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Succession: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

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In this variation, Mr. Darcy’s mother, Lady Anne, is alive and well. She begs her son, Fitzwilliam, to remain at Pemberley rather than visiting his good friend, Charles Bingley, at Netherfield. As a result, Mr. Darcy meets Elizabeth Bennet for the first time when he journeys to Rosings Park at Easter in order to propose to his Cousin Anne, as his mother requested. Though he had every intention of marrying his cousin, he soon realises that Cousin Anne simply cannot compare to the charming and witty Elizabeth Bennet.

As for Elizabeth, she cannot help but be attracted to handsome, well-spoken, courteous – and wealthy – Mr. Darcy. Her sister has married Charles Bingley; perhaps Elizabeth might find her perfect match as well!
But she soon discovers that Lady Anne Darcy has no intention of relinquishing her role of Mistress of Pemberley.

This is a full-length novel of almost 100,000 words.

456 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2025

98 people are currently reading
28 people want to read

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AnnaMarie Wallace

10 books14 followers

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5 stars
140 (50%)
4 stars
96 (34%)
3 stars
37 (13%)
2 stars
5 (1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
208 reviews
March 13, 2025
3.5 stars

The book went swimmingly until the 75% mark; then things got waterlogged. Darcy, who is surprisingly weak, is also surprisingly clueless. I don’t understand how he makes a success of Pemberley, as he has the logic of a fish stick.

In addition, given that gossip drives so much of the first 3/4 of the book, it certainly dies off. In no universe would Mrs Bennet be able to keep her mouth shut about any knowledge she could preen about, yet she…does? We are also supposed to believe that the London papers (or LCdB ranting about the London papers) don’t find their way to Derbyshire.

I am rounding up to four stars because Mary is absolutely delightful. Her transformation is logical, and she shines because of it.



Profile Image for Teresita.
1,222 reviews12 followers
February 26, 2025
Interesting

A totally out of canon proposal it depicts what the transition of one mistress to the next could have looked like. Also, it portrays how the Fitzwilliam sisters (Lady Anne and Lady Catherine) may have been alike. I enjoyed the romance between our dear couple and I loved how Mary changes and comes into her own. Totally recommended!
Profile Image for Sam H..
1,224 reviews60 followers
January 22, 2025
Mother in law nightmare

Lady Anne does not want to give up her place as the mistress of Pemberley.
And
In the end though, it's a Big misunderstanding between our dear couple which nearly tears them apart.

Cute little side romance for a reformed Mary.
55 reviews1 follower
January 19, 2025
Nice read

This is the first long book that I have read this year that was truly interesting. It held my attention throughout the entire book.
I can tell the author took time to have it proof read because I didn't have to stop and go back over what I"d read just to get the real meaning of what was said.
Good job Mrs. Wallace.
Profile Image for Mariska.
662 reviews2 followers
January 18, 2025
A Rollercoaster!!

Without a doubt this book is a rollercoaster of actions and emotions. It has very little true angst even though the characters experience some very real high emotions. The fast pace is great for keeping angst at bay. I enjoyed it a lot.
Profile Image for Allison Ripley-Duggan.
1,807 reviews13 followers
January 22, 2025
I loved it!

It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. This is a Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice variation. In this story, Mr. Darcy’s mother, Lady Anne, is alive and well.

Lady Anne begs her son, Fitzwilliam, to remain at Pemberley rather than visiting his good friend, Charles Bingley, at Netherfield. As a result, Mr. Darcy meets Elizabeth Bennet for the first time when he journeys to Rosings Park at Easter in order to propose to his Cousin Anne, as his mother requested. Though he had every intention of marrying his cousin, he soon realises that Cousin Anne simply cannot compare to the charming and witty Elizabeth Bennet.

As for Elizabeth, she cannot help but be attracted to handsome, well-spoken, courteous, and wealthy, Mr. Darcy. Her sister has married Charles Bingley; perhaps Elizabeth might find her perfect match as well, but she soon discovers that Lady Anne Darcy has no intention of relinquishing her role of Mistress of Pemberley. So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
160 reviews4 followers
May 4, 2025
Poor Lizzy! I think it is possible for a change of character after 3 months of living with Lady Anne and not feeling she could trust anyone.

Darcy is out of character, but this also fits the story because he is still relying on a parent instead of being the independent man in the original.


Mary Bennet is my favorite.


There are a few errors that should be fixed, such as an invitation to Mrs. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
Profile Image for Susan.
7,244 reviews69 followers
November 24, 2025
A Pride and Prejudice variation where Lady Anne Darcy is alive and managing her son. Therefore he does not go to Netherfield resulting in Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet marrying. On visiting Rosings, with the Colonel, to offer for Anne de Bourgh as per instructions from his mother, Darcy meets Elizabeth for the first time. How will this affect their futures, especially Elizabeth’s and the other Bennets.
An entertaining and well-written story.
Profile Image for Michelle David.
2,547 reviews13 followers
January 25, 2025
Interesting premise

A very interesting and emotional variation inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Anna Marie Wallace. I enjoyed it.
27 reviews2 followers
March 3, 2025
Whiplash

Spoilers:

Elizabeth seemed to go from overly wise for her age to wildly over reactive when she ran away from Pemberly. Moreover the weeks taken to find her were a bit of a stretch.

Given the beginning of the book I couldn't buy the change in Lady Anne.
53 reviews
January 29, 2025
“Spying?””Chaperoning!”😁
24 reviews
February 15, 2025
Why had this plot waited so long

I've probably read four or five hundred of the P&P variations and almost from the first I thought this a plot line that could be more than interesting. Battles between the new wife and her mother in law are not a rare subject in books. This is a really nice take on it.
The tale gets really rolling at Rosings when Lizzy visits Charlotte Collins. This is the first time she is introduced to Darcy, so the bad start at the Meryton assembly was avoided. His fascination with her begins almost immediately and Lady Cat does not take it well. She writes her sister at Pemberly immediately and off we go.
Well written, the author does the plot all the favors you can imagine. Dialog, pace and characters are as we could expect and, of course a partially overheard conversation plays a part.
Recommended.
25 reviews
May 25, 2025
Good try with a new antagonist

Having Lady Anne Darcy still be alive and highlight the plight of women and causing problems for Elizabeth was new and therefore interesting. I understand that an author can write the story in the way the author chooses, but with historical fiction and this fan-fiction genre so prevalent, it behooves the author to do careful research into the times. The city of Bath which was a popular place for the gentry to take “the waters”, is not by the sea as MS Wallace infers more than once. And she also claims that Lady Anne Darcy was the niece of an earl. She was the daughter of an earl. Those types of errors take the reader out of the story and that is not something an author wishes to do.
521 reviews2 followers
January 30, 2025
Beware a mean mother-in-law!

We have an interesting plot twist in this variation as Darcy's mother is alive and cranky, which creates problems for our dear couple both before and after their marriage. Lady Anne plots with Lady Catherine, Caroline plots on her own, and Wickham also makes an effort, but we get a happy ever after.
100 reviews
February 15, 2025
Very Well Done

Very different take on the goings on in the P&P story line!! But I enjoyed every bit of it. I was irritated so many times at Darcy for allowing certain things and not spending sufficient time with her after they married. But I couldn’t put it down! Not giving anything away, so it’s up to you to read it! You’ll love it!
Profile Image for Kim Power.
Author 4 books12 followers
March 23, 2025
4 ½ stars.

A gripping story from start to finish. It would have garnered 5 but for misused words, spelling errors and some grammatical mistakes.
As Lizzy would say, these concerns may be improved by practice. But the characters, the dialogue and the plot are excellent. I shall look forward to more work by this issue.
310 reviews
March 20, 2025
2.5 stars. A lot of issues with it, Darcy is spineless and his mom figures out she is repeating her MIL’s behavior way after she should have. Elizabeth being in London for so long without anyone alerting Darcy….but I did like Mary in this one.
336 reviews
March 20, 2025
Ann Darcy lives

Lady Ann is shockingly awful. Elizabeth is strong than different but not not for long. I enjoyed that the story was not rushed but worked through, answering all my questions.
Mary is significant in this storyline.
768 reviews5 followers
June 17, 2025
Succession

Annemarie Wallace did an excellent job of presenting to us a unique version. With a couple of failed compromises and an unaccepting mother-in-law Elizabeth still shows her great fortitude in handling difficult situations.
221 reviews1 follower
July 17, 2025
great Story

Loved it! The story was very witty! At times it had me laughing. My only problem was, it took too long for Darcy to find Elizabeth. But, it was an enjoyable story and one I recommend.
Profile Image for Terri Conley.
1,020 reviews7 followers
January 29, 2025
This was a really interesting plot. Don't think I have come across it before.
Very well written and very enjoyable.
22 reviews
March 12, 2025
One of the best p&p variations!

A really nice twist on the original. Hope to read more by this
author. Fast and enjoyable reading,- much better than many others.
Profile Image for Sue.
173 reviews4 followers
July 8, 2025
5+ A wonderful book. Elizabeth is terrific, and there's a nice storyline for Mary and the Matlocks as well. Wallace is a must-buy novelist, and this is one of her best.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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