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Five Dancing Sisters: A Pride and Prejudice Fairy Tale
Elizabeth Bennet liked to say that dancing was the best way to fall in love, and nothing could be better than falling in love, except perhaps dancing with handsome gentlemen at a magical midnight ball. She and her sisters enjoyed this beloved pastime each night in an enchanted sapphire castle.
When Charles Bingley went missing from his new home in Hertfordshire, Fitzwilliam Darcy searched for him at the last place he had been seen; a neighboring estate called Longbourn. Upon discovering sorcery as the cause of Bingley’s disappearance, Darcy was determined to rescue his friend from evil witchcraft.
This sweet, clean fairy tale mixes Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen with The Twelve Dancing Princesses by the Brothers Grimm.
When Charles Bingley went missing from his new home in Hertfordshire, Fitzwilliam Darcy searched for him at the last place he had been seen; a neighboring estate called Longbourn. Upon discovering sorcery as the cause of Bingley’s disappearance, Darcy was determined to rescue his friend from evil witchcraft.
This sweet, clean fairy tale mixes Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen with The Twelve Dancing Princesses by the Brothers Grimm.
69 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 17, 2020
This mash-up starts out with very little similarity to Pride and Prejudice and much more likeness to an old Grimm's fairytale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Mrs. Bennet has died. However, a fortune-teller gave a crypic warning of danger ahead for her dear daughters and, before her death, Mrs. Bennet begged her husband to guard them conscientiously. Consequently, Mr. Bennet takes the precaution of locking the girls' bedroom doors at night.
The five Bennet sisters all love to dance. Their father notices they have to repair their dancing slippers every morning, as if they've been dancing all night rather than locked in their rooms. The girls offer no explanation, and Mr. Bennet is alarmed. Mindful of the fortune-teller's warning and finding no solution on his own, he offers marriage with any of his daughters to the man who solves the mystery.
Unfortunately, all the gentlemen who make the attempt end up disappearing, including Mr. Bingley. That brings Mr. Darcy to Longbourn to find his missing friend.
I enjoyed the fairytale portion of the book despite its lack of resemblance to P&P. This is one of Grimm's less-known stories (probably because Disney never turned it into a movie!). I'm still not certain how much is from the original fairy tale and how much the author changed things up. This part definitely held my interest.
The magical spell is broken about halfway through the book, ending the fairy tale, and the plot proceeds with a more traditional P&P variation. We never learn the villain's motive for casting the enchantment, which is disappointing.
This second part of the book just isn't very interesting. Things eventually resolve, but there's no precipitating event to make it happen; Darcy and Bingley simply decide to return to Hertfordshire after having spent some lonely time away, and everyone lives Happily Ever After.
The writing, appropriately, is in fairytale fashion, so the declarations of love are a bit over-the-top.
Overall, it just feels like these two stories don't really mash-up together successfully.
The five Bennet sisters all love to dance. Their father notices they have to repair their dancing slippers every morning, as if they've been dancing all night rather than locked in their rooms. The girls offer no explanation, and Mr. Bennet is alarmed. Mindful of the fortune-teller's warning and finding no solution on his own, he offers marriage with any of his daughters to the man who solves the mystery.
Unfortunately, all the gentlemen who make the attempt end up disappearing, including Mr. Bingley. That brings Mr. Darcy to Longbourn to find his missing friend.
I enjoyed the fairytale portion of the book despite its lack of resemblance to P&P. This is one of Grimm's less-known stories (probably because Disney never turned it into a movie!). I'm still not certain how much is from the original fairy tale and how much the author changed things up. This part definitely held my interest.
The magical spell is broken about halfway through the book, ending the fairy tale, and the plot proceeds with a more traditional P&P variation. We never learn the villain's motive for casting the enchantment, which is disappointing.
This second part of the book just isn't very interesting. Things eventually resolve, but there's no precipitating event to make it happen; Darcy and Bingley simply decide to return to Hertfordshire after having spent some lonely time away, and everyone lives Happily Ever After.
The writing, appropriately, is in fairytale fashion, so the declarations of love are a bit over-the-top.
Overall, it just feels like these two stories don't really mash-up together successfully.
May 18, 2020
Every man's life is a fairy tale written by God's fingers. ~ Hans Christian Andersen
My fairy tale education is sadly lacking because I did not recognize the story of the “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” which is the basis of this cross-over. That said, the cross-over is well done and very readable.
The tale lacks the angst that I seem to feel is necessary in JAFF. It is short, sweet and except for the discovery of the sorceress (who was someone I usually like) I did enjoy it.
3.5 Stars
My fairy tale education is sadly lacking because I did not recognize the story of the “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” which is the basis of this cross-over. That said, the cross-over is well done and very readable.
The tale lacks the angst that I seem to feel is necessary in JAFF. It is short, sweet and except for the discovery of the sorceress (who was someone I usually like) I did enjoy it.
3.5 Stars
August 4, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
I did read the fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, but it has been so long ago that I don't remember how the tale went. This is a mash up of P&P and that book.
In this short story Mrs. Bennet has died but before dying instructed her husband to guard their daughters. He does this by locking them in their bedrooms each night. However he is perplexed when they need to repair their dancing slippers every morning. He then offers that any man who can solve the mystery of how the slippers get worn out may have his choice of a bride from the five sisters.
Each man who tries disappears until Darcy shows up looking for his friend, Bingley. The Netherfield housekeeper, Mrs. Nicholls, has a talisman and some words of warning for him. Thus he is able to solve the mystery. But he does it while also participating in the dance at the and enchanted castle and then having to escape along with the various men and the sisters.
The story is rather a let-down after this in that Darcy and Bingley leave and then decide to come back and all is forgiven. There is no angst just words of apology and forgiveness.
I did read the fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, but it has been so long ago that I don't remember how the tale went. This is a mash up of P&P and that book.
In this short story Mrs. Bennet has died but before dying instructed her husband to guard their daughters. He does this by locking them in their bedrooms each night. However he is perplexed when they need to repair their dancing slippers every morning. He then offers that any man who can solve the mystery of how the slippers get worn out may have his choice of a bride from the five sisters.
Each man who tries disappears until Darcy shows up looking for his friend, Bingley. The Netherfield housekeeper, Mrs. Nicholls, has a talisman and some words of warning for him. Thus he is able to solve the mystery. But he does it while also participating in the dance at the and enchanted castle and then having to escape along with the various men and the sisters.
The story is rather a let-down after this in that Darcy and Bingley leave and then decide to come back and all is forgiven. There is no angst just words of apology and forgiveness.
May 31, 2020
The Bennet girls love to dance and have been dancing the night away in an enchanted castle. They have lured young men to dance with them beyond a forest of gold, silver and diamonds. Once they are there, they don't want to leave.
However, when Bingley goes missing, Darcy goes looking for him and doesn't fall for the usual tricks. Only when the spell is broken do the men escape can the rest of the story continue. The persons involved have to discover that maybe it was more than the enchantment that brought them together.
However, when Bingley goes missing, Darcy goes looking for him and doesn't fall for the usual tricks. Only when the spell is broken do the men escape can the rest of the story continue. The persons involved have to discover that maybe it was more than the enchantment that brought them together.
December 18, 2021
In this P&P variation the Bennet daughters all like to dance. But every morning their dancing slippers are ruined, and now gentlemen of the district are disappearing. Is there some evil at work, and who can save them.
An entertaining variation
An entertaining variation
May 2, 2022
Sweet short retelling of a fairytale
February 19, 2025
Dancing in a magical world
This is a very quick story that blends the Bennet dancing sisters and men trapped in a magical kingdom to dance with them. With good advice Darcy is able to enter this world with his own will still intact. There were a few things I would have liked to see explored or expanded to clarify some details.
This is a very quick story that blends the Bennet dancing sisters and men trapped in a magical kingdom to dance with them. With good advice Darcy is able to enter this world with his own will still intact. There were a few things I would have liked to see explored or expanded to clarify some details.
April 16, 2023
Very Lovely
With such a modern hair and dress style on the cover I almost refused to read this story. I'm glad I overlooked my first impression, this blending of Pride and Prejudice with a classic fairy tale is truly well done. It has made for a delightful reading hour.
With such a modern hair and dress style on the cover I almost refused to read this story. I'm glad I overlooked my first impression, this blending of Pride and Prejudice with a classic fairy tale is truly well done. It has made for a delightful reading hour.
March 2, 2021
Lovely
A rather lovely little variation inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice and the fairytale “ The 12 Dancing Princesses”
A rather lovely little variation inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice and the fairytale “ The 12 Dancing Princesses”
August 10, 2021
Fairy Tale
Must be fun to write a fairy tale. You get to use magic and no amount of absurdity is too much.
Must be fun to write a fairy tale. You get to use magic and no amount of absurdity is too much.
September 17, 2022
Cute and short.
Great mixture of the fairy tale and the P&P story.
Great mixture of the fairy tale and the P&P story.
November 1, 2025
A borrowed fairy tale
Enchantments and dancing and talismans made for a charming fairy tale. But what did Mrs Hill intend to accomplish with her wizardry?
Enchantments and dancing and talismans made for a charming fairy tale. But what did Mrs Hill intend to accomplish with her wizardry?
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews