Jane Bites Back

What an entertaining look at Jane Austen as a vampire! Ford is able to convincingly write in Jane's witty, somewhat snarky voice and endear her to the reader from the first chapter in which she hosts an Austen-inspired writer in her bookshop. Jane's disgust and frustration with Austen copy-cats (and especially not enjoying any royalties) were hilarious. Add in her struggle to get published, her grappling with the return of her maker, Lord Bryon, and her romantic interest in a human, make this a fast, enjoyable read. Recommended for those of us who enjoy classic literature and the monster variations. :)

This is by far one of the silliest, funniest, most enjoyable books I have read in a while. Jane Austen is alive and well living as a vampire in upstate New York. She owns a book store and has finally succeeeded in getting her last book published (all it took was 200 years).

This book is totally over the top in everyway. Many things happen that are just a little too convenient and there is some triteness, but honestly it is just so rediculously funny that it is totally worth it. The reader can expect cameos from Lord Byron and Charlotte Bronte and the biggest and best laughs of the book come from Charlotte's jealousy of Jane's success. This is not for you if you expect any kind of depth of character or a serious plot. It is a quick read show more that is good for a laugh and is highly enjoyable. I can't wait for the sequel. show less

The start of Ford's Austen related novel, featuring the timeless author as a vampire seeking to publish that one last manuscript (which has been rejected 116 times in two centuries) and disgruntled over all the sequels and spin-offs she is not receiving royalties from, is a witty and entertaining read with just the right amount of bite.

Jane is a curious mix of both 18th century propriety and modern sensibilities as we see her try to navigate a rapidly changing world. The book begins with an 'Austen' writer energetically pushing her book Waiting for Mr. Darcy to a captive audience, claiming that every woman should wait--chastely--for her own Mr. Darcy the same way that Elizabeth Bennett does. Jane's inner thoughts are acidic, but show more amusing as she thinks of a variety of ways she would have described the woman to her long dead sister Cassandra.

The author makes mention several other famous Austen sequels and spin-offs, including Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (which Jane adored and found entertaining) and some hopefully made up titles like The Jane Austen Workout Book, but is careful to keep Jane's opinions fairly neutral. Her own unpublished manuscript, written in secret and the only piece of writing she was able to secret away after being made a vampire, is a constant battle for her as publisher after publisher rejects it. At one point she contemplates tossing it out altogether and wondered what all her fanatic fans would say to that.

Jane's vampire nature isn't much of a problem or hindrance honestly. Aside from the occasional nibble, some nifty glamour powers of persuasion and eternal youth (well eternal youth at the age of 41) there aren't many drawbacks for Jane. She can go out in the sun, doesn't need to kill to survive and has worked out a reasonable system (aided by each new decades 'keep young longer' strategies) for when she has to leave wherever she's at. The most surprising turn was who made her a vampire and who else (of literary fame) was made into a vampire.

This book will appeal to Austen fans and vampire fans a like, it doesn't act like its the best Austen spin off ever, but its an entertaining, witty and fascinating spin on who Jane Austen could have been if she had been turned into a vampire. show less

Is it wrong to use the phrase 'a book with bite' in a review of a vampire book? I'll contemplate as I write the rest of my review... Overall, a cute novel based upon the premise that Jane Austin was turned into a vampire and yet can no longer get published. Of course, it isn't as simple as that! A rollicking plot with some predictable and some hilarious twists and turns. A few times I groaned and a few times I laughed and a few times I thought, 'Aw, poor Jane...' So, in reference to my opening question - in this case, it probably is wrong. This book isn't a grand literary work but it's certainly good fun. I'd recommend it.

3.5 stars

It’s current day. Jane Austen (now known as Jane Fairfax) is a vampire and is running a small bookstore in a town in New York State. She has written a novel and has been trying for a long time to get it published, but she has been rejected 116 times! She is friends with Lucy, the woman who works for her, and is fighting possible romantic feelings for a local man who is interested in her, Walter.

I really enjoyed this! It’s just a light, enjoyable read and I enjoyed the literary characters. Funny thing – yes, it’s a vampire novel (so obviously unbelievable to start with!) – there were a few little things I found unbelievable, though they were little things. It’s the first book in a series (or trilogy?) and I do plan show more to continue. show less

Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford was a delightful surprise. Jane Austen, a long-time favorite of myself and so many others, meets the vampire genre. The twists on Ford's version of vampires were interesting, and made the tale more believable, but what really made the book fun was the fact that this was an independent, strong woman.

I would suspect Jane Austen, had she been born into this era, would be such a woman as depicted here. The characters were believable, the tale fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My only complaint is that it was over too soon.

I was so excited to get this for the early review. Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors, so I had some pretty high expectations for this book. It delivered on most of them, and was a quick and fun read.

Jane is a vampire living in America as a small town bookstore owner who is trying to balance a love life, get published, and stay anonymous. Jane is a character that is easy to like, and I found her to be completely believable, even as a vampire, a point that isn't dwelled on for this plot, and is merely a slight inconvenience at times for the character. The story is not about vampires, it's about people, which is so refreshing and likeable. Sure, some of the people happen to be vampires, but that just allows them to be important show more characters from history, and have convenient little advantages and disadvantages now and again. Though, all the characters seemed more modern than what I'd expect from someone who actually lived those centuries, it was a point easy to forget in the modern setting.

The supporting cast was fantastic and well rounded as well. Each character came with their own foibles and kindnesses, and even the "bad guys" had some redeeming characteristics that allowed them to be more than just cast roles.

The novel didn't have the same feel as an Austin novel, but it wasn't a boring or trite wannabe. Michael Ford made the story his own and simply borrowed the characters, or rather their names! He had a great humor woven throughout and that made it such a great read.

The only thing I didn't like about the book were the references to other Austin spin-off books, or things that seemed like insider information. They dwelled quite a bit on "Pride and Predjudice and Zombies," so much so that I now want to read it, if for nothing else, just to see which side of the argument I come down on. I kind of wished that the author would have made more of a vague nod to his fellow writers, so the reader wouldn't feel left out if they weren't familiar with the others.

The only other thing is that I now want to read Jane's manuscript "Constance." It was such a driving force behind the book, with quotes in front of every chapter, and such a buildup within the book, that I feel extremely put out that it isn't something I can pick up and read for the summer as well!

All in all, this was a witty, fun, and original feeling book, and I will be looking forward to the sequel that was promised at the end! show less