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Jane Fairfax #3
Jane Vows Vengeance
How will Jane Austen break the news to her fiancé that she’s not only undead, but also a two-hundred-plus-year-old literary icon?
In sleepy upstate New York, Jane’s wedding preparations have taken on a bloodsucking intensity. So when Walter suggests they ditch it all and combine their marriage and honeymoon with a house tour of Europe, Jane jumps at the chance to flee Lord Byron and the lingering threat of Charlotte Brontë. But to Jane’s chagrin, more than one secret from her past is about to resurface.
From an Agatha Christie–style murder mystery to a wedding interrupted by the ghosts of the Princes in the Tower to a shocking revelation about Walter’s mother, nothing about this trip is less than pure mayhem. And when a chance encounter puts Jane on the trail of a legendary device reputed to restore a vampire’s human soul, will our beloved heroine finally be able to vow her love and devotion—or will a vampire hunter’s vengeance drive a stake through her eternal life?
In sleepy upstate New York, Jane’s wedding preparations have taken on a bloodsucking intensity. So when Walter suggests they ditch it all and combine their marriage and honeymoon with a house tour of Europe, Jane jumps at the chance to flee Lord Byron and the lingering threat of Charlotte Brontë. But to Jane’s chagrin, more than one secret from her past is about to resurface.
From an Agatha Christie–style murder mystery to a wedding interrupted by the ghosts of the Princes in the Tower to a shocking revelation about Walter’s mother, nothing about this trip is less than pure mayhem. And when a chance encounter puts Jane on the trail of a legendary device reputed to restore a vampire’s human soul, will our beloved heroine finally be able to vow her love and devotion—or will a vampire hunter’s vengeance drive a stake through her eternal life?
275 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
6 people are currently reading
506 people want to read
About the author
Michael Thomas Ford
61 books804 followersMichael Thomas Ford is the author of more than 75 books in genres ranging from humor to horror, literary fiction to nonfiction. His work for adult readers includes the best-selling novels What We Remember, The Road Home, Changing Tides, Full Circle, Looking for It and Last Summer, and his five essay collections in the "Trials of My Queer Life" series. His novel Lily was a Tiptree Award Longlist title and a finalist for both the Lambda Literary Award and the Shirley Jackson Award. He is also the author of the Sickening Adventures series of books featuring popular contestants from RuPaul's Drag Race.
As a writer for young adults he is the author of the novels Suicide Notes, Z, and Love & Other Curses, and under the name Isobel Bird he wrote the popular "Circle of Three" series. His work has been nominated for 14 Lambda Literary Awards, twice winning for Best Humor Book, twice for Best Romance Novel, and once for Best Mystery. He was also nominated for a Horror Writers Association Bram Stoker Award (for his novel The Dollhouse That Time Forgot).
As a writer for young adults he is the author of the novels Suicide Notes, Z, and Love & Other Curses, and under the name Isobel Bird he wrote the popular "Circle of Three" series. His work has been nominated for 14 Lambda Literary Awards, twice winning for Best Humor Book, twice for Best Romance Novel, and once for Best Mystery. He was also nominated for a Horror Writers Association Bram Stoker Award (for his novel The Dollhouse That Time Forgot).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
February 5, 2024
M’ha agradat, però se m’ha fet un pel llarg. El millor llibre definitivament és el primer, que recordo molt divertit i ple de sorpreses inesperades. Aquí també hi ha hagut sorpreses, però penso que m’he acostumat una mica a l’estil i a les extravagàncies de l’autor i ja no m’ha entretingut tant com ho va fer el primer llibre de la triologia.
November 20, 2020
Sweet and silly as usual, a pleasant distraction. And I learned about Sewer Gas lamps (google it). Glad I found out there were more in this series - I wonder if there will be another...
April 25, 2022
Some vampires are best left in their coffin.
Enticed by the sheer silliness of the plot (Jane Austen is still ‘alive’ as a vampire who runs a bookshop and is engaged to the son of a vampire hunter. Also, vampire Charlotte Brontë hates her), I figured I’d give it a shot. I don’t regret reading it, but that’s pretty much the extent of my praise. It packs none of the acerbic wit that it promises. At its best, its bite only goes skin-deep, its fangs remain plastic. The characters are flat, the dialogue is devoid of life (no pun intended), the creature mythology/worldbuilding seems uncommitted, and the plot is basically a dry tour of historic locations interspersed with a random detective/treasure hunt that poorly parodies better tales.
In the novel’s defence: I was not familiar with the prior two novels. They are certainly not essential to understanding this one, but perhaps reading them first will encourage the reader to be more generous in their assessment of this one. 🤷🏼
Enticed by the sheer silliness of the plot (Jane Austen is still ‘alive’ as a vampire who runs a bookshop and is engaged to the son of a vampire hunter. Also, vampire Charlotte Brontë hates her), I figured I’d give it a shot. I don’t regret reading it, but that’s pretty much the extent of my praise. It packs none of the acerbic wit that it promises. At its best, its bite only goes skin-deep, its fangs remain plastic. The characters are flat, the dialogue is devoid of life (no pun intended), the creature mythology/worldbuilding seems uncommitted, and the plot is basically a dry tour of historic locations interspersed with a random detective/treasure hunt that poorly parodies better tales.
In the novel’s defence: I was not familiar with the prior two novels. They are certainly not essential to understanding this one, but perhaps reading them first will encourage the reader to be more generous in their assessment of this one. 🤷🏼
May 23, 2012
Eh. This book was kind of...shallow. I liked having resolution for the major issues, but it was an array of coincidences and new plot threads just sort of thrown around.
April 21, 2012
Wow-this series really got... stinky. It just went down hill for me.
June 15, 2012
REVIEW ALSO ON: http://bibliomantics.com/2012/03/09/l...-...
With the first book’s focus on Jane’s novel within the novel Constance, and the second book based around Constance becoming a movie, Jane Vows Vengeance takes a decidedly different turn. This time around, the focus is not on Jane’s career, but on her personal life, both with fiance Walter and her existence as a vampire. Due to a pact with Walter’s mother Miriam, Jane has promised to tell Walter she is a vampire AND conceive a child with him within the year. Hopefully they won’t name it Renesmee.
Jane is the same sharp, witty character she was in the prior novels, complete with some awesome vampire powers and a hatred for Charlotte Brontë, who she refers to only as Our Gloomy Friend, lest saying her name makes her appear a la Beetlejuice. Besides being able to communicate with animals (to do such things as fetch them sausage mcmuffins), we learn that Jane can also talk to ghosts and demons, thanks to vampires having an innate second sight. Unfortunately, much like speaking to animals it also makes her look batshit crazy. No pun intended.
While on their whirlwind tour of Europe, which is part wedding part honeymoon part architectural boner, Jane, fiance Walter, MIL Miriam, Lilith the dog, best friend Lucy, and Ben the sexy rabbi (when do you ever hear those words in the same sentence) visit England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, and Switzerland. They travel around with a ridiculous cast of characters with names like Chumsley Faber-Titting, Genevieve Prideaux, Orsino Castano, and Suzu (not Suzuki as auto-correct suggests). Not one to have an uneventful life, Jane is blamed for the mysterious death of a member of the party, and this novel takes a plot straight out of an Agatha Christie novel. Sadly, a plot not featuring Hercule Poirot.
We are given a larger glimpse into the world of vampires and other creatures, which Jane seems completely unaware of. In order to obtain a fake passport, Lord Byron (yes, that Lord Byron) takes her to see Solomon Grundy (yes, that Solomon Grundy). “Solomon Grundy, / Born on a Monday, / Christened on Tuesday, / Married on Wednesday, / Took ill on Thursday, / Grew worse on Friday, / Died on Saturday, / Buried on Sunday. / That was the end, / Of Solomon Grundy.” Just as in children’s rhyme named after him, Grundy’s life is cyclical, securing him a long life as a perpetual zombie. His wife Alice, is also from a well known rhyme, about a little girl with a little curl in the middle of her forehead. She runs a boarding house for vampire fledglings to help them adjust to their vampirism without helping open up Hellmouths or other stuff newborn vampires do.
The main plot of the novel, resolves around a little bit of vampire mythology, specifically the legend of an iron stake called Crispin’s Needle, which can turn a vampire mortal. Attaining information about the needle leads Jane on a search straight out of The Da Vinci Code as she follows the trail of the Three Librarians (AKA the Tedious Three), who research and record vampire history. Jane even comes across evidence leading to a possible vampire martyr named St. Apollonia, who comes complete with stained glass windows that hint at the elusive needle. Thankfully neither Lucy nor Jane have awful Tom Hanks mullets as they search for clues.
With the murder mystery surrounding the preservationists, the search for Crispin’s Needle, Jane’s promise to tell Walter her secret, and the wedding that might never be, there are a lot of plots and subplots occurring in this novel, more than ever before. Perhaps because of all these plots, the ending is a tad silly, not to mention ambiguous. It’s a well-rounded ending, but it does read like a cheesy sitcom, particularly the epilogue. Regardless, if Ford were to go ahead and write a fourth book in the trilogy (and who doesn’t have 4 book trilogies these days), I would be the first in line to read it. With fangs on. (See what I did there? AGAIN.)
With the first book’s focus on Jane’s novel within the novel Constance, and the second book based around Constance becoming a movie, Jane Vows Vengeance takes a decidedly different turn. This time around, the focus is not on Jane’s career, but on her personal life, both with fiance Walter and her existence as a vampire. Due to a pact with Walter’s mother Miriam, Jane has promised to tell Walter she is a vampire AND conceive a child with him within the year. Hopefully they won’t name it Renesmee.
Jane is the same sharp, witty character she was in the prior novels, complete with some awesome vampire powers and a hatred for Charlotte Brontë, who she refers to only as Our Gloomy Friend, lest saying her name makes her appear a la Beetlejuice. Besides being able to communicate with animals (to do such things as fetch them sausage mcmuffins), we learn that Jane can also talk to ghosts and demons, thanks to vampires having an innate second sight. Unfortunately, much like speaking to animals it also makes her look batshit crazy. No pun intended.
While on their whirlwind tour of Europe, which is part wedding part honeymoon part architectural boner, Jane, fiance Walter, MIL Miriam, Lilith the dog, best friend Lucy, and Ben the sexy rabbi (when do you ever hear those words in the same sentence) visit England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, and Switzerland. They travel around with a ridiculous cast of characters with names like Chumsley Faber-Titting, Genevieve Prideaux, Orsino Castano, and Suzu (not Suzuki as auto-correct suggests). Not one to have an uneventful life, Jane is blamed for the mysterious death of a member of the party, and this novel takes a plot straight out of an Agatha Christie novel. Sadly, a plot not featuring Hercule Poirot.
We are given a larger glimpse into the world of vampires and other creatures, which Jane seems completely unaware of. In order to obtain a fake passport, Lord Byron (yes, that Lord Byron) takes her to see Solomon Grundy (yes, that Solomon Grundy). “Solomon Grundy, / Born on a Monday, / Christened on Tuesday, / Married on Wednesday, / Took ill on Thursday, / Grew worse on Friday, / Died on Saturday, / Buried on Sunday. / That was the end, / Of Solomon Grundy.” Just as in children’s rhyme named after him, Grundy’s life is cyclical, securing him a long life as a perpetual zombie. His wife Alice, is also from a well known rhyme, about a little girl with a little curl in the middle of her forehead. She runs a boarding house for vampire fledglings to help them adjust to their vampirism without helping open up Hellmouths or other stuff newborn vampires do.
The main plot of the novel, resolves around a little bit of vampire mythology, specifically the legend of an iron stake called Crispin’s Needle, which can turn a vampire mortal. Attaining information about the needle leads Jane on a search straight out of The Da Vinci Code as she follows the trail of the Three Librarians (AKA the Tedious Three), who research and record vampire history. Jane even comes across evidence leading to a possible vampire martyr named St. Apollonia, who comes complete with stained glass windows that hint at the elusive needle. Thankfully neither Lucy nor Jane have awful Tom Hanks mullets as they search for clues.
With the murder mystery surrounding the preservationists, the search for Crispin’s Needle, Jane’s promise to tell Walter her secret, and the wedding that might never be, there are a lot of plots and subplots occurring in this novel, more than ever before. Perhaps because of all these plots, the ending is a tad silly, not to mention ambiguous. It’s a well-rounded ending, but it does read like a cheesy sitcom, particularly the epilogue. Regardless, if Ford were to go ahead and write a fourth book in the trilogy (and who doesn’t have 4 book trilogies these days), I would be the first in line to read it. With fangs on. (See what I did there? AGAIN.)
April 4, 2012
This appears to be the finale in the Jane Austen, vampire series (however the epilogue could leave room for sequels). Jane and her love Walter are engaged. Walter still does not know that Jane is a vampire, while his Mother, a vampire hunter knows Jane's secret. They all travel to Europe on a tour to visit architectural marvels. Walter and Jane decide to get married in England while on the trip. However, nothing ever goes smoothly and Jane's former vampire husband pops up like the lawyer in Jane Eyre at the wedding. Jane also becomes a murder suspect when a member of the tour dies under suspicious circumstances with Jane as the only witness. The road to the alter is a rocky one. To further complicate things Jane is searching for Crispin's Needle- the one object that can change a vampire back to human, but an old enemy is also searching for the same thing. Will Jane get her happy ever after? While some of the vampire Jane Austen's can be a bit gothic and silly this series is well constructed and the supporting cast is as nicely rounded as the main characters.
March 26, 2012
I had not ever heard of this series before, and although I hate not starting at the beginning of a series, I didn't feel lost and the book seemed easy to follow.
I love Jane Austen, and when I saw the description for this book on Netgalley--Jane Austen as a vampire--I was very interested. The writing sucked me right in and this was just a quick, fun read. The characters traveled all over Europe on an architectural tour, which would make you think that the setting would play a big role in the story, but for me it really didn't. I feel like the book was more character driven.
I would have liked to have read the previous books first, as I think it would have added to my enjoyment of the story, but I didn't and I can't change it now. :) So I'll just go back and read them. This is an author I will be following. I really enjoyed his writing style and his very, very proper use of grammar.
I love Jane Austen, and when I saw the description for this book on Netgalley--Jane Austen as a vampire--I was very interested. The writing sucked me right in and this was just a quick, fun read. The characters traveled all over Europe on an architectural tour, which would make you think that the setting would play a big role in the story, but for me it really didn't. I feel like the book was more character driven.
I would have liked to have read the previous books first, as I think it would have added to my enjoyment of the story, but I didn't and I can't change it now. :) So I'll just go back and read them. This is an author I will be following. I really enjoyed his writing style and his very, very proper use of grammar.
July 23, 2019
I picked this up and read it while stuck in an airport with nothing else to do. I cannot believe this is actually a series. Worst vampire story I have ever read. Boring and no character development.
June 11, 2012
It was ok, I think that my expectations of this book might have been a little high. I don't think I would ever read it again.
February 9, 2024
I bought this entire trilogy because I believed the concept was intriguing and had the potential to be an amazing series. In some ways, it did live up to that.
Jane and Byron were both interesting, reasonably well-rounded characters and they allowed this series to work and be entertaining. The rest of the cast was a bit shallow.
The series was clearly intended to be a dramedy, but I personally think it leaned a little too far toward comedy and was a little too light on the drama. It had its moments in which I was tantalized by the possibilities. Michael Thomas Ford is a very capable writer but he went shallow when he could’ve gone deep. A missed opportunity. When the stakes seemed high, they suddenly weren’t. One reviewer compared it to a sitcom and I can’t disagree.
I'm left wondering if the author's hands were tied. Was he contractually obligated to deliver a certain kind of book in a certain amount of time? That would explain a lot.
The ending left some unanswered questions and the possibility of another book, but that was ten years ago. It seems unlikely now.
This is an engaging light read and if you’re looking for that you won’t be disappointed, but it could have been so much more.
Jane and Byron were both interesting, reasonably well-rounded characters and they allowed this series to work and be entertaining. The rest of the cast was a bit shallow.
The series was clearly intended to be a dramedy, but I personally think it leaned a little too far toward comedy and was a little too light on the drama. It had its moments in which I was tantalized by the possibilities. Michael Thomas Ford is a very capable writer but he went shallow when he could’ve gone deep. A missed opportunity. When the stakes seemed high, they suddenly weren’t. One reviewer compared it to a sitcom and I can’t disagree.
I'm left wondering if the author's hands were tied. Was he contractually obligated to deliver a certain kind of book in a certain amount of time? That would explain a lot.
The ending left some unanswered questions and the possibility of another book, but that was ten years ago. It seems unlikely now.
This is an engaging light read and if you’re looking for that you won’t be disappointed, but it could have been so much more.
June 9, 2020
There were parts of this book I greatly enjoyed, especially in the last third of the book. The lack of communication as plot was a bit too much for me though. I feel that my time was split between giggling and rolling my eyes. It didn't help that it could have been fixed with minimal consequences to the story. Oh well. I am still glad I read it and wish there was a 4th book.
July 17, 2020
Very Fun and Witty Series
Very original idea for a series and great fun to read. Ford's characters burst from the past and take center stage in the new world. The finally brings about closure to many unanswered questions but leaves room for another to come, which I hope does happen.
Very original idea for a series and great fun to read. Ford's characters burst from the past and take center stage in the new world. The finally brings about closure to many unanswered questions but leaves room for another to come, which I hope does happen.
January 27, 2018
A light fun read despite the unfortunate cover. Perfect for poolside or airplanes. (However it was distracting wondering why an intelligent, very experienced woman like this Jane Austen would want to be with her milquetoast, spineless, mammas-boy fiancee.)
February 6, 2020
An enjoyable ending to this trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed all three of these books and Jane. Traipsing over Europe with another fun cast of characters and appearances by Byron and Bronte rounded out this fun series.
October 10, 2020
You know I've heard about Mother-in-law issues, but this was pretty bad. And as for family secrets yeah this has pretty out their and major family secrets. A good ending to this trilogy for some reason I felt a bit of saddness getting to the end.
December 19, 2017
I really enjoyed these books and hated to see the series end. I’m sure I’ll read them again as they were a lot of fun.
November 12, 2018
A 3.5 - it's not deep, it's not massively original but it is quite fun and very silly
July 24, 2019
Left me wanting more
January 10, 2020
I really like all the fun parts of the mystery of Jane’s life that are revealed in this last book and I love how it ended. This series has been one of my favorite Jane Austen series ever.
March 26, 2020
Suitable for young adults, this series is just vampirey enough.
September 2, 2021
The author did a wonderful job of tying up all the loose ends and wrapping up a wonderful adventure.
January 20, 2022
Excellent conclusion. A nice light read.
February 15, 2014
Reviewed by April
Book provided by contest win at Romance Junkies
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I have to be honest – the entire idea of taking classic literature and making a parody out of it leaves a slightly bitter taste in my mouth. However, it also leaves my curiosity piqued – I know, total contradiction. When I read the synopsis for Jane Vows Vengeance, I was curious and thought it sounded rather good.
Even though I have not read the previous two books in this series, I quickly and easily found myself hooked within the pages of this story. At this point, I must state that the story doesn’t actually take an actual story written by Jane Austen and make light of it. Rather, it takes and gives the famous author, herself, a twist (vampire twist) and gives her a completely unique and fun story all her own. I can truly saw that I absolutely loved it!! This story is fun, unlike anything I have ever read before and the cozy mystery aspect of it was wonderful. I also loved how Charlotte Bronte is described as “Our Gloomy Friend” by Jane and the fact that the two are anything but friends. The comedic writing and style of Michael Thomas Ford is fabulous and not to be easily forgotten!
In Jane Vows Vengeance, Jane is preparing for her wedding to her beloved Walter – whose Mother also happens to be a vampire hunter and has anything but love for Jane. Since both women love Walter dearly, they are willing to put up with one another – to a point – and the tension between the two leads to plenty of laughs! There is one big thing that stands in the way of a completely truthful relationship between Jane and Walter, however – the fact that she has yet to tell her soon-to-be-husband that she is a vampire, and a famous one at that! With the tale of an ancient relic called Crispin’s Needle, that is rumored to give back a vampire’s soul, Jane is hoping to find this and reclaim her soul and humanity before she has to tell Walter the truth. There are unending obstacles standing in her way, however, as bodies fly to their death from atop castles, a long-forgotten husband shows up, riddles and rhymes add questions, rather than answers, leaving Jane wondering if she will ever find what she seeks. Will Jane experience an eternal love or eternal misery?
For me, Jane Vows Vengeance read like a cozy mystery. It had the light-heartedness and comedy of such a genre and was simply wonderful, entertaining and brimming with fun. Michael Thomas Ford is a new author for me, however now that I have tasted his writing style and talent, I cannot wait to get my hands on more of his work. I also look forward to reading the previous two books in this series. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for an excellent, relaxing and enjoyable read.
Favorite Quote: Jane had so far avoided telling her fiancé that she was a vampire. Her undead condition was, however, known to Walter’s mother. Miriam Ellenberg, much to Jane’s dismay, had turned out to be even more of a challenge than mothers-in-law generally were: Miriam was a vampire hunter. Not surprisingly, she disapproved of her son’s choice of a girlfriend, and initially had vowed to dispatch Jane at the earliest convenience. However, after Jane rescued Miriam from almost certain death at the hands of a deranged vampire turned book reviewer, a truce had been declared. With one condition: Jane had a year in which to produce a grandchild. Should she fail, all bets were off and Miriam and she would once again be mortal enemies.
Book provided by contest win at Romance Junkies
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I have to be honest – the entire idea of taking classic literature and making a parody out of it leaves a slightly bitter taste in my mouth. However, it also leaves my curiosity piqued – I know, total contradiction. When I read the synopsis for Jane Vows Vengeance, I was curious and thought it sounded rather good.
Even though I have not read the previous two books in this series, I quickly and easily found myself hooked within the pages of this story. At this point, I must state that the story doesn’t actually take an actual story written by Jane Austen and make light of it. Rather, it takes and gives the famous author, herself, a twist (vampire twist) and gives her a completely unique and fun story all her own. I can truly saw that I absolutely loved it!! This story is fun, unlike anything I have ever read before and the cozy mystery aspect of it was wonderful. I also loved how Charlotte Bronte is described as “Our Gloomy Friend” by Jane and the fact that the two are anything but friends. The comedic writing and style of Michael Thomas Ford is fabulous and not to be easily forgotten!
In Jane Vows Vengeance, Jane is preparing for her wedding to her beloved Walter – whose Mother also happens to be a vampire hunter and has anything but love for Jane. Since both women love Walter dearly, they are willing to put up with one another – to a point – and the tension between the two leads to plenty of laughs! There is one big thing that stands in the way of a completely truthful relationship between Jane and Walter, however – the fact that she has yet to tell her soon-to-be-husband that she is a vampire, and a famous one at that! With the tale of an ancient relic called Crispin’s Needle, that is rumored to give back a vampire’s soul, Jane is hoping to find this and reclaim her soul and humanity before she has to tell Walter the truth. There are unending obstacles standing in her way, however, as bodies fly to their death from atop castles, a long-forgotten husband shows up, riddles and rhymes add questions, rather than answers, leaving Jane wondering if she will ever find what she seeks. Will Jane experience an eternal love or eternal misery?
For me, Jane Vows Vengeance read like a cozy mystery. It had the light-heartedness and comedy of such a genre and was simply wonderful, entertaining and brimming with fun. Michael Thomas Ford is a new author for me, however now that I have tasted his writing style and talent, I cannot wait to get my hands on more of his work. I also look forward to reading the previous two books in this series. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for an excellent, relaxing and enjoyable read.
Favorite Quote: Jane had so far avoided telling her fiancé that she was a vampire. Her undead condition was, however, known to Walter’s mother. Miriam Ellenberg, much to Jane’s dismay, had turned out to be even more of a challenge than mothers-in-law generally were: Miriam was a vampire hunter. Not surprisingly, she disapproved of her son’s choice of a girlfriend, and initially had vowed to dispatch Jane at the earliest convenience. However, after Jane rescued Miriam from almost certain death at the hands of a deranged vampire turned book reviewer, a truce had been declared. With one condition: Jane had a year in which to produce a grandchild. Should she fail, all bets were off and Miriam and she would once again be mortal enemies.
November 14, 2012
In the final novel in the Jane Austen Vampire trilogy (or is it???) we find our favorite two hundred year old undead authoress challenged by her condition, her past, and the future she is trying to make in Brakeston, New York with fiancé Walter Fletcher. After thoroughly enjoying the first two novels in the series, JANE BITES BACK and JANE GOES BATTY, we are all anticipation of how vampire Jane’s satiric, quirky and totally hilarious life in the twenty-first century will wrap up—or live on into eternity.
Wedding plans are in full swing even though Jane’s fiancé Walter is unaware of his future bride’s famous past or her present condition. His darling *cough* mother, Miriam the vampire hunter, is hampering the planning with her upbeat *cough* attitude and looming ultimatum that Jane must become pregnant within a year or she will stake her. Walter’s suggestion that they combine the wedding with a European tour offered by his architectural preservation association it quickly adopted finding an unlikely group of Jane and Walter’s friends and family jumping the pond to witness the nuptials in London and tour castles and other feigned sites of Europe together. Along the way they meet zombies, vampires, ghosts, forgotten husbands, and murdered fellow travelers, while Jane searches for the great vampire urban legend, Crispin’s Needle, capable of unmaking a vampire and restoring their human soul.
Ford has given us another treasure. The one-line zingers, snarky characters, break-neck pace, and nimble dialogue immediately remind us why it is such a joy to be back in his warped world. Jane Austen as a vampire? No way! Yes way! His prose is sharp, imaginative and shamelessly waggish, and we love it. The inside Janeite jokes abound. This sent us rolling:
“How awful to go through life named after someone you didn’t care for…For instance, suppose your mother adored Charlotte Bronte and you had been named Jane Eyre, yet you found the character stupid and tedious.”
“Doesn’t everyone?” said Jane, earning her a stern look from Lucy. p 69
Yes, Jane’s sick nemesis Charlotte is back, and so is her suave mentor Lord Byron, along with a slew of hilarious new characters. JANE VOWS VENGEANCE takes us on a Da Vinci Code meets Agatha Christie meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer adventure that I did not want to end. We can only hope that Ford will be coerced into another set of three to appease the facetious Austen, vampire, three-legged talking Chihuahua, parody lovers in us all.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
Wedding plans are in full swing even though Jane’s fiancé Walter is unaware of his future bride’s famous past or her present condition. His darling *cough* mother, Miriam the vampire hunter, is hampering the planning with her upbeat *cough* attitude and looming ultimatum that Jane must become pregnant within a year or she will stake her. Walter’s suggestion that they combine the wedding with a European tour offered by his architectural preservation association it quickly adopted finding an unlikely group of Jane and Walter’s friends and family jumping the pond to witness the nuptials in London and tour castles and other feigned sites of Europe together. Along the way they meet zombies, vampires, ghosts, forgotten husbands, and murdered fellow travelers, while Jane searches for the great vampire urban legend, Crispin’s Needle, capable of unmaking a vampire and restoring their human soul.
Ford has given us another treasure. The one-line zingers, snarky characters, break-neck pace, and nimble dialogue immediately remind us why it is such a joy to be back in his warped world. Jane Austen as a vampire? No way! Yes way! His prose is sharp, imaginative and shamelessly waggish, and we love it. The inside Janeite jokes abound. This sent us rolling:
“How awful to go through life named after someone you didn’t care for…For instance, suppose your mother adored Charlotte Bronte and you had been named Jane Eyre, yet you found the character stupid and tedious.”
“Doesn’t everyone?” said Jane, earning her a stern look from Lucy. p 69
Yes, Jane’s sick nemesis Charlotte is back, and so is her suave mentor Lord Byron, along with a slew of hilarious new characters. JANE VOWS VENGEANCE takes us on a Da Vinci Code meets Agatha Christie meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer adventure that I did not want to end. We can only hope that Ford will be coerced into another set of three to appease the facetious Austen, vampire, three-legged talking Chihuahua, parody lovers in us all.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
July 14, 2012
Of all the Austen-inspired variations, making Jane Austen a vampire is definitely one of the more interesting and funny takes on this genre. In book one, Jane Bites Back, she struggled with getting a book published, something you’d think Jane Austen wouldn’t have trouble with! Book two, Jane Goes Batty, finds Jane struggling with love, life, and vampire hunters. Throw into this mix evil Charlotte Brontë, overly flirtatious Lord Byron, and a whole slew of other eccentric characters, and it’s no wonder that Michael Thomas Ford is now coming out with book three, Jane Vows Vengeance.
Already deep in wedding preparations, Jane has to find a way to tell her fiancé, Walter, that she hasn’t been entirely truthful to him. Not only is she a vampire, but she is the famous Jane Austen! Alas, all these revelations have to wait as Walter cuts her thoughts short in suggesting that they elope and go on a house tour of Europe after the wedding. Jane readily accepts, eager to escape the clutches of Lord Byron and her old nemesis Charlotte Brontë. Of course, nothing goes as planned on their trip, and Jane faces even more of a challenge than she did in the first two installments. However, the one light at the end of the tunnel is a mysterious device that supposedly returns human souls to vampires. Jane hears of this while in Europe, and can’t believe that she may actually be able to become human again! Will she be able to juggle all of this before a vampire hunter finds her trail? What will happen between Jane and Walter?
Ford’s signature snarky-ness is what makes the Jane Fairfax series so much fun and why I keep picking them up to read! The saga of Jane Austen as a vampire is both creative and inventive. I honestly cannot get enough of Lord Byron and his “vampire teachings.” Walter’s mother Miriam, a famed vampire hunter, is a wonderful “villain” and is responsible for much of the humor found in the novel.
The storyline about Crispin’s Needle was an interesting twist that has helped create a seed for another sequel. The story moved at a fairly fast pace, and kept me entertained throughout. I’m excited to see what Ford comes up with next, and what he has in store for Jane, Walter, and crew. Pick this one up if you’re a fan of the paranormal, or if you’re just in the mood for an Agatha Christie style mystery.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
Originally Posted: http://wp.me/p18lIL-16V
Already deep in wedding preparations, Jane has to find a way to tell her fiancé, Walter, that she hasn’t been entirely truthful to him. Not only is she a vampire, but she is the famous Jane Austen! Alas, all these revelations have to wait as Walter cuts her thoughts short in suggesting that they elope and go on a house tour of Europe after the wedding. Jane readily accepts, eager to escape the clutches of Lord Byron and her old nemesis Charlotte Brontë. Of course, nothing goes as planned on their trip, and Jane faces even more of a challenge than she did in the first two installments. However, the one light at the end of the tunnel is a mysterious device that supposedly returns human souls to vampires. Jane hears of this while in Europe, and can’t believe that she may actually be able to become human again! Will she be able to juggle all of this before a vampire hunter finds her trail? What will happen between Jane and Walter?
Ford’s signature snarky-ness is what makes the Jane Fairfax series so much fun and why I keep picking them up to read! The saga of Jane Austen as a vampire is both creative and inventive. I honestly cannot get enough of Lord Byron and his “vampire teachings.” Walter’s mother Miriam, a famed vampire hunter, is a wonderful “villain” and is responsible for much of the humor found in the novel.
The storyline about Crispin’s Needle was an interesting twist that has helped create a seed for another sequel. The story moved at a fairly fast pace, and kept me entertained throughout. I’m excited to see what Ford comes up with next, and what he has in store for Jane, Walter, and crew. Pick this one up if you’re a fan of the paranormal, or if you’re just in the mood for an Agatha Christie style mystery.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
Originally Posted: http://wp.me/p18lIL-16V
May 8, 2012
Jane Vows Vengeance is the third book in this series by Michael Thomas Ford. Jane Fairfax (a.k.a. Jane Austen) is a bookseller and a best-selling author. She is engaged to Walter Fletcher, an architect, and continuing to deal with his mother, a dedicated vampire hunter, Miriam. To make matters worse, Jane's been given an ultimatum by her soon-to-be mother-in-law, tell Walter the truth about her vampirism AND get pregnant. Jane isn't even sure the latter is possible, but since she loves Walter, she's willing to endure almost anything to make this possible. Or so she thinks . . .
After Walter announces that they should go on an architectural tour of Europe and combine it with their honeymoon, Jane agrees. But who goes on a honeymoon tour with their mother-in-law? You guessed it, Jane and Walter . . . because his mother wants to be there to witness the great event. Things are going reasonably well on this tour until the so-called wedding day when another "surprise" awaits Jane . . . her husband . . . whom she hasn't seen for more than 150 years. Needless to say, this puts a damper on the wedding and subsequent celebrations.
Jane Vows Vengeance has moments of comedic relief and continues to provide the reader with a better understanding of the quirkiness of all of the characters. This story features less romance and much more intrigue centered on a myth that may allow Jane to become fully human after 200 years of being a vampire. As Jane struggles to have her previous marriage "annulled," she is also on a quest to find the mythical object that may restore her humanity. (I forgot to mention, she is also trying to find the right moment to tell Walter who she really is and what she has become . . . piece of cake!) Jane Vows Vengeance seemed a little less light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek as the previous stories. This wasn't a bad thing and provided a new experience in the series (definitely a good thing as some series become mired down by trying to duplicate the look and feel of previous titles). Jane Vows Vengeance is a quick and enjoyable read that provides a different perspective into the lives of Jane, Walter and Miriam. Let's hope this isn't the end of the Jane Fairfax series.
Actual rating is 3.5 stars but GoodReads doesn't allow for half-star ratings.
After Walter announces that they should go on an architectural tour of Europe and combine it with their honeymoon, Jane agrees. But who goes on a honeymoon tour with their mother-in-law? You guessed it, Jane and Walter . . . because his mother wants to be there to witness the great event. Things are going reasonably well on this tour until the so-called wedding day when another "surprise" awaits Jane . . . her husband . . . whom she hasn't seen for more than 150 years. Needless to say, this puts a damper on the wedding and subsequent celebrations.
Jane Vows Vengeance has moments of comedic relief and continues to provide the reader with a better understanding of the quirkiness of all of the characters. This story features less romance and much more intrigue centered on a myth that may allow Jane to become fully human after 200 years of being a vampire. As Jane struggles to have her previous marriage "annulled," she is also on a quest to find the mythical object that may restore her humanity. (I forgot to mention, she is also trying to find the right moment to tell Walter who she really is and what she has become . . . piece of cake!) Jane Vows Vengeance seemed a little less light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek as the previous stories. This wasn't a bad thing and provided a new experience in the series (definitely a good thing as some series become mired down by trying to duplicate the look and feel of previous titles). Jane Vows Vengeance is a quick and enjoyable read that provides a different perspective into the lives of Jane, Walter and Miriam. Let's hope this isn't the end of the Jane Fairfax series.
Actual rating is 3.5 stars but GoodReads doesn't allow for half-star ratings.
March 5, 2012
*Received book through Goodreads First Reads program from publisher for an honest review
**More like 4.5 stars; also posted on Amazon.com under Leanne
Jane Vows Vengeance continues the story of our beloved vampire, Jane Austen, from the previous books, Jane Bites Back and Jane Goes Batty by Ford. Our protagonist is now engaged to Walter, still unbeknownst of her undead condition, and is struggling with wedding plans and debating revealing her secret. The engagement timeline is unexpectedly moved up with the advent of an architectural tour, which provides an opportunity to combine the wedding and the honeymoon in Europe. From there, the action is non-stop as we find out the conclusion of Jane’s and Walter’s relationship.
Ford once again pens a well-written, fast-paced book with hilarious dialogue and twisty sub-plots. The snarkiness and quick wit of Jane, successful in the first two books, continues to shine as she contends with her conscience, her vampire hunter mother-in-law (Miriam), the discovery of the legend of an instrument that can return the soul to a vampire, and a dead tour-mate. There was never a dull moment with all the twists and turns I encountered – I was either chuckling or eagerly anticipating the next passage. I especially loved the scene where Jane attempts to solve the mystery of the murderer’s identity while holding an Agathie Christie-type reveal meeting with all the characters – priceless! In addition, I enjoyed the shocking development with Miriam, which integrated well with the overall story.
Overall, Jane Vows Vengeance was a real page-turner (I finished this in one sitting) and a satisfying end to the trilogy, with enough of an open question for even a fourth book if Ford chose to write one. I would highly recommend the entire series to fans of classic literature (especially Jane Austen, of course) of the paranormal variation.
**More like 4.5 stars; also posted on Amazon.com under Leanne
Jane Vows Vengeance continues the story of our beloved vampire, Jane Austen, from the previous books, Jane Bites Back and Jane Goes Batty by Ford. Our protagonist is now engaged to Walter, still unbeknownst of her undead condition, and is struggling with wedding plans and debating revealing her secret. The engagement timeline is unexpectedly moved up with the advent of an architectural tour, which provides an opportunity to combine the wedding and the honeymoon in Europe. From there, the action is non-stop as we find out the conclusion of Jane’s and Walter’s relationship.
Ford once again pens a well-written, fast-paced book with hilarious dialogue and twisty sub-plots. The snarkiness and quick wit of Jane, successful in the first two books, continues to shine as she contends with her conscience, her vampire hunter mother-in-law (Miriam), the discovery of the legend of an instrument that can return the soul to a vampire, and a dead tour-mate. There was never a dull moment with all the twists and turns I encountered – I was either chuckling or eagerly anticipating the next passage. I especially loved the scene where Jane attempts to solve the mystery of the murderer’s identity while holding an Agathie Christie-type reveal meeting with all the characters – priceless! In addition, I enjoyed the shocking development with Miriam, which integrated well with the overall story.
Overall, Jane Vows Vengeance was a real page-turner (I finished this in one sitting) and a satisfying end to the trilogy, with enough of an open question for even a fourth book if Ford chose to write one. I would highly recommend the entire series to fans of classic literature (especially Jane Austen, of course) of the paranormal variation.
July 7, 2013
In this last installment from author Michael Thomas Ford, Jane, who is a vampire, is engaged to Walter, who is human. Walter doesn't know that Jane is an undead vampire, and Jane is still struggling on how or if she should tell him. Then Walter's mother, Miriam, slyly lets Jane know that she is a vampire hunter and knows Jane's secret. She tells Jane that she has a year to become pregnant...or she will stake her. Jane readily agrees to get Miriam out of her hair for now.
Then Walter decides that there is an architectural tour in Europe and believes it would be the perfect opportunity to combine the wedding, honeymoon and house-hunting in one. Jane leaps at the idea and they are soon off on their jaunt, leaving the wedding preparation chaos behind. But along the way, Jane hears about an urban legend of a vampire who can restore the souls to other vampires. If Jane can get her soul back, then she wouldn't have to tell Walter she is undead or worry about his mother staking her.
With mystery, sharp wit, engaging characters and the conclusion of Jane and Walter's whirlwind romance, JANE VOWS VENGEANCE is just as good as the first two in this trilogy, JANE BITES BACK and JANE GOES BATTY. In fact, JANE VOWS VENGEANCE is written so well, it can be read as a standalone novel, although I highly urge you to read the first two, as they are really that enjoyable. With a twist on the Jane Austen novels, adding new characters and a splash of paranormal, JANE VOWS VENGEANCE is a delectable treat!
Then Walter decides that there is an architectural tour in Europe and believes it would be the perfect opportunity to combine the wedding, honeymoon and house-hunting in one. Jane leaps at the idea and they are soon off on their jaunt, leaving the wedding preparation chaos behind. But along the way, Jane hears about an urban legend of a vampire who can restore the souls to other vampires. If Jane can get her soul back, then she wouldn't have to tell Walter she is undead or worry about his mother staking her.
With mystery, sharp wit, engaging characters and the conclusion of Jane and Walter's whirlwind romance, JANE VOWS VENGEANCE is just as good as the first two in this trilogy, JANE BITES BACK and JANE GOES BATTY. In fact, JANE VOWS VENGEANCE is written so well, it can be read as a standalone novel, although I highly urge you to read the first two, as they are really that enjoyable. With a twist on the Jane Austen novels, adding new characters and a splash of paranormal, JANE VOWS VENGEANCE is a delectable treat!
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