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.
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