A debut historical fantasy that recasts Jane Austen's beloved Pride & Prejudice in an imaginative world of wyverns, dragons, and the warriors who fight alongside them against the monsters that threaten the kingdom: gryphons, direwolves, lamias, banshees, and lindworms. They say a Rider in possession of a good blade must be in want of a monster to slay-and Merybourne Manor has plenty of monsters. Passionate, headstrong Aliza Bentaine knows this all too well; she's already lost one sister to the invading gryphons. So when Lord Merybourne hires a band of Riders to hunt down the horde, Aliza is relieved her home will soon be safe again. Her relief is short-lived. With the arrival of the haughty and handsome dragonrider, Alastair Daired, Aliza expects a battle; what she doesn't expect is a romantic clash of wills, pitting words and wit against the pride of an ancient house. Nor does she anticipate the mystery that follows them from Merybourne Manor, its roots running deep as the foundations of the kingdom itself, where something old and dreadful slumbers ...something far more sinister than gryphons.
It's a war Aliza is ill-prepared to wage, on a battlefield she's never known before: one spanning kingdoms, class lines, and the curious nature of her own heart. Elle Katharine White infuses elements of Austen's beloved novel with her own brand of magic, crafting a modern epic fantasy that conjures a familiar yet wondrously unique new world.
I really could not stop reading and thinking about this book! I love it. I love it. I love it. After I finished I went to buy the next installment and found in on pre-order. Thankfully, it's out next Tuesday (Nov. 20th) so I won't have to wait long, thank gods.
I did think Alistar's initial confession of love odd and out of nowhere, but then....the rest of the book happened. Given this is the second proposal Aliza received from a relative stranger, it had a horrible ring of "everyone loves her but she doesn't know it" snowflake protag often seen in fanfiction. But like I said, it gets better.
I'm a bit sad Aliza didn't pick up her own sword, but the dagger is a good start and she's brave in spades.
I'm curious how their relationship is going to continue. I'm not completely over Alistar's elitism and prejudice, TBH. No way that just vanishes, so I'm sure the thread will continue in the subsequent books.
FYI: Never read nor plan to any of Austen's work.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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16 November, 2018:
Finished reading
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16 November, 2018:
Reviewed