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The "What If?" Modern Darcy and Elizabeth Series #3
Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
In a post-apocalyptic, dystopic world, Mr. Darcy is a citizen…and Elizabeth Bennet is not. It means she can be disrespected, beaten, even kidnapped in the street, and nobody will care. It means the Bennet family is in dire straits and Mrs. Bennet has even more motivation to sell her daughters to the highest bidder.
So, even if Fitzwilliam Darcy falls desperately, passionately in love with Elizabeth, it would be crazy to propose marriage, right? An irrational, illogical, demented decision…
But the world around them is demented and cruel. Darcy himself has secrets and doubts about the oppressive system they live in.
Still. Is it possible, Darcy wonders, to be in love in the darkness? To carve your own happiness in a dictatorial world?
And, as a more pressing concern, will Elizabeth ever fall in love with him in return?
Note from the author: Pemberley is a passionate love story with a happy ending, but the setting of this book is dark. There is violence and profanity. The first chapter is especially harsh, so don’t hesitate to read the preview before purchasing this book—it may not be for you.
But, this is also the most romantic story I’ve ever written!
So, even if Fitzwilliam Darcy falls desperately, passionately in love with Elizabeth, it would be crazy to propose marriage, right? An irrational, illogical, demented decision…
But the world around them is demented and cruel. Darcy himself has secrets and doubts about the oppressive system they live in.
Still. Is it possible, Darcy wonders, to be in love in the darkness? To carve your own happiness in a dictatorial world?
And, as a more pressing concern, will Elizabeth ever fall in love with him in return?
Note from the author: Pemberley is a passionate love story with a happy ending, but the setting of this book is dark. There is violence and profanity. The first chapter is especially harsh, so don’t hesitate to read the preview before purchasing this book—it may not be for you.
But, this is also the most romantic story I’ve ever written!
- GenresRomance
195 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2021
37 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 7, 2022
This author never disappoints. Mind you, it's sci-fi, so, it's not for everybody.
December 25, 2021
This is a great book because it manages to set itself apart from other variations. It is set in a dark crude world, where the author is able to bring in the societal norms of regency England and make it work.
The good:
The main characters are true to canon with a few variations to allow for the world they live in. Note, minor characters are adjusted as needed, but helps the story out.
The world and society they live in is fascinating.
The story has a great pace, told mostly from Darcy’s POV. it’s third person which is my preference.
There is a revolution or at least it seems like some reform is going on, but our hero’s aren’t a part of it. They are just surviving and falling in love which works so well here.
Even though you only get about 200 pages, you see the love story unfold. You get to witness them fall in love.
I’m grateful that the more graphic details of this world were alluded to without full detail , ie Grorgianas backstory
The bad;
I wanted more of this world. How do people get sorted into citizen and non citizens. I wanted more of richard.
The flashes forwards in the end of the book don’t work.
The book could have used another 100 pages to flesh out some of the side plots, but the author makes this work.
Overall it is a compelling story, true to JA original tale. If you like sci-fi and don’t mind a dark world, this is a great story.
The good:
The main characters are true to canon with a few variations to allow for the world they live in. Note, minor characters are adjusted as needed, but helps the story out.
The world and society they live in is fascinating.
The story has a great pace, told mostly from Darcy’s POV. it’s third person which is my preference.
There is a revolution or at least it seems like some reform is going on, but our hero’s aren’t a part of it. They are just surviving and falling in love which works so well here.
Even though you only get about 200 pages, you see the love story unfold. You get to witness them fall in love.
I’m grateful that the more graphic details of this world were alluded to without full detail , ie Grorgianas backstory
The bad;
I wanted more of this world. How do people get sorted into citizen and non citizens. I wanted more of richard.
The flashes forwards in the end of the book don’t work.
The book could have used another 100 pages to flesh out some of the side plots, but the author makes this work.
Overall it is a compelling story, true to JA original tale. If you like sci-fi and don’t mind a dark world, this is a great story.
January 2, 2022
I love this author's writing style, you can practically taste the suppressed emotions.
I loved the plot, the detailed world, the way the story felt like dystopian P&P and not just an original plot with ODC as the main characters.
I loved how ODC weren't Special Snowflakes, just regular people getting by.
I loved the crazy (in a good way) epilogue.
I wasn't too keen with the non-linear timeline in the last chapter. It really took me out of the story instead of giving me the climactic ending I wished for.
Still, I loved this book.
I loved the plot, the detailed world, the way the story felt like dystopian P&P and not just an original plot with ODC as the main characters.
I loved how ODC weren't Special Snowflakes, just regular people getting by.
I loved the crazy (in a good way) epilogue.
I wasn't too keen with the non-linear timeline in the last chapter. It really took me out of the story instead of giving me the climactic ending I wished for.
Still, I loved this book.
June 24, 2023
This is a dystopian, sci-fi novel with Austen's characters. There are many authors who write captivating and interesting stories but very few of them can make you feel the story and this author has that special talent. Even in a story occuring in an alien world and time, half the things (especially the epilogue) going over your head, you can feel the happenings in your heart. Loved it, in spite of not being a great sci-fi fan.
July 1, 2023
I'm giving this book an extra star mainly for the somewhat extraordinary effort of placing the essence of Pride and Prejudice and many of its characters into this dystopian, post-apocalyptic space opera. I'm not a fan of dystopian fiction, per se, but I do love science fiction, and I wanted to see what the author did with this. In that sense, of exploratory reading, I'm well satisfied. But if you're looking for the typical P&P variation, simply moved into a futuristic setting, and if you're not a fan of either science fiction or dystopian stories, then you won't likely enjoy this. It's quite dark and ... out there! It reminds me a lot of Robert Heinlein's more pulpy SF stories. I appreciate the work the author put into this, and her obvious love of the genre, as well as the fun she had with it.
December 17, 2021
Are you an eclectic book reader and ever wondered what your favourite book “Pride and Prejudice” would look like if it was set in The Hunger Games’ district 12 with a sprinkle of Divergent strictly segregated society and a bit of mysterious War of the Worlds’ aliens thrown in? Well Pemberley is this weird combination which appeals to my crazy taste.
It is not a nice comfy book with lots of fluff, on the contrary, it starts rather violently with the set describe in stark terms. This dystopian post ecological/Alien invasion future is the scene of the greatest love story of all time with a poor Elizabeth Bennet working towards a life full of hope and a Fitzwilliam Darcy fighting invisible demons and trudging through life in a constant state of alertness.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is a fully pledge citizen who is in charge of a supermarket and doing fairly well despite the Alien invaders’ autocratic rule. Elizabeth Bennet is the daughter of a destitute academic with incendiaries revolutionary ideas who has lost his status in society. Very strict rules govern this world and both Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth need to find a way for their love to develop in these unpredictable times when creatures fall from the sky and ravages what is left of the Earth and it's inhabitants.
I have always found the writing of Ms Moretti to be colourful and full of emotions that stay with me once I have put the book down. The vivid language instantly transports me into the world were feelings and non-dits prevail.
I personally found the last chapters slightly confusing as there are a lot of flashbacks, in total contrast to the earlier linear narrative but with warnings and a couple of rereadings, I found this story satisfying with a much-welcomed epilogue finishing the story nicely and untying loose ends.
Overall, it was weird and different, and the language at times a bit crude but it was never without reasons to support the narrative. I liked this story and will reread it again, which is always a good sign of a good story.
It is not a nice comfy book with lots of fluff, on the contrary, it starts rather violently with the set describe in stark terms. This dystopian post ecological/Alien invasion future is the scene of the greatest love story of all time with a poor Elizabeth Bennet working towards a life full of hope and a Fitzwilliam Darcy fighting invisible demons and trudging through life in a constant state of alertness.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is a fully pledge citizen who is in charge of a supermarket and doing fairly well despite the Alien invaders’ autocratic rule. Elizabeth Bennet is the daughter of a destitute academic with incendiaries revolutionary ideas who has lost his status in society. Very strict rules govern this world and both Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth need to find a way for their love to develop in these unpredictable times when creatures fall from the sky and ravages what is left of the Earth and it's inhabitants.
I have always found the writing of Ms Moretti to be colourful and full of emotions that stay with me once I have put the book down. The vivid language instantly transports me into the world were feelings and non-dits prevail.
I personally found the last chapters slightly confusing as there are a lot of flashbacks, in total contrast to the earlier linear narrative but with warnings and a couple of rereadings, I found this story satisfying with a much-welcomed epilogue finishing the story nicely and untying loose ends.
Overall, it was weird and different, and the language at times a bit crude but it was never without reasons to support the narrative. I liked this story and will reread it again, which is always a good sign of a good story.
February 19, 2022
This is a dystopian sci fi version of Pride and Prejudice written with very mature language. The first line is quite the shocker. Darcy is the manager of a supermarket and Elizabeth is a non citizen. They find love in a very strange world.
January 5, 2022
I should have listened to Laure, that was nuts. Not...bad. but absolutely nuts
April 28, 2024
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
February 25, 2024
3.5 rounded up.
A very different look at P&P and a pretty cool glimpse of world building outside the use of P&P characters. I would love to read more of this world independently of this particular storyline, especially about The Other.
This author has a distinctive style and I think English is a second language, so at times I found the word choices or flow strange - it’s not entirely suited to this type of story I think. In other stories the author’s floaty style adds humour and depth of emotion, but it doesn’t work so well to convey feelings when there is so much background detail to also convey. However it does likely make the book more accessible to non-sci-fi fans & much lighter than sci-fi often is. A quick read.
As a P&P variation it definitely succeeds in translating the major themes & general feel of the original without being bogged down in exact detail.
A very different look at P&P and a pretty cool glimpse of world building outside the use of P&P characters. I would love to read more of this world independently of this particular storyline, especially about The Other.
This author has a distinctive style and I think English is a second language, so at times I found the word choices or flow strange - it’s not entirely suited to this type of story I think. In other stories the author’s floaty style adds humour and depth of emotion, but it doesn’t work so well to convey feelings when there is so much background detail to also convey. However it does likely make the book more accessible to non-sci-fi fans & much lighter than sci-fi often is. A quick read.
As a P&P variation it definitely succeeds in translating the major themes & general feel of the original without being bogged down in exact detail.
June 16, 2023
The most original variation I’ve ever read.
This is an ambitious project, translating Regency romance into Dystopia, creating a believable post-apocalyptic world with its own integrity, then insert the characters from Pride & Prejudice.
Moretti does a superb job. The characters retain the integrity of the canon, yet they are expressed in the modes of life and speech under the Authority. Such that it is completely convincing that this is exactly how how Darcy and Elizabeth would behave in this context. It is a high angst story, including violence and forced prostitution, though there is no graphic description of the latter. Highly recommended.
This is an ambitious project, translating Regency romance into Dystopia, creating a believable post-apocalyptic world with its own integrity, then insert the characters from Pride & Prejudice.
Moretti does a superb job. The characters retain the integrity of the canon, yet they are expressed in the modes of life and speech under the Authority. Such that it is completely convincing that this is exactly how how Darcy and Elizabeth would behave in this context. It is a high angst story, including violence and forced prostitution, though there is no graphic description of the latter. Highly recommended.
September 29, 2023
Wow!
I almost do not have words For just how mind blowingly epic This story is. So completely tragic, and yet so completely beautiful.
I almost do not have words For just how mind blowingly epic This story is. So completely tragic, and yet so completely beautiful.
January 15, 2022
This is not your typical P&P variation so if you are looking for something close to canon, this is not the story for you. It is set in a dystopian future where there are the privileged and the not so privileged in a time where survival for all is perilous. Many of the the P&P characters are present. Most have similar characteristics to what a reader is familiar with from P&P, but obviously their interactions and conduct are based on the setting of this book. Readers should also be advised that the writing style in this book can take some getting used to. However, the style fits with the setting and storyline. Overall a very unique story that will not be for everyone. I would normally give the story 4-stars, but have to give 5-stars due to the unique storyline and the courage this author needed to have to write this story.
February 21, 2024
Well I’m all for writers being inventive and tackling new ways of telling an old story and this P&P adaptation captured my initial interest but I’m afraid the execution was disappointing and not my cup of tea. I’m not impressed with the dystopian future that the author created and I found the characterisation utterly bizarre and unbelievable. I really could not understand why the author had picked the P&P theme as the likenesses were so minor as to be non-existent.
I can see a lot of people have liked this book a lot so the author clearly caters for a particular taste. It simply isn’t mine. If you’d like a dystopian interpretation of P&P, this may well suit you.
I can see a lot of people have liked this book a lot so the author clearly caters for a particular taste. It simply isn’t mine. If you’d like a dystopian interpretation of P&P, this may well suit you.
July 20, 2023
Choppy and in need of an editor
The premise is good. The dystopian world is interesting. But there is not a lot of context, not a lot of character development, and too much jumping with no indication of what or why it is happening. A few of the scenes are fantastic. It's a quick read, so not too big a commitment and easy to get through.
The premise is good. The dystopian world is interesting. But there is not a lot of context, not a lot of character development, and too much jumping with no indication of what or why it is happening. A few of the scenes are fantastic. It's a quick read, so not too big a commitment and easy to get through.
February 12, 2025
Pemberly
What a strange dystopian story!
Mysterious, space aliens, worms, acid, laws unreal.
I felt puzzled and other worldly.
Be warned, sex trafficking, death, blood, and red, citizens or non-citizen....
Fascinating!
What a strange dystopian story!
Mysterious, space aliens, worms, acid, laws unreal.
I felt puzzled and other worldly.
Be warned, sex trafficking, death, blood, and red, citizens or non-citizen....
Fascinating!
February 5, 2024
An intense dystopian variation with an HEA.
February 29, 2024
Not my style but great writing as always.
March 31, 2024
Strange but engaging
Dystopian stories are not my cup of tea, but this one was intriguing and had an interesting plot. Give it a try!
Dystopian stories are not my cup of tea, but this one was intriguing and had an interesting plot. Give it a try!
March 3, 2024
I generally don't read dystopian fiction, but I'm glad I read this one. It's very good.
March 8, 2022
I will admit I love post-apocalyptic and dystopian stories but this book was not for me. ODC in this situation was all wrong. If this was written without ODC for the inspiration it might have held my interest. I could not get passed it so sorry.
July 30, 2022
Imagine a dystopian, post- alien invasion apocalyptic version of Pride and Prejudice, and you might end up with this book. It's much darker than most adaptations. I really think they could have made this cover stand out to communicate how different it is. The cover when I read it was a woman in a regency style dress with a building and what looks like fog behind her. It really didn't convey the world built in this story at all.
In this dystopian world, there has been an alien invasion, and the government (it's not clear if it was a country or the world government) had broken people into citizens and non citizens, who can be taken away at will. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley are citizens, while the Bennets are not. It turned out Mr. Bennet wrote an academic paper against the current government that caused them to all lose citizenship. This felt akin to how he managed Longbourn ineffectively caused his daughters to not have a dowrey and to decrease their future prospects.
Mr. Darcy manages a grocery store in a certain neighborhood of London, with Mr. Bingley his assistant. This felt like a less powerful role than I would have expected for him, but I guess it was supposed to symbolize how having control of the food in a dystopian world meant he has a lot of power with the people who lived in that district. I guess this is akin to how he controlled the farming at Pemberly.
In this dystopian world, there has been an alien invasion, and the government (it's not clear if it was a country or the world government) had broken people into citizens and non citizens, who can be taken away at will. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley are citizens, while the Bennets are not. It turned out Mr. Bennet wrote an academic paper against the current government that caused them to all lose citizenship. This felt akin to how he managed Longbourn ineffectively caused his daughters to not have a dowrey and to decrease their future prospects.
Mr. Darcy manages a grocery store in a certain neighborhood of London, with Mr. Bingley his assistant. This felt like a less powerful role than I would have expected for him, but I guess it was supposed to symbolize how having control of the food in a dystopian world meant he has a lot of power with the people who lived in that district. I guess this is akin to how he controlled the farming at Pemberly.
July 18, 2022
Shockingly novel yet unforgettable
This variation may shock many P&P fans for its content. The crude language, the devastating scenes which involve dismal situations and the depressing mood does not help much to promote this variation involving a dystopian society filled with cynical characters living angst-filled lives.
However, what makes this cringe-worthy is also what makes it so unforgettable and novel that I would recommend this to every fan of Pride and Prejudice…as long as the reader is able to get past its oddity. Not for the faint of heart.
This variation may shock many P&P fans for its content. The crude language, the devastating scenes which involve dismal situations and the depressing mood does not help much to promote this variation involving a dystopian society filled with cynical characters living angst-filled lives.
However, what makes this cringe-worthy is also what makes it so unforgettable and novel that I would recommend this to every fan of Pride and Prejudice…as long as the reader is able to get past its oddity. Not for the faint of heart.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews