that enjoy Jane Austen, Twilight and the Southern Vampire Mysteries are bound to enjoy this book.

Armchair Interviews agrees this is a good historical romance.

Alison’s Book Marks Alison Skapinetz
First of all, let me be clear, I LOVE Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I hate sounding so cliche’, I could just gag, but it is one of my favorite novels of all time. Although, I am reluctant to admit, I had not read it until I was 30 years old. My education had previously led me through Persuasion, Emma and Sense and Sensibility, so I was not completely Austen illiterate before then. (Who said an English Major was a waste?) Still, the idea of fan fiction? Jane Austen fan fiction? Really? Should you really mess with perfection? Curiosity got the better of me. I had to check it out.

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre picks up right where Ms. Austen left us last, giving us a lovely glimpse of the weddings of the Darcys and the Bingleys, and Mr. Darcy and Lizzie are embarking on their wedding tour. However, a mysterious note prompts Mr. Darcy to change their destination and begin their tour of the Continent, beginning with France. The mysterious note is just the start of what turns out to be a tense and sometimes frightening journey for Lizzie. Since we read the title of the book, we know Mr. Darcy’s deep, dark secret, and are allowed to sometimes grin at the unexplained bumps in the night, but Lizzie does not.

Amanda Grange preys on our sentimentalism by referring back to some of our favorite scenes from P&P, which helps to maintain a consistency in the characters and the things we love about the relationship between Lizzie and Mr. Darcy. No, she’s not Jane Austen, but she sure knows how to have fun with her reader, and I think she gets it right. The tour of Europe, the people they meet, the balls and dinner parties, the sudden mysterious air to Mr. Darcy — these are just some of the things you will encounter in this book. All the while, Lizzie writes letters to her sister, Jane, documenting her trip, her questions, and, especially, her fears.

The jury is still out about whether or not Mr. Darcy, Vampyre has turned me into a fan of Jane Austen fan fiction. I love Jane Austen, I like vampire fiction, but I’m just not sure I like them together. I will say, Amanda Grange’s book could not be more timely, for we all know how popular vampires are right now!

For any Jane Austen fans out there who would like to try Austen fan fiction on for size, there are dozens of titles from which to choose. Amanda Grange’s Mr. Darcy’s Diary: A Novel would be a good place to start if you’re not into vampires.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks!

Word Candy Julia LaVassar
Jane Austen continuations and vampire romances have been two of the great literary success stories of the past five years, so we’re actually a little surprised we haven’t already seen a combination of the two. Happily, bestselling author Amanda Grange has stepped up to fill this void, and while her novel Mr. Darcy, Vampyre has its faults, we are pleased to report that it is very entertaining indeed.

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre opens just before the final chapter of Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth and Darcy are about to be married, and Elizabeth is looking forward to the start of a long and happy married life. Things get off to a rough start, however, when Darcy informs her that their planned honeymoon in the Lakes District has been swapped for a visit to his relatives in France—a magnetic, secretive group who reacts to the news of Darcy’s marriage in some very strange ways....

Grange’s novel would have been improved by some judicious editing early on, as entire set pieces should have been cut. We sympathize with the author’s desire to allow Elizabeth and Darcy to attend a Venetian masked ball, but the glamorous impact of the scene was dampened by the fact that Grange had already subjected her readers to several scenes of decaying French aristocracy, a mysterious castle in the mountains (complete with torch-bearing mob!), and a treacherous trip through the Alps. One or two of these settings would have been enough to carry the novel, and the author would have been well-advised to have chosen her favorites and stuck with them. Instead, Grange devotes 99% of her novel to Elizabeth and Darcy’s travels and ends up stinting her readers big-time on the climax, which is barely long enough to tie up the story.

On the other hand, the pleasures of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre are not dependent upon a neatly tied-up plot. This novel is the literary equivalent of a really fun covers album: more graceful tribute than original work. Grange borrows elements from nearly all of the great Gothic writers of the 19th century, tying them together with one of literature’s most beloved couples. The book overflows with references to the work of the Bronte sisters, Ann Radcliffe, Bram Stoker, and Mary Shelley, connected by an underlying story that stays focused on Elizabeth and Darcy’s troubled romance—will she ever get past his reserve? Will he ever succumb to his baser passions? (SPOILERS: Yes. And yes.) We couldn’t recommend this book to anyone unfamiliar with Pride and Prejudice or the 19th century Gothic cannon, but that isn’t who this book is written for anyway. Instead, Mr. Darcy, Vampyre is a clever and well-written in-joke aimed squarely at Austen devotees, and we’re confident that Grange’s target audience will enjoy themselves.

Cafe of Dreams April Pohren
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre is a unique twist on a well known and beloved set of characters created by Jane Austen in Pride and Prejudice. This book carries on where Pride and Prejudice left off - only in a much darker and sinister way.

Elizabeth Bennet has married her beloved Mr. Darcy, a man she has come to love deeply and who shares that love with her, or so she thought, is not quite the man she thought he was. There are strange and horrid goings on with secrets abound. Just who is this man that she married and what kind of person is he? Is their love strong enough to carry them through anything?

With a mixture of classical literature and Gothic vampire tales, Mr. Darcy, Vampyre is a unique story with a very intriguing premise that will most certainly catch the eye of Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice fans. Amanda Grange does a wonderful job capturing the time period and language from which the story is derived.

The idea of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre truly captured me and I was very anxious to delve in. I truly love the idea of "what ifs", meaning I love when an author takes a well known story or person and spins their own story off of it. It is always exciting and fascinating to see what that person comes up with. Amanda Grange does a very good job using her creativity for just this action. The theme of vampires seems to be running rampid right now and this book fits in nicely.

I do have to admit that this was a bit slow for me - not exactly what I had expected. With that being said, the storyline, writing and characterization were very good. I feel that many readers will enjoy Mr. Darcy, Vampyre be it they are vampire fans, Austen fans or just looking for a good read. I do want to mention how much I like the cover of this book and feel that it fits the story perfectly. The bluntness of the red blood splatters against the pure white innocence of the cover conveys the theme of the story incredibly well.

*overall rating 3/5

The Book Faery Farrah Kennedy
Amanda Grange’s twist on Jane Austen’s sequel to “Pride and Prejudice” was one of my first to read. I do have to admit the beginning was a little slow for me and it took nearly half way through the book to start getting into the story to finally see the story begin to unravel. But I now understand the need to create the life that once was for the many people in her story. Most of the story told of the historical past and it wasn’t til towards the end that we officially learn of Mr. Darcy’s past and current fate of what made him who he really was and the reason for his distance. I enjoyed the old Count in his castle but from the beginning I disliked Lady Catherine as Elizabeth did until I understood why she acted the way she did. Throughout the story I felt as if I was Elizabeth traveling to all the new places to meet all the different people who were long time friends and acquaintances of Darcy. But of course knowing me I think I would have been more persistent in seeking the truth instead of remaining so confused for so long. I felt sorry for Elizabeth for spending so much time in confusion during her “mysterious” wedding tour who wondered constantly if her husband truly loved him. But in the end you see the unconditional and strong their love was for each other.

I liked it but I in the end I felt like I wanted more for what was to come for the Darcy’s.

If you’re a lover of classic historical stories, love, and a bit of the paranormal, this book just may be the one for you as Grange ties them together in an interesting manner.

Bitten By Books Jennifer
Picking up where the classic comedic romance Pride and Prejudice left off, Mr. Darcy, Vampyre takes up the beloved characters and plot threads of Jane Austen’s novel and weaves them into a supernaturally-wrought adventure.

Immediately following their wedding, Elizabeth and Darcy leave for mainland Europe, departing from their plans to honeymoon in England. As they travel, meeting more and more of Darcy’s far-flung family, his new wife begins to notice changes in her husband; he is almost preoccupied, and she fears that a dwindling of love is to blame. The truth, however, is more fearful than she can possibly imagine, and though the audience knows from the title what afflicts the hero, Elizabeth must piece together the truth behind her husband’s strange behavior on her own.

Although this book might try a little too hard at times to identify itself with Pride and Prejudice through occasionally incongruous references to specific events of Austen’s book, Mr. Darcy manages to continue the saga nicely and fill in some of the blanks in ways that only preternatural twists could. The characterization and dialogue is strong, and though the prose itself deviates fairly far from the original tone of Austen, this can hardly be faulted; it is a colorful book with lovely descriptions and wonderful settings.

The plot is fast-paced and keeps a reader’s interest, though occasionally some points in the plot (including the book’s climax and resolution) seemed a bit rushed. A little bit more length and attention to not glazing over some scenes may have done the novel some good.

On the whole, Mr. Darcy, Vampyre manages to be faithful to the spirit of the original Austen book and enjoyable enough to stand alone as a paranormal novel in its own right. However, I think most of the charm that it offers would be lost on a reader not at least somewhat acquainted with Pride and Prejudice, and to those who are, I would recommend this book most heartily.

Horror and Fantasy Books Trish
As promised, here is my review of the recently released Mr. Darcy, Vampyre. As those of you who are familiar with my blog, and who may have read my recent reviews of Pride and Prejudice sequels probably already know, the addition of “vampire” to the title of any book significantly raises my excitement level. There’s just something about the dark side of fiction that really piques my interest, and seeing this take on a classic work of fiction really makes my day :)

So, to say that I was excited when I was offered to the opportunity to review Amanda Grange’s newest release is an understatement, and I must admit that that when the book arrived in the mail, I was waiting impatiently to get my fix. I have to start off by saying that I loved the pacing and the tone of the book; it was very much in sync with Austen’s original, which is something that I always look for when reading sequels written by new or alternate authors.

As most of you must already suspect, in Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, our old friend Mr. Darcy is harboring a deep, dark secret. (Can you guess what it is?) The book begins just before Pride and Prejudice left off – briefly chronicling Lizzy’s wedding day, and then moving on to her wedding night and subsequent wedding trip. One of the things that struck me about this book was the lack of intimacy between Lizzy and Darcy. While it is rather shrugged off in the book, most new brides would (I believe) have been more put off by such a lack of attention by their new husband. While it was certainly a different time then, Lizzy was a different kind of girl, and I felt that she was uncharacteristically shy in this aspect.

As Mr. Darcy, Vampyre progresses, we follow the newlywed Mr. and Mrs. Darcy across Europe as the former struggles against his curse and works diligently to hide it from his new bride and the latter faces one bizarrely frightening encounter with long-lost Darcy relatives after another and works stridently to ignore the fact that her beloved husband has not yet visited their marriage bed.

While I can’t really say much more about Mr. Darcy, Vampyre without becoming a spoiler, I will say that I rather enjoyed it from cover to cover. While there were some things that I would have changed, that is true of virtually any book I have ever read. My biggest problem of all was with the way the book ended. Of course, I can’t really get into that here. However, if you read the book, you will probably know exactly what I am referring to. All in all, this was a 3 ½ star read as far as paranormal fiction goes, and a 4 star Pride and Prejudice sequel. Depending on your literary cup o’tea, you will probably find this one quite enjoyable :P

BookLoons.com Lyn Seippel
Amanda Grange’s novel begins where Pride and Prejudice ends. Elizabeth Bennett and Darcy marry and set out on their honeymoon. Darcy surprises Elizabeth by changing their original plan to visit the Lake District. Fortunately, Elizabeth is thrilled to be going to Europe instead.

Elizabeth doesn’t realize that they are in Europe to get approval of their marriage from the oldest known vampyre. Not knowing that Darcy is a vampyre, she worries that their marriage has not been consummated. Does he regret their union?

Readers can’t help but wonder why Darcy, a vampyre, would marry Elizabeth if he truly loves her. He feels guilty, but he loves her too much to let her go and too much to change her in any way. As they travel through Europe, meeting Darcy’s friends, there is always an undercurrent of danger, and more than once they are forced to flee and move on to another country.

Austen might be surprised that Elizabeth and Darcy’s life after marriage takes this turn. Half farce and half suspense, Grange’s story is great fun to read. For me the ending is the weakest part, but other readers might think it couldn’t have finished in any other way.

Reading with a Bite Lindsay
Ah... Mr. Darcy, forever immortalized by the sexy Colin Firth (and I would argue that Mr. Darcy made him sexy). So here we are, Amanda Grange has combined the sexy Mr. Darcy AND vampyres (which can obviously be sexy too) so naturally, I was instantly curious to see what Mr. Darcy, Vampyre was all about. I was a little cautious though. I am a big fan of Pride and Prejudice and I figured this could either be really good, or really bad.

The book begins on Elizabeth’s wedding day; her and her sister are to have a double wedding with their grooms Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. Shortly after saying their vows Lizzy is feeling odd about Mr. Darcy - he is acting strangely, he resists touching her, and keeps secrets to himself. To top it all off they end up changing their wedding tour plans to gallivant around Europe meeting disapproving members of Darcy’s "family." Elizabeth sees the adoring and loving looks Darcy has for her.... but she isn’t sure it is enough for them to remained married.

I have to admit, when I first started reading the book I was frustrated that Darcy seemed off-putting and stubborn. I wanted the charming Darcy! But as the book progressed I couldn’t put it down - which is bad when you are reading during your lunch break. Grange adds some interesting and unique elements both to the vampyre story and to the adventures of Darcy and Elizabeth. I thought some of the adventures they experienced were a nice touch. And I enjoyed the ending. Some of the things I thought wrapped up a bit to quick or didn’t go into enough detail, but overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to a vampire fan... and if you have ever imagined Darcy as a creature of the dark.... or if you like to. The beginning of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre was frustrating to get through because of his behavior, but after you tell yourself it will be alright, it starts to be pretty good and I fell in love with Darcy all over again.

The Book Binge Ames
Pride & Prejudice is one of my favorite books. P&P got a paranormal update earlier this year with zombies added to the classical mix and I really thought that was funny. But I had no interest in reading it. However, when I noticed that Sourcebooks was releasing P&P with vampires, I was intrigued.

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre picks up on the day Elizabeth, Darcy, Jane and Bingley all get married in that famous double wedding. Right after the ceremony, Darcy informs Elizabeth that there has been a change of plans and that they’re going on a tour of the Continent rather than going to the Lake District. And Elizabeth catches a glimpse of Darcy in the coach window and he looks tormented...

And so begins our tale - from that first tortured glance, the tension slowly builds and a dark story is woven, with an innocent at the center who doesn’t have a clue.

We the readers have a clue, based on the title. But if you’ve stayed away from spoilers, like I did, you will be in the dark (har har) right alongside Elizabeth, which is a very smart way of keeping the reader enthralled. We’re looking for those clues to Darcy’s nature but Elizabeth doesn’t put the pieces together until it’s too late.

I enjoyed revisiting the world Jane Austen created. There were references to P&P that felt like inside jokes. But I felt the build-up took a bit long. And since the story focuses on Elizabeth’s version of events, I don’t feel like we got to know Darcy that well, which is unfortunate.

All in all, this was a fun sequel to P&P. 4 out of 5.

I’m definitely going to check out Ms. Grange’s backlist.

The Book Girl Carrie Zimmerman
I have to admit that I struggled with this book. It took me a while to get into the story. But once I did, I was thoroughly entertained. The story is told from Elizabeth’s point of view and gives the reader the details of what happens after the wedding while Darcy and Elizabeth are on their honeymoon. I really would have liked it if the story had given both Darcy and Elizabeth’s point of view. There isn’t really a lot that I can say without giving away some spoilers. I think this book would be good for any fan of Jane Austen and Pride & Prejudice.

Everything Victorian Barbara Davis
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett are married only a short time before Darcy begins to exhibit strange mood swings. The couple is on their way to a honeymoon in France and beyond, taking Elizabeth into a strange world that is completely foreign to her. Although, she likes Paris, she becomes aware of how different their lives are - how simple her former life had been, compared to his. Darcy is a gentleman of great wealth, recognition, and social standing, while she had been only the daughter of a country gentleman. Eventually, she is swallowed up in a cold, vulgar world of wealth, position, and dark personalities. Throughout the book, Elizabeth shares her misgivings and unhappiness in letters to her sister, Jane.

Although, the reader must suspend all previously conceived fantasies about the married life of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, this book proves to be exciting for any fan of gothic romantic thrillers. From dark ancient castles to the elegant ballrooms of Paris, the author transports the reader into a place far from the delightful walls of Pemberley. Amanda Grange has created a new twist for Austen addicts, even though it may be too far flung for the purist, or the Jane Austen scholar.

I give the book 5 stars for having as its author a woman who writes beautifully, and can step outside the box with her imagination. It is well-told and unforgettable.

My Pride and Prejudice
Mr Darcy, Vampyre is a sequel to Pride and Prejudice with a twist (can you guess what it is?) Amanda Grange’s book begins at the end of Jane Austen’s novel, first thing in the morning of the day of Elizabeth’s wedding to Mr Darcy – and of course, Jane’s to Mr Bingley. However, before the day is out our heroes have left Meryton for Dover on the English south coast. Slipped into Lizzy and Darcy’s wedding messages was a shocking piece of news, which leads the gentleman to insist they leave for France immediately on an impromptu honeymoon tour of Europe.

On their travels, Elizabeth begins to wonder why her new husband hasn’t visited her in her bedchamber. She starts to fear the worst; perhaps he is regretting having married her. Eventually we learn the real reason behind his reluctance to… ahem… visit her. Unsurprisingly, it turns out to be something rather more sinister. Again, can you guess what it is?

‘Mr Darcy Vampyre’ is a fun read, with lots of romance, atmospheric prose and pulse-raising scenes. Not many Pride and Prejudice characters are included in the novel, with only Elizabeth and Darcy followed throughout, and the strongest supporting role given to Lady Catherine de Bourgh. However, Elizabeth and Darcy’s characters are written with love and careful attention. Elizabeth is as delightful as can be expected, given the terrible journey on which she is taken, and Darcy is as complicated as ever – perhaps more so, given the addition of the whole man-beast problem.

The sensual prose immediately – and I do mean from the first page – sets it apart stylistically from Jane Austen’s novel. There is more detail in Amanda Grange’s description of the view from Elizabeth’s window than Jane Austen gives of Pemberley, Rosings and the Peak district all together. The plot is also very linear in comparison with the complex, interweaving storylines of Pride and Prejudice. Letters are used, and do become important later in the book, but they generally serve just to recap what we have already learned, rather than to shove the story along. Furthermore, as you’d expect from any book with ‘vampyre’ in the title, it’s generally a lot darker, more emotionally direct and more hot-blooded than the ‘light and bright and sparkling’ Regency novel.

These aren’t really criticisms, however, but readers who love Jane Austen for the language, the light, ironic touch and the labyrinthine plot might not find much to enjoy here. However, if you are interested primarily in the two main characters and you don’t mind a little absurdity, then you should find ‘Mr Darcy, Vampyre’ perfectly agreeable. True Austen experts might enjoy the book as an homage to the Gothic novels that Jane Austen herself loved, but I’m not sure that casual Austen fans and lovers of general horror will find their bloodthirst quenched. It’s not particularly gory and it’s not until the final third of the book that it’s completely clear what’s going on (unless you had the foresight to read the novel’s title, that is!) so there are sure to be plenty more horrible horrors available, but for a light-hearted play on Pride and Prejudice, this is a pleasantly distracting read.

Star-Crossed Romance Lynda K. Scott
This book begins with the wedding between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy and continues as he takes her on an impromptu wedding tour in Europe. Elizabeth is quite perplexed when her beloved Darcy does not come to her on their wedding night nor on the nights to follow as they journey to Paris. With a respite in the war, Mr. Darcy is intent on showing his new bride to his...friends. Elizabeth, a confident young woman, is somewhat surprised but enjoys meeting Darcy’s friends in Paris. Though some of them seem to be quite worldly to her, some are a delight. But underneath the city and the people’s charm, Elizabeth senses a darker ’something’. Then when Darcy’s cousin and friend, Colonel Fitzwilliam, arrives and demands to know what Darcy intends to do, Elizabeth’s confidence falters. Perhaps the differences between her station and Darcy’s is too much to overcome? But no, she decides, their marriage is based on love. Their social standing will not stand in the was of their happiness.

But Darcy still doesn’t come to her at night and after his cousin’s visit, he announces they will proceed to the Alps to visit his uncle. For advice, he says, and Elizabeth again wonders if he regrets their marriage. Though the journey is pleasant, Elizabeth is at a loss on how to entice her husband to her bed. Advice from a kindly, older Englishwoman they happen upon at an inn makes Elizabeth determined. Early one morning she sees Darcy swimming in the nearby pond and decides to join him. His expression of absolute longing delights Elizabeth and she is convinced that this will be the end to his self-imposed exile from her bed. But their moment is lost when his aunt Lady Catherine arrives to lambast Darcy for marrying Elizabeth. His fierce defense of his marriage sends Lady Catherine on her way. Elizabeth finds herself alone once again as they continue on to the mountains.

Each step of her journey becomes darker and more fraught with nightmare images. Darcy’s uncle is kindly but when the arrive at his castle, an ax falls close to Darcy. The servants claim it to be a portent of his coming death and that she, Elizabeth, will cause it. The count is likable if a bit threadbare. Elizabeth is startled to discover there are no mirrors in the castle. But when the castle is attacked, he tells Darcy ’they will not stand for her’ and Darcy rushes her out through a secret bolt hole. They cross the mountains and finally end their journey in Venice. However, the mystery of their marriage and the loneliness of her marriage bed continues to depress Elizabeth until it all comes to a head. Darcy and Elizabeth must fight both for their lives and their future. But will the portent that Elizabeth will cause Darcy’s death come true?

If Jane Austen had written a book about a vampire, this would be it. Amanda Grange has created a true feeling of the old masterpiece. The language, the texture, the entire essence of the book stands true to what Ms. Austen would have accomplished. Ms. Grange brings Elizabeth and Darcy to life and explores their inmost feelings as they journey toward the end of the book. I believe even the staunchest Pride and Prejudice devotees would find this as fascinating as I did and well worth a second and third reading.

Read Headed Book Child Michelle
This was my first book from Sourcebooks to review and I requested it for a few reasons. One, it’s about Vampires/Vampyres and tis’ the season for all things spooky. I thought it would fit my mood. Second, I was interested in reading about Mr.Darcy and Elizabeth. Now I going to throw out a huge admission on my part and I’m sure that a giant chunk of the blogosphere will come back at me with a loud "WHAT?!"


Here goes...
I have never read anything by Jane Austen nor have I seen any movie in full based off of her books. I just know that I am supposed to love Colin Firth.


GASP! Horror! What? Are you kidding?


No, I am not. And I am sad to say that I had to consult my best friend on the lure of Darcy and Elizabeth. My best friend is a gay man who feels, along with probably about 98% of the female population, that theirs is one of the greatest love stories ever told. He simply said "Michelle, I don’t know if we can be friends anymore after a question like that".


Well, forgive me for not jumping on the Austen bandwagon earlier. I’m here now, aren’t I?


Anyway, all humor aside, this was my introduction to their love story and I did indeed feel their love throughout. First, the book starts off after Darcy and Elizabeth get married. They are taking off on their wedding tour. Darcy makes a quick change of plans and takes Elizabeth instead through France and Italy. Throughout this time Elizabeth finds herself in many strange places meeting very different people and not feeling 100% comfortable with the so called wedding tour. But she loves Darcy and trusts him and makes the best of it.
Though attentive and lovely during the day, Darcy is not visiting Elizabeth at night which leads her to believe that there is something wrong with their marriage. What is he hiding? Does he not love me? Why won’t he join me in our marriage bed? These are questions that fill Elizabeth’s head as they journey on.


I won’t give away any teasers but the story does come to a climax about three quarters of the way in. Secrets are revealed, danger lurks around every corner, friends can not be trusted.


I can’t tell if I was the best or worst person to read this novel. My lack of knowledge of Darcy and Elizabeth gave me a fresh look at the novel and I didn’t have any preconceived ideas of any characters. I found Darcy to be dashing and Elizabeth to be charming and smart. But at the same time I wish I knew a bit more because there were times where I felt the past was touched on briefly and I felt a little left out.


This book is being marketed to Austen fans and the author has a previous novel titled, Mr. Darcy’s Diary. I do think fans will enjoy this book. I found it to be a quick read and had the dark mood for Halloween. The writing was easy to follow and the settings were glorious in description. Because it’s not typically a genre I would seek out or buy, I rated it a 3.

Minds Alive on the Shelves Lisa Hura
I swear, this is the last Jane Austen mash-up I’m going to read.

I also swear that I will not break out into Dear Jane letters, as Elizabeth is inclined to do at critical junctures of the book. The Postal Service could not be terribly reliable in Europe in her day, but the letters provide an easy way for Elizabeth to share her deepest secrets with us, as well as with Jane, and so she keeps writing.

I found Mr. Darcy, Vampyre to be a breezier read than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It’s not written to be funny, although it is occasionally ridiculous; it seems a more serious attempt to extend the romance of Elizabeth Bennett and her beloved Mr Darcy. From the glorious morning of their wedding day to the novel’s final sunrise, they stay true to the world Austen created.

The story begins on the morning of Elizabeth and Darcy’s wedding. They are having a double ceremony, sharing the happy occasion with Jane and her Mr. Bingley. But the trouble starts almost immediately after the wedding breakfast — Darcy has received some disturbing news along with their wedding congratulations, and he cancels their trip to the Lake District and he and Elizabeth head for Paris.

As they travel across the Continent, there is a whirlwind of parties and balls given in their honor, visits with Darcy’s wide circle of friends and relatives, along with an undercurrent of menace. It is clear that things are not what they seem. Some of Darcy’s relatives seem openly shocked to meet Elizabeth, and when Cousin Sophia lets slip - "This is the dress I wore to meet Marco Polo" - it’s clear that someone has been keeping some secrets.

Of course, you and I know that Darcy is a vampire. Many of his friends and relatives are obviously vampires. Author Amanda Grange has tailored a vampire mythology (everything from their ability to go out in the sun to the way they age and die) to fit her story and purposes. In a puzzling turn, Darcy has not once visited Elizabeth’s bedchamber. Weeks into their wedding tour, our bride is still a virgin. Obviously Darcy is restraining himself, but why? What fun are vampires that don’t have sex?

I was disappointed that we didn’t get to see more of the Darcy’s vampire nature in action. There are a few incidents, but until about three-quarters of the way through the book, you could make the case that he simply had cold feet and was keeping his distance from his bride. It is fun to read certain comments and reactions, knowing what we know, and watching Elizabeth try to sort out the mystery on her own, but I would have liked it better if she clued in a liitle earlier.

I read Mr. Darcy, Vampyre on the flight from Cleveland to Minneapolis. It was a quick, fun read — it kept the feeling of other Austen novels, with some downright silly situations. Devoted Austen fans don’t seem to enjoy it as much, but I was amused by it. Heck, I finished it, which is more than I can say for Sense and Sensibility.

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Specs / Support

Trade Paper Specfications

• Length: 8.00 in
• Width: 5.25 in
• Height: 0.00 in
• Weight: 13.00 oz
• Page Count: 320 pages