I love Pride and Prejudice. There is no better classic in my opinion. So I was skeptical when I picked this ARC up but my curiosity was piqued.
I quickly fell in love with Melinda Taub's version of Lydia Bennett. Yes, she was selfish and lacked common sense, but she quickly became endearing and often made sacrifices for those she loved. It was very different from how you read Lydia's character in Jane Austen's novel and I appreciated the imagining of what might have made Lydia look the way she did in the original story.
So, why did Lydia run off with Mr. Wickham? What a tale Taub spun. The adventure of little witch Lydia and her familiar (Kitty?!) quickly drew me in. The idea that the busy body women of England were using witchcraft to advance their positions and gain social standing was clever and comical. And the reappearance of Mr. Darcy also got me. Who doesn't love Mr. Darcy?
The story sort of became one of redemption for Lydia, Wickham and even grouchy Darcy. The magic was whimsical and silly. It mirrored the depiction of English society at the time.
I did find the end sort of far-fetched for where the story had been going and somewhat predictable. However, I still enjoyed it. The other negative for me was the choice to tell the story through letters/manuscripts. It was cute, but not my favorite.
If you love Jane Austen and also like a bit of fantasy, this is a great cozy read to pick up.
Stars: 4/5
Busy Girl Rating: 5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced copy of the book. The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch is now available.
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