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The Victorian Vagaries #4
Avarice & Affection: A Victorian Pride and Prejudice Vagary
The Victorian Vagaries are a bit of a fairy tale... Have you ever read Pride and Prejudice, a Variation, a sequel, or any other book, and just wish it could go on for years? The Victorian Vagaries is the story of the Bennet women over twelve years of life and love... The men and heroes we love are ever present of course, but this is the story of the Bennet women in a slightly more modern setting, while keeping to the historical fiction theme that we all love.
Moving the story forward 36 years brings us to a time where more women were working, and the industrial revolution is taking over. Times and opportunities are changing for men and women alike, and Lady Astley, a society widow, and the eldest of her siblings, must protect herself and her vast fortune earned by investing with her uncle from fortune hunters and heiress snatchers, as well as support her step mother and four half sisters as they each break free from the fates laid down before them and meet their destinies. Some characters deviate from canon, others remain charmingly as we know them, and friends from other Jane Austen worlds join us, but never how you might expect, though everyone we love finds their happy ending, and when Elizabeth and Darcy find their happiness, their bond is as strong and beautiful as any of us could hope…
In Volume Four of our Victorian Vagaries, the Darcys support their married sisters, family, and friends through births, deaths, and weddings. Fortune hunters and catty debutantes follow Georgiana through the Ton as she triumphs in love, while Lydia naively misunderstands the intent of her suitors. A well educated polyglot, Miss Lydia Bennet follows her interests, advises the rich and noble on all areas of fashion, and saves Sanditon from certain failure. A decade later than anyone expects her to wed, Lydia becomes the editor of "Mode," London’s newest fashion magazine, and rekindles a romance with a long extinguished flame...
Some friends from Mansfield Park and the cast of Sanditon join us, the Duchess of Leeds visits from abroad, though not how you might expect, and all of our friends' stories conclude in this 95,000 word slow burn, sweet and clean Victorian era vagary.
Moving the story forward 36 years brings us to a time where more women were working, and the industrial revolution is taking over. Times and opportunities are changing for men and women alike, and Lady Astley, a society widow, and the eldest of her siblings, must protect herself and her vast fortune earned by investing with her uncle from fortune hunters and heiress snatchers, as well as support her step mother and four half sisters as they each break free from the fates laid down before them and meet their destinies. Some characters deviate from canon, others remain charmingly as we know them, and friends from other Jane Austen worlds join us, but never how you might expect, though everyone we love finds their happy ending, and when Elizabeth and Darcy find their happiness, their bond is as strong and beautiful as any of us could hope…
In Volume Four of our Victorian Vagaries, the Darcys support their married sisters, family, and friends through births, deaths, and weddings. Fortune hunters and catty debutantes follow Georgiana through the Ton as she triumphs in love, while Lydia naively misunderstands the intent of her suitors. A well educated polyglot, Miss Lydia Bennet follows her interests, advises the rich and noble on all areas of fashion, and saves Sanditon from certain failure. A decade later than anyone expects her to wed, Lydia becomes the editor of "Mode," London’s newest fashion magazine, and rekindles a romance with a long extinguished flame...
Some friends from Mansfield Park and the cast of Sanditon join us, the Duchess of Leeds visits from abroad, though not how you might expect, and all of our friends' stories conclude in this 95,000 word slow burn, sweet and clean Victorian era vagary.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 16, 2024
28 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 4, 2024
Avid Reader
Lydia certainly took her time getting married, but she finally got there. I have not read the other books in this collection, but it sounds like the family went through hell thanks to Mr. Bennet! Meeting and falling in love with someone when you are 14 is quite a feat, but the love lasted between them. Dorian Holdings grandmother was horrible to his uncle, her son. The truth is revealed towards the end, but it caused unnecessary pain for many, especially his uncle and his wife, their children, Lydia, and Dorian. Everyone had time to grow and make changes in their lives for the better and they did. When Georgina's and Darcy's grandmother died, it was the cook who helped Georgina realize that she was not honoring her grandmother by lying in bed and being miserable because her grandmother had lived to be 90 years old and had loved many people and been loved by many people. Instead Georgina should have been celebrating her grandmother's life and those she had touched and had loved!
Lydia certainly took her time getting married, but she finally got there. I have not read the other books in this collection, but it sounds like the family went through hell thanks to Mr. Bennet! Meeting and falling in love with someone when you are 14 is quite a feat, but the love lasted between them. Dorian Holdings grandmother was horrible to his uncle, her son. The truth is revealed towards the end, but it caused unnecessary pain for many, especially his uncle and his wife, their children, Lydia, and Dorian. Everyone had time to grow and make changes in their lives for the better and they did. When Georgina's and Darcy's grandmother died, it was the cook who helped Georgina realize that she was not honoring her grandmother by lying in bed and being miserable because her grandmother had lived to be 90 years old and had loved many people and been loved by many people. Instead Georgina should have been celebrating her grandmother's life and those she had touched and had loved!
August 16, 2024
A brilliant series
Tgis past fortnight ive been obsessed with this series , i truly wish more books were coming but il take what i can get ,ive read romance drama adventure suspense and sadness one and all in this amazing series thats had me hooked , i highly recomend for fans of regency romance , the victorian era even history fans and people who love jane austen and shows like victoria, with it at an end i feel bitter sweet but im looking forward to what tge author releases next
Tgis past fortnight ive been obsessed with this series , i truly wish more books were coming but il take what i can get ,ive read romance drama adventure suspense and sadness one and all in this amazing series thats had me hooked , i highly recomend for fans of regency romance , the victorian era even history fans and people who love jane austen and shows like victoria, with it at an end i feel bitter sweet but im looking forward to what tge author releases next
August 26, 2024
That’s not…This is a family saga
After a slowish start with Vol.1, I was drawn into this series and binge read the four books. I’d recommend reading this way as the cast grows exponentially in each volume, and I often lost track of who was who. I cannot say the characters are multilayered. Elizabeth has the Midas touch as does Lydia, who is the focus of this volume. Cartier is an excellent storyteller but I wish her grammar and proofreading were as good.
After a slowish start with Vol.1, I was drawn into this series and binge read the four books. I’d recommend reading this way as the cast grows exponentially in each volume, and I often lost track of who was who. I cannot say the characters are multilayered. Elizabeth has the Midas touch as does Lydia, who is the focus of this volume. Cartier is an excellent storyteller but I wish her grammar and proofreading were as good.
September 29, 2024
A wonderful saga, but start with book one.
This series is a Jane Austen feast! I devoured all four books in a continuous banquet of delight as each storyline unfolded. The resetting into the Victorian Era was a perfect canvas for weaving a saga about our favorite P&P cast with cameos from every other Austen novel. If you love creative and intelligent writing, you will love this series! Brava, Sra. Cartier!
This series is a Jane Austen feast! I devoured all four books in a continuous banquet of delight as each storyline unfolded. The resetting into the Victorian Era was a perfect canvas for weaving a saga about our favorite P&P cast with cameos from every other Austen novel. If you love creative and intelligent writing, you will love this series! Brava, Sra. Cartier!
August 17, 2024
Perfectly Wonderful!!
It's rare for a sequel to be the equal of the first book. Here we were treated to 4 books in a series, and each of them are 100% glorious. My favorite moment of this book is Lydia dueling for herself!! It's so in character for her. I highly recommend the whole series.
It's rare for a sequel to be the equal of the first book. Here we were treated to 4 books in a series, and each of them are 100% glorious. My favorite moment of this book is Lydia dueling for herself!! It's so in character for her. I highly recommend the whole series.
June 9, 2025
Warning: do not start Book 1 (or any of the four!) late at night unless you intend to stay up reading. The Victorian setting became more apparent as the volumes and times progressed. Loaded with drama, plenty to keep the reader dying to know what happens next. The villains get their comeuppances in satisfying ways. Loved the evolution of Lydia Bennet. Great series especially for fast readers; it kept me busy for quite a while. Good work, Ms Cartier!
September 4, 2024
Lush
I used lush because this series of stories is based on one concept.
What if ODG had a different mother. What would happen if she was a prodigy and also if she loved her female relatives even if they didn't want to love her?
The stories built from there and are fantastic.
I used lush because this series of stories is based on one concept.
What if ODG had a different mother. What would happen if she was a prodigy and also if she loved her female relatives even if they didn't want to love her?
The stories built from there and are fantastic.
September 5, 2024
Long nice closure
Long nice closure for this story. Lydia is a modern day lady... More than a lady!
This has a lot of emotions involved and rally brings this story to a nice climax.
Long nice closure for this story. Lydia is a modern day lady... More than a lady!
This has a lot of emotions involved and rally brings this story to a nice climax.
September 21, 2024
1853 This Pride and Prejudice sequel continues the Bennet family sage from 1853 onwards and concludes. Telling mainly the story of Lydia Bennet and how she grew up.
An entertaining story
An entertaining story
November 16, 2024
Loved Lydia
Whereas I found Lizzy much too perfect in this series, it was Lydia who was the true heroine and absolutely believable in characterization.
Whereas I found Lizzy much too perfect in this series, it was Lydia who was the true heroine and absolutely believable in characterization.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews