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Charming
Francine Perle – downtrodden, invisible, ignored and living as an outsider among her grand relations. Her one chance at a better life has failed; nothing she has wished for has come to pass.Will she be forever subject to the wishes of others? And must she sacrifice herself to a marriage of convenience while watching the man she loves fall for another woman’s charms? a romantic fairy tale. The story of a girl in desperate need of a happy ending.A retelling of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park
- GenresFantasyRetellings
308 pages, Paperback
Published June 10, 2018
17 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Nina Clare
26 books111 followersWhen she’s not writing stories or thinking up stories or reading other people’s stories, Nina likes to paint and collage pictures, get taken for long walks by her adorable dogs, and cook all things plant-based. She also does other things, like office work, but that’s the boring bit. She lives very happily in rural Cornwall, England with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 8, 2018
I love this idea of turning Austen's novels into fairy tales. The writing here is delightful, and I loved Francine as the main character. It makes sense to me that fairy charms and love potions were involved in all those bungled romances! I think the only drawback to this story is the base material itself--I've never been fond of Mansfield Park. But I enjoyed it in this rendition more than ever before--the magic gave it that extra spark it needs.
Try it! This is a clever little story.
Try it! This is a clever little story.
May 28, 2018
This was an excellent read!
January 1, 2019
So I adore most of Jane Austen's books and Mansfield Park is one of those books I really liked. Most people give Fanny a personality change and I will admit that she could have been a little more vocal on some things, but overall I did like her.
With Clare's retelling, I felt like I was reading a shorter version of Mansfield Park, a few changes here and there but it was Mansfield Park. I didn't enjoy it for that reason. If I wanted to read Mansfield Park, I would have read Mansfield Park. A reason why it took me so long to finish.
With Clare's retelling, I felt like I was reading a shorter version of Mansfield Park, a few changes here and there but it was Mansfield Park. I didn't enjoy it for that reason. If I wanted to read Mansfield Park, I would have read Mansfield Park. A reason why it took me so long to finish.
January 8, 2023
I was so excited when I saw that this was a fairytale version of Mansfield Park. Fairytales, Jane Austen, and a gorgeous cover? I was hooked by the premise and immediately bought it.
This isn't a fairytale, nor is it a true retelling. It is Jane Austen's Mansfield Park with English names changed to French names, a more modernized and straight-forward wording, and just enough mentions of "charms" thrown in to be able to check the appropriate box to qualify it as a fairytale. There are no added twists, no added depths to the original characters, and personally, no developing and fixing of the little things that bothered me about Mansfield Park. In fact, I think Charming made them worse.
The original story shows the flaws and failings of its characters quite plainly, but Charming used gimmicks such as charms and potions implied just enough to make you feel like those failings maybe weren't completely their fault. And that ending, ugh! I had dearly hoped that we would get to see Edmund "earn" Fanny's (I just can't get used to Francine) love in this version. Nope, we get a brief paragraph telling us, in short, it all worked out okay for them in the future. One of my biggest complaints about the original is the way they sort of grow wordlessly into a romantic relationship. Edmund runs around like a love-sick puppy, and then when it doesn't work out as hoped, accepts that he could have a happy marriage elsewhere. I feel like Fanny--kind, gentle, devoted Fanny--deserved more. Edmund doesn't really have to atone for the thoughtless way he treats Fanny. In my remembrance from reading it, he just "gets the girl" even though he spends 99% percent of the book making a fool of himself over Mary Crawford. And Fanny is just there to pick up the pieces. I like Edmund, and I like that they eventually end up together. I just wanted more insight to their romantic relationship. We only ever see their "brother/sister" type interactions. But I digress. Back to Charming... Oh wait, nope, that's the way it happens in Charming, too.
I've always thought that Mansfield Park stands apart from Jane Austen's other novels. I feel conflicted about how the story ends. While I do enjoy the tale, I pity the characters and feel slightly unsettled at their endings. I wanted more insight to their motivations, decisions, and reasons for some of the things they did. (Looking at you, Crawfords/Chevaliers.) I had dearly hoped this retelling would give some twists, depth, and development beyond what we got with the original story. You know, flesh things out and add to it. Instead, I think this tale ends worse. The ending is very rushed. It's basically an information-dump ending. I didn't feel warm and happy at how things were left. I felt cheated that I had spent time reading a stripped down, renamed version of Mansfield Park. I didn't dislike Charming, but I do feel like it could have been SO much better. Awesome idea, not so awesome execution.
If you've never read Mansfield Park and you want an easier version to read, this might be a good version to start with first. The writing style is easier to follow, and the plot flows much smoother with less unnecessary detail. But, if you're looking for a retelling that adds something new to the story you know, this isn't it.
This isn't a fairytale, nor is it a true retelling. It is Jane Austen's Mansfield Park with English names changed to French names, a more modernized and straight-forward wording, and just enough mentions of "charms" thrown in to be able to check the appropriate box to qualify it as a fairytale. There are no added twists, no added depths to the original characters, and personally, no developing and fixing of the little things that bothered me about Mansfield Park. In fact, I think Charming made them worse.
The original story shows the flaws and failings of its characters quite plainly, but Charming used gimmicks such as charms and potions implied just enough to make you feel like those failings maybe weren't completely their fault. And that ending, ugh! I had dearly hoped that we would get to see Edmund "earn" Fanny's (I just can't get used to Francine) love in this version. Nope, we get a brief paragraph telling us, in short, it all worked out okay for them in the future. One of my biggest complaints about the original is the way they sort of grow wordlessly into a romantic relationship. Edmund runs around like a love-sick puppy, and then when it doesn't work out as hoped, accepts that he could have a happy marriage elsewhere. I feel like Fanny--kind, gentle, devoted Fanny--deserved more. Edmund doesn't really have to atone for the thoughtless way he treats Fanny. In my remembrance from reading it, he just "gets the girl" even though he spends 99% percent of the book making a fool of himself over Mary Crawford. And Fanny is just there to pick up the pieces. I like Edmund, and I like that they eventually end up together. I just wanted more insight to their romantic relationship. We only ever see their "brother/sister" type interactions. But I digress. Back to Charming... Oh wait, nope, that's the way it happens in Charming, too.
I've always thought that Mansfield Park stands apart from Jane Austen's other novels. I feel conflicted about how the story ends. While I do enjoy the tale, I pity the characters and feel slightly unsettled at their endings. I wanted more insight to their motivations, decisions, and reasons for some of the things they did. (Looking at you, Crawfords/Chevaliers.) I had dearly hoped this retelling would give some twists, depth, and development beyond what we got with the original story. You know, flesh things out and add to it. Instead, I think this tale ends worse. The ending is very rushed. It's basically an information-dump ending. I didn't feel warm and happy at how things were left. I felt cheated that I had spent time reading a stripped down, renamed version of Mansfield Park. I didn't dislike Charming, but I do feel like it could have been SO much better. Awesome idea, not so awesome execution.
If you've never read Mansfield Park and you want an easier version to read, this might be a good version to start with first. The writing style is easier to follow, and the plot flows much smoother with less unnecessary detail. But, if you're looking for a retelling that adds something new to the story you know, this isn't it.
April 24, 2022
I loved it!
For all those complaining about how similar it is to the original, at least it delivered what was promised on the label: a Fantasy Mansfield Park.
It didn't go for shock value by doing something incredibly stupid like making Fanny marry Henry or have Fanny become an action hero. It was true to what Austen wrote, while with enough small changes to hold my interest, and lots of fairytale sprinklings.
My one slight beef is that the change this version makes, of there a) being a fairy godmother (possibly) and b) the Crawfords using magic to make the Bertram family gaga for them kind of just peters off and is never explained. I'd have liked more details on if it was in fact Fanny's amber necklace (not a cross in this version) that protected her or not, or if Edmund discovered Mary was using a magic ring to charm him. I'd also have liked Fanny's fairy godmother to reveal herself at the end.
If we could have the delicate sensibility and fairytale feel of Clare's lovely story here with the more detailed mythology of The Amber Cross (minus the smut, of course) this would be perfect.
But given we have so few GOOD Mansfield Park spin offs out there, this is still worthy of five stars as it is.
I'm sorry it's not better known and was only limitedly released for the sake of us newsletter fans.
For all those complaining about how similar it is to the original, at least it delivered what was promised on the label: a Fantasy Mansfield Park.
It didn't go for shock value by doing something incredibly stupid like making Fanny marry Henry or have Fanny become an action hero. It was true to what Austen wrote, while with enough small changes to hold my interest, and lots of fairytale sprinklings.
My one slight beef is that the change this version makes, of there a) being a fairy godmother (possibly) and b) the Crawfords using magic to make the Bertram family gaga for them kind of just peters off and is never explained. I'd have liked more details on if it was in fact Fanny's amber necklace (not a cross in this version) that protected her or not, or if Edmund discovered Mary was using a magic ring to charm him. I'd also have liked Fanny's fairy godmother to reveal herself at the end.
If we could have the delicate sensibility and fairytale feel of Clare's lovely story here with the more detailed mythology of The Amber Cross (minus the smut, of course) this would be perfect.
But given we have so few GOOD Mansfield Park spin offs out there, this is still worthy of five stars as it is.
I'm sorry it's not better known and was only limitedly released for the sake of us newsletter fans.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews