Mr. Darcy, Vampyre

By Amanda Grange

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sourcebooks
• Release date: Aug 1, 2009
• ISBN: 9781402240560

Amanda Grange

Amanda Grange is a bestselling author of Jane Austen fiction (over 200,000 copies sold). She lives in England. Sharon Lathan is a bestselling author of Jane Austen fiction (over 100,000 copies sold). She resides in Hanford, California. Carolyn Eberhart is a debut author and member of RWA. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Book preview

Copyright

Copyright © 2009 by Amanda Grange

Cover and internal design © 2009 by Sourcebooks, Inc.

Cover design by Tina Silva/Sourcebooks

Cover photos © Getty Images; Istockphoto/Alex Staroseltsev

Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

Published by Sourcebooks Landmark, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc.

P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410

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FAX: [phone]

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Grange, Amanda.

Mr. Darcy, vampyre / Amanda Grange.

p. cm.

1. Darcy, Fitzwilliam (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. Bennet, Elizabeth (Fictitious character)—Fiction. I. Austen, Jane, 1775-1817. Pride and prejudice. II. Title.

PR6107.R35M69 2009

823’.92—dc22

2009024137

Contents

Front Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Epilogue

About the Author

Back Cover

This book is dedicated to Catherine Morland

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 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 during 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 moralising.

‘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.

She thought of herself and Darcy at Pemberley, wandering through the lush grounds and living their lives in the luxurious rooms, and she was lost in happy daydreams until her mother came in again, saying that it was time to dress.

The two young women rose from the window seat and went over to the washstand, where they stepped out of their nightgowns and washed in the scented water before slipping into their chemises. They sat patiently whilst Hill arranged their hair, threading seed pearls through their soft chignons, and then they put on their corsets, tying each other’s stays and laughing all the while.

They became quieter when it was time to put on their wedding dresses. They had wanted their dresses to be similar but not the same. Both gowns were made of white silk, but Jane’s dress had a round neck decorated with ribbon whilst Lizzy’s dress had a square neck trimmed with lace. Elizabeth helped Jane to begin with, lifting the gown over her sister’s head. It fell to the floor with a whisper of silk and Elizabeth fastened it, then stood and looked at Jane in the mirror. She kissed her on the cheek and said, ‘Bingley is a lucky man.’

Then Elizabeth raised her arms so that her sister could slip her dress over her head. It fell lightly around Elizabeth’s form, dropping to the floor with a satisfying rustle.

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 the 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.

The two young women looked at each other and then hugged and laughed. They put on their veiled bonnets, pulled on their long white gloves, and picked up their bouquets, releasing the scent of roses into the air. Then, hand in hand, they went downstairs.

‘So here we are, two brides,’ said Elizabeth as they reached the bottom of the stairs, and suddenly, she shivered.

‘What is it?’ asked Jane.

Elizabeth’s voice was queer.

‘I don’t know. I just had a strange feeling, almost a sense of foreboding.’

‘Hah! That is nothing but wedding nerves,’ said her father’s warm voice behind her, and turning round, she saw him looking at her kindly. ‘Everyone has them on their wedding day.’ He became suddenly serious. ‘Unless you have changed your mind, Lizzy? If so, it is better to say so now. You have only to say the word, you know that. It is still not too late.’

Elizabeth thought of her beloved Darcy and the way he looked at her as though she was the only woman in the world, and said, ‘No, of course not, Papa. It is as you say, just wedding nerves.’

‘Good, because I could not bear to let you go to anyone who did not deserve you or anyone you did not truly love,’ he said searchingly.

‘I do love him, Papa, with all my heart,’ said Elizabeth.

‘Well then, the carriage is ready, and your bridesmaids are waiting for you. Your mother has already gone to the church. It’s time for us to go.’

He offered them each an arm and then, with Lizzy on his right and Jane on his left, he led them out to the carriage.

***

The streets of Meryton were full of the townspeople going about their daily business, but they all stopped to look and smile as the Bennet carriage drove past. It was the centre of attention as it drove the mile to the church. When it arrived, Elizabeth and Jane saw that the lich gate had been decorated with flowers.

‘That was your sister Kitty’s idea,’ said Mr Bennet as he handed his daughters out of the carriage.

Kitty, climbing out of the carriage behind them with their other bridesmaid, Georgiana Darcy, flushed with pleasure at their obvious delight.

‘Your sister Mary, however, thought it a well intentioned but futile gesture as the state of the lich gate would not have any bearing on your future happiness; indeed, she had already discovered a learned extract on that very subject,’ Mr Bennet added drily.

Elizabeth laughed, but as she walked up the path to the church, she felt her humour leave her and nerves began to assail her.

Would Darcy be there? Would he have changed his mind?

Would he be wearing his blue coat?

The mischievous thought slipped into her mind and made her realise how foolish her worries were, and she laughed quietly to herself.

When they reached the church door, Mr Bennet paused.

‘Well, girls, let me look at you for one last time,’ he said with something that looked suspiciously like moisture in his eyes. ‘Yes, you will do very well,’ he said at last with a fond smile. ‘In fact, you will do more than very well. You are undoubtedly the two loveliest brides in England.’

Then, giving them an arm each, he led them inside.

As they entered the church, Elizabeth and Jane saw that their family and friends had all gathered to witness their wedding. Mrs Bennet was sitting on one side of the aisle with the Gardiners and the Phillipses, whilst Caroline Bingley was on the other side with her sister and brother-in-law. Friends and neighbours were scattered about, all eager to witness the ceremony.

Mr Collins told everyone, in a loud whisper, that, as a clergyman, he was ready to perform the necessary ceremony if the Meryton vicar should suddenly be taken ill; but as Mr Williams was a young man, and as he was already standing in front of them, this did not seem very likely.

The two prospective bridegrooms stood at the front of the church, smiling nervously at each other and asking their groomsmen repeatedly if the wedding rings were safe. They were both looking very handsome and were dressed immaculately in black tailcoats and white breeches. Their cravats were newly starched and their white shirts were ruffled at the wrist.

As Elizabeth and Jane began to walk down the aisle, Mary, who was seated at the church organ, struck up a sonata and everyone turned to look at the brides. A murmur of appreciation went up, gradually fading away to nothing.

When Elizabeth and Jane reached the front of the church, they gave their bouquets to Kitty and Georgiana and then the bridesmaids stood to one side. There were a few coughs, though mercifully none from Kitty, and the vicar began.

‘Dearly, beloved, we are gathered together here…’

Elizabeth stole a look at Darcy. He was looking more nervous than she had ever seen him; more nervous, even, than he had been when he had visited her at the inn at Lambton after their estrangement. But when, feeling her eyes on him, he turned to look at her, she saw his nervousness fade, and smiling, they both turned back to the vicar.

‘Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?’ asked the Rev Mr Williams.

‘I do,’ said Mr Bennet, with a look of paternal love and pride.

Mr Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand in his own right hand and repeated after Mr Williams, ‘I, Fitzwilliam Charles George Darcy, take thee, Elizabeth Eleanor Anne Bennet, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honour, and cherish, till death do us part.’

As he did so, there were sighs from the congregation, most notably from the corner where Caroline Bingley was sitting.

Elizabeth and Darcy loosed hands, and then Elizabeth took Darcy’s right hand in her own right hand and made her vows in a clear voice that set Mrs Bennet mopping her eyes with her handkerchief, and when Darcy slipped the ring onto Elizabeth’s finger, a murmur of approval ran round the church.

Their vows made, they went through into the vestry to sign the register, accompanied by Jane and Bingley, whose vows had been made in no less loving tones. As Mary played another sonata, Elizabeth and Jane signed their names as Bennet for the last time.

When they came out of the vestry, Elizabeth distinctly heard her mother whispering in exultant tones, ‘Oh! Mr Bennet! Just think, of it, our Elizabeth is now Mrs Darcy! Oh my goodness, ten thousand a year!’

They walked back up the aisle to showers of congratulations. As they emerged into the sunshine, they were met by Sir William Lucas making a stately speech, and then confronted by Mr Collins bowing obsequiously before them and peppering his rambling congratulations with ‘…esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh…’ before they were free to walk down the path.

When they reached its end, Mr Gardiner handed Mr Darcy some messages which had arrived from well wishers who could not attend the service. Mr Darcy read them to Elizabeth as they went out to the road, where the Darcy coach was waiting.

Elizabeth climbed into the coach, where she was met with the smell of polish and the feel of leather seats, so different from the Bennet coach with its musty interior and its patched upholstery. Even the blinds in the Darcy coach were made of silk.

To the happy cries of the congregation the coach set off on its way back to Longbourn for the wedding breakfast. As Mr Darcy seated himself opposite her, Elizabeth caught an expression of such pure love on his face that she felt a catch in her throat.

She turned away, momentarily overcome, and he continued to read the goodwill messages whilst Elizabeth waved at the young Lucases who were laughing and cheering as the coach drove past. But she could not keep her eyes away from him for long, and they strayed to his reflection, longing to see his face again… and then her heart missed a beat, for the look of love on his face had been replaced by a look of torment.

She felt suddenly frightened. What can it mean? she wondered.

For one horrible moment, she wondered if he regretted their marriage. But no, surely not. He had given her so many proofs of his feelings, loving her constantly through her blind prejudice, her angry rejection of him at Rosings, and her sad and uncomfortable awkwardness when they had met unexpectedly at Pemberley, that she was sure he could not regret it. And yet, there had been a look of torment on his face.

She had to know what it meant. Bracing herself for the worst, she turned towards him, only to find that the look had gone and that he was calmly reading through the messages.

She was startled, but then wondered if the glass had distorted his features. It was not a mirror, only a window. It was not meant to give reflections, and the light could play strange tricks even on the smoothest surface. Certainly there was no trace of any anguish on his face now.

The coach turned into the drive of Longbourn House, and seeing the crowd waiting to welcome her, she dismissed the matter. Neighbours who had hurried ahead were waiting to greet her, full of smiles.

The mood was infectious. Darcy helped her out of the coach and then shook hands with all the guests as both he and Elizabeth were showered with rose petals and good wishes.

Jane’s carriage, which had been behind Elizabeth’s, now arrived, and to the cries of ‘Congratulations, Mr and Mrs Darcy!’ were added cries of ‘Long life and happiness, Mr and Mrs Bingley!’

Elizabeth, banishing the last of her uncertainties, seized a handful of rose petals and threw them joyfully over her sister.

Mrs Bennet cried and said, ‘Three daughters married!’ and Mr Bennet cleared his throat more than was necessary for a man without a cough.

The whole party went inside. The hall had been decked out with flowers, and the guests passed through with much talk and laughter. They went into the dining room, where the wedding breakfast was laid out. The tables were spread with snowy white cloths and the crystal sparkled whilst the silverware shone. As the guests took their places down either side of the table, Mrs Bennet fussed in and out of the room, until Mr Bennet told her that Hill had taken care of everything.

‘Sit down, my dear, and leave everything to Hill,’ he said as Mrs Bennet bobbed up from her chair for the dozenth time.

In the centre of the table, a variety of food was arranged on china plates decorated with crystallised flowers. Cold chicken, snipe, woodcocks, pheasant, ham, oysters, and beef vied with colourful salads, the last of the year, and by their side were fruit tarts, syllabubs, and cheeses. In the very centre of the table were two wedding cakes iced with the initials E and F, and J and C.

The voices faded away as people began to eat, with only the clink of glasses and the chink of knives on plates to break the silence.

When at last the guests had eaten their fill, Sir William Lucas rose to his feet.

‘And now,’ he said, ‘I would like to propose a toast: To the fairest jewels of the country, Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth Bennet—’

‘Hear, hear!’ came the cries.

‘—who are now to be carried away by their fortunate husbands as Mrs Bingley and Mrs Darcy.’

There were more cries and cheers, and Mrs Bennet could be heard to say, ‘I am sure it will not be long before my other girls are married. Kitty is very obliging and quite as pretty as Lizzy, and Mary is the most accomplished girl in the neighbourhood.’

The wedding breakfast eaten and the speeches made, it was time to cut the cake. Elizabeth and Jane rose to their feet, standing side by side with their husbands behind them. The cakes were the pride of the Longbourn kitchen. The rich fruit cake had been steeped in brandy before being topped with marzipan and covered with smooth, white icing. Elizabeth and Darcy, and Jane and Bingley, each put one hand on their respective knives and cut into their cakes. As they did so, Kitty called out, ‘Make a wish!’

And suddenly, a cold draught whipped its way around Elizabeth as, with a sudden frisson of some nameless dread, she knew she must have an answer to her forebodings. She turned to Darcy and said in an undertone, ‘I wish you would tell me truly, do you regret our marriage?’

His smile was gone in an instant and she saw some great emotion pass over his face. His hand closed convulsively over her own, squeezing it tight. And then she saw a look of resolution on his face and he said fervently, ‘No. Never.’ He applied pressure to her hand, forcing it downwards with disturbing speed and strength, and together they cut down to the bottom of the cake.

But despite his words, he was ill at ease, and as soon as the last cheer had faded away, he said to Elizabeth, ‘It is time for us to go.’

He took her hand and held it firmly in his own. He thanked the assembled company for their attendance and their good wishes, then said that he and his wife must be leaving as they had a long way to travel.

There were more good wishes as he led Elizabeth to the coach and handed her in. Just as Elizabeth was taking her seat, she heard him call up to the coachman, ‘There has been a change of plan. I want you to take us to Dover.’

‘Dover?’ asked Elizabeth in surprise as Darcy climbed into the coach and sat down opposite her. ‘But I thought we were going north, to the Lake District. Dover is in the opposite direction.’

‘We can go to the Lake District at any time. You cannot have a very strong attachment to the idea; the plan has been of short duration, and I would like to take you to the Continent instead. I want to show you Paris.’

‘But isn’t it dangerous?’ she asked.

He looked at her in some perturbation and leant forward in his seat.

‘What have you heard?’ he asked her.

‘Nothing,’ she said, startled by his change of mood. ‘Only that the war with France could break out again at any time, and that when that happens, the English will no longer be safe there.’

‘Ah, so that is all,’ he said, sinking back into his seat. ‘You have nothing to worry about. It is perfectly safe. The Peace will last awhile yet. I have friends and family in Paris, though, people I would like to see again and people I would like you to meet.’

‘You have never spoken of them before,’ she said curiously.

‘There was never any need. But you will like them, I am sure, and they will like you.’

‘I have never been to Paris,’ she said musingly. ‘I have never been out of England.’

‘Paris is changing, but it is still a city of great elegance and the Parisians are charming. Sometimes too charming,’ he said, and a shadow crossed his face. Then his mood lightened and he said, ‘I will have to guard you well.’

Chapter 2

The Darcy entourage was a large one. Behind Darcy and Elizabeth’s coach was a second

Reviews for Mr. Darcy, Vampyre

[milliehennessy · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

From the very day of her wedding to Darcy, Elizabeth suspects something is wrong. As the two travel across Europe meeting Darcy’s mysterious friends and family, staying in dark castles and fleeing from angry mobs, Elizabeth struggles with her new surroundings. Darcy is cold and unloving and Elizabeth must find out what caused his sudden change in demeanor. I’ll come right out and say it – this book was BORING. I was expecting it to be 100% cheesy and hopefully entertaining (you know…bad in a good way?) and instead it was snorefest. I’m glad it wasn’t an incredibly long book – it took so little time to read it that at least I don’t feel like I wasted too much of my time.Of course, from the title, readers will infer that Darcy is a vampire – oh, sorry, vampyre – and our dear Elizabeth is the only one who seems to be unaware of this fact. Darcy suddenly changes their honeymoon from a tour of the Lake District to a tour of Paris, Austria (I think? Or maybe it was the Swiss Alps…) and Venice so Elizabeth can meet a hoard of family and friends she’s never heard of. The vampiric – oh, sorry, vampyryc – undertones in the character’s behavior are obvious, and you know the reveal is coming, yet the other shoe doesn’t drop until about two thirds of the way through the book. The majority of the book is details Darcy and Elizabeth traveling, “making arrangements” to travel more, unpacking/making themselves comfortable at various inns, meeting with cardboard cutouts of “eccentric” European gentry (read: obviously vampi—vampyres), and bland conversations between Elizabeth and Darcy, wherein Elizabeth doesn’t ask the right questions about what’s wrong with their marriage.Elizabeth spends most of her time convincing herself that Darcy doesn’t love her because their marriage remains unconsummated. But rather than be her usual outspoken self, she spends all her time silently fretting and failing to talk to Darcy about anything even remotely important. Darcy is just silent and disappeary (yes, I made that up.) I didn’t think their personalities were properly captured. When we finally do get to the vampire – ugh, vampyre – bits, there’s nothing standout there either. Darcy’s excuse for not coming to Elizabeth at night is because there’s a small chance that sexing her up could cause her to change into a vampire. What??? I mean…what??? That’s a new one for me. He has no problem with crosses, or daylight, etc. and explains to Elizabeth that each “family” (no clue how these are actually defined) has its own weakness and his is that he’ll eventually fade to nothingness if he’s outside during too many sunrises or sunsets. Another new vampire –vaaaammmpppyyyyrrreeee – trait for me and not a very thrilling one. There is a pseudo-villain for about two pages, but there was no real tension created with his appearance and he didn’t pose much of a threat, despite being “old when Jesus Christ was young” and one of the most powerful vampires –vampyres! – ever. I won’t “spoil” the scene, but his defeat is laughably stupid. Darcy’s backstory on how he was turned is also cliché and tropetastic. He and his sister survived a plague, lost their parents and became homeless. His sister fell ill and they were found by a kindly vampyre who turned Georgiana to save her life and turned Darcy so they’d never be apart. –snoring–Elizabeth also suffers from the “immediate acceptance of the unusual and fantastic” trope. She barely bats an eye at Darcy’s vampyrysm and explains it away with her having “heard stories” about them. Okay, girl, I know your love for him is strong and all, but you wouldn’t be the least bit disgusted, upset or afraid, even if he says he doesn’t drink human blood? PLEASE. The ending was the most convenient plot twist ever and I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised, considering how weak the vampyre plot line was to begin with, despite the title having the word vampyre – oh, sorry, vampire – in it!I didn’t expect to fall in love with this book, but I thought I’d at least find something to enjoy. The only positive I can think of is that it’s an incredibly quick read, but overall this book was a huge disappointment and I wouldn’t recommend it for Austen or supernatural fantasy fans.

[lostkiwi-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This just tickled my fancy. A good, quick read.

[vesper1931 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This Pride and Prejudice story describes the torment of Darcy on his marriage to Elizabeth as they travel through Europe on their honeymoon. As he tries to contain his secret - an easy read but not very eventful.

[ChelseyBlake · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I found this book a little boring. I thought there would be some sensual scenes with Darcy and Elizabeth, but it was just kisses, and the story seemed to drag on until the very end. Not a very good read.

[bookczuk · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Well, I decided that since this was a gift from a friend, I'd better read it. She gave it to me after we had a spirited discussion about P&P&Z and S&S&S. She thought this held up the vampire end of things. It does, in a light sort of way, if you're willing to stretch both vampire lore and Austen legend. Unfortunately, I am not willing to do either, and was a bit impatient in my reading. It took a while to cut to the chase and figure out when the dirty was done to dear Darcy. Still, it wasn't Twilight (huge sigh of relief) and filled day of reading between more serious stuff. I do, on the whole, prefer both my Austen and my vampires, straight up. This was more of one of those fizzy drinks, with an umbrella, which definitely have their place, but are a little to sweet for my tastes.

[scoshie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Further adventures of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet after marrigae has them crossing europe on their honeymoon. Elizabeth is falling more and more in love but the enigmatic Mr Darcy is becoming even more standoffish. Well written and fun. Nice way to spend an afternoon in the sun.

[juva_3 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Wow. This book is just bad. The plot is non-existent, riddled with holes, and ultimately pointless. The characters, so vibrant and complex in the original novel, are here rendered as unconvincing cardboard cutouts. Elizabeth is a total doormat, accepting Darcy's odd moods, evasions and outright lies. Darcy does nothing but stump around offering obligatory niceties and being occasionally mysterious.We are introduced to a spate of ephemeral characters who appear, info dump their life story and then vanish never to return. Several places in this novel I felt that the author was trying to pad the story. Overlooking all these flaws, the idea of Darcy and his sister as vampires kind of destroys the whole plot of Pride and Prejudice. That novel's plot turned on the idea of Wickham as a cad who seduced a fifteen year old girl. If that girl was, in fact, a hundred year old undead creature... well, that's a horse of a different color. Whatever, this book is totally mediocre. Skip it and reread P&P instead.

[mjmbecky · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Taking off from the wedding day, Elizabeth and Darcy seem congenial and happy, but something is obviously eating up Darcy. From Elizabeth's perspective we learn of her confusion at not having a husband to share her honeymoon night with, nor someone to have a chat with first thing in the morning. Because she had no frame of reference for what a real couple did once they married, and only supposed, she could only rely on the fact that she felt sad and distant from the man she so desperately loved. This interesting conflict changes later on in the book as Elizabeth begins to put two and two together about her husband's strange behavior. They travel across the continent (Europe) and into Italy, where Elizabeth later learns more about her husband's secret. I suppose you could say that Darcy's secret is the great "test" of their love, and not that early pride and prejudice issue they had pre-marriage.On the whole, I thought the novel was entertaining and interesting. There were times the story ran long and I wanted to jump across the continent in their travels to the resolution, as I became more frustrated by Darcy's avoidance of his young wife than maybe even Elizabeth! The language is reflective of that restrained speech of Austen's novels, but delivered a bit more to modern tastes. Although they have tension around the whole "celibacy" issue, there is nothing graphic about this tale. You do get that Elizabeth is a little flustered by her lack of "romantic" time with her husband, which is a kind of funny. For that time period, would a woman get that flustered and wonder about seducing her new husband? I suppose so, but it felt strange with Austen's Elizabeth.Mr. Darcy, Vampyre is a quick read, with an interesting twist on the vampire theme. I can't say it's my favorite variation on a classic, although I'll also admit to not being as into the paranormal takes, but I will say that I thought it was interesting and entertaining. Amanda Grange has a subtle hand with the pen, and you can see it played out in this vampire take on a much beloved Pride and Prejudice.

[debstar56 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An amusing addition to the Austen canon! Amanda Grange has picked up the story where Austen let off - here, on the day that Lizzie weds Mr Darcy, the dear reader learns that not only is Darcy a vampyre, but also, if he consummates his marriage, poor Lizzie is destined to join him as a bloodsucker!! So as they honeymoon in Europe, poor Lizzie wonders why Darcy keeps is distance....If you enjoy a parody and are looking for a light romance, then this novel will suit you perfectly. But trying to imagine Colin Firth as a vampire???

[barpurple · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A bodice ripping romp with fangs. A fun read for when you just want to relax and let the story wash over you. Offers an interesting take on Dacy's cold personality.

[lizzybeans11 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm not finished with the book yet but I had to get these thoughts down...I thought I was getting into a vampire story with a few characters from P&P. I'm on page 144 (halfway through basically) and I haven't heard any mention of Darcy being a vampire other than the frickin' book's title! Grange's writing style is showing its juvenileness. She goes into too much detail with things that don't matter, and hasn't gotten to the point of the book! I've also read her "Edmund Burtram's Diary" whose style I excused because it's in first person, like a diary should be, but now I'm realizing it's just not that good.I do have to give props to the cover designer for a very attractive cover. That's the only positive comment I can muster.

[theepicrat · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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!

[saramllr · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I couldn't resist this one. It starts a little slow (Darcy doesn't reveal himself as a vampyre until almost the very end) and it's a little light on vampyre-slaying action. However, Grange is actually a decent writer so there is that. Would only interest somebody who loves Austen AND vampire fiction.

[ekelly27 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I acutally really liked it because I'm a sucker for all things Jane Austen and specifically all things Darcy. It wasn't really a thinking book but it was entertaining.

[galleysmith · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This definitely wasn’t the book for me. I’ve never been one who reads classics well but I’ve wanted to expand my reading in that area and thought that this book would provide me a happy medium — a classic with a twist. While it did provide the latter it was still just too much for me. I’ve always liked a good combination of show and tell with perhaps a bit more on the telling side and this book was a lot more of the show.The plot was interesting enough and honestly it’s what kept me from completely abandoning the book when I was struggling to keep going. The history of how Darcy became a Vampyre was compelling and plausible given the supernatural circumstances. The other item in the pro column was the setting. Dark and mysterious there was a certain degree of gloom over the entirety of the story. To me, this added to the creepy vibe that one would anticipate accompanies the focus on the vampirism. Lastly, I’ll add that the location and time period also went a long way in setting a tone that was befitting a plot of this nature.I will say the end, which I will not spoil here, seemed awfully qick and not as satisfying as I would have liked. As a reader I went through all of this trial and tribulation for an extended period of time just to have it answered in a matter of pages. It just seemed a bit off in timing for me personally.Kudos to the author for infusing the elements of Austen’s characterizations into this story. Both Mr. and Mrs. Darcy remained true to their original forms.While I personally didn’t enjoy this book I don’t think it was a result of it being poorly written or plotted. Perhaps it’s more an issue ofmaking a poor selection on my part. If you like vampire books and are a fan of Austen’s work then definitely give this one a try.

[jemerritt · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre picks up where Pride and Prejudice leaves off, with Elizabeth and Darcy at the alter.What transpires next is an interesting concept, one which blends a touch of the original writings of Jane Austen and a new and modern twist of Darcy as a vampire.The book was slow and I was almost convinced that Elizabeth would only learn the truth in the very last pages, although the author had included enough clues for Elizabeth to surmise that something was disturbingly wrong with her new husband and the never ending stream of friends and relatives she is introduced to.Despite the slow pace and the incredibly quick ending, Mr. Darcy, Vampyre was worth the read and if you are a Jane Austen fan who can take the mental leap into a realm far different than what you are used to, you probably will enjoy the book.

[thehistorychic · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book once they arrived at the Counts, it was a little slow before then. The book managed to grasp the personalities of Elizabeth and Darcy without changing them to much to fit into the Vampyre lore. It was wonderful how Ms. Grange managed to weave in characters that you love with a whole new story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys alternate takes, continuations, or rewrites you will enjoy this book!

[january_f_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I found it really easy to get into this novel, probably because it was really easy to separate it from the real P&P. There were the odd references to events and dialog in P&P, but for the most part I felt like I was reading a different novel with characters that happened to have the same name. It was a fun read, but I wish more of the book had been about the search for a cure - seemed kinda weak that Mr Darcy knew exactly where to find the mysterious temple...

[vampiregirl76 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[bookwormygirl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[krau0098 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is a book that tells the story of what happens between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy after "Pride and Prejudice" ends. It was an okay book. I was a bit disappointed in the simple dialogue and the lagging plot.Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy get married and are embarking on their wedding tour. Elizabeth is surprised by Mr. Darcy's quickly changing moods. Then he tells her that they are not going on a tour of the Lakes but instead to Paris. As Elizabeth grows increasingly depressed over Mr. Darcy's lack of attention and fickle nature; she wonders if maybe they should have married at all. What she doesn't know is that there may be more to Mr. Darcy's moods than she could have ever imagined.First let's talk about what was good in this book. Grange did a wonderful job of seamlessly tying this story in with "Pride and Prejudice". Grange recalls scenes from the original book that support her evidence for Mr. Darcy's strange behavior. She does this very well. She makes Mr. Darcy being a vampire seem like a credible thing. Grange also does an excellent job of integrating vampires into normal European society in a very believable way.Unfortunately there was a lot about this book that I didn't like. The fact that it is called "Mr. Darcy, Vampyre" takes much of the tension in the plot away from the reader. Elizabeth spends the majority of the book figuring out that Mr. Darcy is a vampire. The reader knows this from the beginning, so it takes a lot of the mystery away from the story. Additionally I found that Elizabeth had been dumbed down as a character. Much of the sharpness and wit she showed in "Pride and Prejudice" is mellowed; for much of the book I was frustrated by how she blindly followed Mr. Darcy's lead. It took her forever to question him about his actions; the original Elizabeth as portrayed by Austen would never have taken that long.I also found the dialogue in general to be disappointing. At points the dialogue was very witty; but much of the time it sounded more awkward and forced than free-flowing and snappy. There were a number of times, especially early in the story, where I thought the dialogue was very immature and couldn't imagine any of the original characters speaking that way. "Pride and Prejudice" was all about the witty banter; and this book missed that mark for me.Lastly the pacing was a bit off. The beginning of the book starts to drag on as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy go from one location to another; then suddenly there is a ton of action packed into the last chapter. I wish that the action had been spread out more; it would have been nice to see more of how Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth dealt with him being a vampire and it would have been nice to have the end quest take up some more page space.In summary, the book was an okay read. It is a nice fluffy diversion if you are really into vampires and "Pride and Prejudice". Personally though, if you are in interested into taking "Pride and Prejudice" into a paranormal realm I would read "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" instead; this zombie version retains much of the original story's wit and adds to it a little. I probably won't be checking out any other of Grange's books; I just wasn't that impressed with her writing style.

[nerilka · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Derbyshire to Dover in less than half a day by horse-drawn carriage! Not to mention Paris to the Alps in three days travel. Has the writer no concept of the distances involved? I know it's fiction (and fantasy to boot) and reading lengthy passages about several days worth of carriage journeys and stop-overs at inns would be tedious - especially since there doesn't seem to be any dialog between Lizzie and her Mr Darcy - but I can't manage to suspend my disbelief for the rest of the plot when details like this just scream out.In fact without some exchange of wit between Lizzie and Mr Darcy one begins to wonder what the whole point of the book is. Misses most of the charm of the original.

[justabookreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story begins on Elizabeth and Darcy's wedding day. The Bennett house is in full celebration with the marriage of both Elizabeth and Jane on the same day. Elizabeth believes this to be the happiest day of her life and cannot wait to become Darcy's wife.After a short ceremony and celebration, they leave for the Lake Region on their honeymoon tour but as soon as the carriage leaves, Darcy announces they area going to Europe instead. He makes a few arrangements, and before Elizabeth can utter a word or question, she finds herself in Dover awaiting a boat to France. In France, Darcy introduces Elizabeth to family and friends --- some she finds friendly, others she finds off-putting for a reason she cannot understand. She is overwhelmed but is happy to just be with Darcy. Shortly after arriving in France, he announces they will be going to visit his uncle who lives in the Alps. The journey to his uncle's is difficult and she finds herself scared frequently by wolves and stories from the locals. Darcy reassures her that all will be fine and once again she finds herself calmed by his words.At Darcy's uncle's castle, she is introduced to many new family members and acquaintances. Elizabeth is unsettled by comments and customs but does her best to make an outward show of happiness for Darcy. Their stay is cut short by a revolt from the villagers but Darcy and Elizabeth are able to escape without harm and find shelter in an old hunting lodge of Darcy's. He decides they will head to Venice, Italy for safety's sake and they are off again. Upon their arrival, Elizabeth is transfixed by the city and its inhabitants. It is also were she begins to question some of the strange things going on with Darcy and their relationship.After a near abduction and narrow escape from which Darcy rescues her, she asks many questions and finds she doesn't like any of the answers. Fortunately, a friend of Darcy's may have the cure they both seek.Mr. Darcy, Vampyre is an interesting re-imagining of these characters. Grange is able to fully en robe herself in Darcy and his brooding thoughts making the character very believable. He is just as dark, daring, and confusing and in some ways even more intriguing because of his dangerous secret. The love between Elizabeth and Darcy is strong and you find yourself hoping she is still willing to accept him after his secret revealed.One small thing that did bother me --- Elizabeth does not pickup on any of the clues. Reflections that don't appear, no mirrors, wolves, Darcy mysteriously missing always at sunset and sunrise, an inordinate amount of bats. I always thought of Elizabeth as witty and smart and was a bit disappointed she didn't question Darcy earlier, but then again, she is a new bride wanting to be with her new husband and willing to forgo a few mishaps after what they had already been through. I guess in the end I am willing to forgive that.

[commodoremarie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Surprisingly decent! I admit I was rather skeptical of the content, especially with the rash of "Twilight" fans taking pen to paper as of late, but Grange largely avoids those particular pitfalls. Taking an older view of vampires, Grange manages to blend the events in Austen's Pride and Prejudice without having to explain away Darcy's appearance in sunlight, his ability to be married in a church, his partaking of food and beverages, and a few other similar issues. And rest assured, he does not sparkle! Though to be honest, he's not particularly vampiric, either, save a lust for Elizabeth's blood that could be easily mistaken for a lust of a more basic sort.There's little explanation of why Elizabeth views Darcy's condition as a curse, especially given how mildly it impacts his life. A vampire's only true hardship seems to be eternal life - watching those they love grow old and die while they themselves stay youthful - but give how many other vampires seem around and about, it appears as though only a peer-group change would be needed to rectify the situation. And Elizabeth herself never considers turning, even to dismiss it, which seems like a rather large gap in logic. Like other aspects of the novel, it could have been thought though a little more by the author, since it certainly occurs to the reader. Who wouldn't want to live a life of eternal youth and endless riches?To which I must also add, Darcy's wealth as portrayed may rival the Queen's. I assume this is meant to be a result of his long life, but given he's lived less than 200 years, it nevertheless seems extreme. The ending is the weakest plot point of the novel, descending a bit into an Indiana Jones-like adventure in the last thirty or so pages. It also cuts against vampire lore by, pardon the spoiler, allowing Darcy to regain his humanity. With all these negatives, Grange's novel is still superior to the vast majority of the other Pride and Prejudice continuations, vampires or no. The characters keep the bulk of their integrity intact, with only minor slips into emotionalism, and the writing is solid. I would recommend this novel exclusively to those who enjoy Pride and Prejudice adaptations and continuations.

[jmaloney17 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When I saw this in the store I had to pick it up. I saw it and giggled. Austen and Vampires how could I not enjoy it? I did like the book. The tension was quite good. The ending was a little flat though. There were a lot of questions unanswered, or rather the answers were incomplete. I still liked the book for its kitch. If you like Austen and vampires it is worth the read, otherwise you can skip it.

[kadi1120 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When I first saw this book on the shelf at our local Target, my initial reaction was to laugh. After the success of "Twilight" and "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies," I guess it was only a matter of time before Mr. Darcy grew fangs, but it didn't occur to me until then. Anyways, it looked amusing enough, so I picked it up at the library.Let me begin by saying I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed most of the novel. The characters of Darcy and Elizabeth, while not always spot on (I think Darcy exclaims a bit too much by the end), do feel right overall. The handling of the vampire myth also works, and I like how the author has made it her own. The plot also moves forward fast enough to pull you in - at least, it did with me. Now, that being said, I was completely disappointed by the last few chapters. It was like the author suddenly got bored with the story, or ran out of time. Throughout the book, she is building the mystery of what it wrong with Darcy. Then, and I don't think I'm giving anything away, there's the problem of their marriage and friends in relation to his curse. All of a sudden, the story is wrapped up in a neat, little package, and everyone lives happily ever after. Issues with other characters are either solved in a unrealistic way, or left hanging. And the final solution to the main problem is just plain cheesy. You're left at the end of the book going, "what?" Overall, I enjoyed it. Would I recommend it? For some fun, light-hearted reading, definitely - especially if you love Elizabeth and Darcy. Just don't expect much from the ending.

[bitemeeric_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is about Lizzy and Darcy, from Jane Austin's Pride And Prejudice. The twist is that Darcy is actually a vampyre and unable to touch Lizzy out of fear that he might turn her. Lizzy accounts his strange behavior as simply evidence that he does not love her; but, acknowledges that his actions (looks, caresses, conversations, etc..) constitute love. She is confused about thier relationship through out her wedding tour around Europe. Darcy seeks immidiate advice on how to handle his bride, only to be the target of an Anciant One who seeks to make Elizabeth his. Among the people Darcy and Lizzy meet are enemies out to destroy them! Lizzy now has a decision to make: should she stay with the vampyre she loves or move back to her home as a divorcee? The end came to quickly, I wished there could have been more about thier struggles when Lizzy found out about Darcy's secret. Overall, the story was very slow paced, I wish there was more action and more fangs.

[faith42love · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[morbidromantic · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In this fan follow up to Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy, Vampyre beings with the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy. The happy occasion is only momentarily sullied by Darcy’s silence and reserve, as well as a moment where Elizabeth reads a particular expression of distress on his face. The two of them embark together on their wedding tour throughout Europe, and the good spirit in Elizabeth’s heart is slowly cast into shadow the more aloof Darcy becomes. Rather, though he is affectionate, there seems a wall that Elizabeth cannot penetrate and she begins to question his love for her. Despite being married, Darcy is refraining from physical affections and Elizabeth wonders if she is the cause, and if Darcy regrets their union since many in his family are not too pleased with their marriage.Strange things begin to happen as the newlyweds travel and visit various cities on their tour. Bats are found flying around the windows, ethereal and beautiful friends of Darcy recall memories of times long past, reflections in mirrors are not cast, and there seems a strange pull to Darcy that is hypnotic and unnatural. While in the castle of a distant uncle of Darcy’s, a Count, an omen is cast that says Elizabeth will cause the death of Darcy. Also, they are driven from the castle by an attack of villagers brandishing weapons and torches, very Frankenstein. During the attack, Elizabeth glimpses something strange about Darcy that she readily brushes off. But the strangeness does not end there. In the palazzo of a Prince, Elizabeth find a book full of illustrations that leave her with a sense of déjà vu and a vision of a fire that she couldn’t possibly remember. During this visit, she again glimpses something in Darcy that causes her to faint and promptly forget. About this time, tired of Darcy’s lack of affection, Elizabeth decides to leave for home. Everything that has happened is all very strange and upsetting to Elizabeth who soon learns that she is the target of something more sinister than her ill-feelings could have predicted.In some ways, Mr. Darcy, Vampyre is reminiscent of those stunning and dark gothic fiction novels in the style of Shelley and Poe. There are a lot of shadowy undertones and a subtle, sublime feeling of dread that is sliced up by lighter, more romantic moments. In this way, you are taken on the same rollercoaster of light and dark as Elizabeth, feeling the darkness as keenly as she does, and delighting in the happier moments. Grange is very good with how she writes scenes and descriptions so that they flow beautifully and can be easily imagined with vivid detail.Yet I was ultimately disappointed by the book. The bulk of the book was spent on travels and meeting and talking to new people, and as such it was very slow and with minimal excitement. The true nature of Darcy wasn’t even revealed until the nearly the end of the book, and his vampire self was only hinted to slightly. There was very little vampyre in Mr. Darcy, Vamypre. I had expected a lot more out of the book and had thought Elizabeth would interact more with Darcy as a vampire instead of hearing his secret and promptly having a miraculous way arise to rid him of his ‘curse.’ I was even more let down by the very convenient and easy way by which Darcy was cured of his vampiric affliction. It was just so… sentimental and silly. I had at least hoped that the ending would be climactic and thrilling since it drug on so long to the big reveal only to be disappointed. Fortunately for Austen fans, the book is quite good in its characterizations of both Elizabeth and Darcy. In short: was it a good book? Yes, it was. I enjoyed reading it very much, I just think it to be a bit overrated as far as vampire books go and the ending was very quick, too easy, and anti-climactic.

[gaby317 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Synopsis:Mr. Darcy, Vampyre continues the stories of Jane Austen's main characters from Pride and Prejudice from the night before the double wedding of Fitzwilliam Darcy to Elizabeth Bennett and of Charles Bingley to Jane Bennett.After the ceremony, Elizabeth and Darcy head to Europe for their honeymoon. As Darcy introduces Elizabeth to his friends and experiences in the continent, something feels wrong to Elizabeth. Unsure about the source of her misgivings, Elizabeth begins to wonder about the strength of their bond to each other. Through Elizabeth's letters to her sister Jane, we learn of Elizabeth's increasing anxiety. While there are hints that the problems between Darcy and Elizabeth are of an unusual nature, Amanda Grange's depiction of their characters remains similar to Austen's original.Review: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. Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (August 1, 2009), 320 pages.Courtesy of Sourcebooks Landmark.