Publish Date: August 2010
Format: Paperback 304pp
Synopsis (From the Publisher):"In this hilarious retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma, screenwriter Wayne Josephson casts Mr. Knightley as one of the most handsome and noble of the gentlemen village vampires. Blithely unaware of their presence, Emma, who imagines she has a special gift for matchmaking, attempts to arrange the affairs of her social circle with delightfully disastrous results. But when her dear friend Harriet Smith declares her love for Mr. Knightley, Emma realizes she’s the one who wants to stay up all night with him. Fortunately, Mr. Knightley has been hiding a secret deep within his unbeating heart—his (literal) undying love for her… A brilliant mash-up of Jane Austen and the undead."
My Review:
This was my first venture into the supernatural world of Austen retelling. Unfortunately, I found my first experience to be lacking. When first starting the book, I was a bit confused whether or not the towns people actually knew they lived among vampires. It soon became clear that they had no clue their dearest friends were vampires; which then lead the reader to wonder how could they not figure it out since they were easily able recognize "wild" vampires that scoured the countryside. Another issue with the book was how well the original story and the vampire attacks flowed together. These transitions seemed a bit choppy and forced at times and were often too short for real intensity. What saved this book from only receiving one crown from me was the character of Emma. Her delightful and witty personality was a perfect match for the vampire situation. Her easy dismissal of dire circumstances was quite amusing and I found myself laughing often at her random remarks on the situation. Overall it was an easy and comical read but one that did not live up to its potential.
FTC: I received this book from the publisher. As always, these are my own honest opinions.
