Mr. Darcy's Challenge: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (The Darcy Novels, #2) in Austen Variations

Dec 01, 2014 Ceri rated it liked it

Shelves: austen-variation, austenesque-no-sex-scenes, sweet-romance

This review was first published on Babblings of a Bookworm: http://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot....

Earlier this year I read ‘Mr Darcy’s Pledge’ by Monica Fairview, which is book 1 of this story. If you haven’t read that book, then don’t start ‘Mr Darcy’s Challenge’, as it follows on directly from book 1, and don’t read on, as there are spoilers for ‘Mr Darcy’s Pledge’!

This book picks right up from where book 1 finished. Darcy had given up writing lists of what he wanted from a wife and was reac ...more

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Nov 23, 2014 Anna added it · review of another edition

Shelves: austenesque

Review originally posted on Diary of an Eccentric

Quick summary: Mr. Darcy’s Challenge is Volume 2 of The Darcy Novels, a variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and the sequel to Mr. Darcy’s Pledge. In this installment, Mr. Darcy, after his and Elizabeth Bennet’s paths cross again after an accident near Pemberley, is confident that her opinion of him has changed, and he sets off toward Longbourn like a knight on a white horse after Lydia goes missing from Brighton, sure that she will acce Review originally posted on Diary of an Eccentric

Quick summary: Mr. Darcy’s Challenge is Volume 2 of The Darcy Novels, a variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and the sequel to Mr. Darcy’s Pledge. In this installment, Mr. Darcy, after his and Elizabeth Bennet’s paths cross again after an accident near Pemberley, is confident that her opinion of him has changed, and he sets off toward Longbourn like a knight on a white horse after Lydia goes missing from Brighton, sure that she will accept him this time. But Mr. Darcy still has much to learn and much soul-searching ahead of him. Monica Fairview’s imaginative retelling, told from the points of view of Mr. Darcy and his sister, Georgiana, takes readers on a journey with Mr. Darcy, from a night he is sure to regret at an inn on his way back to London to the seaside in search of answers in Lydia’s disappearance.

Why I wanted to read it: I really enjoyed Mr. Darcy’s Pledge, and I couldn’t wait to continue the series.

What I liked: Mr. Darcy’s Challenge introduces some intriguing original characters, particularly the widow Mrs. Fortin and the young street sweeper David, brings back Darcy’s delightful valet, Briggs, and puts an interesting twist on the Lydia/Mr. Wickham affair. Fairview sets a good portion of the novel in Brighton, and I loved getting to see the characters in a new environment. But I especially enjoyed seeing Darcy evolve even further, reflecting on his impulsive, disastrous, and shockingly mean second proposal and putting Elizabeth first without having any hope of ever receiving her love.

What I disliked: Fairview does a great job wrapping things up in each book while also making readers eager to find out what happens next. As with Mr. Darcy’s Pledge, there was nothing to dislike except having to wait for the next installment.

Final thoughts: Mr. Darcy’s Challenge is both a reflective and an exciting take on Pride and Prejudice, and I loved not knowing how things would play out. Fairview’s decision to tell the story through the eyes of Darcy and Georgiana works, allowing readers to see a different take on Darcy from the point of view of the younger sister he is determined to protect. Elizabeth makes numerous appearances throughout the novel, and Fairview skillfully allows readers to see her evolve even when Darcy cannot. I can’t wait to see where Fairview takes her version of these characters next! ...more

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Nov 27, 2014 Deborah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ja-read

Another amazing book by Monica Fairview! I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Darcy is still making rash, impulsive decisions to his detriment.

In the first book, Mr. Darcy's Pledge, Darcy writes a list of the qualities he wants to find in the Mistress of Pemberley. In this book, Mr. Darcy's Challenge, he finally has given in to his attraction to Elizabeth, torn up the list, and impulsively thrown it away. Elizabeth finds some of the torn scraps and tries to piece it together. When Darcy realizes Eliza ...more

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Mar 21, 2015 Sheila Majczan rated it really liked it

I was disappointed with the ending. I wanted Darcy's and Elizabeth's family to react to their joy. I wanted to hear if Wickham was caught up with and if the family heirloom was ever recovered. I wanted a wedding and some joy after all the angst of these two volumes. I also wanted to hear what happened with the street urchin: was he hired? How did he fit in? How did he clean up? I now heard from another author that there is a third volume planned so maybe my issues will be answered.

Darcy keeps fi I was disappointed with the ending. I wanted Darcy's and Elizabeth's family to react to their joy. I wanted to hear if Wickham was caught up with and if the family heirloom was ever recovered. I wanted a wedding and some joy after all the angst of these two volumes. I also wanted to hear what happened with the street urchin: was he hired? How did he fit in? How did he clean up? I now heard from another author that there is a third volume planned so maybe my issues will be answered.

Darcy keeps fighting with himself, wanting to be a white knight but then saying what does it matter as I am never going to see her again. There is the cliche in modern days, "Two strikes and you're out!" So Darcy keeps trying to accept that fate but events keep occurring which put him into Elizabeth's presence again...and again.

There are some surprising differences from canon in the variation: Lydia's story, Brighton, Mrs. Bennet's reaction to and handling of the disgrace of her daughter and Bingley's thoughts on Darcy's "hero" act. Georgiana, also, is a big part of this story and shows some maturing in her thoughts about her attachment to Wickham, about his character and about what is going on with Darcy and Elizabeth. We hear little of Jane as most of this story takes place in either London or Brighton.

When Darcy is in Elizabeth's presence his mind seems very muddled...he can only think of how he wants to go up to her and take her in his arms and express his ardor for her. And, again, he fails to ask her to dance at an assembly. He really seems to be more twisted up in this second volume and after his second attempt to gain Elizabeth's hand. Then his honor is put on the line when another woman encounters him while he is drinking away his sorrow at an inn. Can he be happy marrying because of a compromising event, which he can't even remember?

The author did come up with some creative writing but I would have liked to have seen some of the situations come to a more detailed and happy conclusion. I do recommend this book. It did keep my attention as a page turner. ...more

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Feb 28, 2019 M rated it it was ok

Increasingly silly and unrealistic. Very OOC. Where book 1 was too drawn out and got a bit boring, book 2 had so much drama it became ridiculous. Nobody’s behaviour made much sense to be honest & it lacked depth. However, I did want to know what happened and so read on. It’s a shame the author tried to draw out into 2 books when 1 book leaving out the more unrealistic plot lines would actually have been much more enjoyable.

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