I don't read Jane Austen spin-offs

5 replies

MsAmerica · 20/12/2023 21:58

but I ran across this amusing title, in case any of you are interested.

The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch
By Melinda Taub

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/melinda-taub/the-scandalous-confessions-of-lydia-bennet-witch/9781538739204/?lens=grand-central-publishing

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/melinda-taub/the-scandalous-confessions-of-lydia-bennet-witch/

OP posts:

ElleLeopine · 20/12/2023 21:59

Some of the spin-offs are excellent. The Other Bennett Sister is really good.

KnittedPond · 20/12/2023 22:01

The only Austen sequel that isn’t awful is Joan Aiken’s Mansfield Revisited, which is clever, funny and has Austen’s tough-mindedness.

Original poster

MsAmerica · 20/12/2023 22:07

KnittedPond · 20/12/2023 22:01

The only Austen sequel that isn’t awful is Joan Aiken’s Mansfield Revisited, which is clever, funny and has Austen’s tough-mindedness.

The only thing I read was Aiken's version of Sanditon - but there was recently already a thread of other spin-off, so this wasn't an attempt to compete with that. I just thought this new one might be of interest.

OP posts:

KnittedPond · 20/12/2023 22:12

Oh, maybe I’m being sour and humourless, but the Kirkus plot summary did make me wonder whether the author had actually read any Austen and why, other than marketing, she didn’t just write a novel about Regency witches and demons if she wanted to, rather than trying to graft it onto P and P.

ANightmareBeforeChristmas · 20/12/2023 22:15

KnittedPond · 20/12/2023 22:01

The only Austen sequel that isn’t awful is Joan Aiken’s Mansfield Revisited, which is clever, funny and has Austen’s tough-mindedness.

I agree. I've tried others but they were either dull or irritatingly modern in outlook.

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