Patrice Sarath

Card sharps and Gentleman bandits!

What's not too love!
The adventures of the two sisters of the House Mederos, recently fallen from grace and the regard of the very fickle high society of Port Saint Fey continues with an unexpected turn of events, or two!
We have a host of biting new characters and those who have become more three dimensional. Sisters Tesara and Yvienne are continuing with their brilliantly bad habits. They are both in danger of being questioned by Abel Fresnel who has powers show more unlooked for. Their secrets are in grave danger. The emergence of Vivi being in charge of the house is a master stroke. Tesara is being pursued by the former nemesis--The Guildmaster, and a new more frightening entity, the Doc emerges.
BTW, I made sure to read the first in the series before reading this sequel and feel that that was crucial for my understandings.
I was captivated from beginning to end can't wait for the next in this very robust historical fantasy series with strong female leads.

An Angry Robot ARC via NetGalley show less

Odd little P&P sequel that focuses on the middle Bennet sister, Mary. While it is gratifying to watch Mary come into her own and gain confidence as she loses her priggishness (and "Fordyce's Sermons" along the way), there is no chemistry between the heroine and the man that author Sarath pairs her with. I think she was going for an "opposites attract" vibe, but it fails utterly, leaving the reader to wonder how much happiness Mary will truly find in her happy ending. On the plus side, the show more book is well-written and thankfully chaste (I cannot deal with those P&P sequels or adaptations that include explicit sex scenes between Elizabeth & Darcy). show less

Spinsterish middle sister Mary Bennet is the unexpected heroine of this Pride and Prejudice inspired novel. Lydia, Jane, and Elizabeth’s marriages have disrupted life at Longbourn and Mary no longer finds pleasure in playing the piano and reading edifying sermon collections. An unlikely suitor has Mary’s thoughts turning in a new direction.

Although Patrice Sarath doesn’t capture Jane Austen’s style and wit, neither does she sprinkle Mary’s story with glaring anachronisms. Mary’s show more character transformation is believable, and readers will root for her as well as for Miss Anne de Burgh, who undergoes her own transformation in the novel. The sub-plot involving the Wickhams, Kitty, and the Bingleys doesn’t tie in well with the main plot. It seems like the author couldn’t bear to leave out any of the characters from Pride and Prejudice. I would probably have the same difficulty if I tried to write a P&P sequel so it’s a fault I can overlook. show less

A re-read of this Pride & Prejudice sequel where Mary Bennet is starting to feel dissatisfied with her life, so Jane and Elizabeth decide it time for her to leave Longbourn and stay at Pemberley for a long visit. But the fates intervene and with Mary still unsure who she is decides to take up an offer that would give her independence from the other Bennets.
A very enjoyable sequel, with a lovely writing style. I like this Mary and the introduction of a new character.