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Regency Mage #1
Mary Bennet and the Bingley Codex
A magical sequel to Pride and Prejudice.
When the girl who loves books finds a book of magic – anything can happen!
Mary Bennet lives to learn, so she jumps at the chance to visit her sister Jane and catalog the enormous book collection at the Bingleys’ new estate. And it’s in that collection that Mary discovers the mysterious book – ancient, hand-written, bound in a scaly skin, and written in an unknown language.
But then the book changes, and permits her to read it. It is a magical book, and it’s willing to teach her magic! A whole new world opens up to Mary, a world wondrous and strange. The rational, scientific young woman discovers that this world contains secret magicians, uncanny beings, artifacts of power – and dangers such as she had never imagined. This new world brings Mary new friends. But also powerful and dangerous enemies.
Mary Bennet and the Bingley Codex is the first book of the Regency Mage series, and begins Mary’s journey through this magical world.
When the girl who loves books finds a book of magic – anything can happen!
Mary Bennet lives to learn, so she jumps at the chance to visit her sister Jane and catalog the enormous book collection at the Bingleys’ new estate. And it’s in that collection that Mary discovers the mysterious book – ancient, hand-written, bound in a scaly skin, and written in an unknown language.
But then the book changes, and permits her to read it. It is a magical book, and it’s willing to teach her magic! A whole new world opens up to Mary, a world wondrous and strange. The rational, scientific young woman discovers that this world contains secret magicians, uncanny beings, artifacts of power – and dangers such as she had never imagined. This new world brings Mary new friends. But also powerful and dangerous enemies.
Mary Bennet and the Bingley Codex is the first book of the Regency Mage series, and begins Mary’s journey through this magical world.
163 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2019
539 people are currently reading
987 people want to read
About the author
Joyce Harmon
13 books98 followersJoyce Harmon has been from one side of the galaxy to the other (slight exaggeration) and seen a lot of strange stuff (very true). Since retiring from the Navy, she has worked as a winery tour guide, a journalist for a local newspaper, selling collectibles on eBay, and making candles - and always, always, a writer. She shares her rural Virginia home with two haughty and indolent cats and one clever, busy dog, and is haunted by a noisy crowd of characters, all clamoring to be written down and set loose into the world. She accommodates them as quickly as she can. She is the author of the Passatonnack Winery mysteries, Died On The Vine and Bidding On Death. A Feather To Fly With is her first Regency romance, and she is currently working on a sequel.
Joyce blogs occasionally at http://joyceharmon.wordpress.com/ , mostly about her dog.
Joyce blogs occasionally at http://joyceharmon.wordpress.com/ , mostly about her dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
February 12, 2021
My previous experience with Pride & Prejudice spinoffs and retellings has been dismal. All it usually amounts to is a quick sample-and-discard. The two novels I did manage to finish, PD James' dirge-like Death Comes to Pemberley, and the dreary Longbourn, were grievous disappointments. Not surprisingly -- because it's a daunting undertaking to try to channel Jane Austen.
To succeed, I believe there are three things an author absolutely must capture:
- The language, which needs to sound neither modern nor stilted
- The tone, which in the case of P&P is spritely and sparkling
- The characters, who are all too easily turned into caricatures or rendered completely unrecognizable
It’s a lot easier to produce something that reads like a parody of Austen than something that seems genuinely Austen-adjacent.
So my expectations were low when I borrowed this, on a whim, from KU. But to my surprise and delight, it turned out to be a charmer.
In a society where unmarried women are valued according to their financial prospects, their looks, and their social graces, Mary Bennett has none of the above. In P&P she's the unlovely middle sister of five, awkward and affected, prissy and pedantic, and nobody's favorite. Preferring books to socializing or husband-hunting, she stakes out her territory as the family nerd (to put it in anachronistic terms). She was the only sister I could ever identify with.
This book picks up a year+ after the end of P&P, when Mary is 20. Invited for an extended stay at Jane and Bingley's country home, she finds herself with free run of their huge library:
Freed from the home environment where she never fit in, where her scholarly interests were always discounted and she was pressured to be a person she never could be, Mary slowly blossoms. She exuberantly throws herself into cataloging Bingley’s library.
And there she discovers a trove of books on magic. Despite her self-image as a rational and scientifically-minded being, she eventually ends up toying around with spells, only to discover that magic is indeed real — and that she has the ability to use it.
I won't deny that I experienced some cognitive dissonance once the magical aspects of the story were fully underway. When Mary is casting a spell to chase off Caroline Bingley (and who wouldn’t want to chase off Caroline Bingley), it was a bit like two worlds colliding. My head felt a little explodey — after all, P&P has been part of my mental landscape for decades — but it was worth the effort it took to suspend disbelief. Because, in a nutshell, this story was fun.
I loved seeing Mary mature and change, in a way that built upon, rather than betrayed, the original character. The author did an excellent job of making Mary open-minded enough to be interesting to the modern reader, while still having her grounded in a mindset compatible with the times. And I was delighted by the presence of a gay couple as major secondary characters. Women are of course expected to know nothing of such things, to be utterly oblivious to the nature of such a relationship — as Jane certainly is — but Mary has ”the advantages of reading widely, particularly the ancient Greeks in translation.” Or:
There are three more entries in the series, which has me simultaneously delighted and apprehensive. Will the author be able to maintain the balance between the world Austen created and her own fictional world of magic? It’s easy to imagine it all going off the rails at some point. But until it does, I look forward to reading the rest of the Regency Mage series.
To succeed, I believe there are three things an author absolutely must capture:
- The language, which needs to sound neither modern nor stilted
- The tone, which in the case of P&P is spritely and sparkling
- The characters, who are all too easily turned into caricatures or rendered completely unrecognizable
It’s a lot easier to produce something that reads like a parody of Austen than something that seems genuinely Austen-adjacent.
So my expectations were low when I borrowed this, on a whim, from KU. But to my surprise and delight, it turned out to be a charmer.
In a society where unmarried women are valued according to their financial prospects, their looks, and their social graces, Mary Bennett has none of the above. In P&P she's the unlovely middle sister of five, awkward and affected, prissy and pedantic, and nobody's favorite. Preferring books to socializing or husband-hunting, she stakes out her territory as the family nerd (to put it in anachronistic terms). She was the only sister I could ever identify with.
This book picks up a year+ after the end of P&P, when Mary is 20. Invited for an extended stay at Jane and Bingley's country home, she finds herself with free run of their huge library:
It was like going to heaven, without all the pain and mess of dying first.
Freed from the home environment where she never fit in, where her scholarly interests were always discounted and she was pressured to be a person she never could be, Mary slowly blossoms. She exuberantly throws herself into cataloging Bingley’s library.
And there she discovers a trove of books on magic. Despite her self-image as a rational and scientifically-minded being, she eventually ends up toying around with spells, only to discover that magic is indeed real — and that she has the ability to use it.
I won't deny that I experienced some cognitive dissonance once the magical aspects of the story were fully underway. When Mary is casting a spell to chase off Caroline Bingley (and who wouldn’t want to chase off Caroline Bingley), it was a bit like two worlds colliding. My head felt a little explodey — after all, P&P has been part of my mental landscape for decades — but it was worth the effort it took to suspend disbelief. Because, in a nutshell, this story was fun.
I loved seeing Mary mature and change, in a way that built upon, rather than betrayed, the original character. The author did an excellent job of making Mary open-minded enough to be interesting to the modern reader, while still having her grounded in a mindset compatible with the times. And I was delighted by the presence of a gay couple as major secondary characters. Women are of course expected to know nothing of such things, to be utterly oblivious to the nature of such a relationship — as Jane certainly is — but Mary has ”the advantages of reading widely, particularly the ancient Greeks in translation.” Or:
I may be a lady, but I read books.
There are three more entries in the series, which has me simultaneously delighted and apprehensive. Will the author be able to maintain the balance between the world Austen created and her own fictional world of magic? It’s easy to imagine it all going off the rails at some point. But until it does, I look forward to reading the rest of the Regency Mage series.
September 5, 2019
5+ stars!
This book was a wonderful surprise! I'm not familiar with this author, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This book's connection to Jane Austen is obvious from the title, but I was skeptical with the book description, which also compares it to the Harry Potter series and Georgette Heyer books. As a devotee of all three, I had serious doubts it could deliver. Now I'm a believer and can't wait to read the next in this series. I really love this.
It's actually a sequel to Pride and Prejudice. Mary Bennet escapes Longbourn and her mother's embarrassing attempts to get a husband for her when Jane and Mister Bingley invite her for an extended visit to Pleasaunce, their estate.
Mr. Bingley purchased Pleasaunce with its library intact, and Mary is delighted to explore and catalog its contents. In doing so, she comes across an ancient book in a peculiar form of Latin she manages to translate with some difficulty. At first, she dismisses it as fanciful nonsense, but eventually she tests some of the spells it contains and is amazed when they actually work. Over the course of the book, she learns her magical abilities are rare and that she is required to join the "Order of St. George" if she wishes to practice any serious magic.
The Heyer influence is quite evident in the numerous character types that turn up with possibilities for romance among some. The Bingleys have a very active social life, interacting frequently with their various neighbors including the widowed Mrs. Warren and her daughters Cynthia, Penelope, and Susanna, the girls' good friend Olive Prescott, Mister Spencer (a local solicitor) and Colonel Warburton (a local squire). Pleasaunce also hosts a series of additional house guests. Caroline Bingley is one of the first to arrive, immediately spoiling the convivial atmosphere. Mister Max Humphreys, a schoolmate of Mister Bingley, is quite the London dandy. Mister Geoffrey Danver is a gruff but very wealthy butterfly collector who arrives with his assistant, the more well-mannered and handsome Mister Jason White. Mister Robby Holgrove, a fashionable Corinthian, shows up later, morose after having been ditched by his lady-love.
It is impressive how these entertaining characters pop in and out without distracting from the primary storyline, as Mary becomes increasingly aware of the world of magic while she also enjoys her new situation in life. The supportive environment at Pleasaunce allows Mary to thrive as she never could at Longbourn. Ironically, Miss Bingley sets her cap for one of the gentlemen and considers Mary a romantic rival. Although Mary attracts the attention of a potential suitor, she's not certain she wants to marry, fearing it will prevent her from practicing magic. Despite the fantasy plot, I think she and the rest of the P&P characters are reasonably consistent with canon.
The Harry Potter influence continues as a minor mystery emerges, and Mary's newfound--and still not fully developed--magical talents are tested. This is also neatly woven into the plot. So are fun details about such fantastical beings as ghosts, brownies and water pixies.
There's little romance here, but it's a wonderful supernatural Regency adventure. I suspect other Pride and Prejudice characters will be featured in future books in this series. Content is clean. Highly recommend!
This book was a wonderful surprise! I'm not familiar with this author, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This book's connection to Jane Austen is obvious from the title, but I was skeptical with the book description, which also compares it to the Harry Potter series and Georgette Heyer books. As a devotee of all three, I had serious doubts it could deliver. Now I'm a believer and can't wait to read the next in this series. I really love this.
It's actually a sequel to Pride and Prejudice. Mary Bennet escapes Longbourn and her mother's embarrassing attempts to get a husband for her when Jane and Mister Bingley invite her for an extended visit to Pleasaunce, their estate.
Mr. Bingley purchased Pleasaunce with its library intact, and Mary is delighted to explore and catalog its contents. In doing so, she comes across an ancient book in a peculiar form of Latin she manages to translate with some difficulty. At first, she dismisses it as fanciful nonsense, but eventually she tests some of the spells it contains and is amazed when they actually work. Over the course of the book, she learns her magical abilities are rare and that she is required to join the "Order of St. George" if she wishes to practice any serious magic.
The Heyer influence is quite evident in the numerous character types that turn up with possibilities for romance among some. The Bingleys have a very active social life, interacting frequently with their various neighbors including the widowed Mrs. Warren and her daughters Cynthia, Penelope, and Susanna, the girls' good friend Olive Prescott, Mister Spencer (a local solicitor) and Colonel Warburton (a local squire). Pleasaunce also hosts a series of additional house guests. Caroline Bingley is one of the first to arrive, immediately spoiling the convivial atmosphere. Mister Max Humphreys, a schoolmate of Mister Bingley, is quite the London dandy. Mister Geoffrey Danver is a gruff but very wealthy butterfly collector who arrives with his assistant, the more well-mannered and handsome Mister Jason White. Mister Robby Holgrove, a fashionable Corinthian, shows up later, morose after having been ditched by his lady-love.
It is impressive how these entertaining characters pop in and out without distracting from the primary storyline, as Mary becomes increasingly aware of the world of magic while she also enjoys her new situation in life. The supportive environment at Pleasaunce allows Mary to thrive as she never could at Longbourn. Ironically, Miss Bingley sets her cap for one of the gentlemen and considers Mary a romantic rival. Although Mary attracts the attention of a potential suitor, she's not certain she wants to marry, fearing it will prevent her from practicing magic. Despite the fantasy plot, I think she and the rest of the P&P characters are reasonably consistent with canon.
The Harry Potter influence continues as a minor mystery emerges, and Mary's newfound--and still not fully developed--magical talents are tested. This is also neatly woven into the plot. So are fun details about such fantastical beings as ghosts, brownies and water pixies.
There's little romance here, but it's a wonderful supernatural Regency adventure. I suspect other Pride and Prejudice characters will be featured in future books in this series. Content is clean. Highly recommend!
September 28, 2019
In the realm of light fiction, one of the greatest pleasures I can encounter is a book that pairs Jane Austen and magic. There's something about the combination--Austen's firm grounding in the everyday and mystical powers, social niceties and spells, the constraints of decorum undermined by the entropic energy of the supernatural--that seduces me every time into a smile. I was in no state to be amused today, and yet this book amused me.
Mary Bennet has emerged in Austenesque fiction as a fertile subject for revisionists, and in this story she travels far and fast from the Mary Bennet of Pride and Prejudice. She is smarter, happier, prettier, and even more social than her prototype. I might perhaps have preferred to see her emerge more gradually from pupa to butterfly, and to carry with her a little more of her religiosity, but it cannot be gainsaid that this Mary Bennet was more fun to be around.
We begin with her escaping from Longbourn and the dubious mercies of her matchmaking mama. Mr. and Mrs. Bingley invite her to come stay with them at their new estate, Pleasaunce, and catalog its library. The previous owner has died and his heir has sold the estate, including all its furnishings, to Mr. Bingley. Mary is thrilled to have access to so many books, and it is not long before she discovers some that have peculiar properties and contents. One in particular intrigues her, and it leads her on a journey she could never have imagined. She finds allies in her journey and has some very entertaining adventures. The book is brief and is clearly a setup for a series, but I didn't mind and felt satisfied with the arc of the story as it stands. Not that that will preclude my reading more!
The manners of the period are well depicted--unusual for Austenesque fiction written by Americans-and the language is well-enough suited to the era, though I found myself from time to time substituting words in my head for those on the page. There were some typos but not errors of ignorance, allowing me to reward my enjoyment with the full five stars.
Mary Bennet has emerged in Austenesque fiction as a fertile subject for revisionists, and in this story she travels far and fast from the Mary Bennet of Pride and Prejudice. She is smarter, happier, prettier, and even more social than her prototype. I might perhaps have preferred to see her emerge more gradually from pupa to butterfly, and to carry with her a little more of her religiosity, but it cannot be gainsaid that this Mary Bennet was more fun to be around.
We begin with her escaping from Longbourn and the dubious mercies of her matchmaking mama. Mr. and Mrs. Bingley invite her to come stay with them at their new estate, Pleasaunce, and catalog its library. The previous owner has died and his heir has sold the estate, including all its furnishings, to Mr. Bingley. Mary is thrilled to have access to so many books, and it is not long before she discovers some that have peculiar properties and contents. One in particular intrigues her, and it leads her on a journey she could never have imagined. She finds allies in her journey and has some very entertaining adventures. The book is brief and is clearly a setup for a series, but I didn't mind and felt satisfied with the arc of the story as it stands. Not that that will preclude my reading more!
The manners of the period are well depicted--unusual for Austenesque fiction written by Americans-and the language is well-enough suited to the era, though I found myself from time to time substituting words in my head for those on the page. There were some typos but not errors of ignorance, allowing me to reward my enjoyment with the full five stars.
May 31, 2025
Simply delightful!
I’ve been wanting to read this book for ages. Languishing in my Kindle since 2019, I finally read it and was completely charmed! What’s not to love with a magical sequel for our most misunderstood Bennet sister!
“Here began surely the most interesting and productive period of my life. I was learning something new, in company with others.” (quote from the book)
For me, it was a lighthearted read that developed Mary in a very logical way. This Mary is not as pedantic nor as religious as in canon, but she was overlooked, loved to read (everything) and whose mother was determined to see her married to the local vicar. Being invited to the Bingley’s new home that included a room full of books, was a dream come true. She offered to catalogue the books for them as well. Yes, a definite match made in heaven to her mind.
“Is there any siren call more alluring, more irresistible, than the call of unread books? I can certainly think of none.” (quote from the book)
I enjoyed the first-person account of Mary’s new life with Mr. and Mrs. Bingley. As much as she would like to spend all day in the library, she knows she cannot. Therefore, her mornings are spent cataloguing books and her afternoons are spent with the Bingleys and socializing. The number of house guests grew while Mary was there.
“What if – magic were real?” (quote from the book)
But life becomes very interesting when Mary finds an ancient and unique bound book. One that puzzles her exceedingly, but soon becomes her most cherished possession. Mary’s mundane life is no more. Sceptical at first, she is soon believing in magic.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book along with the cast of characters created by Ms. Harmon. A good first book in a series I am looking forward to reading!
June 29, 2019
It's really quite unhealthy how excited I am about this book: an author I enjoy, Regency era, and magic? Yay!
Upon finishing, I give this book 2.5 stars. This would probably have been more enjoyable if I were into JAFF (Jane Austen Fan Fiction), but upon reading this I find that I'm probably not. I adored Pride and Prejudice, and while this one was filled with cute allusions to the characters and events of that book, the magic aspect was too simplistic. Maybe it's my fault to expect something more complex and deeply developed. I am in the middle of a high fantasy series that strongly features magic, so my opinion may be a bit skewed right now. However, I wanted this book to be more than just Regency magic lite.
The magic aspect aside, I wanted very much to like this book since I was rooting hard for Mary to have her own stories to tell. What bookworm wouldn't want a fellow bookworm to find happiness? I was also glad to visit again with Jane and Bingley on this side of their HEA. So while this installment was a bit weak as a whole, I will continue on with this series and hope that it becomes more well rounded.
Completely clean content and language. No romance to speak of.
Upon finishing, I give this book 2.5 stars. This would probably have been more enjoyable if I were into JAFF (Jane Austen Fan Fiction), but upon reading this I find that I'm probably not. I adored Pride and Prejudice, and while this one was filled with cute allusions to the characters and events of that book, the magic aspect was too simplistic. Maybe it's my fault to expect something more complex and deeply developed. I am in the middle of a high fantasy series that strongly features magic, so my opinion may be a bit skewed right now. However, I wanted this book to be more than just Regency magic lite.
The magic aspect aside, I wanted very much to like this book since I was rooting hard for Mary to have her own stories to tell. What bookworm wouldn't want a fellow bookworm to find happiness? I was also glad to visit again with Jane and Bingley on this side of their HEA. So while this installment was a bit weak as a whole, I will continue on with this series and hope that it becomes more well rounded.
Completely clean content and language. No romance to speak of.
July 9, 2019
Well, this was a whole heap of fun! A Pride and Prejudice sequel with a little light magic thrown in.
Here’s the premise: Jane and Bingley have been married for about a year, and have settled in an estate in Cheshire. After a visit to Longbourn, they take bookish Mary Bennet back with them where she discovers their enormous library and some very peculiar books…
If you always thought there was more to Mary Bennet than meets the eye, this is the book for you. This is not the Mary of P&P, the rather peevish girl who practiced her music and studied books constantly but played very badly and displayed no understanding gleaned from her learning. That was Mary seen through the cynical eyes of her sister Elizabeth. But this is Mary’s own story, and since we’re privy to her inner thoughts, she turns out to be surprisingly intelligent and self-aware and even manipulative at times to get what she wants. I liked her very much.
The middle part of the story got a bit slow, since it was largely about Mary being taught some magical precepts by a pair of mentors. I thought of it as the Harry Potter section, where Mary sort of goes to magic school. If you like your magic explained to you in depth, you’ll enjoy this very much, but I far preferred Mary’s own experiments, or anything where things were happening, rather than sitting around in the library talking. But once Caroline Bingley arrives on a husband-hunting mission (not that she’s being typecast, or anything…), and a suitor emerges for Mary the pace hots up a bit, and then it’s all downhill for the dramatic ride to the finishing line.
I didn’t spot the villain, but then I never do. I’m constantly surprised when that really nice, friendly character turns out to be an evil so-and-so. The resolution was very neatly done - a satisfying comeuppance. And Caroline Bingley gets a gentler resolution than perhaps she deserves.
There’s no romance at all in Mary’s life, at least not in this book. Since this is the first of a series, I’m optimistic that she’ll meet a charming and handsome young wizard somewhere on her adventures. A pleasant, easy read, with an unexpectedly congenial Mary Bennet, totally canonical Jane, Bingley and Caroline, and some interesting side characters. Oh, and magic. Four stars. I hope it won’t be too long until the next book in the series.
Here’s the premise: Jane and Bingley have been married for about a year, and have settled in an estate in Cheshire. After a visit to Longbourn, they take bookish Mary Bennet back with them where she discovers their enormous library and some very peculiar books…
If you always thought there was more to Mary Bennet than meets the eye, this is the book for you. This is not the Mary of P&P, the rather peevish girl who practiced her music and studied books constantly but played very badly and displayed no understanding gleaned from her learning. That was Mary seen through the cynical eyes of her sister Elizabeth. But this is Mary’s own story, and since we’re privy to her inner thoughts, she turns out to be surprisingly intelligent and self-aware and even manipulative at times to get what she wants. I liked her very much.
The middle part of the story got a bit slow, since it was largely about Mary being taught some magical precepts by a pair of mentors. I thought of it as the Harry Potter section, where Mary sort of goes to magic school. If you like your magic explained to you in depth, you’ll enjoy this very much, but I far preferred Mary’s own experiments, or anything where things were happening, rather than sitting around in the library talking. But once Caroline Bingley arrives on a husband-hunting mission (not that she’s being typecast, or anything…), and a suitor emerges for Mary the pace hots up a bit, and then it’s all downhill for the dramatic ride to the finishing line.
I didn’t spot the villain, but then I never do. I’m constantly surprised when that really nice, friendly character turns out to be an evil so-and-so. The resolution was very neatly done - a satisfying comeuppance. And Caroline Bingley gets a gentler resolution than perhaps she deserves.
There’s no romance at all in Mary’s life, at least not in this book. Since this is the first of a series, I’m optimistic that she’ll meet a charming and handsome young wizard somewhere on her adventures. A pleasant, easy read, with an unexpectedly congenial Mary Bennet, totally canonical Jane, Bingley and Caroline, and some interesting side characters. Oh, and magic. Four stars. I hope it won’t be too long until the next book in the series.
March 3, 2022
The best version of Mary Bennet ever!
Holy cow! What a Mary Bennet, she is not the washout or biblical authority as portrayed by most authors. This Mary is growing into herself with more self esteem and judgement of character. While visiting the Bingleys she embarks on categorizing the library where she finds mysterious books and her future.
This book was amazing. I don’t normally find books about Mary interesting but this one is now my favorite. There was only a mention of the Darcy’s and I hope there will be more books.
Holy cow! What a Mary Bennet, she is not the washout or biblical authority as portrayed by most authors. This Mary is growing into herself with more self esteem and judgement of character. While visiting the Bingleys she embarks on categorizing the library where she finds mysterious books and her future.
This book was amazing. I don’t normally find books about Mary interesting but this one is now my favorite. There was only a mention of the Darcy’s and I hope there will be more books.
February 7, 2020
I read the 4 books in a row and will copy and paste this review since my opinion was the same for all four.
A magical sequel to Pride & Prejudice; delicious & cleverly done; choosing the ‘nerdy’ Mary Bennett as the MC was a great idea. Only drawbacks to be a 5-star book: too many secondary characters seen Incidentally and each mystery too quickly (magically?!) solved at the very end of the book. Still a very enjoyable read.
A magical sequel to Pride & Prejudice; delicious & cleverly done; choosing the ‘nerdy’ Mary Bennett as the MC was a great idea. Only drawbacks to be a 5-star book: too many secondary characters seen Incidentally and each mystery too quickly (magically?!) solved at the very end of the book. Still a very enjoyable read.
September 20, 2023
I loved this story!
I definitively like P&P and magic tales, and I found this one engaging and very well written. I will follow with the other stories in the series.
I definitively like P&P and magic tales, and I found this one engaging and very well written. I will follow with the other stories in the series.
August 7, 2021
Fun, light and very enjoyable. Well worth reading.
November 16, 2019
Interesting
I wasn't thrilled with the downplayed homosexual characters. I understand there were these people even in that era,but, it (in my opinion) wasn't necessary nor did it add anything to the story. The magic element was interesting. I noticed few typos or other mistakes. I was glad Mary Bennett was the heroine of the story and that it ended well for her. But, I doubt I'll read it again.
I wasn't thrilled with the downplayed homosexual characters. I understand there were these people even in that era,but, it (in my opinion) wasn't necessary nor did it add anything to the story. The magic element was interesting. I noticed few typos or other mistakes. I was glad Mary Bennett was the heroine of the story and that it ended well for her. But, I doubt I'll read it again.
August 18, 2023
In this Pride & Prejudice sequel Mary Bennet finally escapes from her mother's machinations and goes and stays with the Bingleys. In their estate called Pleasaunce, Mary finds the library she has dreamed about and starts her cataloging task, and discovers the books of magic. And so her adventures starts.
A very enjoyable and well-written story, with its cast of characters that are introduced throughout the story.
Another re-read of this first book in the series. Another re-read.
A very enjoyable and well-written story, with its cast of characters that are introduced throughout the story.
Another re-read of this first book in the series. Another re-read.
October 27, 2020
I’m a little embarrassed by how much I enjoyed this series. An original concept- of all the riffs on Jane Austen, this is by far the most delightful I’ve read. It’s well written, the characters are memorable, the stories are entertaining and the mysteries aren’t obvious. Perfect read for a rainy day, I wish she’d write more.
June 13, 2019
This was a fun book set in the world of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Mary Bennet finds a mysterious book in her sister’s library and in working out what it means, she discovers she has magic. I enjoyed it.
June 6, 2025
In this magical sequel to Pride and Prejudice, Mary Bennet is not just a little bookish and pedantic. She's extremely bookish. In fact, she's read her father's entire library. She is not the prudish reader of Fordyce's Sermons here, but a young woman with an insatiable hunger for knowledge. She's also not sure she wants to marry, and certainly not the local vicar, at whom her mother keeps pushing her, embarrassing her in the process. On a visit to Longbourn, Jane Bingley, nee Bennet witnesses her mother's matchmaking efforts, and takes pity on her middle sister. She invites Mary to come to Bingley's new estate in Cheshire, named Pleasaunce. There's a library there, a vast collection of books that came with the house, and in exchange for the welcome offer of a visit, and for Bingley giving her mother the impression that she'll be introduced to many eligible men during her stay, Mary plans to catalog the library for the Bingleys.
Soon after her arrival at Pleasaunce, Mary discovers in the library a collection of books on magic: Books of Shadows, spells, and more expansive treatises on various forms of magic. She scoffs at them, certain that there is no such thing as magic. This is an age of science, which she takes seriously. But one of these books, written in an incomprehensible language and seeming to be quite ancient, captures her attention. At some point she realizes she can read it. And later, when an annoying guest to Pleasaunce stays and stays, and interferes with her work, she decides to try the spell for gently persuading unwelcome guests to leave ...
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which turns into something of a mystery, or one might call it romantic suspense, though it doesn't quite fit either genre. And there is magic, but I wouldn't call it fantasy so much as paranormal, or magical realism. But call it fantasy if you wish. It's sort of in the middle there. I love this Mary Bennet, and several other of the characters, and look forward to other books in the series. Yes, this is the first in a series, which I didn't even realize when I chose to read it. But it's a standalone in that there's a complete story within this book. So one can read just this or the series, as one wishes.
Soon after her arrival at Pleasaunce, Mary discovers in the library a collection of books on magic: Books of Shadows, spells, and more expansive treatises on various forms of magic. She scoffs at them, certain that there is no such thing as magic. This is an age of science, which she takes seriously. But one of these books, written in an incomprehensible language and seeming to be quite ancient, captures her attention. At some point she realizes she can read it. And later, when an annoying guest to Pleasaunce stays and stays, and interferes with her work, she decides to try the spell for gently persuading unwelcome guests to leave ...
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which turns into something of a mystery, or one might call it romantic suspense, though it doesn't quite fit either genre. And there is magic, but I wouldn't call it fantasy so much as paranormal, or magical realism. But call it fantasy if you wish. It's sort of in the middle there. I love this Mary Bennet, and several other of the characters, and look forward to other books in the series. Yes, this is the first in a series, which I didn't even realize when I chose to read it. But it's a standalone in that there's a complete story within this book. So one can read just this or the series, as one wishes.
March 22, 2022
To make my home here! For this wonderful library to be truly mine! And to live with pleasant people who didn’t sneer at one’s ‘bookish’ tendencies, or call them a waste of time. It was like going to heaven, without all the pain and mess of dying first.
I’ve read plenty of books based on Pride and Prejudice, even a few that are paranormal, and a lot of them are trash. I never thought I’d so enjoy Mary Bennet as a main character, but she is astute, witty, has a love for learning and has grown up a lot here - less conceited, but still not very worldly.
P&P being one of my favorites and loving the Regency and paranormal genres, I was very happy to find a well written novel with an interesting plot and great characters. There are some very minor typos - a good proofreader would have been helpful - but the books are well edited and seem to follow the chronology and customs of the times fairly well. I blew through the whole series in a few days; it’s that good if you like this sort of thing.
I’ve read plenty of books based on Pride and Prejudice, even a few that are paranormal, and a lot of them are trash. I never thought I’d so enjoy Mary Bennet as a main character, but she is astute, witty, has a love for learning and has grown up a lot here - less conceited, but still not very worldly.
P&P being one of my favorites and loving the Regency and paranormal genres, I was very happy to find a well written novel with an interesting plot and great characters. There are some very minor typos - a good proofreader would have been helpful - but the books are well edited and seem to follow the chronology and customs of the times fairly well. I blew through the whole series in a few days; it’s that good if you like this sort of thing.
April 11, 2022
Delightful diversion
How lovely to read about Mary Bennet and how warmly she is regarded by her sister Jane and brother in law Charles. I always thought her hard done by in Pride and Prejudice, even more so in the numerous tv and movie adaptations, where she was always mocked as a figure of fun.
This book presents the characters and time period well, and while not up to Austen’s standard, continues the story of the characters very well.
However, my absolute favorite part of the book was the magic! Mary’s love of books and learning is rewarded when she stumbles upon magic books in Bingley’s library. How exciting! I loved the magic, how it worked, and several details that were imaginative and a bit of fun considering the time period.
I look forward to continuing the series.
How lovely to read about Mary Bennet and how warmly she is regarded by her sister Jane and brother in law Charles. I always thought her hard done by in Pride and Prejudice, even more so in the numerous tv and movie adaptations, where she was always mocked as a figure of fun.
This book presents the characters and time period well, and while not up to Austen’s standard, continues the story of the characters very well.
However, my absolute favorite part of the book was the magic! Mary’s love of books and learning is rewarded when she stumbles upon magic books in Bingley’s library. How exciting! I loved the magic, how it worked, and several details that were imaginative and a bit of fun considering the time period.
I look forward to continuing the series.
June 1, 2021
2021 bk 123. After a 3 month failure to complete another ebook, I wanted to try another paranormal regency book to see if it was the ebook format or the book itself. I just completed Mary Bennet and the Bringley Codex and enjoyed it so much (even if it was available only in ebook format) that I bought the sequels. This book was also written in first person, but a first person who had ideas and interests beyond self. Additional characters not only rounded out the plot, but led to the growth of the author into an even more fully developed character. The plot moved along at an even pace and held my attention. I thoroughly enjoyed Joyce Harmon's universe in this book.
March 18, 2021
A fun read
An enjoyable and entertaining story that mixes the characters from Pride and Prejudice with magic. This book features the middle Bennett sister Mary when she goes to stay with Jane and Bingley and discovers she is a mage. Well written with a nicely paced storyline.
An enjoyable and entertaining story that mixes the characters from Pride and Prejudice with magic. This book features the middle Bennett sister Mary when she goes to stay with Jane and Bingley and discovers she is a mage. Well written with a nicely paced storyline.
June 23, 2020
Mary Bennet comes into her own. Moving with her sister Jane and Mr. Bingley to their new home to catalog the vast library and read to her content. Mary discovers being a bluestocking and expanding her mind to horizons she had never even imagined was a wonderful possibility. She vowed to be the best house guest ever so that she would forever be asked to stay and be away from her mothers scorn and constant pushing to find a husband. She had new people to meet and Mr. Bingley had young friends who were single gentlemen who often came to visit. Mary discovers some fascinating books on magic which peak her curiosity but she doesn't give much stock to since she has a analytical mind but when one guest stays too long just for fun she attempts a spell to encourage him to leave. He leaves the next morning. This and dabbling with more attracts attention of the upper crust of London magicians and opens a new world to Mary. Fun and exciting book to a familiar character.
August 30, 2020
A cozy paranormal/historical written in the Austen "Pride and Prejudice" universe. The world is nicely drawn and true to the original source material universe, and the magic is well grounded and given enough detail to be 'believable'. I always enjoy a book-loving heroine, and who wouldn't love to discover a magical book in an old library?
This story is told from younger sister Mary Bennett's perspective with an obvious care and respect for the Austen universe. The author doesn't try to copy Austen's style, but seems to be keeping very true to the personalities and relationships from the novel. Of course we are now given new insights into characters, but they come across in this book as deeper looks into the characters we know - there are no plot-serving revelatory surprises for any of the original characters referred to. I enjoyed the references to events and dialog from P&P. I look forward to exploring the universe and characters further!
This story is told from younger sister Mary Bennett's perspective with an obvious care and respect for the Austen universe. The author doesn't try to copy Austen's style, but seems to be keeping very true to the personalities and relationships from the novel. Of course we are now given new insights into characters, but they come across in this book as deeper looks into the characters we know - there are no plot-serving revelatory surprises for any of the original characters referred to. I enjoyed the references to events and dialog from P&P. I look forward to exploring the universe and characters further!
July 9, 2019
Wow! What a great read! Mary Bennet has certainly come into her own in this story. I liked how the author built the magic in this world, bringing Jane-ites into the realm. I appreciated how the characters stayed fairly true to Jane Austen's characters, yet this book could be read by anyone to enjoy it. I devoured this story, wanting to see what would happen next.
I would recommend this book to anyone who isn't seeking a complex magical world right off the bat (it's definitely introductory - but every author's magical world is different). I would also recommend it to anyone who has seen or read Pride and Prejudice, because you will get a chance to see a few characters from that story.
By the way - it makes for a fun book club book. ;)
I would recommend this book to anyone who isn't seeking a complex magical world right off the bat (it's definitely introductory - but every author's magical world is different). I would also recommend it to anyone who has seen or read Pride and Prejudice, because you will get a chance to see a few characters from that story.
By the way - it makes for a fun book club book. ;)
November 14, 2019
Light and fun
I received this book free from one of the book sites. I do not remember which one! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Mary Bennet finally gets some attention! Enjoy the characters of Pride and Prejudice with the focus being Mary, the often ridiculed daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Bennet. Mary has a vast thirst for knowledge & has been offered a visit to Charles and Jane Bingley's new home. A magnificent library awaits Mary & she begs to catalog it. While beginning her work, she discovers that there is a section in her brother-in-law's new library on magic. Intellectual Mary laughs, but she feels drawn to one book in particular.
A wonderful blend of Jane Austen & J. K. Rowling, this book will be a great fun read! Highly recommended
I received this book free from one of the book sites. I do not remember which one! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Mary Bennet finally gets some attention! Enjoy the characters of Pride and Prejudice with the focus being Mary, the often ridiculed daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Bennet. Mary has a vast thirst for knowledge & has been offered a visit to Charles and Jane Bingley's new home. A magnificent library awaits Mary & she begs to catalog it. While beginning her work, she discovers that there is a section in her brother-in-law's new library on magic. Intellectual Mary laughs, but she feels drawn to one book in particular.
A wonderful blend of Jane Austen & J. K. Rowling, this book will be a great fun read! Highly recommended
January 1, 2020
P&P meets harry potter
I quite enjoyed this book. I like P&P variations/continuations that focus on other characters and this one does a good job of capturing the various characters personalities while also expanding our understanding of who they are. I thought this was really well done, the magical aspect of the story introduced in a logical and realistic way. And the progression of it also made sense and we get to learn about it as Mary learns. There were several laugh out loud moments... the whole bit about the water sprites was quite funny and Caroline, as always, provides her own type of humor. I really like this Mary... she is what I would call "unintentionally funny". Throughly enjoyable story.
I quite enjoyed this book. I like P&P variations/continuations that focus on other characters and this one does a good job of capturing the various characters personalities while also expanding our understanding of who they are. I thought this was really well done, the magical aspect of the story introduced in a logical and realistic way. And the progression of it also made sense and we get to learn about it as Mary learns. There were several laugh out loud moments... the whole bit about the water sprites was quite funny and Caroline, as always, provides her own type of humor. I really like this Mary... she is what I would call "unintentionally funny". Throughly enjoyable story.
March 13, 2021
The weirdest take on P&P ever...
Seriously, why was it necessary to contrive this as a take on Austen? It was so bizarre having Bennetts, Bingleys, and Darcys referenced in a story so far removed from reality. (Yes, P&P is fiction, but it represents an accurate representation of the era.)
As it began, I was kind of impressed that Mary should be redeemed, as she was so hopelessly weird in the original tale, but then she was so quick to recognize and accept a gay couple and I knew this was going to be too ridiculous to reside in the same world as Pride and Prejudice.
The story would have been much better as its own fanciful thing instead of preying upon Austen fans as though this was a legitimate spin-off.
Seriously, why was it necessary to contrive this as a take on Austen? It was so bizarre having Bennetts, Bingleys, and Darcys referenced in a story so far removed from reality. (Yes, P&P is fiction, but it represents an accurate representation of the era.)
As it began, I was kind of impressed that Mary should be redeemed, as she was so hopelessly weird in the original tale, but then she was so quick to recognize and accept a gay couple and I knew this was going to be too ridiculous to reside in the same world as Pride and Prejudice.
The story would have been much better as its own fanciful thing instead of preying upon Austen fans as though this was a legitimate spin-off.
June 14, 2019
In the spirit of Pride and Prejudice
A lot of the language in this book is more flowery and multisyllabic than modern readers are likely to expect. The action is mild and predictable. I expected some romance, but what little there was didn't involve the main character.
All that said, I really enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting and mostly sympathetic. It was refreshing to have conflict that didn't involve saving the earth, and a slower paced story. Fans of Jane Austin and the Bronte sisters who also like fantasy will probably like this book too.
A lot of the language in this book is more flowery and multisyllabic than modern readers are likely to expect. The action is mild and predictable. I expected some romance, but what little there was didn't involve the main character.
All that said, I really enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting and mostly sympathetic. It was refreshing to have conflict that didn't involve saving the earth, and a slower paced story. Fans of Jane Austin and the Bronte sisters who also like fantasy will probably like this book too.
November 30, 2019
A wonderful tale following Mary as she visits with Jane and Bingley in their new house. After being told of the fully stocked library that came with it she decides to catalogue it so, if they should deign to do so anyone looking for a particular book should be able to find it with ease...when Bingley offered the chance of taking any that really catch her eye that just sealed the deal.
Finding a special book...no spoilers ...leads to a whole new range of knowledge and learning that Mary hadn't even thought possible.
I really enjoyed this book and hope to read more in the series soon.
Finding a special book...no spoilers ...leads to a whole new range of knowledge and learning that Mary hadn't even thought possible.
I really enjoyed this book and hope to read more in the series soon.
January 1, 2020
Captivating Story, Characters, and Setting
This was a very enjoyable read that was exceedingly difficult to put away at night. Mary Bennett, our protagonist, learns that magic is real and she is a magician. The story set in the English countryside against the backdrop of changes in the monarchy leads through Mary’s transformation. The pace of growing capability and knowledge is believable. Mary’s intelligence, knowledge of books, and independent spirit help move the story in delighful ways. There is even some romance.
Great start to a series.
This was a very enjoyable read that was exceedingly difficult to put away at night. Mary Bennett, our protagonist, learns that magic is real and she is a magician. The story set in the English countryside against the backdrop of changes in the monarchy leads through Mary’s transformation. The pace of growing capability and knowledge is believable. Mary’s intelligence, knowledge of books, and independent spirit help move the story in delighful ways. There is even some romance.
Great start to a series.
February 25, 2022
Unputdownable gets four stars. I had been avoiding this because Pride and Prejudice spinoff and Mary's profound lack of appeal in that book.
I find it stands up to P&P not too shabbily. Please see Teal's excellent review, which opened me to giving this a chance.
Harmon has endowed MB with self-knowledge and a sense of humor, making her excellent company.
The author does well with the period and fairly well with the language.
I liked all the characters, and the plot rocks, obviously. Glad I waited because now there are three books I can read back-to-back (rubs hands together in glee).
I find it stands up to P&P not too shabbily. Please see Teal's excellent review, which opened me to giving this a chance.
Harmon has endowed MB with self-knowledge and a sense of humor, making her excellent company.
The author does well with the period and fairly well with the language.
I liked all the characters, and the plot rocks, obviously. Glad I waited because now there are three books I can read back-to-back (rubs hands together in glee).
June 3, 2019
A very enjoyable book.
I appreciate the mash up of magic and the characters from Pride and Prejudice. Especially as it is written in Mary Bennets viewpoint. It was fun seeing her grow and stretch her understanding of the universe. I borrowed the book through Kindle Unlimited and then had to purchase it abouthalf way through. I look forward to see what happens next in the next book. I hope it comes out soon.
I appreciate the mash up of magic and the characters from Pride and Prejudice. Especially as it is written in Mary Bennets viewpoint. It was fun seeing her grow and stretch her understanding of the universe. I borrowed the book through Kindle Unlimited and then had to purchase it abouthalf way through. I look forward to see what happens next in the next book. I hope it comes out soon.
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