MR. DARCY'S NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE: A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE NOVELLA

It was the next novel on my Kindle... so I read it... Big mistake to read something like this during a pandemic. Inappropriate to the time vocabulary, story-line that made very little sense, so very many "non-1800's" social situations. Sometimes a lack of explanation about a transition and then sometimes way too much of an explanation where it made no difference and slowed down the action. It was like a bad dream that I turned back to thinking that it would certainly get better. But sadly, after reading every word, it didn't. To improve - the author needs to include vocabulary more accurate to the time, social situations more appropriate for the time, at least implied reasons people say or do things that make sense with their characters and give these characters something we would care about - a reason to want to know what happens to them. Consider this book really a rough draft and go back and edit, edit, edit. Also - with a title about near death - even more excitement is expected. That said, I am glad people continue to write P and P novels and novellas, and hope that this author continues, but improves by having others who love the genre read and supply useful critic prior to sending in.

After borrowing this P&P variation using Kindle Unlimited, I barely made it through half the book before giving up in despair! While the effort seems an earnest try, the language is awkward, but the worst aspect is the abundance of utterly anachronistic words, phrases, and concepts. For example, “binge reading” (binge is a mid 19th century term, and the phrase binge reading or watching dates from roughly 2015), “newspaper” (“broadsheet” would be much more appropriate), and “being given a beatdown” (words fail me)! The storyline also uses concepts that are not remotely period-appropriate. Individually, neither the awkward writing, the anachronisms, nor the non-period plot devices would be sufficient to earn a 1-star rating, but in combination they land this short story squarely in the “not recommended” category. To add to the problem, the $4.99 cover price is quite excessive given the short length and lack of quality.