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Steampunk Darcy
William Darcy is obsessed with his ancestors. So much so that he intends to rebuild Pemberley (destroyed during the Uprising) stone by stone, and he wants to employ reconstruction expert Seraphene Grant to help him.
Or does he? Seraphene wasn’t born yesterday. She can smell a rat, particularly when it stinks all the way up to her airship. She knows Darcy is hiding something. But with the Authorities after her and her other options dwindling by the moment, the temptation of genuine English tea and a gorgeous Steampunk gentleman are very difficult to resist.
But what if Darcy’s mystery job courts nothing but trouble? What if Darcy is harboring a secret to kill for? When kiss comes to shove, will Darcy’s secret destroy Seraphene, or will it be her salvation?
Join us on a romantic adventure like no other in this whimsical Pride and Prejudice-inspired tribute, featuring Wickham, Georgiana, dirigibles, funky fish, and swash-buckling pirates.
Or does he? Seraphene wasn’t born yesterday. She can smell a rat, particularly when it stinks all the way up to her airship. She knows Darcy is hiding something. But with the Authorities after her and her other options dwindling by the moment, the temptation of genuine English tea and a gorgeous Steampunk gentleman are very difficult to resist.
But what if Darcy’s mystery job courts nothing but trouble? What if Darcy is harboring a secret to kill for? When kiss comes to shove, will Darcy’s secret destroy Seraphene, or will it be her salvation?
Join us on a romantic adventure like no other in this whimsical Pride and Prejudice-inspired tribute, featuring Wickham, Georgiana, dirigibles, funky fish, and swash-buckling pirates.
338 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2013
About the author
Monica Fairview
24 books223 followersMonica Fairview writes Jane Austen variations and sequels as well as Fantasy P&P variations. After graduating from the University of Illinois, she worked as a literature professor and then as an acupuncturist in Boston before moving to London.
Monica enjoys reading Jane Austen, historical , fantasy and post-apocalyptic novels , but avoids zombies like the plague. She loves to laugh, drink lots of tea, and visit Regency houses, and she is convinced that her two cats can understand everything she says.
If you'd like to be notified of her latest release, please press the FOLLOW button on Monica Fairview's Amazon page.
If you'd like to find out more about Monica, you can find her at
http://www.darcyregencynovels.com/
http://austenvariations.com
http://monicafairview.blogspot.com
Monica enjoys reading Jane Austen, historical , fantasy and post-apocalyptic novels , but avoids zombies like the plague. She loves to laugh, drink lots of tea, and visit Regency houses, and she is convinced that her two cats can understand everything she says.
If you'd like to be notified of her latest release, please press the FOLLOW button on Monica Fairview's Amazon page.
If you'd like to find out more about Monica, you can find her at
http://www.darcyregencynovels.com/
http://austenvariations.com
http://monicafairview.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 7, 2014
When I learned of this book, it was a 'when' not 'if' scenario that I would read it. I love so many of the elements that make up this book that I was more than eager to get to it. I have to say that I got significantly more than I anticipated.
This is what Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice might have looked like if it was set in the future after a chain of catastrophic events leave the world in a post-apocalyptic setting with technology and social culture being of the Steampunk variety. It doesn't conform completely in the sense that every scene, ever character and every nuance is replicated, but the spirit of the P&P story is there married with the author's own storytelling, characters, plot development and worldbuilding. Personally, I was impressed with the world she made along with what seemed like character blends, character role reversals, and even new characters. Some people want things just like the original. I am not one who needs that or necessarily wants that in a retelling so I was well pleased.
Another thing I noticed was the tone of this story. It offered so many facets. There is a lighter layer of humor at times, a darker and grittier layer when reality was brutal, and things that fall somewhere in the middle.
The villains in this piece are real and dangerous. The flawed characters which are most of them make mistakes that have consequences. Even the reality of the world they live in has left many as casualties. I mourned over the loss members of Seraphene's family due to the all that happened to the world when it came to her dad and brother as well as what happened to her mother.
There is frequent reference to what came before the present day story, but not a lot of details and explanations. In a way I appreciated that because there is already so much to this story to take in. Was I curious? Sure. But it was described well enough that I wasn't lost.
Some of the best parts of a Steampunk story are the gadgetry, steam and cogwork technology. I thought this story did a credible job balancing in this element. There are so many things that reflect that and also offered there were items that were more futuristic too. Medical advances have allowed for people to be enhanced and altered if they can afford it. Weaponry uses lasers. There are sky cities and bio domes over the land cities. But yet transportation is still steampowered as are the homes. Culture loosely follows a Neo-Victorian style.
The story itself begins when Darcy, head of a wealthy family and leading scientist for many projects, wants Seraphene to come to work for him on a secret project. He has to know he can trust her so he decides to test her and observe her by giving her a cover story including a family project, but first he has to persuade her to be in his employ. This is not easy because Seraphene smells a rat. He ends up having to strong arm her which sets her back up. He gets distracted by family matters, but always comes back to his need to have Seraphene on board to help him.
Seraphene has had to fight tooth and nail to achieve even a modicum of comfort in life for herself, her mind-shattered mother and her precocious teen sister. Her past is colorful with legal and illegal activities she did just to survive after the fall out from the war and slime rain that destroyed the world in the past. She is both awed and terrified when she steps into Darcy's wealthy world. She will not let him bully her though. Too bad between her sister destroying her flyer and her job at MIT being pulled, she might have no choice, but to play nice with the wealthy powerful gentleman.
While Darcy and Sera engage in a private battle of personality and wits, others seek to press their own agendas. Darcy's step-mother wants him to marry and have an heir, his incorrigible teenage step-sister doesn't want to be sent to boarding school and secretly just wants to be recognized by him, his conniving greedy step-brother would take all the Darcy family wealth and power if he could and then there are Caro and Wickham with their schemes.
Misdirection, miscommunication and deliberate plotting lead things to a huge, exciting grand finale that some don't walk away from and some are lucky to crawl away.
As to the story plot, true to form it mostly dealt with Darcy and Seraphene's issues with each other that were colored by their pasts and preconceived notions. Darcy's big secret project is the catalyst that puts many plans into motion, but it is a side issue to the romance. The romance is definitely an enemies to lovers style and takes a long while with a few set-backs to get to the end. There is a little warmth, but it is essentially a sweet romance.
I have to say that many times I just wanted pop Darcy and Sera for their behavior and things they said when they let their emotions get the better of them, but I really wanted to hit them for the stuff they didn't say that would have cleared the air. Darcy is Mr. Oblivious and Focused which gets him into trouble, but his heart is in the right place and he's not as selfish as he appears at first glance. Sera is frustrating because she totally has that prejudice attitude down pat. She sees exactly what she wants to see and it caused no end of trouble in many ways. This attitude wasn't just with Darcy just as his flaws affected more than just his relationship with Sera. Both of them managed to alienate family too which I thought was an interesting new twist. Because Sera is that way, she is blind to obvious clues in her path.
And if these two weren't frustrating enough, Giana, Darcy's sister was a huge petulant spoilt brat that I just wanted to reach into my ereader and shake until her teeth came loose. Sera's sister, Briar Rose, wasn't much better. I'm rethinking the problem with paddling a teenager's behind. Though in their defense, older siblings and parents mishandled things with them.
The end left me vaguely dissatisfied because I felt there is more to this story- that it felt unfinished. Darcy and Sera got an ending and somethings were wrapped up, but I still felt there were a few things left unexplained that I won't discuss for spoiler reasons. I'm not sure if there is a sequel in the works so I'll take a wait and see approach and not clamor too much about the unfinished feeling.
All in all, it was a wonderful reading experience that I think intrepid Austenesque fans should not pass up and it would have appeal to a wider audience of Steampunk and Dystopian romance lovers.
My thanks to the author for providing a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review thoughts.
This is what Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice might have looked like if it was set in the future after a chain of catastrophic events leave the world in a post-apocalyptic setting with technology and social culture being of the Steampunk variety. It doesn't conform completely in the sense that every scene, ever character and every nuance is replicated, but the spirit of the P&P story is there married with the author's own storytelling, characters, plot development and worldbuilding. Personally, I was impressed with the world she made along with what seemed like character blends, character role reversals, and even new characters. Some people want things just like the original. I am not one who needs that or necessarily wants that in a retelling so I was well pleased.
Another thing I noticed was the tone of this story. It offered so many facets. There is a lighter layer of humor at times, a darker and grittier layer when reality was brutal, and things that fall somewhere in the middle.
The villains in this piece are real and dangerous. The flawed characters which are most of them make mistakes that have consequences. Even the reality of the world they live in has left many as casualties. I mourned over the loss members of Seraphene's family due to the all that happened to the world when it came to her dad and brother as well as what happened to her mother.
There is frequent reference to what came before the present day story, but not a lot of details and explanations. In a way I appreciated that because there is already so much to this story to take in. Was I curious? Sure. But it was described well enough that I wasn't lost.
Some of the best parts of a Steampunk story are the gadgetry, steam and cogwork technology. I thought this story did a credible job balancing in this element. There are so many things that reflect that and also offered there were items that were more futuristic too. Medical advances have allowed for people to be enhanced and altered if they can afford it. Weaponry uses lasers. There are sky cities and bio domes over the land cities. But yet transportation is still steampowered as are the homes. Culture loosely follows a Neo-Victorian style.
The story itself begins when Darcy, head of a wealthy family and leading scientist for many projects, wants Seraphene to come to work for him on a secret project. He has to know he can trust her so he decides to test her and observe her by giving her a cover story including a family project, but first he has to persuade her to be in his employ. This is not easy because Seraphene smells a rat. He ends up having to strong arm her which sets her back up. He gets distracted by family matters, but always comes back to his need to have Seraphene on board to help him.
Seraphene has had to fight tooth and nail to achieve even a modicum of comfort in life for herself, her mind-shattered mother and her precocious teen sister. Her past is colorful with legal and illegal activities she did just to survive after the fall out from the war and slime rain that destroyed the world in the past. She is both awed and terrified when she steps into Darcy's wealthy world. She will not let him bully her though. Too bad between her sister destroying her flyer and her job at MIT being pulled, she might have no choice, but to play nice with the wealthy powerful gentleman.
While Darcy and Sera engage in a private battle of personality and wits, others seek to press their own agendas. Darcy's step-mother wants him to marry and have an heir, his incorrigible teenage step-sister doesn't want to be sent to boarding school and secretly just wants to be recognized by him, his conniving greedy step-brother would take all the Darcy family wealth and power if he could and then there are Caro and Wickham with their schemes.
Misdirection, miscommunication and deliberate plotting lead things to a huge, exciting grand finale that some don't walk away from and some are lucky to crawl away.
As to the story plot, true to form it mostly dealt with Darcy and Seraphene's issues with each other that were colored by their pasts and preconceived notions. Darcy's big secret project is the catalyst that puts many plans into motion, but it is a side issue to the romance. The romance is definitely an enemies to lovers style and takes a long while with a few set-backs to get to the end. There is a little warmth, but it is essentially a sweet romance.
I have to say that many times I just wanted pop Darcy and Sera for their behavior and things they said when they let their emotions get the better of them, but I really wanted to hit them for the stuff they didn't say that would have cleared the air. Darcy is Mr. Oblivious and Focused which gets him into trouble, but his heart is in the right place and he's not as selfish as he appears at first glance. Sera is frustrating because she totally has that prejudice attitude down pat. She sees exactly what she wants to see and it caused no end of trouble in many ways. This attitude wasn't just with Darcy just as his flaws affected more than just his relationship with Sera. Both of them managed to alienate family too which I thought was an interesting new twist. Because Sera is that way, she is blind to obvious clues in her path.
And if these two weren't frustrating enough, Giana, Darcy's sister was a huge petulant spoilt brat that I just wanted to reach into my ereader and shake until her teeth came loose. Sera's sister, Briar Rose, wasn't much better. I'm rethinking the problem with paddling a teenager's behind. Though in their defense, older siblings and parents mishandled things with them.
The end left me vaguely dissatisfied because I felt there is more to this story- that it felt unfinished. Darcy and Sera got an ending and somethings were wrapped up, but I still felt there were a few things left unexplained that I won't discuss for spoiler reasons. I'm not sure if there is a sequel in the works so I'll take a wait and see approach and not clamor too much about the unfinished feeling.
All in all, it was a wonderful reading experience that I think intrepid Austenesque fans should not pass up and it would have appeal to a wider audience of Steampunk and Dystopian romance lovers.
My thanks to the author for providing a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review thoughts.
September 20, 2016
First of all: I had to look this word, "Steampunk" up on the Internet - "Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction or science fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery." "Steampunk also refers to any of the artistic styles, clothing fashions, or subcultures, that have developed from the aesthetics of steampunk fiction, Victorian-era fiction, art nouveau design, and films from the mid-20th century."
I had no idea what a Steampunk was and did read the same statement in other reviews. I do think that the author would please many a reader with either a glossary (What is a fishobe?) and/or a prologue to give us a hint of when this story is set and the background leading up to the present.
While the author has used many names of people and places from canon, there is very little resemblance to P&P other than a few uses of lines or phrases and/or situations, i.e., Darcy has a sister, Georgiana, and a woman named Caro hangs on his arm. He works out of Longbourn Labs in the American Republic but Pemberley has been destroyed years ago in The Blitz and due to environmental damage. People in this world live under biodomes or in citiships which seem to be cities held up by dirigibles(?) We can garner "the uprising" was a wide spread rebellion linked to concerns about the ecological damage from evils such as slime rain or poisoned water. The Authorities suggest a Police State which may or may not have evolved when the Uprising was settled. But some people have “implants”, others are automatons and still others live outside the Grid so their movements, etc. are not monitored.
William Darcy is a descendent of ODC. He is “The Boss” and has invented many items to help in the Restoration Movement, i.e., biodomes. But his Pemberley Project, which no one but he knows about, has far reaching and possibly disastrous and world changing possibilities. He needs to hire help and Seraphene Grant, an MIT graduate, who moonlights using an Hansom cab to support her 16-year-old sister, Briar Rose, and brain damaged mother (who watches projection of the Peter Rabbit movie daily), is the ideal candidate. However, when interviewed and pressured to accept the position with Longbourn Labs, Seraphene wants nothing to do with it. “What did she mean when she said he was the last person in the world she’d want to work for?” Seraphene lives in an area off-the-Grid, the Crooked Lane, an interesting hodge-podge of houses and neighbors who don’t want to be tracked or traced.
Much of the tale has to do with learning what this project is and the relationship between Darcy and Seraphene a.k.a. Skipp, which runs hot and cold and finds them with huge trust issues due to miscommunications and/or misunderstandings. Skipp’s family history places her in shadowy territory with the Authority and she has walked a fine line trying to stay out of trouble while earning enough “credits” to put food on her family’s table. Richard Darcy is a half-brother to William (& there is a story there). Rich has some of canon Wickham’s traits but there is also a Wickham who SEEMS to be a passive aide to Darcy. Keep an eye on him. There are other interesting roles: Lang Jan Silver, Geronimo (brother to Seraphene), and Katrin Darcy/mamma.
There is a lot of action and adventure and edge-of-your-seat intrigue but it is not all wrapped up neatly. There is a paragraph after the story which states that Monica Fairview is working on a follow-up. Published on January 11, 2014 so I am hoping the sequel will be not long in being published. Yes, it was interesting enough that I want more!
I had no idea what a Steampunk was and did read the same statement in other reviews. I do think that the author would please many a reader with either a glossary (What is a fishobe?) and/or a prologue to give us a hint of when this story is set and the background leading up to the present.
While the author has used many names of people and places from canon, there is very little resemblance to P&P other than a few uses of lines or phrases and/or situations, i.e., Darcy has a sister, Georgiana, and a woman named Caro hangs on his arm. He works out of Longbourn Labs in the American Republic but Pemberley has been destroyed years ago in The Blitz and due to environmental damage. People in this world live under biodomes or in citiships which seem to be cities held up by dirigibles(?) We can garner "the uprising" was a wide spread rebellion linked to concerns about the ecological damage from evils such as slime rain or poisoned water. The Authorities suggest a Police State which may or may not have evolved when the Uprising was settled. But some people have “implants”, others are automatons and still others live outside the Grid so their movements, etc. are not monitored.
William Darcy is a descendent of ODC. He is “The Boss” and has invented many items to help in the Restoration Movement, i.e., biodomes. But his Pemberley Project, which no one but he knows about, has far reaching and possibly disastrous and world changing possibilities. He needs to hire help and Seraphene Grant, an MIT graduate, who moonlights using an Hansom cab to support her 16-year-old sister, Briar Rose, and brain damaged mother (who watches projection of the Peter Rabbit movie daily), is the ideal candidate. However, when interviewed and pressured to accept the position with Longbourn Labs, Seraphene wants nothing to do with it. “What did she mean when she said he was the last person in the world she’d want to work for?” Seraphene lives in an area off-the-Grid, the Crooked Lane, an interesting hodge-podge of houses and neighbors who don’t want to be tracked or traced.
Much of the tale has to do with learning what this project is and the relationship between Darcy and Seraphene a.k.a. Skipp, which runs hot and cold and finds them with huge trust issues due to miscommunications and/or misunderstandings. Skipp’s family history places her in shadowy territory with the Authority and she has walked a fine line trying to stay out of trouble while earning enough “credits” to put food on her family’s table. Richard Darcy is a half-brother to William (& there is a story there). Rich has some of canon Wickham’s traits but there is also a Wickham who SEEMS to be a passive aide to Darcy. Keep an eye on him. There are other interesting roles: Lang Jan Silver, Geronimo (brother to Seraphene), and Katrin Darcy/mamma.
There is a lot of action and adventure and edge-of-your-seat intrigue but it is not all wrapped up neatly. There is a paragraph after the story which states that Monica Fairview is working on a follow-up. Published on January 11, 2014 so I am hoping the sequel will be not long in being published. Yes, it was interesting enough that I want more!
November 14, 2013
Note: this review is coming from the perspective of someone who has not yet had the pleasure of reading or watching anything from the Steampunk genre. (I'm a Steampunk newbie! ;) )
Imagine a world where the air and water are so poisonous and noxious that citizens either live under these great biodomes or in Citiships "suspended permanently in the sky." In this world lives William Darcy, a descendant of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy, a scientist interested in preserving and rebuilding the past, owner of Longbourn Laboratories, and referred to as "The Boss." Also in this world, lives Seraphene Grant, aviator and research scientist, her family has suffered numerous tragedies due to The Uprising and The Authorities and she now works two jobs to support what little family she has left.
Seraphene is offered a job to work for "The Boss" on a very secret and groundbreaking project. The opportunity to work with such cutting-edge research and receive such generous compensation is tempting, but William Darcy is controlling, egotistical, self-serving, and so supercilious that Seraphene
is certain that he is the "last man in the world" she could ever be prevailed on to work for...
I loved Monica Fairview's first two novels (The Other Mr. Darcy, and The Darcy Cousins), and while the steampunk genre isn't one I can claim any familiarity with, I was tempted to try this novel out because it was written by a clever author with a keen understanding of Jane Austen's world and a deep love for her characters.
I am so glad I did read Steampunk Darcy, it was an exhilarating ride! The characters were well-drawn, complex, and engaging; I especially enjoyed our spirited heroine and her battles with the officious Boss! In addition, the steampunk setting with its steam-powered machines, slime rain, automatons, various aircrafts, and Victorian fashions was a fascinating new world to explore and learn about, and Monica Fairview did a fabulous job of bringing it all to life.
One aspect of the story I greatly enjoyed was searching for the subtle parallels and nods to Pride and Prejudice. Some were less obvious than others - there was a great social divide, a rejected offer, a sister needing to be rescued, a Caroline Bingley and George Wickham character stirring up some trouble, and an abundance of pride and stubbornness.
What I found missing from this story (and the reason I can't give it a higher rating) is an explanation or history of the events that happened prior to this novel. What was The Uprising and The Repression? When did they take place? Why did they happen? Who are The Authorities? What is the Grid, Citiships, and biodomes? I think this book definitely needs a prologue or at least some kind of index in the beginning defining all these events and inventions. It was just a little too difficult to sort it all out with only context clues.
Brimming with danger, grit, adventure, and romance, Steampunk Darcy is action-packed journey into a world of science fiction, industrialization, and invention! Well done, Monica Fairview! Thank you for my first Steampunk experience!
Austenesque Reviews
Imagine a world where the air and water are so poisonous and noxious that citizens either live under these great biodomes or in Citiships "suspended permanently in the sky." In this world lives William Darcy, a descendant of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy, a scientist interested in preserving and rebuilding the past, owner of Longbourn Laboratories, and referred to as "The Boss." Also in this world, lives Seraphene Grant, aviator and research scientist, her family has suffered numerous tragedies due to The Uprising and The Authorities and she now works two jobs to support what little family she has left.
Seraphene is offered a job to work for "The Boss" on a very secret and groundbreaking project. The opportunity to work with such cutting-edge research and receive such generous compensation is tempting, but William Darcy is controlling, egotistical, self-serving, and so supercilious that Seraphene
is certain that he is the "last man in the world" she could ever be prevailed on to work for...
I loved Monica Fairview's first two novels (The Other Mr. Darcy, and The Darcy Cousins), and while the steampunk genre isn't one I can claim any familiarity with, I was tempted to try this novel out because it was written by a clever author with a keen understanding of Jane Austen's world and a deep love for her characters.
I am so glad I did read Steampunk Darcy, it was an exhilarating ride! The characters were well-drawn, complex, and engaging; I especially enjoyed our spirited heroine and her battles with the officious Boss! In addition, the steampunk setting with its steam-powered machines, slime rain, automatons, various aircrafts, and Victorian fashions was a fascinating new world to explore and learn about, and Monica Fairview did a fabulous job of bringing it all to life.
One aspect of the story I greatly enjoyed was searching for the subtle parallels and nods to Pride and Prejudice. Some were less obvious than others - there was a great social divide, a rejected offer, a sister needing to be rescued, a Caroline Bingley and George Wickham character stirring up some trouble, and an abundance of pride and stubbornness.
What I found missing from this story (and the reason I can't give it a higher rating) is an explanation or history of the events that happened prior to this novel. What was The Uprising and The Repression? When did they take place? Why did they happen? Who are The Authorities? What is the Grid, Citiships, and biodomes? I think this book definitely needs a prologue or at least some kind of index in the beginning defining all these events and inventions. It was just a little too difficult to sort it all out with only context clues.
Brimming with danger, grit, adventure, and romance, Steampunk Darcy is action-packed journey into a world of science fiction, industrialization, and invention! Well done, Monica Fairview! Thank you for my first Steampunk experience!
Austenesque Reviews
March 22, 2018
This is a Pride and Prejudice inspired story, using the characters names and places from the original. The plot features two people that have to see past their pride of being upper class and prejudice to see past the money. The setting is steampunk as mentioned in the title and features many character surprises.
October 27, 2013
I must say, out of all of the derivatives of Pride and Prejudice variations that exist in this realm (yes, also including the erotica variety), I never thought I’d come across a steampunk version. When one thinks of steampunk, one envisions gears, motors, and mechanical technology that are as far removed from the refined halls of Pemberley as one can get. However, such is the beauty of the Pride and Prejudice variation subgenre: anything that can connect to the original work, no matter how slight it may be. It is up to the reader to decide whether or not such a connection was warranted in the first place! So, it’s no surprise that I was quite intrigued when given the chance to review Steampunk Darcy by Monica Fairview. I just had to know how such juxtaposition would work out.
William Darcy has a special fondness for his ancestors, the very real Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley. Although it has been many years since they lived, Mr. Darcy comes upon a unique opportunity to immortalize their beloved Pemberley as it once was after the current version of it was destroyed during a great uprising. Now, the world that has arisen from these ashes is that of a steampunk variety, and Darcy’s Pemberley is a blank canvas he can work with to restore its former glory. He hires Seraphene Grant, an expert in restoration (who also happens to own a blimp-like airship), in order to assist with the project. Although his intentions seem genuine, Seraphene is cautious towards Darcy’s actions, and she intends to steer clear of anything that isn’t strictly related to the project. Will she be able to hold back in this new world or will Darcy’s mix of tradition and steampunk creativity get the best of her?
I have to admit, this book started off really slowly. However, at the expense of plot advancement, Fairview took a lot of time to build a wonderful steampunk world which drew me in immediately. Fairview’s descriptions of this world, which in and of itself could have been its own novel, were definitely on point. The beautiful combination of industrial age technology (the “steam” references the steam-powered engines which were the workhorse of this era) and the sci-fi aspects of this dystopic world were amazing. I love how the theme also adds Victorian-era flair, making the world even more magical. Unfortunately, the inventiveness of the steampunk environment could only keep me entertained for so long. I was slightly confused by some early portions of the work, as the characters mention the Uprising and past events that occurred before the book’s plot in detail. I felt as if I was reading the second book in a series which I had not originally started. This created a disconnect that took a few chapters to get over and get back into the swing of things. The Hunger Games and For Darkness Shows the Stars (other dystopic novels I have read) gave the reader a description of events (fairly early on) that led to the novels’ worlds becoming dystopic. I think had Fairview expanded upon the Uprising and the need for Citiships and biodomes, and where slime rain came from, I would have been more able to ease into the plot of the story. So much is unknown to the reader, but known to the characters that it creates a divide.
Despite this downside, I really enjoyed the slowly- building relationship that Darcy and Seraphene experience throughout the story. It was their chemistry and development from animosity to friendship to ultimately love that really drew me in and saved this book for me. Both seemed to definitely be reminiscent of the Elizabeth and Darcy who influenced them to begin with, with added character traits which made them their own individuals. Seraphene is a resilient, intelligent, and strong female lead. Darcy is kind (albeit with a slight temper), smart, and funny. The two characters were extreme compliments of each other which made the relationship storyline that much more exciting to read. I also enjoyed Fairview’s incorporation of original Pride and Prejudice characters such as Mrs. Bennet, who was represented as a shrill cat, which added a fair amount of humor. So, if you’re a fan of sci-fi and have enjoyed steampunk-themed movies or other works in the past, Steampunk Darcy may be right up your alley.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
Originally Posted: http://austenprose.com/2013/10/26/ste...
William Darcy has a special fondness for his ancestors, the very real Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley. Although it has been many years since they lived, Mr. Darcy comes upon a unique opportunity to immortalize their beloved Pemberley as it once was after the current version of it was destroyed during a great uprising. Now, the world that has arisen from these ashes is that of a steampunk variety, and Darcy’s Pemberley is a blank canvas he can work with to restore its former glory. He hires Seraphene Grant, an expert in restoration (who also happens to own a blimp-like airship), in order to assist with the project. Although his intentions seem genuine, Seraphene is cautious towards Darcy’s actions, and she intends to steer clear of anything that isn’t strictly related to the project. Will she be able to hold back in this new world or will Darcy’s mix of tradition and steampunk creativity get the best of her?
I have to admit, this book started off really slowly. However, at the expense of plot advancement, Fairview took a lot of time to build a wonderful steampunk world which drew me in immediately. Fairview’s descriptions of this world, which in and of itself could have been its own novel, were definitely on point. The beautiful combination of industrial age technology (the “steam” references the steam-powered engines which were the workhorse of this era) and the sci-fi aspects of this dystopic world were amazing. I love how the theme also adds Victorian-era flair, making the world even more magical. Unfortunately, the inventiveness of the steampunk environment could only keep me entertained for so long. I was slightly confused by some early portions of the work, as the characters mention the Uprising and past events that occurred before the book’s plot in detail. I felt as if I was reading the second book in a series which I had not originally started. This created a disconnect that took a few chapters to get over and get back into the swing of things. The Hunger Games and For Darkness Shows the Stars (other dystopic novels I have read) gave the reader a description of events (fairly early on) that led to the novels’ worlds becoming dystopic. I think had Fairview expanded upon the Uprising and the need for Citiships and biodomes, and where slime rain came from, I would have been more able to ease into the plot of the story. So much is unknown to the reader, but known to the characters that it creates a divide.
Despite this downside, I really enjoyed the slowly- building relationship that Darcy and Seraphene experience throughout the story. It was their chemistry and development from animosity to friendship to ultimately love that really drew me in and saved this book for me. Both seemed to definitely be reminiscent of the Elizabeth and Darcy who influenced them to begin with, with added character traits which made them their own individuals. Seraphene is a resilient, intelligent, and strong female lead. Darcy is kind (albeit with a slight temper), smart, and funny. The two characters were extreme compliments of each other which made the relationship storyline that much more exciting to read. I also enjoyed Fairview’s incorporation of original Pride and Prejudice characters such as Mrs. Bennet, who was represented as a shrill cat, which added a fair amount of humor. So, if you’re a fan of sci-fi and have enjoyed steampunk-themed movies or other works in the past, Steampunk Darcy may be right up your alley.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
Originally Posted: http://austenprose.com/2013/10/26/ste...
September 30, 2013
Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
Traditionally a combination of science fiction, fantasy and history, steampunk is a fascinating genre that allows authors a practically limitless degree of freedom. There are no concrete rules dictating what an author may or may not do which is why I wasn't exactly shocked to discover author Monica Fairview had used the genre to re-imagine Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
On the surface, Steampunk Darcy appeared to fall right up my alley of interest, but I must admit the final product left me somewhat underwhelmed. While I like the idea at the heart of this piece, I couldn't help feeling the adaptation lacked the depth of Austen's masterpiece as well as the detail I've come to expect when reading steampunk.
Be it a modern adaptation such as Shannon Hale's Austenland or a period spin-off like Karen Aminadra's Charlotte, I open Austen inspired lit hoping for something that emulates the spirit of the original. Pride and Prejudice touched on arrogance, pretension, discrimination and partiality and while I don't expect modern authors to tackle the same subject matter, it is my hope that they approach their work with the intention of exploring some facet of human nature. I didn't see that here. Fairview took names and roles, twisted them around and presented a light romantic comedy and though I appreciate that this type of story works for some readers, I must admit it is a hard sell for me particularly.
Let's talk steampunk for a minute because it is more than a few clockwork gadgets and a skyline doted with streamlined airships and dirigibles. What draws readers to this genre is without doubt the atmosphere. The world these characters inhabit is an amalgamation of old and new, reality and fantasy. No two authors interpret it the same way which makes each new title an adventure in and of itself, but I personally feel the most successful writers are the ones who give life to their setting in the same manner they do their characters. I truly feel Fairview is on the right track with this piece, but I can't help feeling she didn't go far enough. I wanted to be wholly immersed in this imaginative world, but there just wasn't enough detail for me to get there.
As stated, I liked the idea of this piece and applaud Fairview's creativity, but at the end of the day I think Steampunk Darcy is best suited to those readers who look for and appreciate lighter lit. A fun and amusing read in its own right, but one that might have difficulty alongside the works of Scott Westerfeld, Emma Jane Holloway and Felix J. Palma.
Traditionally a combination of science fiction, fantasy and history, steampunk is a fascinating genre that allows authors a practically limitless degree of freedom. There are no concrete rules dictating what an author may or may not do which is why I wasn't exactly shocked to discover author Monica Fairview had used the genre to re-imagine Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
On the surface, Steampunk Darcy appeared to fall right up my alley of interest, but I must admit the final product left me somewhat underwhelmed. While I like the idea at the heart of this piece, I couldn't help feeling the adaptation lacked the depth of Austen's masterpiece as well as the detail I've come to expect when reading steampunk.
Be it a modern adaptation such as Shannon Hale's Austenland or a period spin-off like Karen Aminadra's Charlotte, I open Austen inspired lit hoping for something that emulates the spirit of the original. Pride and Prejudice touched on arrogance, pretension, discrimination and partiality and while I don't expect modern authors to tackle the same subject matter, it is my hope that they approach their work with the intention of exploring some facet of human nature. I didn't see that here. Fairview took names and roles, twisted them around and presented a light romantic comedy and though I appreciate that this type of story works for some readers, I must admit it is a hard sell for me particularly.
Let's talk steampunk for a minute because it is more than a few clockwork gadgets and a skyline doted with streamlined airships and dirigibles. What draws readers to this genre is without doubt the atmosphere. The world these characters inhabit is an amalgamation of old and new, reality and fantasy. No two authors interpret it the same way which makes each new title an adventure in and of itself, but I personally feel the most successful writers are the ones who give life to their setting in the same manner they do their characters. I truly feel Fairview is on the right track with this piece, but I can't help feeling she didn't go far enough. I wanted to be wholly immersed in this imaginative world, but there just wasn't enough detail for me to get there.
As stated, I liked the idea of this piece and applaud Fairview's creativity, but at the end of the day I think Steampunk Darcy is best suited to those readers who look for and appreciate lighter lit. A fun and amusing read in its own right, but one that might have difficulty alongside the works of Scott Westerfeld, Emma Jane Holloway and Felix J. Palma.
June 19, 2015
4.5 stars!
For the last year or so, I’ve had a shift in my reading. I’ve found a new love in Dystopian/Post-apocalyptic stories. Combine that with my love of all things Austen, Steampunk Darcy is a perfect fit for me!
Set in American Republic, post-repression. Not only was there an uprising against the government, the greed of men destroyed the environment. Now a slime rain falls, the rivers are polluted, and people are living on ship-cities or in cities that are cover by a bio-dome shield.
William Darcy, an eighth generation Darcy, is working on a top secret project. If this technology were to fall into the wrong hands, it could be very dangerous. But Darcy wants to use it to rebuild Pemberley, which was destroyed during the Blitz. He wants to rebuild it to look as it did when Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy lived there in the early 1800s. To complete this project he needs the help of scientist Seraphene Grant.
Unfortunately, Seraphene feels that Mr. Darcy is the last man in the world she would want to work for! Oh, she could use the money, alright. She is the sole provider for her mom and younger sister. She had two jobs, one doing scientific research at MIT, and she flew a hansom cab for extra cash. Even with both jobs sometimes there wasn’t enough to get by.
I really enjoyed this story! Not being a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, there is no Elizabeth, but Seraphene has so many of Elizabeth's character traits that she was just like her! And Darcy was enough like his ancestor that they were naturally drawn together!
I loved the fun use of names in this story too! Darcy’s cat is called Mrs. Bennet. Darcy works (and owns) Longbourn Laboratories. Rich is Darcy’s half-brother, and he is nothing like Colonel Fitzwilliam. In fact, he causes much trouble for Darcy and Seraphene. There are a few other fun use of names, but I’ll leave them for you to discover!
I loved Steampunk Darcy! It puts a wonderful sci-fi/steampunk spin to Pride and Prejudice!
For the last year or so, I’ve had a shift in my reading. I’ve found a new love in Dystopian/Post-apocalyptic stories. Combine that with my love of all things Austen, Steampunk Darcy is a perfect fit for me!
Set in American Republic, post-repression. Not only was there an uprising against the government, the greed of men destroyed the environment. Now a slime rain falls, the rivers are polluted, and people are living on ship-cities or in cities that are cover by a bio-dome shield.
William Darcy, an eighth generation Darcy, is working on a top secret project. If this technology were to fall into the wrong hands, it could be very dangerous. But Darcy wants to use it to rebuild Pemberley, which was destroyed during the Blitz. He wants to rebuild it to look as it did when Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy lived there in the early 1800s. To complete this project he needs the help of scientist Seraphene Grant.
Unfortunately, Seraphene feels that Mr. Darcy is the last man in the world she would want to work for! Oh, she could use the money, alright. She is the sole provider for her mom and younger sister. She had two jobs, one doing scientific research at MIT, and she flew a hansom cab for extra cash. Even with both jobs sometimes there wasn’t enough to get by.
I really enjoyed this story! Not being a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, there is no Elizabeth, but Seraphene has so many of Elizabeth's character traits that she was just like her! And Darcy was enough like his ancestor that they were naturally drawn together!
I loved the fun use of names in this story too! Darcy’s cat is called Mrs. Bennet. Darcy works (and owns) Longbourn Laboratories. Rich is Darcy’s half-brother, and he is nothing like Colonel Fitzwilliam. In fact, he causes much trouble for Darcy and Seraphene. There are a few other fun use of names, but I’ll leave them for you to discover!
I loved Steampunk Darcy! It puts a wonderful sci-fi/steampunk spin to Pride and Prejudice!
March 12, 2014
This was my first foray into reading Steampunk so I’m not entirely sure what is typical for the genre. In this world, there has been some kind of environmental crisis, with corrosive slime rain and poisonous rivers. Poor people live in neighbourhoods in the open air with homes built from whatever could be scavenged, whereas richer people live in flying cities or eco-domes. The man who invented these eco-domes, William Darcy, is the descendent of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy, who were real people. The book of Pride and Prejudice exists as the chronicle of their romance. Darcy is extremely proud of his ancestors, and he contacts Seraphine to enlist her help with a project. Seraphine understands that the project is to recreate Pemberley, which was destroyed due to the environmental disasters, as a theme hotel, but this isn’t entirely the case. Darcy has a deeply awful half-brother, Richard, who he is trying to keep his inventions secret from so they are not misused. They also have a 15 year old half-sister, Gianna, who is very spoiled and tiresome.
Seraphine has had a very hard life. When she was 10 her father was taken by the authorities and erased from all records. Five years later her mother, who was previously a gifted scientist, was taken by the authorities and given mind-altering drugs – although she was returned to the family she isn’t really aware of much of what is happening. Seraphine’s brother ran away from the family leaving Seraphine, then a teenager, to look after her mother and her much younger sister, Briar-Rose. Seraphine did what she had to, not always on the right side of the law, to ensure her family’s safety and survival. Now, Briar-Rose is 15 years old and a selfish and self-absorbed teenager. Seraphine works as a scientific investigator and earns extra money from delivering cargo. Being the sole breadwinner, and being aware of the damage the authorities can wreak on a person, Seraphine fears being taken in by the authorities.
Although Sera doesn’t want to work for Darcy, her hand is forced, and they end up working together. Darcy needs her, but is afraid of trusting anybody and won’t let her in; he doesn’t actually let her work on the project he has employed her to help him with! The lack of trust definitely goes both ways. They have chemistry from the off, but they are both conscious of the class divide – he feels like he should make a society marriage and she feels that he couldn’t possibly be interested in her for more than a quick fling.
I would have liked to have seen a bit more interaction between the characters; although Sera and Darcy talked most of their relationship seemed based on chemistry, and they both frustrated me by telling each other very little. For example, at one point Sera has a listening device planted on her. She discovers how it was planted, and Darcy works out who arranged it but they never tell each other. I could understand their reluctance to trust each other but Darcy in particular was annoying about it, refusing to explain his motivations on many occasions which lead Sera to misinterpret his actions when a partial explanation would often have sufficed. These two also have major sibling issues which are largely left unaddressed, and in some cases this seems unlikely, such as a time when Sera’s sister crashes her ship and it’s barely spoken about.
Although this isn’t the type of thing I usually read I enjoyed this book. It might have been helpful to have a bit more detail on the uprising, as I was a bit sketchy on what they were fighting against, I imagined a kind of ‘Nineteen Eighty Four’ type of society but less restrictive. There was a lot of action, and if you have quite a visual imagination it’ll be working overtime on this book because there was description of the outfits, machinery and fights which really helped set the scenes. The world the author created was very interesting, and I hope she writes a follow-up, as I am interested to know what happens with the invention, and what happens in the relationship of Sera and Darcy with their respective siblings.
Seraphine has had a very hard life. When she was 10 her father was taken by the authorities and erased from all records. Five years later her mother, who was previously a gifted scientist, was taken by the authorities and given mind-altering drugs – although she was returned to the family she isn’t really aware of much of what is happening. Seraphine’s brother ran away from the family leaving Seraphine, then a teenager, to look after her mother and her much younger sister, Briar-Rose. Seraphine did what she had to, not always on the right side of the law, to ensure her family’s safety and survival. Now, Briar-Rose is 15 years old and a selfish and self-absorbed teenager. Seraphine works as a scientific investigator and earns extra money from delivering cargo. Being the sole breadwinner, and being aware of the damage the authorities can wreak on a person, Seraphine fears being taken in by the authorities.
Although Sera doesn’t want to work for Darcy, her hand is forced, and they end up working together. Darcy needs her, but is afraid of trusting anybody and won’t let her in; he doesn’t actually let her work on the project he has employed her to help him with! The lack of trust definitely goes both ways. They have chemistry from the off, but they are both conscious of the class divide – he feels like he should make a society marriage and she feels that he couldn’t possibly be interested in her for more than a quick fling.
I would have liked to have seen a bit more interaction between the characters; although Sera and Darcy talked most of their relationship seemed based on chemistry, and they both frustrated me by telling each other very little. For example, at one point Sera has a listening device planted on her. She discovers how it was planted, and Darcy works out who arranged it but they never tell each other. I could understand their reluctance to trust each other but Darcy in particular was annoying about it, refusing to explain his motivations on many occasions which lead Sera to misinterpret his actions when a partial explanation would often have sufficed. These two also have major sibling issues which are largely left unaddressed, and in some cases this seems unlikely, such as a time when Sera’s sister crashes her ship and it’s barely spoken about.
Although this isn’t the type of thing I usually read I enjoyed this book. It might have been helpful to have a bit more detail on the uprising, as I was a bit sketchy on what they were fighting against, I imagined a kind of ‘Nineteen Eighty Four’ type of society but less restrictive. There was a lot of action, and if you have quite a visual imagination it’ll be working overtime on this book because there was description of the outfits, machinery and fights which really helped set the scenes. The world the author created was very interesting, and I hope she writes a follow-up, as I am interested to know what happens with the invention, and what happens in the relationship of Sera and Darcy with their respective siblings.
October 7, 2013
Mr Darcy and Lizzy were real, and long long after they died another Mr Darcy is quite obsessed with them. Which brings is to our story, Mr Darcy is called the Boss and has quite the empire in Boston. The world went to hell and from the ashes a new world began. A world that is steampunk.
Darcy wants to well spy on his ancestors, and he wants Seraphene to help. But this is a PP variation so she does not like him. Though I must say he was much better than old Darcy. This Darcy was nerdy and lost in himself. I get that. But Seraphene was a good Lizzy. She liked where she came from, she was firm and stood up for herself.
There is also a really spoiled and teen Georgiana, a Wickham you must discover for yourself and a new brother for Darcy, Richard which I guess must be colonel Fitzwilliam. Very sad cos he is an idiot. There are other things too as he has named most things after places and people in PP.
It's quite the adventure, from swimming in icky rivers, flying a barouche and meeting pirates. I do like a strange world and I would really like to know more about the Uprising and the bad days. She should totally write about those days too, it would be a good dystopia.
An interesting take on Pride and Prejudice.
Darcy wants to well spy on his ancestors, and he wants Seraphene to help. But this is a PP variation so she does not like him. Though I must say he was much better than old Darcy. This Darcy was nerdy and lost in himself. I get that. But Seraphene was a good Lizzy. She liked where she came from, she was firm and stood up for herself.
There is also a really spoiled and teen Georgiana, a Wickham you must discover for yourself and a new brother for Darcy, Richard which I guess must be colonel Fitzwilliam. Very sad cos he is an idiot. There are other things too as he has named most things after places and people in PP.
It's quite the adventure, from swimming in icky rivers, flying a barouche and meeting pirates. I do like a strange world and I would really like to know more about the Uprising and the bad days. She should totally write about those days too, it would be a good dystopia.
An interesting take on Pride and Prejudice.
August 24, 2014
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Me resultó interesante la interacción entre Seraphene y Fitzwilliam Darcy, la autora los mantiene fiel a los personajes originales pero adaptados a una época más moderna. Sabe captar la esencia: el desafío, la inteligencia, el ingenio, la impertinencia por parte de Elizabeth lo ví en Sheresade y por parte de Fitzwilliam Darcy esa capacidad de resolución, inteligencia y en un tú a tú, disfrutando de su desafío. Disfruté de los matices de mantener la personalidad de los personajes originales en una realidad diferente. ¿Qué realidad era? Una sociedad residual de una represión ácida. Había un paralelo entre las consecuencias de la represión que habían enfrentado con lo que quedaba de ella.
Fue inquietante la constante sensación de estar en una realidad extraña, en muchos momentos, con pinceladas de simular ubicarnos, para entenderla, pero no se logró del todo, aún así tenía un toque divertido cada elemento extraño propio del movimiento steampunk que encontrábamos en cada escena, tenía sensaciones encontradas por los personajes que vivían en un mundo con demasiado caos intentando, muchos, sobrevivir y otros, vivir de los que menos tenían.
Es el primer libro steampunk que leo; a nivel de personajes estoy encantada cómo la autora ha encajado las características de cada uno de ellos, en una realidad steampunk. Mi lucha viene con el propio movimiento, estilo, realidad o moda, estar en esa especie de suspenso de saber qué tiempo, dónde, cuándo (porque eso de imaginar el agua y aire venenosos, da un poco de escalofríos y te preguntas cuándo pasó, cómo pasó e intentas imaginártelo). Entonces diriges tu sensación a que esto puede ser una especie de ciencia ficción o realidad alternativa a lo que conocemos como el siglo XXI, y no me disgusta, parece como un mundo abstracto. Lo que sí eché en falta es que al mencionar cada elemento steampunk, tener una imagen mental de lo descrito, quizá, si la autora hubiese creado un lugar con enlaces para situarnos mejor en esta realidad ficticia, o incluir imágenes en el libro. Mi imaginación se disparaba y constantemente se encontraba con grandes incógnitas, así que hice mi propia búsqueda de esos objetos y ¡olé! hay todo un mundo steampunk. Esta historia nos abre el apetito para querer saber más sobre el tema steampunk, y para novatos como yo, intentar comprenderlo mejor.
Es delirante el misterio que se mantiene de los hechos que encierran a los Darcys y a la familia de Seraphene, se sigue la historia con mucho interés para descubrir lo que hay detrás. Algunos se desvelan y otros se mantienen en incógnitas.
Tomo este mundo steampunk como una especie de ciencia ficción, cosas inexplicables, aún, con nuestros conocimientos tan limitados como pasar de un tiempo a otro, ir al futuro o volver al pasado; ahora quizá eso nos parezca absurdo, pero muchas cosas así lo parecieron en el pasado a medida que iba avanzando la ciencia, y se creía que era magia.
Al principio lo vi como una adaptación en una realidad steampunk, pero no, es un 'volver a imaginar' con algunos personajes de Orgullo y prejuicio, manteniendo sus personalidades pero adaptados a ese mundo y otros modificados —como Georgiana, que es más como una rebelde chiquilla pero igual de ingenua e insegura—; o Richard Fitzwilliam, que hace más el papel de villano; el propio Wickham extraño y al final resulta ser lo que no es; o una Elizabeth Bennet en el papel de Seraphene, realmente disfruté con ese personaje incluso más que el propio William Darcy. Por supuesto no faltaron los personajes creados por la autora, que proporcionaron mucha diversión, aunque con poca profundización en cada uno de ellos.
Divertida historia, un 'volver a imaginar' en una realidad extraña, llena de aventuras, intrigas y mucha acción que nos hace disfrutar de nuestros personajes de Orgullo y prejuicio intentando imaginarlos al estilo steampunk.
El final queda muy abierto, como si fuese a publicar un segundo libro, no sé si será el caso, lo que sí es verdad es que quedan muchas cosas por resolver.
December 17, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m not a big Steampunk fan. However, I am a huge Austen fan. I was pleasantly surprised how Ms. Fairview was able to bring an Austen story to life in a Steampunk setting. The plot was intriguing with lots of mystery and action.
Seraphene is a very remarkable character; like Lizzy Bennett, she is very prejudiced against the likes of William Darcy. She doesn’t want to be controlled. She wants to live her life under the radar in order to take care of her family. She has seen tragedy and her life reflects that. It is very hard for her to trust. Therefore, when William Darcy enters her life, she cannot accept him at all.
William Darcy is a very interesting character, as well. Like Mr. Darcy, he is extremely proud. His family name means everything and he is willing to do anything to protect it; even at the expense of his family members. However, the storyline serves him well and he develops into a rather romantic character.
The use of Wickham’s character is very creative. I never caught on at all and he gave a nice twist to the overall storyline. You will feel sorry for him; unlike the Wickham in the original P&P.
Ms. Fairview created a delightful romance between Serephene and William; full of drama and mistrust. I absolutely loved the ending; so very sweet and very deserving for the characters. If you love Austenesque fiction with a little creativity and flare, I highly recommend Steampunk Darcy.
Seraphene is a very remarkable character; like Lizzy Bennett, she is very prejudiced against the likes of William Darcy. She doesn’t want to be controlled. She wants to live her life under the radar in order to take care of her family. She has seen tragedy and her life reflects that. It is very hard for her to trust. Therefore, when William Darcy enters her life, she cannot accept him at all.
William Darcy is a very interesting character, as well. Like Mr. Darcy, he is extremely proud. His family name means everything and he is willing to do anything to protect it; even at the expense of his family members. However, the storyline serves him well and he develops into a rather romantic character.
The use of Wickham’s character is very creative. I never caught on at all and he gave a nice twist to the overall storyline. You will feel sorry for him; unlike the Wickham in the original P&P.
Ms. Fairview created a delightful romance between Serephene and William; full of drama and mistrust. I absolutely loved the ending; so very sweet and very deserving for the characters. If you love Austenesque fiction with a little creativity and flare, I highly recommend Steampunk Darcy.
July 31, 2018
This is a story that takes place in a future Boston, but with Steampunk technology. William Darcy is probably the most powerful man in the city, and a bit fanatic about his ancestors Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Dary. He is hell bent on hiring Serephene Grant to work for him on a super secret project that he does not reveal the details to anyone and calls "The Pemberly Project" When she shows up for the intereview she intrigues him in other ways.
I was really excited to read this book. I love JAFF and Steampunk, so a mash-up of the two was intriguing. Sadly, I was horribly disappointed. It took FOREVER for the plot to get going. There was every indication that something was going to happen, but it took over half the book before something actually did happen. The concept was good, but the author provided very little world building and back story. I still don't really understand how the world got the way it was, with poison water & air, slime rain, and having to use steam power. Also, still not sure what the "Uprising" was that she kept refering to. Still have no idea why it was Serephene that Darcy needed to work for him, and no one else would do. *Spoiler* The straw that broke the camel's back was when the Richard character released his "Richimon" to attack the other characters. The were little cartoon like monsters he used to fight for him (aka Pokemon). It was utterly asinine and ridiculous.
I was really excited to read this book. I love JAFF and Steampunk, so a mash-up of the two was intriguing. Sadly, I was horribly disappointed. It took FOREVER for the plot to get going. There was every indication that something was going to happen, but it took over half the book before something actually did happen. The concept was good, but the author provided very little world building and back story. I still don't really understand how the world got the way it was, with poison water & air, slime rain, and having to use steam power. Also, still not sure what the "Uprising" was that she kept refering to. Still have no idea why it was Serephene that Darcy needed to work for him, and no one else would do. *Spoiler* The straw that broke the camel's back was when the Richard character released his "Richimon" to attack the other characters. The were little cartoon like monsters he used to fight for him (aka Pokemon). It was utterly asinine and ridiculous.
October 2, 2013
I have received my copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.
Overall this was a great book: great characters, interesting setting in a post-apocalyptic world and romance, of course, just as we'd expect from an Austen author.
But the truth is that other than a few names, this book is very different, than the original. I especially appreciated this, as although I have read and liked Pride and prejudice, I came to loath it after being forced to watch every movie or mini-series available made of it at least twenty times by my mother. So it was a bit of a relief that the plot was so much more than just a long story about people being overly polite and going to balls. Of course, as you may suspect, the post-apocalyptic setting may have something to do with that.
The only thing that bothered me, or rather made me loose interest a little, was the fact that the plot slowed down after about 50 pages, and didn't really catch up just until the very end.
But all considered I really enjoyed this book, and I can just praise the author and thank her for the opportunity that I could read her excellent work!
Overall this was a great book: great characters, interesting setting in a post-apocalyptic world and romance, of course, just as we'd expect from an Austen author.
But the truth is that other than a few names, this book is very different, than the original. I especially appreciated this, as although I have read and liked Pride and prejudice, I came to loath it after being forced to watch every movie or mini-series available made of it at least twenty times by my mother. So it was a bit of a relief that the plot was so much more than just a long story about people being overly polite and going to balls. Of course, as you may suspect, the post-apocalyptic setting may have something to do with that.
The only thing that bothered me, or rather made me loose interest a little, was the fact that the plot slowed down after about 50 pages, and didn't really catch up just until the very end.
But all considered I really enjoyed this book, and I can just praise the author and thank her for the opportunity that I could read her excellent work!
October 23, 2017
This is really incredible..
I am just really, truly impressed beyond words with some of the details in this story. This could easily be a stand alone without knowing much about P&P and still be absolutely worth your time. I can’t get over how enthralling and fascinating and carefully created this book is. The Peter Rabbit bits really, REALLY impressed me with their quiet beauty and darkness and sentiment. Ugh. I read in another review this was a series. I hope so, because I am obsessed!
I am just really, truly impressed beyond words with some of the details in this story. This could easily be a stand alone without knowing much about P&P and still be absolutely worth your time. I can’t get over how enthralling and fascinating and carefully created this book is. The Peter Rabbit bits really, REALLY impressed me with their quiet beauty and darkness and sentiment. Ugh. I read in another review this was a series. I hope so, because I am obsessed!
April 11, 2014
I received this book through goodread, first reads.
This was the first book I had read as part of this genre. I really enjoyed the character portrayal and the differences in class and personalities that would clash, come together.
Whilst in some places I felt it was over descriptive, I could easily picture each scene and I felt this really added to the atmosphere that was trying to be created.
I hope to now read more books by the author :)
This was the first book I had read as part of this genre. I really enjoyed the character portrayal and the differences in class and personalities that would clash, come together.
Whilst in some places I felt it was over descriptive, I could easily picture each scene and I felt this really added to the atmosphere that was trying to be created.
I hope to now read more books by the author :)
September 24, 2016
What can I say, I so enjoyed this book, a romp in a P&P alternate future universe. How often do you find a Darcy for whom deception is not his abhorrence, a truly dastardly Richard, a "Katrin" who is more like Mrs Bennet than Lady Catherine, and a very unique twist on Wickham. And it is definitely not just a retelling in a new steampunk setting, there is a lot of new action and characters. I really hope the author publishes another story in this world she has created.
May 6, 2018
It is a truth universally acknowledged that most Austenesque novels are not that good. But this one is AWESOME! Not a retelling as most are. This is Darcy and Elizabeth's x 13 Grandson. The world is Steampunk with drigible flying rebel heroine named Serephene, swashbuckling pirates and Peter Rabbit. I started out on Kindle but HAD to have a print version for my Jane Austen Collection.
November 13, 2018
An exciting adventure!! Pride and prejudice and steampujnk!!
This is my first reading of a pride and prejudice steam punk. It was exciting and quite a bit of it was unexpected! I loved the tense chemistry between seraphine and darcy!!! And all the steampunk goodness! I highly recommend it.
This is my first reading of a pride and prejudice steam punk. It was exciting and quite a bit of it was unexpected! I loved the tense chemistry between seraphine and darcy!!! And all the steampunk goodness! I highly recommend it.
January 26, 2014
What a wonderful read - such an entertaining eclectic mix of things, really delightful. This book was fun, fascinating to picture a world of the future suffering frrom environmental damage and the subtle yet striking undertones of Pride and Prejudice links. Loved it!
January 24, 2014
This was so much fun! I wasn't sure what to expect as I couldn't imagine steam punk meeting Pride and Prejudice, but this was great. A perfect read for a day at the beach .... I totally recommend it as a fun, funny and amusing read!!
March 10, 2023
3 1/2 Stars - The setting is eight generations down from Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, where their descendent, Fitzwilliam Darcy, lives near Boston in a post-apocalyptic steampunk word. I had previously read the author's Mr. Darcy's Magic series, enjoyed this story, and am excited to dive into her other works. I realli
Things That Worked:
- Both the current Fitzwilliam Darcy and his deceased father were obsessed enough with Darcy family history that many of the characters in this story had names referencing people from the original P&P. They were different enough that it wasn't clear whether that was to fool the reader into thinking that they were going to be surprised or not by the character's actions.
- The huge wealth gap and between Seraphine's family and Darcy's really showed how different their backgrounds were. Additionally, Seraphine's family was literally off the grid while Darcy was constantly plugged into this system. Seraphine was also understandably paranoid about authority, given what had happened to her family during the uprisings.
- This Darcy was just as presumptuous of getting what he wanted as the original, and it was entertaining to see him encounter someone who didn't play right into what he wanted.
Things That Didn't Work:
Overall, I really liked this story, but there were a couple of little things that were nagging me when I finished this story.
- Is this book intended to be the first in a series? Otherwise, I'm not even sure why was introduced into this story. It didn't really serve a purpose plot-wise, and just seemed like a diversion from the main story and action. Similarly, I expected that more would be done with the
- There didn't seem to be any repercussions for I could see some of this being told in a future story, if this were to be a series.
Things That Worked:
- Both the current Fitzwilliam Darcy and his deceased father were obsessed enough with Darcy family history that many of the characters in this story had names referencing people from the original P&P. They were different enough that it wasn't clear whether that was to fool the reader into thinking that they were going to be surprised or not by the character's actions.
- The huge wealth gap and between Seraphine's family and Darcy's really showed how different their backgrounds were. Additionally, Seraphine's family was literally off the grid while Darcy was constantly plugged into this system. Seraphine was also understandably paranoid about authority, given what had happened to her family during the uprisings.
- This Darcy was just as presumptuous of getting what he wanted as the original, and it was entertaining to see him encounter someone who didn't play right into what he wanted.
Things That Didn't Work:
Overall, I really liked this story, but there were a couple of little things that were nagging me when I finished this story.
- Is this book intended to be the first in a series? Otherwise, I'm not even sure why was introduced into this story. It didn't really serve a purpose plot-wise, and just seemed like a diversion from the main story and action. Similarly, I expected that more would be done with the
- There didn't seem to be any repercussions for I could see some of this being told in a future story, if this were to be a series.
March 6, 2018
So, here we have the 8th generation future of Darcy/Lizzy (Darcy and Seraphina)in a steampunk world of poisonous water, fishobes, pirates, Bow Street Runners, time travel, etc... I enjoyed the creativity of the whole book quite immensely altho considering the buildup of the secret to the Pemberly Project was so large compared to after the fact. Either way, this was a fun read with all the tension and lovers spats you could want. Wickham was a somewhat fun surprise too!
October 21, 2023
DNF
I have read Steampunk novels before and they are a hit or miss for me. Ms. Fairview writes well, but the story just did not hold my interest. It could be that if I had just hung in there longer I might have been able to connect more with the characters, but I did not care enough to do so. I would encourage others to give it a read and see if they enjoy more than I did.
I have read Steampunk novels before and they are a hit or miss for me. Ms. Fairview writes well, but the story just did not hold my interest. It could be that if I had just hung in there longer I might have been able to connect more with the characters, but I did not care enough to do so. I would encourage others to give it a read and see if they enjoy more than I did.
March 31, 2024
It’s a great book but a little too extreme in his pride and her prejudice and there’s no real softening or learning on either side, it ends very suddenly without any real emotional journey having been taken. If it were perhaps the first in a series I’d give it more stars but it does not appear to be.
August 13, 2023
Hold on for the fun ride
Hold on to the fun ride. The roller coaster is about to start... Or should I say the air ship is about to crash!
Emotional and fast paced.
But where is the sequel? A few loose ends we need to know. Poor Caro. Mean Rich! Bring it on.
Hold on to the fun ride. The roller coaster is about to start... Or should I say the air ship is about to crash!
Emotional and fast paced.
But where is the sequel? A few loose ends we need to know. Poor Caro. Mean Rich! Bring it on.
July 4, 2018
One of the better Darcy's out there. Normally not a huge fan of steampunk however this fit. Downside for me, Seraphene took too long to see how wonderful William is :)
October 29, 2018
Just too weird for me....
November 22, 2019
Interesting concept and fascinating world. Unfortunately, the character development vis-a-vis plot was out of sync and didn't hold me. I gave up halfway through.
April 20, 2023
This was so original! I enjoyed reading it even though it was very different from what I expected… hope there’s a sequel and they do some time travel
April 7, 2014
Steampunk Darcy is my first foray into the unusual world of steampunk storytelling. This culture of science fiction, blended with some not-too-distant historical eras has risen in popularity in the last few decades. For those who aren't familiar with this conceptualization, imagine a blend of Victorian England, America's Wild West and a touch of modernized Jules Verne. It is at times whimsical, yet in other aspects there is a dark edginess to it. This amalgam of ideas has piqued my interest in the last few years, and I’ve been interested in sampling a bit of it within the pages of a novel. The closest I’ve come is having Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan sitting on my shelf, untouched. I do intend to get to it one day, but an Austenesque novel within this particular paradigm was too tempting to pass up. The minute I heard that Monica Fairview was working on this title, not only was I delighted, but I was surprised that no one had thought of it sooner! The original characters are already set in the 19th century, the same period for much of steampunk lore. It was just a matter of pointing Austen’s creation in that direction. Purists may find this to be a wild notion, but I was willing to take the literary leap into this fantastical vision.
Because I’m new to the world of steampunk, I’m not thoroughly acquainted with the ground rules for what will or will not be a part of it. Monica could have easily thrown in random external elements and I would have been none the wiser. As a reader, my highest interest was not in remaining incredibly true to Austen (just the concept is a wild diversion), nor was it focused on how this frameowork would fit into steampunk fans’ definition of the genre. Those notions are important, but the ultimate priority was to have an enjoyable story. The fantastic elements make this genre intriguing, but without a quality narrative to support them, my interest would fade quickly.
I’m pleased to report that Monica Fairview has succeeded on all fronts with Steampunk Darcy. I loved the amazing environment she created in her vision of Jane Austen’s England, adjusted with a post-rebellion, modern-yet-steampunky tone. Main character William Darcy is a descendent of Austen’s Darcys, and there are other elements that tie the story back to the original material. In Steampunk Darcy, Jane Austen is a “biographer” of the Darcy family, with the text of Pride and Prejudice being a non-fiction account, rather than a classic novel. Other characters, such as the lead-female Seraphene seem to be completely new inclusions. She is a welcome addition, as the repartee between the high-spirited Seraphene and pretentious Darcy is quite entertaining. There is a romantic element of course (conservative readers like myself might find it a bit steamy), but their story also involves their relationship as employer and employee. Through Darcy’s obsession with his family history, he hires Seraphene to help him with his work on a top-secret project. The following quote exhibits much of what I refer to—the ties to Austen, mixed in with the steampunk elements:
“Give me a chance to explain. As you know, Pemberley was my ancestral home before it was destroyed, first during the Blitz, then by the slime rain before the Uprising. What I require-- in a nutshell-- is a detailed record of Pemberley as it was at its height, during the Regency period. I want to know everything about it, from the paintings on the wall to what the servants ate for breakfast. I would also like a detailed rendition of Fitzwilliam Darcy and his wife Lizzy at the beginning of their marriage. I want to know their manners, their personal peculiarities, their interactions with each other, their food preferences, their taste in music-- just about everything there is to know.”
This leads to high adventure, as well as opportunities for Seraphene to deal with important issues within her family’s past, especially the struggles her kin have endured since the culture-altering Uprising years ago. Adversaries include the culture around them, a very interesting character based on George Wickham and more. Surprises, romance, humor and drama abound in a way never before seen through a filtered derivation of Austen’s imagination. I highly enjoyed my first experience with the steampunk genre, and Monica Fairview has crafted an interesting and compelling story which can stand on its own, regardless of classification. Steampunk Darcy is a rousing, amazing adventure, one that breaks new ground in Austenesque fiction and does not fail to entertain.
Because I’m new to the world of steampunk, I’m not thoroughly acquainted with the ground rules for what will or will not be a part of it. Monica could have easily thrown in random external elements and I would have been none the wiser. As a reader, my highest interest was not in remaining incredibly true to Austen (just the concept is a wild diversion), nor was it focused on how this frameowork would fit into steampunk fans’ definition of the genre. Those notions are important, but the ultimate priority was to have an enjoyable story. The fantastic elements make this genre intriguing, but without a quality narrative to support them, my interest would fade quickly.
I’m pleased to report that Monica Fairview has succeeded on all fronts with Steampunk Darcy. I loved the amazing environment she created in her vision of Jane Austen’s England, adjusted with a post-rebellion, modern-yet-steampunky tone. Main character William Darcy is a descendent of Austen’s Darcys, and there are other elements that tie the story back to the original material. In Steampunk Darcy, Jane Austen is a “biographer” of the Darcy family, with the text of Pride and Prejudice being a non-fiction account, rather than a classic novel. Other characters, such as the lead-female Seraphene seem to be completely new inclusions. She is a welcome addition, as the repartee between the high-spirited Seraphene and pretentious Darcy is quite entertaining. There is a romantic element of course (conservative readers like myself might find it a bit steamy), but their story also involves their relationship as employer and employee. Through Darcy’s obsession with his family history, he hires Seraphene to help him with his work on a top-secret project. The following quote exhibits much of what I refer to—the ties to Austen, mixed in with the steampunk elements:
“Give me a chance to explain. As you know, Pemberley was my ancestral home before it was destroyed, first during the Blitz, then by the slime rain before the Uprising. What I require-- in a nutshell-- is a detailed record of Pemberley as it was at its height, during the Regency period. I want to know everything about it, from the paintings on the wall to what the servants ate for breakfast. I would also like a detailed rendition of Fitzwilliam Darcy and his wife Lizzy at the beginning of their marriage. I want to know their manners, their personal peculiarities, their interactions with each other, their food preferences, their taste in music-- just about everything there is to know.”
This leads to high adventure, as well as opportunities for Seraphene to deal with important issues within her family’s past, especially the struggles her kin have endured since the culture-altering Uprising years ago. Adversaries include the culture around them, a very interesting character based on George Wickham and more. Surprises, romance, humor and drama abound in a way never before seen through a filtered derivation of Austen’s imagination. I highly enjoyed my first experience with the steampunk genre, and Monica Fairview has crafted an interesting and compelling story which can stand on its own, regardless of classification. Steampunk Darcy is a rousing, amazing adventure, one that breaks new ground in Austenesque fiction and does not fail to entertain.
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