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Magical Regency #6
Bronwyn: A Fantasy Austen Retelling
He will make her happy, but she will make him everything.
As the poor relation living off of her uncle’s charity, Bronwyn experiences the magic, elegance, and good society found at Mansfield Park from a distance. Though she finds being her aunt's companion tedious and boring, it does allow her to keep tight control over her magic. The magic she has refused to use since the tragic incident that drove her from her home and family in Portsmouth.
The orderly existence she has come to depend on is spoiled with the arrival of Rion and Lynessa Torr at the Mansfield parsonage. As love and trouble wrap around the young people at the Park, will Bronwyn have the strength to keep her emotional magic locked away or will she find the courage to open her heart and mind to new possibilities?
Bronwyn is a magical retelling of Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park. All books in the Magical Regency series are stand-alone novels and may be read in any order.
As the poor relation living off of her uncle’s charity, Bronwyn experiences the magic, elegance, and good society found at Mansfield Park from a distance. Though she finds being her aunt's companion tedious and boring, it does allow her to keep tight control over her magic. The magic she has refused to use since the tragic incident that drove her from her home and family in Portsmouth.
The orderly existence she has come to depend on is spoiled with the arrival of Rion and Lynessa Torr at the Mansfield parsonage. As love and trouble wrap around the young people at the Park, will Bronwyn have the strength to keep her emotional magic locked away or will she find the courage to open her heart and mind to new possibilities?
Bronwyn is a magical retelling of Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park. All books in the Magical Regency series are stand-alone novels and may be read in any order.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2020
22 people are currently reading
729 people want to read
About the author
Grace J. Croy
24 books205 followersVisit Grace's website gracejcroy.com and join her MVR (Most Valuable Reader) group to get her e-book, KISS ME, JANE free.
She is the author of both historical and contemporary romance that is clean and uplifting.
Grace loves reading, writing, her cats, travel, and delicious potatoes. She lives in Utah in a little house at the bottom of a little mountain, where the snow piles high in the winter.
She graduated with a BA in English from Utah State University, and then went on to study Library and Information Science from Emporia State University. When she's not writing, she works as a librarian. It’s the second-best job in the world—she gets paid to buy books, plan awesome community events, and advise readers on what books to try next. Creating stories is, of course, the best job in the world.
Her favorite places to travel include New Zealand, California, and Paris. No matter how long she's away, she always loves to come home.
She is the author of both historical and contemporary romance that is clean and uplifting.
Grace loves reading, writing, her cats, travel, and delicious potatoes. She lives in Utah in a little house at the bottom of a little mountain, where the snow piles high in the winter.
She graduated with a BA in English from Utah State University, and then went on to study Library and Information Science from Emporia State University. When she's not writing, she works as a librarian. It’s the second-best job in the world—she gets paid to buy books, plan awesome community events, and advise readers on what books to try next. Creating stories is, of course, the best job in the world.
Her favorite places to travel include New Zealand, California, and Paris. No matter how long she's away, she always loves to come home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 25, 2020
Ahhhh the last one. I was so hoping they would have more... You guys could redo Wuthering Heights! or Jane Eyer, don't stop! I love these:} It's like they took everything that bugged me about these stories and changed them to what I like. This one has a major change that I LOVED!!! Seriously made the ending so good! I loved Bronwyn! Man what a great complex character! I loved the use of the magic in this one, so subtle they don't rely on the magic to make the story. These are sweet proper romance books with magic!
November 12, 2020
I love Jane Austen and I love fantasy. Mansfield Park is also Jane Austen’s most underrated novel and I will fight you on that. So I couldn’t pass this book up.
It delivers. Super fun, well-developed characters, and an interesting twist on the ending. I’ll be coming back to this one.
It delivers. Super fun, well-developed characters, and an interesting twist on the ending. I’ll be coming back to this one.
November 26, 2020
Wow!
I am amazed at how much I loved this book!! I have to say, I never was a fan of Jane Austen’s version of Mansfield park and retellings of her stories were difficult for me because you know what happens. That wasn’t the case with this book! Grace J Croy did a fabulous job making the story believable and I am soooo happy about the ending. I don’t even think I can express that enough. I won’t spoil it but you have to read the book with an open mind and don’t be so set on the original story.
You should definitely read this book! Give it a shot! I took longer to get hooked since I “thought” I knew what was going to happen. Once the plot changed, that’s when I was a lot more invested.
I am amazed at how much I loved this book!! I have to say, I never was a fan of Jane Austen’s version of Mansfield park and retellings of her stories were difficult for me because you know what happens. That wasn’t the case with this book! Grace J Croy did a fabulous job making the story believable and I am soooo happy about the ending. I don’t even think I can express that enough. I won’t spoil it but you have to read the book with an open mind and don’t be so set on the original story.
You should definitely read this book! Give it a shot! I took longer to get hooked since I “thought” I knew what was going to happen. Once the plot changed, that’s when I was a lot more invested.
June 3, 2021
Grace J. Croy was definitely the best author in this line-up, and she did an excellent job of bringing a bit of magic to Austen's two slowest and quietest novels.
I loved how much of this book was told through letters between Bronwyn and her brother, effectively summarizing the slower parts without feeling like a summary.
I will state that the author DID change the ending of this story, but personally, I did feel that the romance of Mansfield Park WAS actually between Fanny and Henry, and that the story is actually a tragedy of what happens when a man refuses to grow as a person. As such, I enjoyed getting to actually ship the pair and see a what-if he didn't let his bad habits destroy their relationship, though it did ultimately change the heart of the story and I ALMOST knocked a star on that account.
In all, this series was an awesome, magical spin on Austen's world, each author did a great job of making the stories their own, but some of them were more skilled at telling an effective story than others.
I loved how much of this book was told through letters between Bronwyn and her brother, effectively summarizing the slower parts without feeling like a summary.
I will state that the author DID change the ending of this story, but personally, I did feel that the romance of Mansfield Park WAS actually between Fanny and Henry, and that the story is actually a tragedy of what happens when a man refuses to grow as a person. As such, I enjoyed getting to actually ship the pair and see a what-if he didn't let his bad habits destroy their relationship, though it did ultimately change the heart of the story and I ALMOST knocked a star on that account.
In all, this series was an awesome, magical spin on Austen's world, each author did a great job of making the stories their own, but some of them were more skilled at telling an effective story than others.
November 26, 2020
Another fun Magical Regency novel, Bronwyn is a retelling of Mansfield Park. I have actually not read Mansfield Park, but I did enjoy Bronwyn! Bronwyn lives off of her uncle’s charity as her aunt’s companion at Mansfield Park. Though her life is tedious and monotonous, it also allows her to keep her magic under strict control. She is able to experience the elegance, magic, and society of Mansfield, safe from the incident that drove her from her family and home and her magic that caused it. However, the arrival of Rion and Lynessa Torr to visit the Mansfield parsonage destroys her orderly life. Suddenly love and trouble in equal measures are surrounding the young people and Bronwyn’s magic is pushing at her. Will she find peace and joy?
This was really cute! I felt bad for Bronwyn, she was so careful with herself, never letting anyone really see her feelings or opinions. She held her magic tightly and herself even tighter. Even though she had opinions and feelings, she saw herself as an outsider to Mansfield and not truly part of the family there. Her family at Mansfield was difficult for her to deal with, especially her aunt, who was not kind to her. When Rion and Lynessa come, she is shocked. Suddenly, there is more magic around her than ever and new problems arising. She was experiencing new feelings and struggling to deal with the new arrivals. Honestly, there were times where I was a bit frustrated with Bronwyn. She had difficulty trusting herself and trusting others, especially when changing her opinions. However, I really appreciated how she learned her lessons, learned to trust herself, and to find love. I also liked how thankful she became for the kindness she experienced. It was so cool to see her grow into her powers.
The rest of the characters also played such a good role into the story, bringing the tension and the growth. Bronwyn’s cousins had to discover what they truly wanted and needed too, though they certainly did not experience the same ending. If you have read Mansfield Park, I am sure that you know that general story, but seeing the magic added was really cool for me. I thought it gave the story so much, I loved seeing all the different abilities. It did have a few twists, so be prepared that it does not follow the story exactly. I certainly enjoyed it and am currently trying to read all the rest of the series! It is a clean romance and great for those looking for a classic with a twist!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
This was really cute! I felt bad for Bronwyn, she was so careful with herself, never letting anyone really see her feelings or opinions. She held her magic tightly and herself even tighter. Even though she had opinions and feelings, she saw herself as an outsider to Mansfield and not truly part of the family there. Her family at Mansfield was difficult for her to deal with, especially her aunt, who was not kind to her. When Rion and Lynessa come, she is shocked. Suddenly, there is more magic around her than ever and new problems arising. She was experiencing new feelings and struggling to deal with the new arrivals. Honestly, there were times where I was a bit frustrated with Bronwyn. She had difficulty trusting herself and trusting others, especially when changing her opinions. However, I really appreciated how she learned her lessons, learned to trust herself, and to find love. I also liked how thankful she became for the kindness she experienced. It was so cool to see her grow into her powers.
The rest of the characters also played such a good role into the story, bringing the tension and the growth. Bronwyn’s cousins had to discover what they truly wanted and needed too, though they certainly did not experience the same ending. If you have read Mansfield Park, I am sure that you know that general story, but seeing the magic added was really cool for me. I thought it gave the story so much, I loved seeing all the different abilities. It did have a few twists, so be prepared that it does not follow the story exactly. I certainly enjoyed it and am currently trying to read all the rest of the series! It is a clean romance and great for those looking for a classic with a twist!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
November 21, 2020
“Books are a uniquely portable magic”. I have always loved this quote! This was a 1 day read for me that not only had magic in it, but felt uniquely magical as well!
This is my first book by Grace J. Croy so I had no idea what to expect. This is also my first fantasy/Jane Austen mash-up. I’m here to say they are both winners! Fantasy is the genre I read the least of, but always seem to love when I pick them up. Croy’s writing and imagination was so fun to get to know throughout this book. I especially loved all of the magical elements throughout the story. Every character seems to have different magical purpose, and use them for plenty of different purposes...some good and some not so good. I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery of Bronwyn and it kept me turning pages well into the early hours of the morning...and you know how much I value my sleep. For my Jane Austen lovers there is a surprising twist at the end that has me re- thinking all of these characters and I can’t wait to go back and read the original with a new set of eyes.
This is a super fun read if you’re not quite ready to take on the Jane Austen original! The fantasy elements are super fun with a little intrigue thrown in! I’m excited to read the rest of these fantasy/Austen retellings!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is my first book by Grace J. Croy so I had no idea what to expect. This is also my first fantasy/Jane Austen mash-up. I’m here to say they are both winners! Fantasy is the genre I read the least of, but always seem to love when I pick them up. Croy’s writing and imagination was so fun to get to know throughout this book. I especially loved all of the magical elements throughout the story. Every character seems to have different magical purpose, and use them for plenty of different purposes...some good and some not so good. I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery of Bronwyn and it kept me turning pages well into the early hours of the morning...and you know how much I value my sleep. For my Jane Austen lovers there is a surprising twist at the end that has me re- thinking all of these characters and I can’t wait to go back and read the original with a new set of eyes.
This is a super fun read if you’re not quite ready to take on the Jane Austen original! The fantasy elements are super fun with a little intrigue thrown in! I’m excited to read the rest of these fantasy/Austen retellings!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 21, 2020
A fantastic reimagined retelling of a loved Jane Austen story. I love stories with a hint of magic. This one did not disappoint. The characters were well developed and consistent with their original counterparts. Which made it easy to follow. But with enough twists to keep one engaged and wondering how things would resolve.
November 19, 2020
Beautiful cover! I really enjoyed the mashup of fantasy and Jane Austen. I loved the twist at the ending. It helped me rethink how I view the characters. I wish Bronwyn would have explored/practiced her magic more but it was a fun read. If you love Jane Austen you will enjoy this spinoff.
October 31, 2021
A delightful adaptation of Mansfield Park which added in magic and special powers. I read it much too fast, but liked the characters, especially w their magic. This new author managed to maintain Austen’s voice while eliminating some of the things that didn’t necessarily move the story forward. This book is self-published and well worth the read.
July 7, 2021
**Actually a 3.75-rating**
[7/6/2021 @ 11pm]
I NEED to think and ponder. I am not upset just genuinely stunned beyond speech...so I have to use some space to find proper words to convey what I feel. This had a twist ending I was not expecting, which caused it not to be a true representation/adaption of Mansfield Park...and I am sitting in murky disappointment, wanting to understand where my feelings/emotions should go.
My least favorite of what has been an amazingly thought-provoking and highly unique, fascinating and original Fantasy-retellings of Austen's work...sad to see it end on a weak whimper...ugh
MY REVIEW
I feel like I have been missing out on leaving a decent review for each of these books, because, for the most part, they ALL have been exceptionally stellar. But what drew me in more was that the Magic System drummed up for this entire series, and which each Author followed [some did repeat a 2nd book], every writer adhered to the same, similar guidelines so it was wonderful to not have 6-different styles of laying out just how these Austen Retells would enter the Fantasy realm.
I would almost say these are Fantasy Light, or Fantasy Adjacent because everything is the same to normal Regency Era England, except...sometimes there is magic being used and there are charms and relics...and also [my favorite] a history of Dragons and now wyrvens [baby dragons, in essence - think like a combo of Toothless & Stitch].
What I thought was rather interesting is the whole entire background into why Regency England is littered with magic and a magic system is that everyone is a descendant directly from Merlin. I had no idea it would intrigue me so much. Mainly because I never had to reach far outside my imagination to think of a concept LIKE [something]. Nah, it was MERLIN's magical realm we were in, but with an Austen flair.
Okay, I really do insist I go backward and do a review of each prior book, but for now we are stuck within THIS final and closing Austen retell...and sadly this one was THE WEAKEST, by far.
Here is an FYI...Persuasion & P&P tie for First Place for me, then comes Mansfield Park...somewhere in the background Emma and Sense & Sensibility try to duke it out for whatever position they wish [because I feel similar for both] and then comes sad, brokenhearted Northanger Abby. Not a huge fave of mine but whenever these kinds of book series happen, what can often shock me is that my least Faves tend to become my favorites within the series, itself, and my Faves seem to miss-the-mark in adaptions/retells completely.
So, uhm, in this series ... P&P [Book 1] was still phenomenal here. Persuasion [Book 3] was good, but not amazing...and the standouts where sometimes my least Faves in OG-text... like Emma & S&S [Books 2 & 4]. And then suddenly we end with Mansfield Park and the most shocking twist of all...
I am going to open with Austen's OG-text character names because those are what I know. I will only break out this book's names for the 3 Main MCs...
Fanny Price is Bronwyn, also called "Winnie"
Edward Bertram is Gavin
Henry Crawford is Rion [said like "Ry-on"]
Let me be clear...Mr. Edward Bertram is no Mr. Darcy, nor Mr. Knightly, nor Colonel Brandon. Not even a light spattering of Captain Frederick Wentworth...but he is [and always will be--to me] Fanny Price's. So, to NOT have them end up together seems to be a slight misrepresentation.
There is not a warning, or I sincerely did not heed it properly as the story seriously kept dodging Henry Crawford's smarminess and created him to be only slightly caddish and a constant flirt but unaware...too charming for Fanny to be easily fooled.
But then certain scenes mimicked certain Austen OG-text and Henry Crawford kept coming out smelling like roses...and...we went from flirting with Fanny's cousin IN FRONT OF FANNY...to then...Henry Crawford flat out LOVES Fanny Price and stupid, clueless Edward Bertram is still stuck in his dumb loop-de-loop about Mary Crawford.
I should have taken the gist of what was happening to then come a viable, clear conclusion that Fanny would end up with Henry Crawford in this because the Author wiped his slate clean of sexual connotations and also stripped him of being able to be "caught nekkid" while easing his broken heart about Fanny's marriage refusal to then slip into bed so easily with her married cousin, whom he had been flirting with prior to her marriage.
The thing is...THAT cad Henry Crawford was all gone. Also his covert indiscretions, which are A TON and then his penchant for being just an outright scumbag. Passive Aggressive when Fanny rejects him to then turn around and BLAME HER for him sleeping with her married cousin. Yeah...THAT Henry is not here. At all.
I guess you could say Henry and Edward switched roles. But don't get me wrong... Edward did still befriend Fanny and Fanny had a deep yearning [love?]...and then suddenly when Henry is shown to be an Upstanding Stellar guy... Fanny realizes Edward is JUST A FRIEND and she now loves Henry Crawford.
O_O...so, maybe it was until Zero Hour when Fanny knew HERSELF where her heart really lies...lays? is placed...
It's jarring yes, but it does look or it is written as such since Henry Crawford gets a few dozen 2nd chances and never lets go of HIS LOVE for Fanny as he pursues her and makes sure she knows she can count on him. ALWAYS. At the drop of a hat.
hmm...it makes me wonder...
...the role of Edward Bertram, as played by Gavin... was a very watered-down extremely tepid example of Edward that never quite came up to snuff. Even when Fanny, as played by Bronwyn, deeply loves, or believes she does have serious feelings for Gavin...he's milquetoast, at best, to HER, when OG-Text Edward is seriously amaze-balls supportive and weirdly loving. At least in some of the movie adaptions of Mansfield Park...Edward always appears just as secretly and wistfully attracted to Fanny, steadily easing into possibly loving her as he sees her inner beauty push outward.
And, uhm... Henry, as played by Rion, is now taking positions that were given to Edward in Austen's OG-text. It felt very...awkward at times, because I always expected the pin to drop for Rion...but he never became outright scummy, like his counterpart, Henry.
I guess I had high hopes Henry Crawford was still a scumbag [because this story does give him a secret he is keeping, but, eh...recall...in this book he always comes smelling like roses, in the end]...and Fanny and Edward would get their HEA...
But, uh, yeah... Edward or, excuse me Gavin does come to a conclusion about how god-awful Mary Crawford was...and DOES propose to Fanny/Bronwyn...but then she FEELS...empty... nothing... suddenly her once great love for Gavin is now washed away because she has been utterly charmed and now loves... Rion...who is still in my mind "Henry Crawford".
Wash away the deceit...the adultery...and then the Cousins-In-Love bit...because yes, Edward and Fanny are "maternal" cousins...
I think if folks are worried about an incestuous relation between Edward & Fanny...and feel icked out by it...then this makes some sense to why you would veer in a completely different direction. And, yeah... now that I have thunk-on-it-all, there was clear foreshadowing so many times and then, of course...the flip versions of BOTH Edward & Henry boggled my mind. I had some idea a strangeness or shift-change was happening, but I still held out hope in Zero Hour...alas, nah...Fanny marries and has a wonderful loving marriage with Henry Crawford.
I simply cannot wash away how he is in Austen's original text. I wanted to like and enjoy Rion because inside this Fantasy Realm, he did seem different, charming and likable...to eventually sincerely fall in love with Bronwyn...but, yeah...my OG-text heart held out some Hail Mary Pass at the end...
If you claim this is a retelling...or an adaption...the OG-text never strays from MY MIND, or heart, especially if I love certain characters together.
I really simply feel saddened the great series had to end on a whimper like this...no one else went off-script and did anything different in such a massive way...so I am unsure why this one single book becomes such a standout... unless whomever writes or pens the prose feels uncomfortable with cousin-to-cousin intimacy. That's fine. I do understand because as a writer you have to feel justified in your honesty as your story unfolds.
[7/6/2021 @ 11pm]
I NEED to think and ponder. I am not upset just genuinely stunned beyond speech...so I have to use some space to find proper words to convey what I feel. This had a twist ending I was not expecting, which caused it not to be a true representation/adaption of Mansfield Park...and I am sitting in murky disappointment, wanting to understand where my feelings/emotions should go.
My least favorite of what has been an amazingly thought-provoking and highly unique, fascinating and original Fantasy-retellings of Austen's work...sad to see it end on a weak whimper...ugh
MY REVIEW
I feel like I have been missing out on leaving a decent review for each of these books, because, for the most part, they ALL have been exceptionally stellar. But what drew me in more was that the Magic System drummed up for this entire series, and which each Author followed [some did repeat a 2nd book], every writer adhered to the same, similar guidelines so it was wonderful to not have 6-different styles of laying out just how these Austen Retells would enter the Fantasy realm.
I would almost say these are Fantasy Light, or Fantasy Adjacent because everything is the same to normal Regency Era England, except...sometimes there is magic being used and there are charms and relics...and also [my favorite] a history of Dragons and now wyrvens [baby dragons, in essence - think like a combo of Toothless & Stitch].
What I thought was rather interesting is the whole entire background into why Regency England is littered with magic and a magic system is that everyone is a descendant directly from Merlin. I had no idea it would intrigue me so much. Mainly because I never had to reach far outside my imagination to think of a concept LIKE [something]. Nah, it was MERLIN's magical realm we were in, but with an Austen flair.
Okay, I really do insist I go backward and do a review of each prior book, but for now we are stuck within THIS final and closing Austen retell...and sadly this one was THE WEAKEST, by far.
Here is an FYI...Persuasion & P&P tie for First Place for me, then comes Mansfield Park...somewhere in the background Emma and Sense & Sensibility try to duke it out for whatever position they wish [because I feel similar for both] and then comes sad, brokenhearted Northanger Abby. Not a huge fave of mine but whenever these kinds of book series happen, what can often shock me is that my least Faves tend to become my favorites within the series, itself, and my Faves seem to miss-the-mark in adaptions/retells completely.
So, uhm, in this series ... P&P [Book 1] was still phenomenal here. Persuasion [Book 3] was good, but not amazing...and the standouts where sometimes my least Faves in OG-text... like Emma & S&S [Books 2 & 4]. And then suddenly we end with Mansfield Park and the most shocking twist of all...
I am going to open with Austen's OG-text character names because those are what I know. I will only break out this book's names for the 3 Main MCs...
Fanny Price is Bronwyn, also called "Winnie"
Edward Bertram is Gavin
Henry Crawford is Rion [said like "Ry-on"]
Let me be clear...Mr. Edward Bertram is no Mr. Darcy, nor Mr. Knightly, nor Colonel Brandon. Not even a light spattering of Captain Frederick Wentworth...but he is [and always will be--to me] Fanny Price's. So, to NOT have them end up together seems to be a slight misrepresentation.
There is not a warning, or I sincerely did not heed it properly as the story seriously kept dodging Henry Crawford's smarminess and created him to be only slightly caddish and a constant flirt but unaware...too charming for Fanny to be easily fooled.
But then certain scenes mimicked certain Austen OG-text and Henry Crawford kept coming out smelling like roses...and...we went from flirting with Fanny's cousin IN FRONT OF FANNY...to then...Henry Crawford flat out LOVES Fanny Price and stupid, clueless Edward Bertram is still stuck in his dumb loop-de-loop about Mary Crawford.
I should have taken the gist of what was happening to then come a viable, clear conclusion that Fanny would end up with Henry Crawford in this because the Author wiped his slate clean of sexual connotations and also stripped him of being able to be "caught nekkid" while easing his broken heart about Fanny's marriage refusal to then slip into bed so easily with her married cousin, whom he had been flirting with prior to her marriage.
The thing is...THAT cad Henry Crawford was all gone. Also his covert indiscretions, which are A TON and then his penchant for being just an outright scumbag. Passive Aggressive when Fanny rejects him to then turn around and BLAME HER for him sleeping with her married cousin. Yeah...THAT Henry is not here. At all.
I guess you could say Henry and Edward switched roles. But don't get me wrong... Edward did still befriend Fanny and Fanny had a deep yearning [love?]...and then suddenly when Henry is shown to be an Upstanding Stellar guy... Fanny realizes Edward is JUST A FRIEND and she now loves Henry Crawford.
O_O...so, maybe it was until Zero Hour when Fanny knew HERSELF where her heart really lies...lays? is placed...
It's jarring yes, but it does look or it is written as such since Henry Crawford gets a few dozen 2nd chances and never lets go of HIS LOVE for Fanny as he pursues her and makes sure she knows she can count on him. ALWAYS. At the drop of a hat.
hmm...it makes me wonder...
...the role of Edward Bertram, as played by Gavin... was a very watered-down extremely tepid example of Edward that never quite came up to snuff. Even when Fanny, as played by Bronwyn, deeply loves, or believes she does have serious feelings for Gavin...he's milquetoast, at best, to HER, when OG-Text Edward is seriously amaze-balls supportive and weirdly loving. At least in some of the movie adaptions of Mansfield Park...Edward always appears just as secretly and wistfully attracted to Fanny, steadily easing into possibly loving her as he sees her inner beauty push outward.
And, uhm... Henry, as played by Rion, is now taking positions that were given to Edward in Austen's OG-text. It felt very...awkward at times, because I always expected the pin to drop for Rion...but he never became outright scummy, like his counterpart, Henry.
I guess I had high hopes Henry Crawford was still a scumbag [because this story does give him a secret he is keeping, but, eh...recall...in this book he always comes smelling like roses, in the end]...and Fanny and Edward would get their HEA...
But, uh, yeah... Edward or, excuse me Gavin does come to a conclusion about how god-awful Mary Crawford was...and DOES propose to Fanny/Bronwyn...but then she FEELS...empty... nothing... suddenly her once great love for Gavin is now washed away because she has been utterly charmed and now loves... Rion...who is still in my mind "Henry Crawford".
Wash away the deceit...the adultery...and then the Cousins-In-Love bit...because yes, Edward and Fanny are "maternal" cousins...
I think if folks are worried about an incestuous relation between Edward & Fanny...and feel icked out by it...then this makes some sense to why you would veer in a completely different direction. And, yeah... now that I have thunk-on-it-all, there was clear foreshadowing so many times and then, of course...the flip versions of BOTH Edward & Henry boggled my mind. I had some idea a strangeness or shift-change was happening, but I still held out hope in Zero Hour...alas, nah...Fanny marries and has a wonderful loving marriage with Henry Crawford.
I simply cannot wash away how he is in Austen's original text. I wanted to like and enjoy Rion because inside this Fantasy Realm, he did seem different, charming and likable...to eventually sincerely fall in love with Bronwyn...but, yeah...my OG-text heart held out some Hail Mary Pass at the end...
If you claim this is a retelling...or an adaption...the OG-text never strays from MY MIND, or heart, especially if I love certain characters together.
I really simply feel saddened the great series had to end on a whimper like this...no one else went off-script and did anything different in such a massive way...so I am unsure why this one single book becomes such a standout... unless whomever writes or pens the prose feels uncomfortable with cousin-to-cousin intimacy. That's fine. I do understand because as a writer you have to feel justified in your honesty as your story unfolds.
December 4, 2020
Absolutely loved it! I've never been very interested in Mansfield Park before, but this magical take on it captured my attention and held on to the last second. The ending is different, but that is part of what makes it so good. I loved the way Grace J. Croy developed the characters over the course of the book, gradually and naturally revealing their motives and true personalities. It makes the magic fit in so well!
September 24, 2022
I loved this book, until the last chapter. Mansfield Park isn't my favorite Jane Austen novel, but it's not my least favorite either. I enjoyed the magic in this story, as it felt original and added to the original. But Bronwyn never felt quite Fanny Price enough. Edmund was virtually nonexistent in his character. And, while I don't think Henry Crawford is quite a villain (he's definitely no Wickham or Willoughby), I just didn't buy his redemption in this book.
.
The Mrs. Norris character was probably the most true to the original, and she was just deliciously wicked in this.
.
The Mrs. Norris character was probably the most true to the original, and she was just deliciously wicked in this.
November 20, 2020
This magical, fantasy, suspenseful, enchanting retelling of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park purely delighted and entertained me through the whole reading of it. Truly amazing how everyone, all of which had magical talents, decided to use them for good, for revenge and/or just plain survivial…plus Wyvern lived in the forest nearby. A quick fast lovely read!
November 26, 2020
This is the first novel I have read by this author and I definitely enjoyed her writing style. I am not super familiar with Austen's Mansfield Park, though I have a basic knowledge of the overall story. I really liked how this author incorporated elements of magic and her own fun twists into this story and the fresh take on the characters. I also think I enjoyed her ending way more than the original. It just fit better with how the story was going and I also felt like the romance was way more believable.
A clean read, this is a cute story fans of Regency with a twist will surely enjoy.
A clean read, this is a cute story fans of Regency with a twist will surely enjoy.
January 5, 2021
A retelling of Austen's Mansfield Park.
I have never read Mansfield Park (or any other Austen book, for that matter). So I can't comment as to how they compare. But I enjoyed this book - it was easy reading and I finished it within about a day and a half. Pacing was good, and the magic was present without completely overwhelming the plot. I'll probably read another book from her series at some point in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for my honest review.
I have never read Mansfield Park (or any other Austen book, for that matter). So I can't comment as to how they compare. But I enjoyed this book - it was easy reading and I finished it within about a day and a half. Pacing was good, and the magic was present without completely overwhelming the plot. I'll probably read another book from her series at some point in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for my honest review.
January 12, 2021
This was the first book in this series that I have read and I absolutely loved it! I thought the story was wonderful. It was the perfect blend of regency and magic- it was so much fun to read. I loved the characters and the plot.
Once I started reading I could not put it down so I read it all in one day. I will be getting book #1 right away and the rest of the series after that!
Once I started reading I could not put it down so I read it all in one day. I will be getting book #1 right away and the rest of the series after that!
May 29, 2021
Apparently, I'm in the minority, but I did not like the ending twist. I wanted it to be true to the Austen version, as are the others in this series, and I just didn't like how things changed.
Overall, Croy wrote a good story with well done magic and character arcs. But it just wasn't a book that kept my attention, and the final "twist" just soured me on it.
Overall, Croy wrote a good story with well done magic and character arcs. But it just wasn't a book that kept my attention, and the final "twist" just soured me on it.
February 24, 2021
Such a wonder adaptation
I didn’t know if I would enjoy this one since the original is one of my least favorite Austin Novels. But the author made it a story that I loved. The insight, the characters, and the ending. I loved it all
I didn’t know if I would enjoy this one since the original is one of my least favorite Austin Novels. But the author made it a story that I loved. The insight, the characters, and the ending. I loved it all
March 11, 2022
“There comes a point when you must decide to take a step forward, trusting in a future you cannot see in the present.”
“Bronwyn,” is the kind of story that leaves you feeling starry eyed for hours after you read it. I loved everything about this book! The characters, the writing, the plot, and the magic that added an entirely new dimension to the story!
"Bronwyn," by Grace J. Croy is a fantasy retelling of “Mansfield Park,” by Jane Austen. It’s the last book in the Magical Regency Series but works beautifully as a stand-alone novel.
Synopsis: Bronwyn was sent to live with her wealthy relatives but has never been allowed to enjoy the same luxuries as the rest of the family. Even her magic has been locked away, for fear of what would happen, were she to unleash it. For years she has lived in relative contentment at Mansfield, but now new neighbours, the Mage and Magess Torr have arrived seemingly only, to wreak havoc on her life. She is in love with her best friend Gavin, who is smitten with the beautiful and rich, Magess Lynessa Torr.
To make matters worse, Bronwyn can feel her magic, so carefully locked away for years, slowly unlocking and seeping out.
"One evening as she lay in bed, testing her locks, the smallest key's bit no longer caught. No matter how frantically she turned the key, it spun in a circle. She sat up in bed, drenched in panic. What did this mean?
This realization causes her no small amounts of panic because her magic is the reason she had to leave home. It's on the understanding that it be kept locked away, that she can stay here.
Now, for our die-hard Austeners, I feel obliged to warn you that this book doesn't entirely stay true to the original. The story line for Mansfield Park never truly captured my heart and while Grace J Croy is rather bold in presuming to improve upon Jane Austen's classic, the little plot twist was just delightful!
The magic system has me truly fascinated. I don’t read a lot of fantasy but this...just...give me moreeeee! And since we’re here, please take a moment to appreciate Mage Rion with me. I love him so much!!
Obviously ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
And just a tip, while it’s not necessarily a christmassy book, it definitely has all the right vibes to cozy up with at this time of year.😘
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“Bronwyn,” is the kind of story that leaves you feeling starry eyed for hours after you read it. I loved everything about this book! The characters, the writing, the plot, and the magic that added an entirely new dimension to the story!
"Bronwyn," by Grace J. Croy is a fantasy retelling of “Mansfield Park,” by Jane Austen. It’s the last book in the Magical Regency Series but works beautifully as a stand-alone novel.
Synopsis: Bronwyn was sent to live with her wealthy relatives but has never been allowed to enjoy the same luxuries as the rest of the family. Even her magic has been locked away, for fear of what would happen, were she to unleash it. For years she has lived in relative contentment at Mansfield, but now new neighbours, the Mage and Magess Torr have arrived seemingly only, to wreak havoc on her life. She is in love with her best friend Gavin, who is smitten with the beautiful and rich, Magess Lynessa Torr.
To make matters worse, Bronwyn can feel her magic, so carefully locked away for years, slowly unlocking and seeping out.
"One evening as she lay in bed, testing her locks, the smallest key's bit no longer caught. No matter how frantically she turned the key, it spun in a circle. She sat up in bed, drenched in panic. What did this mean?
This realization causes her no small amounts of panic because her magic is the reason she had to leave home. It's on the understanding that it be kept locked away, that she can stay here.
Now, for our die-hard Austeners, I feel obliged to warn you that this book doesn't entirely stay true to the original. The story line for Mansfield Park never truly captured my heart and while Grace J Croy is rather bold in presuming to improve upon Jane Austen's classic, the little plot twist was just delightful!
The magic system has me truly fascinated. I don’t read a lot of fantasy but this...just...give me moreeeee! And since we’re here, please take a moment to appreciate Mage Rion with me. I love him so much!!
Obviously ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
And just a tip, while it’s not necessarily a christmassy book, it definitely has all the right vibes to cozy up with at this time of year.😘
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 2, 2021
Honestly, her version is better than Austen's. And I really like Mansfield park, so that's saying something. So many parts of Mansfield that never quite made sense (never having actually been a part of an awful materialistic Regency nobility family), she changed just enough to be beautiful. Oh, and the ending! loved this one!
April 28, 2021
I did like this book. I liked seeing Bronwyn’s growth. I would have liked to see her use her magic a bit more in the end. I see where the author is coming from in changing the ending from the original but I went into the book biased knowing that Rion is not the guy and that Gavin has an epiphany in the end so it weirded me out that that was not the case. It would have been nice to have Bronwyn tell Gavin off for his flip flop or something.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2024
*Potential Spoiler* I thoroughly enjoyed this adaption of Mansfield Park. It was well written and an enjoyable, quick read. I don't want to give anything away but I was beginning to think I was the only one who had the same view I did on a particular matter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2021
Dear reviewers saying this is better than the original by Jane Austen, and the twist is so original and stunning, were you all dropped on your heads?
I mean, really.
It actually makes me sad as a writer. I want to love this so much, magic and Mansfield Park...
But every time I read this it's like Cruella in the new Disney film looking at the crappy window display...
Croy, you're sad if you think this ending sounds GOOD.
I feel sad for you if you think this sounds good.
"Those dreams were no longer what kept her warm at night"
Seriously. What sort of cruel and unusual punishment is inflicting your poor innocent readers with the likes of this this line? What even IS this line??? Are we in a Shania Twain music video now?
Seriously, who writes a book to appeal to people who hated the plot/point of the original you're basing it on?
And the dismissive way Gavin's proposal is written so we can have Winnie go flying into Rion's arms like a stupid idiot?
I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
And I'm not just talking hot air. Give me a weekend and a few cups of coffee, I could literally write a better, less infuriating MP based novel on stained napkins as an afterthought while shopping on Amazon.
At the very least I would know better than to forget Fanny is sickly and Mr. Crawford isn't TALL! My God! It's like what book did Croy even read? What's next, hawt Mr. Collins in a P&P retelling?
What also upsets me about this book is that the author seems so confident that her obnoxious and unoriginal twist ending was enough to carry the weight of this being considered its own "spin" on Mansfield Park, she seems to have put no further effort into this. A few names changed, the morality of the original warped (Henry/Rion should NOT have taken Fanny/Winnie back to Mansfield, for example, that's actually super disrespectful to her uncle, as it fully should have been his call whether she came home again or not) and that's it???
This isn't a what if novel, or a regency romance, or a fantasy book, it's a fix-it fic with a few fancy trappings.
Dear pro-Crawford writers, can't you adapt anything else? You don't actually seem to LIKE Mansfield Park all that much to begin with, or understand what the original was about, so I don't see what the allure of a retelling actually is for you lot sometimes.
And notwithstanding that, it's really kind of crappy and self-serving of Croy to write Henry/Fanny for this series. It would be one thing if it was her own standalone book, but as part of a retelling series where the other books mostly keep to the original pairings and the Edmund/Fanny fans are waiting for their turn when the MP book comes out, only to get this?
That's sort of saying if you're an MP fan, you don't matter, because we'd rather market our retelling to people who don't like the original love story. Do you even know how many reimaginings Darcy/Elizabeth have gotten through the years? Why can't you let Edmund/Fanny fans have this one? Whyyy?
I know, from all my complaining, I sound biased, but I did buy this book at full price with low expectations, in full knowledge of the twist, hoping even if I didn't like the twist itself, the WAY it was done would be clever or make me see the original MP differently at least in the context of this reimagining...
But nope.
Like, I can excuse an ending I don't personally care for (however disrespectful I think it is to the original fans) if the writing is good, but it's not. The pacing is awful; the sentence structure is readable but lacking elegance or interest; the choices of which scenes to show and which to tell are really, really freaking bizarre at best...
Like why begin the story with Maria (I refuse to call her Enide at this point) coming home from the ball Rushworth proposed to her at and gloss over Fanny/Bronwyn's entire childhood?
What narrative purpose does that serve other than cater to short attention spans?
Does anyone recall how I once referred to "Flight Of Gemma Hardy" as basically Jane Eyre for girls who weren't smart enough for Jane Eyre? Well... This is basically Mansfield Park for slow-witted girls.
Like, don't get me wrong if a teenage girl picked this up for the YA Fantasy aspect and got interested in reading the original afterward, good for her, but I kind of get the feeling that's not what's happening with this book's audience, judging by some of the other reviews I've seen.
I literally saw one reviewer say this was great because the original was too long and complex for them.
(I personally can't wait for the 166 page War and Peace retelling where vampire slayer!Natasha gets empowered and decides she don't need no man but then marries, I don't know, like, Napoleon for his money...
)
But while Gemma Hardy was, arguably, kinda maybe as good as the weak premise (just Jane Eyre but slightly more modern and with a more clueless heroine) would allow, Bronwyn is much more of a waste. There's a LOT Croy could have done with this that she didn't. And admittedly maybe Croy's simplified writing style is what's selling more books in the publishing world at this point because it's somehow easier to read, and I'm too purple prose loving and artsy to appreciate it...
But still.
I really don't want to bash it as much as I know this review already has, because I actually don't think it's as hateful as something like, say, Kyra Kramer's Mansfield Parsonage, and Croy may really have imagined she was giving Fanny/Winnie the best possible journey and conclusion, but it's screwed up to put obviously modern day feminist morality on characters from the Regency era, particularly meek heroines who were a product of that time and call it brave.
It's not brave, it's bad wish fulfillment on acid.
I mean, really.
It actually makes me sad as a writer. I want to love this so much, magic and Mansfield Park...
But every time I read this it's like Cruella in the new Disney film looking at the crappy window display...
Croy, you're sad if you think this ending sounds GOOD.
I feel sad for you if you think this sounds good.
"Those dreams were no longer what kept her warm at night"
Seriously. What sort of cruel and unusual punishment is inflicting your poor innocent readers with the likes of this this line? What even IS this line??? Are we in a Shania Twain music video now?
Seriously, who writes a book to appeal to people who hated the plot/point of the original you're basing it on?
And the dismissive way Gavin's proposal is written so we can have Winnie go flying into Rion's arms like a stupid idiot?
I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
And I'm not just talking hot air. Give me a weekend and a few cups of coffee, I could literally write a better, less infuriating MP based novel on stained napkins as an afterthought while shopping on Amazon.
At the very least I would know better than to forget Fanny is sickly and Mr. Crawford isn't TALL! My God! It's like what book did Croy even read? What's next, hawt Mr. Collins in a P&P retelling?
What also upsets me about this book is that the author seems so confident that her obnoxious and unoriginal twist ending was enough to carry the weight of this being considered its own "spin" on Mansfield Park, she seems to have put no further effort into this. A few names changed, the morality of the original warped (Henry/Rion should NOT have taken Fanny/Winnie back to Mansfield, for example, that's actually super disrespectful to her uncle, as it fully should have been his call whether she came home again or not) and that's it???
This isn't a what if novel, or a regency romance, or a fantasy book, it's a fix-it fic with a few fancy trappings.
Dear pro-Crawford writers, can't you adapt anything else? You don't actually seem to LIKE Mansfield Park all that much to begin with, or understand what the original was about, so I don't see what the allure of a retelling actually is for you lot sometimes.
And notwithstanding that, it's really kind of crappy and self-serving of Croy to write Henry/Fanny for this series. It would be one thing if it was her own standalone book, but as part of a retelling series where the other books mostly keep to the original pairings and the Edmund/Fanny fans are waiting for their turn when the MP book comes out, only to get this?
That's sort of saying if you're an MP fan, you don't matter, because we'd rather market our retelling to people who don't like the original love story. Do you even know how many reimaginings Darcy/Elizabeth have gotten through the years? Why can't you let Edmund/Fanny fans have this one? Whyyy?
I know, from all my complaining, I sound biased, but I did buy this book at full price with low expectations, in full knowledge of the twist, hoping even if I didn't like the twist itself, the WAY it was done would be clever or make me see the original MP differently at least in the context of this reimagining...
But nope.
Like, I can excuse an ending I don't personally care for (however disrespectful I think it is to the original fans) if the writing is good, but it's not. The pacing is awful; the sentence structure is readable but lacking elegance or interest; the choices of which scenes to show and which to tell are really, really freaking bizarre at best...
Like why begin the story with Maria (I refuse to call her Enide at this point) coming home from the ball Rushworth proposed to her at and gloss over Fanny/Bronwyn's entire childhood?
What narrative purpose does that serve other than cater to short attention spans?
Does anyone recall how I once referred to "Flight Of Gemma Hardy" as basically Jane Eyre for girls who weren't smart enough for Jane Eyre? Well... This is basically Mansfield Park for slow-witted girls.
Like, don't get me wrong if a teenage girl picked this up for the YA Fantasy aspect and got interested in reading the original afterward, good for her, but I kind of get the feeling that's not what's happening with this book's audience, judging by some of the other reviews I've seen.
I literally saw one reviewer say this was great because the original was too long and complex for them.
(I personally can't wait for the 166 page War and Peace retelling where vampire slayer!Natasha gets empowered and decides she don't need no man but then marries, I don't know, like, Napoleon for his money...
)But while Gemma Hardy was, arguably, kinda maybe as good as the weak premise (just Jane Eyre but slightly more modern and with a more clueless heroine) would allow, Bronwyn is much more of a waste. There's a LOT Croy could have done with this that she didn't. And admittedly maybe Croy's simplified writing style is what's selling more books in the publishing world at this point because it's somehow easier to read, and I'm too purple prose loving and artsy to appreciate it...
But still.
I really don't want to bash it as much as I know this review already has, because I actually don't think it's as hateful as something like, say, Kyra Kramer's Mansfield Parsonage, and Croy may really have imagined she was giving Fanny/Winnie the best possible journey and conclusion, but it's screwed up to put obviously modern day feminist morality on characters from the Regency era, particularly meek heroines who were a product of that time and call it brave.
It's not brave, it's bad wish fulfillment on acid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2021
I have a lot of feelings about this book. I love all things Jane Austen and I love fantasy books; Bronwyn meshed the idea of Mansfield Park with a magical society well. Like Mansfield Park, there are aspects of the characters and the story that I love and aspects of the characters and the story that make me want to throw my hands up in the air and scream. Croy did a really excellent job of paying homage to Mansfield Park while also making the story her own. The characters were similar to Fanny, the Bertrams, and the Crawfords but without being identical. Bronwyn is a mix of quiet and strongly opinionated, Gavin is kind yet oblivious, and the Torrs are worldly and a bit conniving (although Rion does get a nicer character arc than Henry Crawford, which I appreciated).
There were a few typos mixed in, but nothing so dramatic as to take away from the reading experience. I'm excited to read the other magical retellings of Austen's books!
I received a copy of this book via the Storytellers in Zion Summer Book Trek contest.
There were a few typos mixed in, but nothing so dramatic as to take away from the reading experience. I'm excited to read the other magical retellings of Austen's books!
I received a copy of this book via the Storytellers in Zion Summer Book Trek contest.
July 29, 2021
I was interested in this book, largely because I hadn't read Austen's version since high school and barely remembered the plot. I like being familiar with the classics but have become somewhat of a "lazy reader". Parts of it came back to me as I read "Bronwyn", which was a light and refreshing treat for me.
Bronwyn came from a large, poor, dysfunctional family, and many thought it was a blessing when she was sent to live with wealthy relatives. While she did have an easier life, she was, like, invisible to most of this new family, so she sat in a corner most of the time where she wasn't really seen or heard. I always seems to be attracted to stories with a wallflower or door mouse, maybe because I often felt that way as a teen (and perhaps still do).
Thank you, Grace Croy for the retelling of an Austen classic. I know I liked it more than I did back in school when I read the original. 🙂 Also, if I'm remembering right, this version was "cleaned up" from the original, which is always appreciated.
Bronwyn came from a large, poor, dysfunctional family, and many thought it was a blessing when she was sent to live with wealthy relatives. While she did have an easier life, she was, like, invisible to most of this new family, so she sat in a corner most of the time where she wasn't really seen or heard. I always seems to be attracted to stories with a wallflower or door mouse, maybe because I often felt that way as a teen (and perhaps still do).
Thank you, Grace Croy for the retelling of an Austen classic. I know I liked it more than I did back in school when I read the original. 🙂 Also, if I'm remembering right, this version was "cleaned up" from the original, which is always appreciated.
January 7, 2024
I have to admit, I didn't know what to expect with Jane Austen plus magic. But it works! Mansfield Park is one of Austen's more problematic stories, and I think Croy has preserved the best of it whilst reworking the ending in a way that feels right. Bronwyn's struggle with her magic was a great metaphor for how, back then, women struggled to keep their emotions in check. I think this makes the story much more accessible, as most modern readers would find Fanny Price completely unrelatable.
I enjoyed the pacing, the familiarity of well-loved phrases, and the captivating Torrs.
I just felt that there could have been more use of the magic, particularly in signalling the reader towards the right person for Bronwyn. There were hints, but especially in the later stages of the book when Bronwyn starts to come to a realisation, it just would have rounded it off to have some kind of magical moment between the couple.
Overall, a lovely read.
I enjoyed the pacing, the familiarity of well-loved phrases, and the captivating Torrs.
I just felt that there could have been more use of the magic, particularly in signalling the reader towards the right person for Bronwyn. There were hints, but especially in the later stages of the book when Bronwyn starts to come to a realisation, it just would have rounded it off to have some kind of magical moment between the couple.
Overall, a lovely read.
March 18, 2024
Better than the original
Considering how much I dislike Mansfield Park, I spent the entire book dreading its traditional ending only to stop, surprised, and then barrel forward to read the remainder of the book. I'm glad, because you know, even Jane thought Fanny was "too good," and I think she foisted Edmund upon her because she despises her own character. This book feels more balanced, and now that I know the ending, I want to reread and give it another go without my original heavy suspicions it would end poorly (like the original).
And not to go completely off topic since this is more about the original text than this retelling..... but really Fanny.
Edmund?!
Mooning after some other woman for the entire book and Fanny just accepts his inconstant feelings in the last chapter of the book? I've only ever thrown two books across the room, and Mansfield Park was one of them, even for all that I adore Pride & Prejudice.
Considering how much I dislike Mansfield Park, I spent the entire book dreading its traditional ending only to stop, surprised, and then barrel forward to read the remainder of the book. I'm glad, because you know, even Jane thought Fanny was "too good," and I think she foisted Edmund upon her because she despises her own character. This book feels more balanced, and now that I know the ending, I want to reread and give it another go without my original heavy suspicions it would end poorly (like the original).
And not to go completely off topic since this is more about the original text than this retelling..... but really Fanny.
Edmund?!
Mooning after some other woman for the entire book and Fanny just accepts his inconstant feelings in the last chapter of the book? I've only ever thrown two books across the room, and Mansfield Park was one of them, even for all that I adore Pride & Prejudice.
August 14, 2024
Not bad at all, for the most part I enjoyed the romance. I do wish we got to have a bit more conversations between the two love interests, but it was still very sweet.
Bronwyn is a likable main character, I liked her quiet strength. I liked seeing her grow in confidence. I did wish she’d let go of her grudge against Lynessa quicker, and move past a certain person quicker, but that didn’t take away too much from my enjoyment. I very much enjoyed seeing Rion being humbled by Bronwyn’s disinterest, and him trying to win her heart.
I’m not sure how well this compares to the original because I’ve never finished Mansfield Park.
Writing is good, plot for the most part is good too. I do wish we got to see a bit more into the investigation of the dragon scales and Bronwyn’s magic.
Worldbuilding for the whole series has been great.
Content: clean
Bronwyn is a likable main character, I liked her quiet strength. I liked seeing her grow in confidence. I did wish she’d let go of her grudge against Lynessa quicker, and move past a certain person quicker, but that didn’t take away too much from my enjoyment. I very much enjoyed seeing Rion being humbled by Bronwyn’s disinterest, and him trying to win her heart.
I’m not sure how well this compares to the original because I’ve never finished Mansfield Park.
Writing is good, plot for the most part is good too. I do wish we got to see a bit more into the investigation of the dragon scales and Bronwyn’s magic.
Worldbuilding for the whole series has been great.
Content: clean
April 29, 2021
A breath of fresh air!
Withering Heights is one of my least favourite Austin novels, and yet Bronwyn has ended up being my favourite in this fantasy retelling series (I've enjoyed them all by the way)!
I found the writing so beautiful, it flowed so nicely. A fantastic job incorporating magic and such a wonderful ending! I am so satisfied with this ending, but I also want more so I can still be lost in this world that Croy has created.
This book and all others in this series are clean which is something I always look for when I buy my novels.
Thank you Croy for allowing me to escape!
Withering Heights is one of my least favourite Austin novels, and yet Bronwyn has ended up being my favourite in this fantasy retelling series (I've enjoyed them all by the way)!
I found the writing so beautiful, it flowed so nicely. A fantastic job incorporating magic and such a wonderful ending! I am so satisfied with this ending, but I also want more so I can still be lost in this world that Croy has created.
This book and all others in this series are clean which is something I always look for when I buy my novels.
Thank you Croy for allowing me to escape!
May 9, 2025
As a book on its own merit: this was a wonderful story. So well written, such great characterization, and the magical elements enhance the story instead of distracting from it. I would venture to say 5 stars.
But as a retelling of Mansfield Park: I am disappointed. If she can change one main characters plot to make her ending believable and lovable for the reader, why couldn't she make changes to another main character to make the original ending more believable and enjoyable. I understand why she made the changes she did (especially from her author's note), but I disagree with her choice and regret missing what she could have done with the original.
But as a retelling of Mansfield Park: I am disappointed. If she can change one main characters plot to make her ending believable and lovable for the reader, why couldn't she make changes to another main character to make the original ending more believable and enjoyable. I understand why she made the changes she did (especially from her author's note), but I disagree with her choice and regret missing what she could have done with the original.
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