Mary Bennet and the Wickham Artifact

Regency Mage #2

by Joyce Harmon

Ancient magic is the worst kind of magic.

Mary Bennet, bluestocking spinster, is settling in happily to her new life as an apprentice magician. Her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner may think she’s at the British Museum helping an eminent history professor, but in fact she’s deep in the museum’s basements, learning magic at the Order of Saint George.

But when Mary’s sister Lydia and her scapegrace husband Wickham join the family, they bring havoc in their wake. Wickham, gravely wounded at the Battle of Waterloo, credits a good luck charm with saving his life.

But Mary recognizes the mysterious amulet as a dangerous magical talisman. Her attempt to render the sinister artifact harmless backfires spectacularly, and now an ancient evil is loose in London.

The most powerful battle mages of the Order have failed to stop this new force, so what can the Order’s newest and greenest apprentice possibly do? Mary only knows that she has to stop this newly awakened menace… or die trying.

Mary Bennet and the Wickham Artifact is the second book of the Regency Mage series, following Mary Bennet and the Bingley Codex. If you enjoy Jane Austen, Harry Potter, and Georgette Heyer, you’ll love Mary Bennet and the Wickham Artifact because it blends Regency comedy of manners and fantasy high adventure.

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Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery, Magic, Historical

194 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 4, 2019

About the author

Joyce 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.

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful! This second of four planned books further develops the magical universe surrounding Mary while it also allows her character to grow thanks to positive, supportive family members (the Gardiners) and friends (both magical and non-magical).

This time, she moves to the Gardiners' Cheapside town home. She continues her magical education and works at the secret offices of the Order of St. George, which are located below the British Museum in London. Again, there's a diverse cast of characters she meets in the various departments, who aren't as restricted by gender, class or wealth as those in the non-magical Regency society.

When Wickham barely survives the battle of Waterloo with a serious hip injury, the Gardiners allow him and Lydia to stay with them as well while he receives treatment at a London facility. To Mary's surprise, she finds herself getting closer to her youngest sister, who has developed some maturity while still retaining her liveliness. Lydia insists Wickham needs more fresh air during his recovery, and Mary joins the couple on outings to the local park, where she makes even more new friends.

A pendant Wickham wore in battle that saved his life turns out to have powerful magical properties. Mary's Order mentors want to study it but inadvertently release a malevolent Egyptian wizard.

I love the vivid descriptions of the many departments Mary works in or visits, particularly the Artifacts area, where the ghostly Mister Philpott has been working for centuries without apparent reason.

Magic. Mystery. Adventure. Heyer-esque characters. Austen Pride and Prejudice characters. What's not to love? Content is clean.

There are several references to the previous book, and I strongly recommend reading Mary Bennet and the Bingley Codex before picking this one up. The next two books in the series haven't been released yet, but they'll definitely go right on top of my TBR pile!

[Abigail Bok · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joyce Harmon's Regency Mage series is the kind of frothy beverage I like served up when life hands me lemons, combining Jane Austen and fantasy (in this case, magicians walking among us). The first book in the series, Mary Bennet and the Bingley Codex, was a delightfully fresh story about adventures awaiting Elizabeth Bennet's least promising sister; it had a good grasp of Regency manners and language and a nicely twisty tale of Mary's introduction to magic.

This second book in the series, Mary Bennet and the Wickham Artifact, suffers a bit from sequelitis. Characters from Jane Austen's original pop up but are then rather taken for granted; they are more useful prop than integral to the storyline. In part this is necessary because Mary's life is taking a new direction with her colleagues in magery, but more could have been made of the double life she is compelled to lead. The plot meanders a bit as we learn more about magic in Regency Britain, and there are underutilized elements and loose ends. A few examples: The release of Mr. Philpott from the Archive made no sense to me chronologically and was thrown off as an aside after much had been made of him. When Lydia and Mary are confronted by the evil Egyptian mage Weserkaf and Lydia runs home for help, wouldn't everyone assume that Mary's subsequent incapacitation would result from something he did to her? Wouldn't the Wickhams and Mrs. Gardiner assume that Weserkaf had ruined her, instead of blithely accepting the excuse that she acquired an exotic fever while working at the museum, when she wasn't even supposed to be at the museum that day? For those who hate cliff-hanger endings, there is a clear stopping point to this tale, though the door is left open for further adventures to be had.

To the story: Mary has been living (in the first book) with Jane and Charles Bingley and accompanies them on a visit to her parents' house, but the Order of Mages wants her to go to London for training. She is to be living with her aunt and uncle Gardiner in Gracechurch Street while supposedly taking up employment assisting a scholar at the British Museum. In fact, the British headquarters of the mages is in the basements of the museum, and we are introduced to a new cast of mages who give her instruction. Meanwhile, her brother-in-law Wickham has returned from Waterloo with a curious Egyptian artifact he won at cards, which he regards as his lucky charm. The magicians see it differently and Mary brings it in to the museum for closer examination, with disastrous results. To tell you more would be to ruin all.

Mary emerges here as an increasingly confident and respected woman, a far cry from the painfully awkward girl of Jane Austen's novel. I enjoyed her interactions with her magical colleagues and the world of magic that Harmon creates (derivative though it may be, recalling especially the Harry Potter books), but I wish that world had been balanced by equal attention to the nonmagical world Mary must also inhabit.

[Pierre · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Barbara K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the past I have been sometimes disappointed by the second or third in a series, but this second in the Regency Mage series featuring Mary Bennet from Pride and Prejudice is very nearly as good as the first. This one involves an artifact that Wickham acquires just before Waterloo, won in a card game from another officer. Then it seems to save his life during the battle, when he is shot in the chest and the amulet deflects a bullet that would surely have killed him. He comes home with a badly injured hip, and is to get treatments to help him walk again, in London. The Gardiners invite the Wickhams to stay with them.

Mary is already living with the Gardiners while she attends training with the Order of St. George (a magical order), at the British Museum, or rather in the large underground, secret complex beneath the museum.

The object appears to have Egyptian markings, and as soon as Mary touches Wickham's pendant, she feels something that leads her to believe it might be a magical object. So she tells her magical instructors about it and they become quite curious. Apparently the ancient Egyptians are known to have produced strong magic that is different from what is known by modern mages.

I enjoyed this installment in the series quite a lot, and find that the author's descriptions of people, places, artifacts, and magical events are so clear that I feel as if I'm there. I can almost begin to believe in ghosts and magic. I especially like Lydia's character in this story. As a young military wife she's had to outgrow some of her youthful silliness and spendthrift ways. She's growing into a woman who knows what she needs, and understands she needs to learn more, sometimes even from books, in order to take charge of her life. This growth is a great help to her in dealing with Wickham, who as we know would always rather take the easy way, and spend all his money while he's at it. Now he's disabled and on half-pay, so Lydia is taking charge.

[Teresita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A whole new world!

Where magic exists and may be practiced. A wonderfully original story that maintains the unwavering interest of the reader. Captivating!

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical Mary

Really enjoyed this. Love Mary and the adventures with magic are really inventive and diverting. Definitely recommend this book. On to the next.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 stars.

Parts of this really dragged, but seeing Wickham, Lydia, and the Gardiners really saved the day. I find this series to be heavy in the telling, not showing, department, which is unfortunate since I find the premise to be really cute. There are supposed to be four books in this series and seeing that I'm halfway through it already, I'll probably finish it out. Hopefully, the next one will be better. :)

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2021 bk 127. Mary's brother in law was injured at Waterloo. The couple's descent upon their London uncle and aunt (and where Mary is currently living) results in the unveiling of a previously unknown artifact and then the revitalization of an ancient evil wizard. Fun ensues as Mary explores her new friendships, new skills, and life out from under her mother's thumb. I think this is my favorite of the four.

[Voirrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fun! Mary is thrilled to be in London learning more and more about her new-found skills in magic. Less thrilled that her sister Lydia, and her husband Whickham, are to join her at their Aunt Gardiner's whilst he recovers from injuries sustained at Waterloo.

And soon Whickham's good luck token is going to create all sorts of havoc...

[Pauline Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

So. Much. Fun. I absolutely loved this book, almost from beginning to end. Almost? Well, there were a few moments early on when I feared that it was going to get bogged down in a lot of Harry Potter-esque magic school descriptions, with all the action pushed to the last few chapters, which is probably perfect for some readers but not me. Happily, things warmed up pretty quickly and there were some tremendous goings-on that had me cheering wildly. And the ending was twelve shades of awesome.

Here’s the premise: Mary Bennet (yes, that Mary Bennet) discovered that she has magical capabilities in the first book of the series (Mary Bennet and the Bingley Codex). Now she’s been whisked off to London to the Order of St George, tucked away in secret parts of the British Museum, to be instructed properly in magical abilities of various sorts. Because her ability wasn’t discovered until she was an adult, she hasn’t grown up knowing the correct way of doing things, so her efforts are sometimes rather unorthodox, and - oh joy! - her mentors actually encourage her free thinking and creativity. This is very much an improvement on the conventional person-with-new-abilities trope, where the mentors try to shoehorn her into the proper ways, with the result that uncontrolled magic breaks out at inopportune moments. Of course, there’s still much to learn, so she does some herbology (here we are in Harry Potter mode again - I half expected care of magical creatures to turn up next), and - even more joy! - battle magic! I do love me some battle magic.

Out in the muggle - sorry, non-magical world, we have some familiar characters. Mary is staying with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, and who should also be staying but Lydia and Wickham, the latter recovering from an injury received at Waterloo. Wickham’s survival seems to be due to a mysterious Egyptian amulet, which he thinks merely deflected a bullet, but which Mary recognises as a magical artifact. And shortly thereafter, mayhem breaks out as an ancient form of evil is let loose and the race is on to save the world and so forth.

There was so much to enjoy in this book. I loved some of the curiosities in the museum basement, such as Mr Philpott, and the oh-so-useful Doors. I loved the little vignettes of Lydia and Wickham. I loved the small but significant role for Prinny (the Prince Regent). I loved the teaching of basic self-defence as well as battle magic (how sensible). And - oh joy of joys! - is that a love interest for Mary hoving into view? I appreciate that, if so, it will develop over the course of multiple books, but I shall be sadly disappointed if she doesn’t walk off with her charming young lord in the end.

I won’t say anything about the defeat-the-bad-guy ending except that it was a true punch-the-air moment, leaving me with a huge grin on my face. This is a wonderful read, highly recommended for anyone who thought the one thing lacking in Jane Austen’s work was a little magic, or anyone who suspected there was more to Mary Bennet than the whiny, priggish bluestocking she appeared to be in Pride and Prejudice. Five stars, and there are at least two more books in the series to look forward to: Mary Bennet and the Beast of Rosings Park, and Mary Bennet and the Shades of Pemberley. I can’t wait.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure why I waited so long to read the second book in this series. I mean, in a way it’s a good thing that I rationed things out a bit since there’s only four of them, but I know I had a great time with the first one, so it feels a little silly to not launch into the rest of the series. So I guess now I’m fixing my mistake.

The second book begins with Mary visiting home, but this is largely a way to fill the readers in on the important events of the first book and contrast the new magical and self-confident Mary with the shy and dowdy one of Austen’s original novel. The main action of this installment takes place in London, as it turns out that the Order of Saint George is headquartered beneath the British Museum. This allows Mary to have the easy cover story that she’s been hired to work in the library in the mundane museum while she actually spends her days furthering her magical education.

I continue to enjoy the worldbuilding of this series. Having the headquarters under the British Museum is a clever idea, and the six basement levels pack a lot of magic into them. There’s various administrative offices and a guy dedicated to security, but there’s also more supernatural things like the ghost-haunted archives and the Doors that allow easy transit to other parts of the British Isles. I loved the bit about how there used to be a Door to North America, but it closed from the other side in 1776.

I also like how Mary gets to come into her own as a confident member of the magical society. There is a learning curve for her, because it turns out that the magical world is much more equitable than mundane Regency Britain. Class and gender don’t impact one’s strength in magic, and I like that Mary is surprised to hear working class accents from her fellow mages. It’s a reminder that Mary comes from a particular background and it shapes how she views the world. It turns out Mary can sense artifacts, and she’s just as eager to learn everything as I would be, giving a great excuse to have her explore potions and combat magic alongside delving into the archives.

I said in my review of the previous book that I enjoy how the author integrates the original Pride and Prejudice characters beyond Mary, and that continues to be the case here. Early in the book, Napoleon escapes exile and much of Mary’s first week or two at the museum are consumed by magically monitoring the Battle of Waterloo. Wickham is involved, and he ends up being sent to the Gardiners in London to convalesce. In the original novel, Wickham is quite the scoundrel, so I like that contrary to other Austen variants, he’s given some redeeming qualities here. He’s still not good company in normal times, but it turns out that he’s actually somebody you want by your side on the battlefield. And Lydia gains a bit more dimensionality to her, as the two years she’s spent married to Wickham have helped her realize the importance of keeping their finances tight. In fact, she has a subplot about trying to convince him to move to Italy that I liked.

The main plot also builds from Wickham’s military service, as he managed to pick up an Egyptian amulet that he credits with saving his life - the titular Wickham Artifact. Mary eventually discovers that it was the possession of a powerful ancient Egyptian wizard when the wizard comes back to life and starts making trouble in London. I do feel like the plot took a bit long to really get going, and when it happens, Mary is largely sitting on the sidelines rather than going out and investigating. On the other hand, Mary is instrumental in the wizard’s defeat and makes a rather impressive display of magic: she opens a Door to the orbit of Jupiter and tricks the wizard into going through. The story is still generally enjoyable, and Mary’s actions do fit with the running theme that she’s powerful because she doesn’t know what she can’t do, which is an idea I like.

Overall, this was a fun second installment. It maybe didn’t blow my mind quite as much as the first, because in a lot of ways it builds on what the first established and the first book had already shown that a good story mixing Austen and magic can be done. Really, my main disappointment is that I am now halfway through the series, and since I plan to start the third book soon, it won’t be much longer until I’m all the way through.

[Bleachedblackcat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pros: we get to see various characters from the original novel and see other sides to them. Such as Lydia is still a bit silly and flirty but she is also devoted to taking care of her husband and tries to find a cheaper place for them to live. There is not a lot of “calling out” regency era morals unlike other books I have read, maybe some old regency racism but it is hard to tell if that is to be era prejudice or attempts to put magic to history on the author’s part.


Biggest cons: action and actual plot takes forever to actually get there. I think it perhaps starts halfway through the novel and even then just kinda putters around for a while. Biggest issue is how Mary is all around awesome with no flaws and is never wrong and of course can use rare magic and of course is the only one who might help a ghost and of course- yes everyone Mary Bennet has become a Mary Sue type hero. I can forgive her having grown up and not giving moral lessons like she did in the original novel in the two books. But she needs SOME flaws. But no she is always right. Always. Two stars for those two major flaws in Thai book that I had been looking forward to reading.

[M.H. Thaung]

This sequel to Mary Bennet and the Bingley Codex was an easy read. The pace is leisurely with a genteel tone, as we might expect. I wouldn't have minded seeing more in the way of conversational barbs - most of the characters were uniformly civilised and polite. That meant that I didn't really get a sense of distinct personalities. The first third or so felt very much like a "settling into school" sequence. Mary learns more magic and meets various people, but it feels like setup for the rest of the story. There was also a lot of conversational repetition, with Mary thinking something, saying it, and then others repeating what she'd thought.

As with the first book, we follow Mary as she learns things and then makes use of what she learns in some innovative manner. It was fun to see how things played out, although Mary herself didn't really steer the plot as much as I'd have liked to see.

Pleasant, lightweight read in a fantasy Regency world.

[Darlene A. Cowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters are real and well developed and Mary has grown as a person when she discovers she has magical powers. She begins as an intern magician in The Order which determines the practice of magic in England, Mary grows in her own understanding of herself and the world while living with her aunt and uncle and learning at the British Museum.
Wickham and Lydia enter the picture after he is injured and Waterloo. He has in his possession a talisman belonging to an Egyptian who practiced magic and the mummy wants his necklace back.
Mary must work wither her new magic friends to defeat the mummy and save Britain.
Book is light easy to read. Mary is a fully developed character with her own ideas. She is surrounded by ghosts, magicians, archivists and powerful people.
A more professional Mary seeking what she wants to do is delightful. I can not wait to read the rest of the set.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why I was surprised. I did read the first book and liked it, but it has been long enough ago I have forgotten it entirely. Regardless of why, I am impressed by this writer and look forward to more of their works. The characters are fascinating because the main character and heroine is a magician learning magic from Magicians located in the British Museum. The plot is straightforward and the premise is finding out what sort of Egyptian artifact saved Mary's brother-in-law and whether it was intentionally evil. As it turned out it was just a tool, but one of enormous power. The way the evil person was dealt with is unique and well worth the reading of the story to find out how it was done. I most definitely recommend this book and the first one, and I look forward to reading the next book.

[Jeanie's Kindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

On how exciting to be Mary Bennet! Normally when you think of a bookish bluestocking,you think of dull dusty tomes and hours of boredom. Not so for Miss Bennet! She spends hours in the archives true enough but there is a ghost, her battle instructor is a handsome young Lord. She meets a lotion and herb master who is instructing her in practical as well as magical potions. Lydia and Wickham are her as Wickham was injured at the battle of Waterloo and any never walk again. He credits his life being saved to a odd medallion he obtained in a card game. It looks to Mary to be Egyptian in origin. This sets off a whirlwind of events that nearly end Mary's life and even threatens the monarchy.

[Deborah Wallen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun pastiche featuring Mary Bennet, the middle sister of Elizabeth and Jane Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. Mary always came off sour and annoying to me originally, but in this series, she really has a time to shine. Lydia and Wickham return from Waterloo, with Wickham gravely wounded in the battle. Apparently his life was saved by a mysterious talisman he carried. Mary, an apprentice magician must retrieve this magical object and put it in the care of the magical artifacts department in the British Museum.
Lots of fun and adventure and Mary meets two handsome gentlemen. No romance, there is an attraction.
Well worth a read for fans of cross-overs and P&P.

[Jesica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful! I’m throughly enjoying this series… Mary Is learning more magic and saving the world too 😉

“I had been unusual all my life; I might as well embrace the fact.”

“When something feels wrong or off or bad about a circumstance, one ought always to stop and consider where that feeling is coming from and what it means.”

“Be a friend and assist your friends, expecting no return. The return will come where you least expect it.”

[Diana (DomesticGoddess) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pondered the thought of myself as that unusual creature, the professional woman. It set me apart from my sisters and the common lot of womankind, but I rather liked that. I had been unusual all my life; I might as well embrace the fact.

Growing up, I had believed that this marriage mania was a peculiarity of Mother’s, but as I traveled more and met more people, I seemed to find it everywhere.

[Craftyhj · Rating 4 out of 5]

an engaging sequel

3.75*

This second book in a series of 4 is perhaps not as good as the first one but is definitely worth reading. I was engaged throughout and enjoyed reading this.

I did however find myself in danger of losing track of some of the new characters, all “Mr This” and “Miss That”. Perhaps the inclusion of some given names might have helped.

All in all a satisfying book and i will definitely continue on with the series.

[Lacie Fitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addicting Series

This is the second book in this series I have read, and I must say that I am hooked! I finished this second novel in one day! I find myself unable to put the book down, and like the main character of the story, I have to keep reading to know more, and to know how the adventure turns out.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always wonderful

This is probably my favorite P&P continuation. I love how the author has taken and expanded upon characters either neglected or reduced to plot points in the novel.
Mary Bennet shows herself to be as dynamic a character as her sister without having a Darcy to play off of (but with budding magical powers). I highly recommend this series.

[Debbonnaire Kovacs · Rating 5 out of 5]

So. Much. Fun!

Anyone who loves Pride and Prejudice will love anything written by Joyce Harmon even more. This series, in particular, I guarantee you, is a unique view of what might have happened to Mary Bennett!

[Teri Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm quite stunned by how good this book is!

With Wickham in the title, and he and his irksome wife as main characters, I expected to be annoyed with the whole story. It's not about them, they are just taking up space while Mary Bennett has an incredible adventure.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 2nd was even better

I enjoyed Joyce Harmon’s first Mary Bennet book, but this one was magically better. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Mary and the other characters seem more rounded and engaging this time. Looking forward to the next book.

[Karen Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and fascinating

After reading the first in this series, I just had to buy the second, and I’m glad I did. Immersive, detailed and intriguing like its predecessor and a romping good read.

[Adelle Stavis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Read

Next in The Regency Mage series. Lighter adventure than the Stephanie Barron Jane Austen Mystery Series. Mary is given a job at the British Museum to cover her apprenticeship in magic. Farfetched and silly fun without facetiousness or self aware smarminess.

[Sherry Parmentier · Rating 5 out of 5]

!

A nice clean fun read. Totally all about Mary Bennet in a way you have never seen her. Loved it

[Peggy Gaffney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it.

This is an example of what reading Jane Austin would have been like if she had written fantasy, but still kept the historical setting and manners.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book.