Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Jane Vows Vengeance
Jane Austen, Vampire Series, Book 3
By Michael Thomas Ford

Ballantine
Feb 2012 / ISBN 9780345513670
Fantasy
Amazon

Reviewed by Bob Walch

Yes, this is rather "over the top", or scraping bottom if you prefer to go in the other direction, but this series that turns Jane Austin into a vampire and then brings her up to speed in a modern setting is a total hoot.

The third installment of the biting satire finds Jane about to wed. Her fiancé doesn't realize his bride is not only undead but also a rather famous literary figure, but that's about to change. The couple decides to combine their nuptials with a house tour of Europe, but that's going to present some "complications" for poor Jane.

First, there's the issue of a past husband who inconveniently surfaces, which means an annulment may be in order. Of course, Jane's old nemesis, Charlotte Bronte, features prominently in the story as does her good friend Lord Byron (he's responsible for Jane's present "condition").

There's also the problem of does Jane tell Walter, her husband, about her situation? Perhaps it's time! And, of course, there's the little distraction caused by the death of a member of the wedding party that needs to be addressed.

Oh, lest I forget, it seems Walter's family has a few skeletons in their closet and Jane also stumbles upon a device that might be able to make her a mortal again. Naturally, there's a huge risk involved if she decides to use "the needle" to reverse her condition. Will she? Good question…

All in all, this is a very adventuresome, slightly bizarre, occasionally humorous and decidedly frenetic piece of literature. It will have you occasionally shaking your head in disbelief or giggling at some of the author's unabashed, tongue-in-cheek narrative. Either way, though, it is a lot of fun. And, no, this is probably not the final episode of Jane's misadventures (that would really suck, right?). Michael Thomas Ford leaves the door open for at least one more tale about this outlandish collection of characters.

 
Reviewed 2012
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