What do you think?
Rate this book
Heartstone #1
Heartstone
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 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 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.
333 pages, Paperback
First published January 17, 2017
About the author
Elle Katharine White
8 books335 followersA textbook introvert who likes to throw out the textbook every once in a while just to see what happens, Elle grew up in Buffalo, NY, where she learned valuable life skills like how to clear a snowy driveway in under twenty minutes and how to cheer for the perennial underdog. When she’s not writing, she spends her time drinking tea, loitering in libraries and secondhand bookshops, and dreaming of world travel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,170 reviews
December 27, 2016
4.5 stars. Maybe 5 stars. I haven't decided yet. I LOVED this book. =)
EDIT: OKAY FIVE STARS IT IS. :D :D :D :D :D :D
Check out a swoony excerpt from the book! While Heartstone is NOT a romance novel, it does feature a lovely and subtle romance. =) Click the graphic below!
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Heartstone by Elle Katharine White
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: January 17, 2017
Rating: 5 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
Summary (from Goodreads):
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.
What I Liked:
I love Pride and Prejudice, and I love fantasy, so I had high hopes that I would enjoy this book. I'd only seen one other review for the book when I started it, so it was fairly fresh and "untainted" to me. I am so pleased that I LOVED this book! I've been feeling kind of meh about the books I've been reading - they've been good (some were not-so-good), but I haven't felt gushy-passionate about most of them. This book though! This is one to gush about for ages.
Aliza Bentaine lives in Merybourne Manor with her three sisters and parents. The Manor has been attacked by gryphons several times recently - including one attack that claimed the life of her youngest sister. Lord Merybourne hires Riders to hunt down the gryphon, and so they arrive. Aliza's older beautiful sister takes a liking to one of the Riders, and that romance blossoms. But one of the Riders, Alastair Daired, is as haughty as he is handsome, and doesn't like anyone. But he's the finest of the Riders, with an impressive lineage and impeccable instincts. The Riders rid Merybourne Manor of the gryphons, but something ancient is awakening. Gryphons at Merybourne Manor were just the start of a war that has been brewing, unbeknownst to all.
I. Looooved. This book. I feel like I can't even write a proper review because all I want to do is gush and squeal and direct everyone to Amazon and Barnes and Noble and Chapters Indigo to buy a copy for yourself. This is adult fantasy, with an intense and sweeping story, fascinating world-building, really likable characters, and a swoony, subtle romance. Squee! This is everything I love, all in one package. And with a beautiful cover to boot!
This book is told from Aliza's first-person perspective. Aliza is the equivalent of "Elizabeth", in Pride and Prejudice. Aliza is softhearted and kind, and she isn't bold or fierce. Yet she would do anything for her family and those she loves, something that she proves over and over, as the story goes on. Aliza is somewhat of an artist, and an herbmaster, and everyone likes her. She isn't as beautiful as her sister, so she likes to think that she is more in the shadows, but she's very likable and sweet.
I liked Aliza, and I loved Daired. He's the equivalent of Darcy, and oh my goodness what a fine grouchy, haughty male protagonist he was. White captured the essence of Darcy perfectly. Daired seems like a haughty Rider that keeps to himself, and he doesn't seem very nice at first. But as the story goes on, we see that he isn't so bad, like he appeared to be. Daired is extremely selfless and noble, even when it appears that he is being selfish. He thinks of others first all the time; Aliza seriously misjudges him at first. But the author set up the story that way, so who could blame her. Daired was never completely awful to Aliza, not in a cruel way, or intentionally. He's so Darcy-esque and I adore him!
The secondary characters are quite likable as well. Aliza has three sisters (one older, two younger), and each are incredibly different. Anjey is the older, beautiful Bentaine girl who falls for one of the Riders (not Daired). She is sweet and sunshine-y. Leyda is restless and always looking for an adventure. Mari is reserved and quiet, never attending balls because she is stuck in a book. The Riders are mysterious at first, but I liked them. Brysney is the one who falls for Anjey, and he is such a charming guy. His sister, Charis, is another Rider; she is a fierce warrior. There are several other Riders whose names I've forgotten - their roles aren't as important in the book. The dragons are very important - Akarra is Daired's, and she plays a significant role in the book.
Dragons and gryphons aren't the only magical creatures in this story's world. There is a haunted forest, an ancient and deadly creature, the Silent King (you do not want to mess with him)... so many secrets unfold, and it all starts with gryphons attacking Merybourne Manor. The author paints the setting well, and crafts the world-building expertly. I love the world that she has created here. I could vividly picture and imagine what was happening.
It felt like one big epic, or a large story that did rise to a climax, but there were other smaller climaxes throughout the book. An interesting thing about this story was that there were little stories that arose with conflicts, but those subplots were resolved, but then they showed up again. For example, Aliza received a marriage proposal from a nobleman. She refused, but then her friend ended up having to marry him. Further into the story, Aliza goes to visit the friend, and she and Daired meet again (after months, because he and the other Riders left Merybourne Manor). I liked how the subplot resolved itself (Aliza didn't marry that strange man, her friend did) but then showed up again (Aliza went to visit her friend, and met Daired there, which was a surprise, but very necessary for the story to move forward).
Of course, this novel is a standalone, so it was bound to feel like one big story with little stories happening too. I love standalone novels! This one was magnificent. I loved the tone of the writing too - it's a light tone, despite the seriousness of the plot. I wouldn't necessarily say humorous, but definitely light. There is a lot of fun, especially with the dragons, with gnomes, with forges and massive castle-like mansions. Aliza had her own adventure, in this story!
The romance was wonderful! Very subtle, but also very swoony. If you're familiar with Pride and Prejudice, then you sort of know what to expect... the author does follow the romance of Pride and Prejudice to an extent, but I'd say the romance of this book is very much its own. I shipped grouchy Daired and sweet Aliza so hard. They were perfectly for each other! Daired was constantly (unintentionally) doing things that ended up irritating Aliza, and she didn't exactly hide her irritation sometimes. While she isn't a fierce warrior, she is definitely headstrong, and the two of them go toe-to-toe and are a good match.
I should also mention that there is NO love triangle. I know in Pride and Prejudice, there is Mr. Wickham... there is a character that is "Mr. Wickham", in this book, but Aliza barely knows him at all. They interact exactly two times, and there isn't anything between them. Aliza never had a particular good feeling about him, and with good reason. Nothing remotely triangular about this story's romance!
Things started out "simple" (with the Riders coming to hunt the gryphons), but the story got complex and intense as the story went on. The ending is a whirlwind of action and emotions, and I was completely sucked in and hanging on for dear life. I love how the author chose to wrap things up. It was a neat, tidy ending that was very satisfying, with just a hint of bittersweet (nothing to do with the two main characters). I will definitely be rereading this book in the future!
What I Did Not Like:
Hmmm, the romance addict in me would have loved to see more between Daired and Aliza! But for an adult fantasy fiction that draws inspiration from Pride and Prejudice, obviously this book wouldn't be like that. Which is totally okay!
Would I Recommend It:
I definitely recommend this book, to anyone adult fiction fans, fantasy fans, Pride and Prejudice fans. This story was light and entertaining, yet complex and dense and so well-written. I've read a number of adult fiction novels this year (not adult romance, mind), but I think this one is my favorite.
Rating:
4.5 stars -> rounded up to 5 stars. Yup, I'm giving a book five stars. I adored this book! I am looking forward to reading more fantasy by this author. Especially if she will be writing more retellings!
EDIT: OKAY FIVE STARS IT IS. :D :D :D :D :D :D
Check out a swoony excerpt from the book! While Heartstone is NOT a romance novel, it does feature a lovely and subtle romance. =) Click the graphic below!
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Heartstone by Elle Katharine White
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: January 17, 2017
Rating: 5 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
Summary (from Goodreads):
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.
What I Liked:
I love Pride and Prejudice, and I love fantasy, so I had high hopes that I would enjoy this book. I'd only seen one other review for the book when I started it, so it was fairly fresh and "untainted" to me. I am so pleased that I LOVED this book! I've been feeling kind of meh about the books I've been reading - they've been good (some were not-so-good), but I haven't felt gushy-passionate about most of them. This book though! This is one to gush about for ages.
Aliza Bentaine lives in Merybourne Manor with her three sisters and parents. The Manor has been attacked by gryphons several times recently - including one attack that claimed the life of her youngest sister. Lord Merybourne hires Riders to hunt down the gryphon, and so they arrive. Aliza's older beautiful sister takes a liking to one of the Riders, and that romance blossoms. But one of the Riders, Alastair Daired, is as haughty as he is handsome, and doesn't like anyone. But he's the finest of the Riders, with an impressive lineage and impeccable instincts. The Riders rid Merybourne Manor of the gryphons, but something ancient is awakening. Gryphons at Merybourne Manor were just the start of a war that has been brewing, unbeknownst to all.
I. Looooved. This book. I feel like I can't even write a proper review because all I want to do is gush and squeal and direct everyone to Amazon and Barnes and Noble and Chapters Indigo to buy a copy for yourself. This is adult fantasy, with an intense and sweeping story, fascinating world-building, really likable characters, and a swoony, subtle romance. Squee! This is everything I love, all in one package. And with a beautiful cover to boot!
This book is told from Aliza's first-person perspective. Aliza is the equivalent of "Elizabeth", in Pride and Prejudice. Aliza is softhearted and kind, and she isn't bold or fierce. Yet she would do anything for her family and those she loves, something that she proves over and over, as the story goes on. Aliza is somewhat of an artist, and an herbmaster, and everyone likes her. She isn't as beautiful as her sister, so she likes to think that she is more in the shadows, but she's very likable and sweet.
I liked Aliza, and I loved Daired. He's the equivalent of Darcy, and oh my goodness what a fine grouchy, haughty male protagonist he was. White captured the essence of Darcy perfectly. Daired seems like a haughty Rider that keeps to himself, and he doesn't seem very nice at first. But as the story goes on, we see that he isn't so bad, like he appeared to be. Daired is extremely selfless and noble, even when it appears that he is being selfish. He thinks of others first all the time; Aliza seriously misjudges him at first. But the author set up the story that way, so who could blame her. Daired was never completely awful to Aliza, not in a cruel way, or intentionally. He's so Darcy-esque and I adore him!
The secondary characters are quite likable as well. Aliza has three sisters (one older, two younger), and each are incredibly different. Anjey is the older, beautiful Bentaine girl who falls for one of the Riders (not Daired). She is sweet and sunshine-y. Leyda is restless and always looking for an adventure. Mari is reserved and quiet, never attending balls because she is stuck in a book. The Riders are mysterious at first, but I liked them. Brysney is the one who falls for Anjey, and he is such a charming guy. His sister, Charis, is another Rider; she is a fierce warrior. There are several other Riders whose names I've forgotten - their roles aren't as important in the book. The dragons are very important - Akarra is Daired's, and she plays a significant role in the book.
Dragons and gryphons aren't the only magical creatures in this story's world. There is a haunted forest, an ancient and deadly creature, the Silent King (you do not want to mess with him)... so many secrets unfold, and it all starts with gryphons attacking Merybourne Manor. The author paints the setting well, and crafts the world-building expertly. I love the world that she has created here. I could vividly picture and imagine what was happening.
It felt like one big epic, or a large story that did rise to a climax, but there were other smaller climaxes throughout the book. An interesting thing about this story was that there were little stories that arose with conflicts, but those subplots were resolved, but then they showed up again. For example, Aliza received a marriage proposal from a nobleman. She refused, but then her friend ended up having to marry him. Further into the story, Aliza goes to visit the friend, and she and Daired meet again (after months, because he and the other Riders left Merybourne Manor). I liked how the subplot resolved itself (Aliza didn't marry that strange man, her friend did) but then showed up again (Aliza went to visit her friend, and met Daired there, which was a surprise, but very necessary for the story to move forward).
Of course, this novel is a standalone, so it was bound to feel like one big story with little stories happening too. I love standalone novels! This one was magnificent. I loved the tone of the writing too - it's a light tone, despite the seriousness of the plot. I wouldn't necessarily say humorous, but definitely light. There is a lot of fun, especially with the dragons, with gnomes, with forges and massive castle-like mansions. Aliza had her own adventure, in this story!
The romance was wonderful! Very subtle, but also very swoony. If you're familiar with Pride and Prejudice, then you sort of know what to expect... the author does follow the romance of Pride and Prejudice to an extent, but I'd say the romance of this book is very much its own. I shipped grouchy Daired and sweet Aliza so hard. They were perfectly for each other! Daired was constantly (unintentionally) doing things that ended up irritating Aliza, and she didn't exactly hide her irritation sometimes. While she isn't a fierce warrior, she is definitely headstrong, and the two of them go toe-to-toe and are a good match.
I should also mention that there is NO love triangle. I know in Pride and Prejudice, there is Mr. Wickham... there is a character that is "Mr. Wickham", in this book, but Aliza barely knows him at all. They interact exactly two times, and there isn't anything between them. Aliza never had a particular good feeling about him, and with good reason. Nothing remotely triangular about this story's romance!
Things started out "simple" (with the Riders coming to hunt the gryphons), but the story got complex and intense as the story went on. The ending is a whirlwind of action and emotions, and I was completely sucked in and hanging on for dear life. I love how the author chose to wrap things up. It was a neat, tidy ending that was very satisfying, with just a hint of bittersweet (nothing to do with the two main characters). I will definitely be rereading this book in the future!
What I Did Not Like:
Hmmm, the romance addict in me would have loved to see more between Daired and Aliza! But for an adult fantasy fiction that draws inspiration from Pride and Prejudice, obviously this book wouldn't be like that. Which is totally okay!
Would I Recommend It:
I definitely recommend this book, to anyone adult fiction fans, fantasy fans, Pride and Prejudice fans. This story was light and entertaining, yet complex and dense and so well-written. I've read a number of adult fiction novels this year (not adult romance, mind), but I think this one is my favorite.
Rating:
4.5 stars -> rounded up to 5 stars. Yup, I'm giving a book five stars. I adored this book! I am looking forward to reading more fantasy by this author. Especially if she will be writing more retellings!
April 1, 2017
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.
I want to admit up front that I have never, ever read any Jane Austen. How I was able to navigate through four years at a liberal arts university without ever reading this author still amazes me, but I did, without any grand plan by myself to do so. All of which means that when I picked up Heartstone by Elle Katharine White I was experiencing this fantasy retelling of Pride and Prejudice without any real knowledge of the original, which I actually believe helped make the experience more exciting.
The story here revolves around Aliza Bentaine of Merrybourne Manor; this second of five sisters attempting to survive the horrible monster invasion which has turned their home into an isolated fortress in a sea of gryphons. But, thankfully, a band of Riders has come to Merrybourne to drive off the creatures.
Among this band are two very eligible bachelors, Master Brysney and Master Daired. Both of whom Aliza’s mother hopes to pair up with her eligible daughters. But, of course, Daired has made a horrible first impression on Aliza, which keep her from warming to him, so much so that she is only his unease ally in the fight to drive off the monsters from the area.
Quickly, the immediate threat of the rampaging gryphons begins to fade in importance, as a much bigger threat looms ever larger. A deadly foe emerging, one who threatens to bind all the monsters to its cause and set them loose on an unprepared land.
Probably the element I appreciated most about this story was something that did not happen. Having only heard things about Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, one of my worst fears when opening this book was that this fantasy retelling would not be modern enough for my sensibilities. I mean, Victorian steampunk is all well and good in my mind, but I just could not see myself enjoying a narrative where the female characters had to wear dresses while riding dragons or act in the manner of women from the P & P era. So, it was with great thanks I found the author had jettisoned most of these societal trappings in favor of a more modern society.
The other enjoyable part of Heartstone was the fantasy elements seamlessly incorporated into this age old tale. Fantastical creatures were woven into all layers of society, not relegated to mere monsters. Dragons were nicely done with their own particular lore. And, the world itself was well endowed with its own history, religion, and cultures.
The only negative I have with the tale is the focus on relationships, specifically the growing romantic relationships between the parties. Yes, I realize this was a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. And, yeah, I realize what the main plot of that story is about. But, for whatever reason, I assumed a fantasy retelling meant the author would not be following the original plot line in such a dedicated way. Truly, it bothered me that the #1 goal of these female characters seemed to be getting married.
In sum, Heartstone is a fine retelling of Austen's classic. Other reviewers have commented that this narrative is (up until the end) a near perfect match for Pride and Prejudice, and I will accept that they are not misleading us by that description, but even with that being said, the author has added her own ideas to Austen’s tale and ends it with a fast-paced, exciting conclusion which is all her own. So, whether you like Pride and Prejudice or not, Heartstone is a fantasy you very well might enjoy.
I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
I want to admit up front that I have never, ever read any Jane Austen. How I was able to navigate through four years at a liberal arts university without ever reading this author still amazes me, but I did, without any grand plan by myself to do so. All of which means that when I picked up Heartstone by Elle Katharine White I was experiencing this fantasy retelling of Pride and Prejudice without any real knowledge of the original, which I actually believe helped make the experience more exciting.
The story here revolves around Aliza Bentaine of Merrybourne Manor; this second of five sisters attempting to survive the horrible monster invasion which has turned their home into an isolated fortress in a sea of gryphons. But, thankfully, a band of Riders has come to Merrybourne to drive off the creatures.
Among this band are two very eligible bachelors, Master Brysney and Master Daired. Both of whom Aliza’s mother hopes to pair up with her eligible daughters. But, of course, Daired has made a horrible first impression on Aliza, which keep her from warming to him, so much so that she is only his unease ally in the fight to drive off the monsters from the area.
Quickly, the immediate threat of the rampaging gryphons begins to fade in importance, as a much bigger threat looms ever larger. A deadly foe emerging, one who threatens to bind all the monsters to its cause and set them loose on an unprepared land.
Probably the element I appreciated most about this story was something that did not happen. Having only heard things about Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, one of my worst fears when opening this book was that this fantasy retelling would not be modern enough for my sensibilities. I mean, Victorian steampunk is all well and good in my mind, but I just could not see myself enjoying a narrative where the female characters had to wear dresses while riding dragons or act in the manner of women from the P & P era. So, it was with great thanks I found the author had jettisoned most of these societal trappings in favor of a more modern society.
The other enjoyable part of Heartstone was the fantasy elements seamlessly incorporated into this age old tale. Fantastical creatures were woven into all layers of society, not relegated to mere monsters. Dragons were nicely done with their own particular lore. And, the world itself was well endowed with its own history, religion, and cultures.
The only negative I have with the tale is the focus on relationships, specifically the growing romantic relationships between the parties. Yes, I realize this was a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. And, yeah, I realize what the main plot of that story is about. But, for whatever reason, I assumed a fantasy retelling meant the author would not be following the original plot line in such a dedicated way. Truly, it bothered me that the #1 goal of these female characters seemed to be getting married.
In sum, Heartstone is a fine retelling of Austen's classic. Other reviewers have commented that this narrative is (up until the end) a near perfect match for Pride and Prejudice, and I will accept that they are not misleading us by that description, but even with that being said, the author has added her own ideas to Austen’s tale and ends it with a fast-paced, exciting conclusion which is all her own. So, whether you like Pride and Prejudice or not, Heartstone is a fantasy you very well might enjoy.
I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
February 6, 2017
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/02/06/...
Pride and Prejudice retellings and other Austenesque-inspired stories have traditionally been hit-or-miss with me, but there was something about Heartstone that drew me to it right away. Might it have been the dragons? Okay yeah, it was the dragons.
While I’ll be the first to admit I’m no aficionado on the works of Jane Austen, I am familiar enough with Pride and Prejudice to know that Heartstone is actually a pretty faithful rendition of the original, in some places following the plot so closely that I was surprised the author took such a direct route. The story follows Aliza Bentaine, the second of five daughters in a family living at Merybourne Manor. Their home has been set upon by monsters as of late, and six months ago tragedy struck as Aliza’s youngest sister was attacked and killed by one of the wild gryphons that have invaded the surrounding woods. This has led to the arrival of a band of Riders who have come to Merybourne to eradicate the creatures, and among them are the warriors Master Brysney and Master Daired.
Excited to have two noble bachelors visit the household, Aliza’s mother quickly ensures that her daughters would be present at the party to receive the Riders, and her hopes are answered as Brysney takes an immediate liking to Anjey, the eldest. Aliza herself, however, is unimpressed by Daired, whom she finds rude, arrogant, and standoffish. It also didn’t help that due to a hilarious misunderstanding, Daired started off their introductions by kicking Aliza’s good friend Tobble the hobgoblin clear across the yard. But in order to be polite to their guests, Aliza makes an effort to get to know the Riders and help them hunt the gryphon hordes in any way she can, even befriending Daired’s majestic mount, the dragon Akarra.
The publisher blurb for this book describes it as Elle Katharine White infusing Austen’s classic with her own brand of magic, and I find that wholly accurate. If you know your Pride and Prejudice, many of the major plot points in Heartstone won’t come as much of a surprise, i.e. just as Elizabeth and Darcy manage to find common ground and eventually fall in love, Aliza and Daired also come to an understanding with each other and gradually a romance blossoms between them. With the exception of the ending, I wouldn’t say that the strength of Heartstone is in its story since most of the plot closely mirrors the original, but what really shines is the world-building. White doesn’t stop at populating her book with all sorts of extraordinary creatures from hobgoblins and wyverns to lamias and lindworms, for she has also fleshed out the world with a vibrant culture that’s entirely of her own imagination. I loved how this world had its own history and religion, and even the dragons had their own set of traditions. One of the elements I most appreciated about this book was the fact that White did not set out to copy Austen’s style or reproduce the Regency period, because I doubt that would have worked as well for me.
Still, just when you think you’ve taken this book’s measure, the author does have a couple surprises hidden up her sleeve, waiting for the perfect time to spring them on the unsuspecting reader. I had briefly mentioned the ending, which definitely deserves more attention. For one thing, you most certainly won’t find anything like it in the original, and in a way I’m really glad this is where White decided to go “off-script” because otherwise I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed this book so much. Pride and Prejudice retelling or not, when a story features wyvern and dragon-riding warriors, I think it’s a safe bet that most readers would expect a battle scene or two to see them in action, and in this regard, I’m pleased to say Heartstone did not disappoint. That epic ending capped off what was for the most part a relatively tame and faithful retelling, and it was exactly what the book needed because I don’t think things could have wrapped up more perfectly.
In sum, Heartstone is described as a Pride and Prejudice retelling with fantasy elements, and for better or worse, that is exactly what you get—as in, right up until the grand finale, the plot matches up with the original almost perfectly, down to the similarity in character names, which at times can feel a bit disconcerting. That said though, I thought the decision to depart from the Regency style and language made this book a lot more readable and engaging, and the author’s own additions to the world are wonderfully original and well integrated. Whether you’re an Austen fan or not, I think you’ll also find that the world-building elements are a key highlight along with the story’s superb ending, and despite its strength of being a rather close retelling, there’s no denying Heartstone was at its best when it was doing its own thing, delving into the fantastical. All told it was a delightful experience that felt comfortably familiar and fresh all at once, and I highly recommend it.
Pride and Prejudice retellings and other Austenesque-inspired stories have traditionally been hit-or-miss with me, but there was something about Heartstone that drew me to it right away. Might it have been the dragons? Okay yeah, it was the dragons.
While I’ll be the first to admit I’m no aficionado on the works of Jane Austen, I am familiar enough with Pride and Prejudice to know that Heartstone is actually a pretty faithful rendition of the original, in some places following the plot so closely that I was surprised the author took such a direct route. The story follows Aliza Bentaine, the second of five daughters in a family living at Merybourne Manor. Their home has been set upon by monsters as of late, and six months ago tragedy struck as Aliza’s youngest sister was attacked and killed by one of the wild gryphons that have invaded the surrounding woods. This has led to the arrival of a band of Riders who have come to Merybourne to eradicate the creatures, and among them are the warriors Master Brysney and Master Daired.
Excited to have two noble bachelors visit the household, Aliza’s mother quickly ensures that her daughters would be present at the party to receive the Riders, and her hopes are answered as Brysney takes an immediate liking to Anjey, the eldest. Aliza herself, however, is unimpressed by Daired, whom she finds rude, arrogant, and standoffish. It also didn’t help that due to a hilarious misunderstanding, Daired started off their introductions by kicking Aliza’s good friend Tobble the hobgoblin clear across the yard. But in order to be polite to their guests, Aliza makes an effort to get to know the Riders and help them hunt the gryphon hordes in any way she can, even befriending Daired’s majestic mount, the dragon Akarra.
The publisher blurb for this book describes it as Elle Katharine White infusing Austen’s classic with her own brand of magic, and I find that wholly accurate. If you know your Pride and Prejudice, many of the major plot points in Heartstone won’t come as much of a surprise, i.e. just as Elizabeth and Darcy manage to find common ground and eventually fall in love, Aliza and Daired also come to an understanding with each other and gradually a romance blossoms between them. With the exception of the ending, I wouldn’t say that the strength of Heartstone is in its story since most of the plot closely mirrors the original, but what really shines is the world-building. White doesn’t stop at populating her book with all sorts of extraordinary creatures from hobgoblins and wyverns to lamias and lindworms, for she has also fleshed out the world with a vibrant culture that’s entirely of her own imagination. I loved how this world had its own history and religion, and even the dragons had their own set of traditions. One of the elements I most appreciated about this book was the fact that White did not set out to copy Austen’s style or reproduce the Regency period, because I doubt that would have worked as well for me.
Still, just when you think you’ve taken this book’s measure, the author does have a couple surprises hidden up her sleeve, waiting for the perfect time to spring them on the unsuspecting reader. I had briefly mentioned the ending, which definitely deserves more attention. For one thing, you most certainly won’t find anything like it in the original, and in a way I’m really glad this is where White decided to go “off-script” because otherwise I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed this book so much. Pride and Prejudice retelling or not, when a story features wyvern and dragon-riding warriors, I think it’s a safe bet that most readers would expect a battle scene or two to see them in action, and in this regard, I’m pleased to say Heartstone did not disappoint. That epic ending capped off what was for the most part a relatively tame and faithful retelling, and it was exactly what the book needed because I don’t think things could have wrapped up more perfectly.
In sum, Heartstone is described as a Pride and Prejudice retelling with fantasy elements, and for better or worse, that is exactly what you get—as in, right up until the grand finale, the plot matches up with the original almost perfectly, down to the similarity in character names, which at times can feel a bit disconcerting. That said though, I thought the decision to depart from the Regency style and language made this book a lot more readable and engaging, and the author’s own additions to the world are wonderfully original and well integrated. Whether you’re an Austen fan or not, I think you’ll also find that the world-building elements are a key highlight along with the story’s superb ending, and despite its strength of being a rather close retelling, there’s no denying Heartstone was at its best when it was doing its own thing, delving into the fantastical. All told it was a delightful experience that felt comfortably familiar and fresh all at once, and I highly recommend it.
February 7, 2017
Pride and Prejudice and Dragons!
If you are a fellow P&P fan you can imagine the scope of my excitement for this book. And now after I've finished it a couple of hours ago I can finally say that I mostly liked the author's revision of the original story, but it was not enough for me to make me not to return in my head to favorite scenes from P&P while reading Heartstone.
Just like in P&P in this book we have a world of high society, ladies and gentlemen and balls, of course. But right besides Regency period we have a world filled with dragons, wyverns, gryphons and other magical creatures. 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.
So the Riders arrive to slay the said monsters and with them arrives the most infuriating Dragonrider, Alastair Daired. The rest of the story you can guess if you've read P&P, because the author followed the original plot step by step, widening the story with new details here and there to complete the fantasy part.
I really liked how the author created the fantasy part of the story and inhibited it with all kinds of magical creatures. My issue, though, wasn't in the world itself, but in how the imaginary world and the real one clashed together. The contrast between fantasy and Regency era was too stark. It was hard for me to follow high society's rules and then abruptly jump into battles, shirtless men fighting vile creatures and more so when young women fought said creatures, and then just donned pretty dresses and turned into ladies again like nothing happened. I know, I know, there's plenty of books where said tactics worked perfectly (Lady Helen, for example), but in the case of Heartstone, what I am trying to say is that the change between one side of the story into another was not smooth enough to be believable for me. Maybe it had to do with the fact that every time there was a similar scene from P&P, my brain blocked everything else and I couldn't imagine how "this" or "that" could be something other than the part of the original story.
The other thing that bothered me is the interactions between main characters Aliza Bentaine (Elizabeth Bennet) and Alastair Daired (Darcy). They didn't click for me as a couple. Yes, their battle of wits were interesting to observe, but it didn't make my heart beat faster like it did with the original couple. I won't deny that I liked how the author re-imagined the infamous proposal scene. Here it is if you are curious , but, overall, I didn't feel the chemistry between Aliza and Daired.
But apart from the romance, I really liked Aliza's character. She's not your typical girl ready to grab a sword and fight monsters. On the contrary, she's a healer and killing is not something she's aspiring to do. I admired her, because she wasn't afraid to admit her weaknesses and mistakes. And I pretty much liked the whole Bentaine family. Four sisters (the youngest was killed by a monster) took care and supported each other and, overall, created an endearing sisterly image. Girls rock in this novel for sure!
All in all, I liked Heartstone more than I didn't and would definitely recommend the book, wether you are a fan of P&P or not doesn't matter, because, in one case, you'll find a solid fantasy story, and, in the other case, a nice retelling of a beloved Jane Austen's story. And let's not forget that it is a debut novel for Elle Katharine White, and she'd done a wonderful job creating this magical story. The writing was compelling enough to keep me reading and enjoying the book. And now I am definitely looking forward to author's future novels!
May 8, 2019
This is a thoroughly entertaining variation of Pride and Prejudice that very effectively transports the reader to a fantasy world filled with mythical creatures, and there's lots of humor and a touch of mystery thrown in for good measure. I don't usually take note of a cover since I read most of my books on an old ink display kindle, but this one is gorgeous. It seems as though Heartstone has been discovered by fantasy readers but not JAFF readers, so I hope to be like a town cryer and encourage you P&P lovers to get on board!
All the character names have been changed. Elizabeth Bennet is Aliza Bentaine, Jane is her sister Angelina, Mary is Mari, and Lydia is Leyda. Fitzwilliam Darcy becomes Alastair Daired. Charles Bingley is Cedric Brysney, and his sister's name is Charis instead of Caroline. There's good reason to make such radical changes in the names because, while most of the characters exhibit some trait/traits similar to the originals, many don't at all.
The plot itself shows identifiable parallels to Jane Austen in parts, yet it is also completely original. Women are respected warriors here, just as much as the men. Awesome! There are fierce battles with gryphons and a lindworm which are integral to the story (UNlike that horrible Zombies book). Daired, Brysney and Charis are among a group of Riders who partner with wyverns/dragons to fight dangerous creatures.
This is beautifully written and makes this alternate universe real to the reader. I am not a habitual reader of fantasy works, so I struggled a bit with the many, many different imaginary species mentioned, some only in passing, trying to remember which were friendly to humans, which required caution, and which were always dangerous. It seemed this knowledge is so commonplace in this world, detailed explanations were deemed unnecessary.
Character names took a while for me, too. I'm so accustomed to reading variations that retain Jane Austen's names that it took a few chapters for me to get used to these new monikers. But that's on me, not the author.
I really got caught up in this universe, though. Loved that when Daired's proposal to Aliza is refused, it's his dragon companion (Akarra) who explains the truth about Wydrick (Wickham) and about Daired's reason for separating Brysney and Angelina to Aliza rather than her reading it all in a letter. And, of course, by this time in the story it didn't surprise me at all that a dragon and human would be having that conversation together! The battle scenes are thrilling, and the climax... WOW! SO great!
Highly recommend to all my JAFF-loving friends!
All the character names have been changed. Elizabeth Bennet is Aliza Bentaine, Jane is her sister Angelina, Mary is Mari, and Lydia is Leyda. Fitzwilliam Darcy becomes Alastair Daired. Charles Bingley is Cedric Brysney, and his sister's name is Charis instead of Caroline. There's good reason to make such radical changes in the names because, while most of the characters exhibit some trait/traits similar to the originals, many don't at all.
The plot itself shows identifiable parallels to Jane Austen in parts, yet it is also completely original. Women are respected warriors here, just as much as the men. Awesome! There are fierce battles with gryphons and a lindworm which are integral to the story (UNlike that horrible Zombies book). Daired, Brysney and Charis are among a group of Riders who partner with wyverns/dragons to fight dangerous creatures.
This is beautifully written and makes this alternate universe real to the reader. I am not a habitual reader of fantasy works, so I struggled a bit with the many, many different imaginary species mentioned, some only in passing, trying to remember which were friendly to humans, which required caution, and which were always dangerous. It seemed this knowledge is so commonplace in this world, detailed explanations were deemed unnecessary.
Character names took a while for me, too. I'm so accustomed to reading variations that retain Jane Austen's names that it took a few chapters for me to get used to these new monikers. But that's on me, not the author.
I really got caught up in this universe, though. Loved that when Daired's proposal to Aliza is refused, it's his dragon companion (Akarra) who explains the truth about Wydrick (Wickham) and about Daired's reason for separating Brysney and Angelina to Aliza rather than her reading it all in a letter. And, of course, by this time in the story it didn't surprise me at all that a dragon and human would be having that conversation together! The battle scenes are thrilling, and the climax... WOW! SO great!
Highly recommend to all my JAFF-loving friends!
October 10, 2017
Rating 3.5?
This book is a bit difficult for me to review because it had SO MUCH potential, and while it wasn't terrible it certainly could have been better.
Dragons & Dragon Riders? Yes, these were great aspects. But I wish they were better explored. Like we did not really get to see as many action-packed battles as I would have liked. We did not even get to see them defeat the creatures they were originally brought to Hart Run's to defeat. The only semi-decent fight we got to see was near the very end.
The world-building? Felt a bit lackluster, like, I get the overall idea. But by the end, I still could not fully imagine the world in my head, or where all the cities were in respects to each other.
The romance...well first let me confess, I have never seen or read Pride & Prejudice. Though I do own a lovely copy and it looks great on my bookshelf lol. That being said, I can certainly see where the inspiration came in, Alastair certainly had a lot of pride and Aliza had plenty of prejudice. But my main complaint in the romance department is that Alastair's initial confession felt completely out of nowhere.
“I’ve been in many battles in my lifetime. I’ve slain monsters by the hundreds and won more victories than I can count, but against this there’s no defense. From the moment we met I tried fighting it—gods, I’ve tried. Nothing works. I thought I’d be safe at the other end of the country, but the minute I heard you were coming to Edan Rose I flew here as fast as Akarra would take me. I’m a Rider and you’re a nakla,” Daired said. “There’s nothing we have in common. There’s nothing we should have in common. Your birth, your bloodline, all of it—it’s beneath me. I know all of that, and it hasn’t changed a thing. I’ve lost, Aliza. You’ve defeated me.”
Fortunately, my opinion of their pairing, and both of them in general, improved after they later reunited. Honestly, I kind of adored Alastair by the end. Because you sort of realize that he never really meant to be offensive in any way, he is just sort of socially awkward and horrible at showing/putting his feelings in to words. But again, he is better by the end.
The pacing?
The first 30% - Pretty good this seems promising
30-70% - Basically not much happens
70% and beyond - Yes, finally, real romance development and some actual action!
The character development was another issue in this book, because other than the changes in Alastair and maybe a bit of change on Aliza's part, none of the other characters were even remotely developed. I liked the supporting cast, and I wish we would have gotten to know them better. Personally, Aliza's Aunt Lissa was probably my favorite because she helped Aliza realize what she really wanted, and her words to the couple at the end was sound.
“Aliza, Alastair, promise us something, will you? You've already passed through peace and war, fire and blood, and gods know you'll pass through more of it before the end. This life you're trying to make together won't be easy...But then, nothing worthwhile ever is. Promise you'll never stop fighting for each other.”
All-in-all this was an enjoyable and easy read, so for anyone who's looking for a decent tale about dragons with some romance and action thrown in I say go for it.
This book is a bit difficult for me to review because it had SO MUCH potential, and while it wasn't terrible it certainly could have been better.
Dragons & Dragon Riders? Yes, these were great aspects. But I wish they were better explored. Like we did not really get to see as many action-packed battles as I would have liked. We did not even get to see them defeat the creatures they were originally brought to Hart Run's to defeat. The only semi-decent fight we got to see was near the very end.
The world-building? Felt a bit lackluster, like, I get the overall idea. But by the end, I still could not fully imagine the world in my head, or where all the cities were in respects to each other.
The romance...well first let me confess, I have never seen or read Pride & Prejudice. Though I do own a lovely copy and it looks great on my bookshelf lol. That being said, I can certainly see where the inspiration came in, Alastair certainly had a lot of pride and Aliza had plenty of prejudice. But my main complaint in the romance department is that Alastair's initial confession felt completely out of nowhere.
“I’ve been in many battles in my lifetime. I’ve slain monsters by the hundreds and won more victories than I can count, but against this there’s no defense. From the moment we met I tried fighting it—gods, I’ve tried. Nothing works. I thought I’d be safe at the other end of the country, but the minute I heard you were coming to Edan Rose I flew here as fast as Akarra would take me. I’m a Rider and you’re a nakla,” Daired said. “There’s nothing we have in common. There’s nothing we should have in common. Your birth, your bloodline, all of it—it’s beneath me. I know all of that, and it hasn’t changed a thing. I’ve lost, Aliza. You’ve defeated me.”
Fortunately, my opinion of their pairing, and both of them in general, improved after they later reunited. Honestly, I kind of adored Alastair by the end. Because you sort of realize that he never really meant to be offensive in any way, he is just sort of socially awkward and horrible at showing/putting his feelings in to words. But again, he is better by the end.
The pacing?
The first 30% - Pretty good this seems promising
30-70% - Basically not much happens
70% and beyond - Yes, finally, real romance development and some actual action!
The character development was another issue in this book, because other than the changes in Alastair and maybe a bit of change on Aliza's part, none of the other characters were even remotely developed. I liked the supporting cast, and I wish we would have gotten to know them better. Personally, Aliza's Aunt Lissa was probably my favorite because she helped Aliza realize what she really wanted, and her words to the couple at the end was sound.
“Aliza, Alastair, promise us something, will you? You've already passed through peace and war, fire and blood, and gods know you'll pass through more of it before the end. This life you're trying to make together won't be easy...But then, nothing worthwhile ever is. Promise you'll never stop fighting for each other.”
All-in-all this was an enjoyable and easy read, so for anyone who's looking for a decent tale about dragons with some romance and action thrown in I say go for it.
March 31, 2023
I freely admit that I’m an unabashed Austen fan and Pride and Prejudice remains my favorite. I’ve reread the novel several times since first reading it and love all versions of it, on film and TV.
Add to it dragons, hobgoblins, gnomes and arrogant but handsome and brave Riders... I’m all in.
It was a delightful, bloody, charming and fantastical take on the original— and it was a really fun read!!
PS— Still waiting on my library to purchase book 2– hate when that happens!!
Add to it dragons, hobgoblins, gnomes and arrogant but handsome and brave Riders... I’m all in.
It was a delightful, bloody, charming and fantastical take on the original— and it was a really fun read!!
PS— Still waiting on my library to purchase book 2– hate when that happens!!
April 24, 2019
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
The Buzz
I'm always on the lookout for books with dragons. This one came onto my radar last year and I meant to read it right away... hehe I didn't get to it. I had to add it to my Moody Reader reading list and totally hit it up early in the year for some fluffy reading. Plus its a retelling of Pride and Prejudice!! And I love the idea of a historical fantasy.
The Premise
I loved the idea of reading this retelling and getting a new version of Pride and Prejudice in Heartstone. As I read I felt fuzzy about the number of sisters and a major event early in the book. Other things like the classic misunderstanding and her visit to her newly married friend I absolutely knew came from the original story. I don't think its very important whether it remains super true or not, unless this is one of your favorite books ever. (If it is then it could easily become a comparison contest which is never fun!)
Heartstone wasn't a perfect book but it reinvented a story we've seen before in a fun and heartfelt way. Aliza's relationship with the hobgoblins, her bonding with Akarra the dragon, as well as her "battles" with their evil counterparts did add a freshness to the story. And it went a long way to giving us a story that is independent of the original Pride and Prejudice. I particularly enjoyed the conversations between Aliza and Akarra about Alistair, the dragon's rider. The hate to love romance is a little flat and lacks the intensity of the original, but it does develop in a new and fun direction.
In the end while I enjoyed Heartstone and found it fun, fluffy and worthy enough to read the sequels I did find it a shallow version of Pride and Prejudice.
My Experience
I've seen Pride and Prejudice so many times I feel like I've read it... but I don't think I have?! I went into Heartstone wanting the supernatural creatures to really wow me... And they did! I loved all the retold aspects of the story. At first I thought Aliza's role would be really tame and consist of her role as a healer and herbalist (which I did enjoy but come on...) and was pleasantly surprised when my greatest desire was realized. I think this twist really went a long way in satisfying me despite the shallow version of Pride and Prejudice that we ended up with.
Let's be honest this was really written for fans of Pride and Prejudice. It's been a while since you've seen the movie or read the book and instead of rereading you pick up Heartstone. There is this unsaid assumption that we already vaguely know the story (don't we?!) and are getting a fun revisit. With the two sequels in the wings this feels like the beginning of a brand new story spun off from a retelling. With that in mind I find this a worthy read... BUT if the sequels don't develop the story further in a more original direction then we'll have a problem.
Cover & Title grade -> B+
This cover does draw my eye... but it also leaves me on the fence about reading it. It's a disgusting shade of green... and it's clearly an average Photoshop job. I actually like the covers of the rest of the series better with the woman featured instead. Perhaps a dragon outline in the distant sky would have added the detail we needed. I AM glad I picked up the book! So if you're on the fence I'd say the cover does deliver on its promises.
Why is Heartstone a delightful Pride and Predjudice retelling?
-Dragons and wyverns!
Okay I love dragon bonding books... there aren't a whole ton around and this one does a really great job giving us a little background on how that bond works in this world. Plus we meet a couple incredible dragons and their cousins and its so much fun!
-Hobgoblins!
This is a magical race that came with the dragons and is super adorable! Tobble goes right for Aliza when there is trouble or he needs helps making a treaty with a dragon... He is also the unfortunate that got kicked by a big boot! He's a total riot.
-Lamia!
These snake women are deadly creatures that make nests to prey on humans. They are cunning Tekari that Aliza has to deal with if she's going to save the one she loves! It's crazy but she plunges in, because its that or loose her heart.
-The snark and misunderstanding!
Aliza and her rider do NOT get on well. There is tons of snark and of course, the P&P misunderstanding to stir the pot. I loved how it pulled from the source material (we've got to have the hate to love romance) but developed organically from these characters.
-The family!
Both Aliza and her rider had family just like the original couple in P&P. They do follow similar patterns and give us the P&P treatment. But things aren't exactly the same either! I really loved how the dragons played into the differences.
The Writing
Because there was Akarra to run interference between Aliza and Alistair, their misunderstandings and lack of communication problems seemed overcome quite easily. Add to that a lack of cute moments between the couple (there were moments but I wanted soooooo many more!) This made the romance feel shallow. There isn't normally another being (like a dragon) that is as intimate as the love interest in a romance so it threw off the balance, giving you the feel of instalove.
i actually didn't hate this. Sure, the romance isn't as nuanced as it could have been. It's not perfect. In the end though we see Aliza taking her growth in a little different direction from the original Elizabeth. I thought it was a fun development for a story with dragons and crazy evil creatures. There is this hint that there is more to the story in Heartstone and it gives me a lot of hope for the two sequels.
In other words Heartstone sets up this wonderful fantasy Pride and Prejudice world with dragons, wyverns, and hobgoblins helping humans against monsters like the lamia. It's full of family, snark and romance as well as a bond with a dragon that brings their love full circle. It's a great book to pick up between heavy fantasy or emotionally draining reads.
I rounded up because Heartstone really is fun and has a lot of promise for the sequels. If it had been a standalone retelling I would have lowered my rating to a 3.
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing Style
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ World Building
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
Please like this review if you enjoyed it! *bow* *bow* It helps me out a ton!!
Want to read
October 4, 2016Pride and Prejudice with dragons.
...
Pride and Prejudice. WITH DRAGONS.
....
WITH DRAGONS people! Oh please, please, please let this be as awesome as it sounds!
...
Pride and Prejudice. WITH DRAGONS.
....
WITH DRAGONS people! Oh please, please, please let this be as awesome as it sounds!
August 27, 2022
My love for this book is endless. Eeeeeeeeeendlesssssss, I tell you. (Eta: (March 12th) so endless that I had to read it again and probably will do so again. And soon.)
It was actually just last year where I fell in love with Pride & Prejudice, and I admit, while I did like the book, it was the 2005 movie (the one with Keira Knightley!) that totally won me over. Ever since my AP lit teacher showed my class a snippet of the movie, I put that on the moment I got home. I was a goner for the story then.
Since then I've been trying to find a good P&P retelling to relive the story. Frankly, finding this story felt like a gift I didn't deserve. When edelweiss accepted me, I could hardly contain my surprise.
Heartstone includes the wonderful elements that make P&P such an amazing love story--but it goes beyond that, as any good retelling. Told in a fantasy land with dragons and other wonderful creatures, there's a bigger play at end than just Aliza and Alistair falling in love with each other. White manages to incorporate the tension between the two, along with the danger in their world, and it makes for a wonderful fantasy debut!
As much as I loved Pride & Prejudice, there were, of course, some characters that annoyed the living hell out of me, and others I plain didn't like. I knew what to expect from them, but I was so wrong. The way White wrote her secondary characters, those who would directly affect Aliza, she gave them such a beautiful and heartbreaking story! The direction she took with Leyda and with Charis, the equivalents of Lydia and Caroline Bingley. When I finished this, I couldn't help but think that White wrote a fantasy P&P (with DRAGONS!) and better characters (as in, where none of them annoyed me).
I LOVED Aliza! She was smart and brave and caring and at heart, just such a wonderful character! It's so clear she loves her family and would do so much for them. In the book, Aliza is shown to have guilt over a certain tragedy and it made my heart ache every time. I absolutely adored her and her narration was wonderful.
Alistair!!! Oh my gooooooooosh, White perfectly captured him with Darcy's attitude and personality!! It's all I can do to not straight up gush about him and them about him and Aliza. I dont know if this fully falls under the romance genre, but their relationship plays a big role AND I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. Watching Alistair struggle and even do embarrassing things around Aliza made my poor romantic heart stop beating several times. In any case, Alistair was a loyal and dedicated character throughout the book and I loved him (if you somehow didn't already get that).
THE DRAGON!!!! There are more dragons but the main one was Akarra, Alistair's dragon. (Long story short: there are several riders in Aliza's town to kill off the gryphon infestation and they each have a beast they work with.) Akarra was such an important character and I ADORED HER so much! She was always kind to Aliza and loyal to Alistair--it was clear that both the dragon and the rider would do anything for each other. In time, it was like that with Aliza and Akarra as well.
As a fantasy setting, I loved how White painted her scenes. It was vivid and beautiful and it definitely shows her skill with writing. I also loved the way she incorporated the other fantasy creatures throughout the book! There were quite a few of them and they played a part in the bigger picture of the book! I thought that was super unique--this was a retelling, but every good retelling has more to it, and White definitely did that with Heartstone.
I'm going to just stop it here. I loved this book, every single thing about it. The romance, the characters, the dragons... everything was just perfect. I definitely recommend this book if you love fantasy and/or Pride & Prejudice!
That being said, ALL THE STAAAAAAAARS!!
It was actually just last year where I fell in love with Pride & Prejudice, and I admit, while I did like the book, it was the 2005 movie (the one with Keira Knightley!) that totally won me over. Ever since my AP lit teacher showed my class a snippet of the movie, I put that on the moment I got home. I was a goner for the story then.
Since then I've been trying to find a good P&P retelling to relive the story. Frankly, finding this story felt like a gift I didn't deserve. When edelweiss accepted me, I could hardly contain my surprise.
Heartstone includes the wonderful elements that make P&P such an amazing love story--but it goes beyond that, as any good retelling. Told in a fantasy land with dragons and other wonderful creatures, there's a bigger play at end than just Aliza and Alistair falling in love with each other. White manages to incorporate the tension between the two, along with the danger in their world, and it makes for a wonderful fantasy debut!
As much as I loved Pride & Prejudice, there were, of course, some characters that annoyed the living hell out of me, and others I plain didn't like. I knew what to expect from them, but I was so wrong. The way White wrote her secondary characters, those who would directly affect Aliza, she gave them such a beautiful and heartbreaking story! The direction she took with Leyda and with Charis, the equivalents of Lydia and Caroline Bingley. When I finished this, I couldn't help but think that White wrote a fantasy P&P (with DRAGONS!) and better characters (as in, where none of them annoyed me).
I LOVED Aliza! She was smart and brave and caring and at heart, just such a wonderful character! It's so clear she loves her family and would do so much for them. In the book, Aliza is shown to have guilt over a certain tragedy and it made my heart ache every time. I absolutely adored her and her narration was wonderful.
Alistair!!! Oh my gooooooooosh, White perfectly captured him with Darcy's attitude and personality!! It's all I can do to not straight up gush about him and them about him and Aliza. I dont know if this fully falls under the romance genre, but their relationship plays a big role AND I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. Watching Alistair struggle and even do embarrassing things around Aliza made my poor romantic heart stop beating several times. In any case, Alistair was a loyal and dedicated character throughout the book and I loved him (if you somehow didn't already get that).
THE DRAGON!!!! There are more dragons but the main one was Akarra, Alistair's dragon. (Long story short: there are several riders in Aliza's town to kill off the gryphon infestation and they each have a beast they work with.) Akarra was such an important character and I ADORED HER so much! She was always kind to Aliza and loyal to Alistair--it was clear that both the dragon and the rider would do anything for each other. In time, it was like that with Aliza and Akarra as well.
As a fantasy setting, I loved how White painted her scenes. It was vivid and beautiful and it definitely shows her skill with writing. I also loved the way she incorporated the other fantasy creatures throughout the book! There were quite a few of them and they played a part in the bigger picture of the book! I thought that was super unique--this was a retelling, but every good retelling has more to it, and White definitely did that with Heartstone.
I'm going to just stop it here. I loved this book, every single thing about it. The romance, the characters, the dragons... everything was just perfect. I definitely recommend this book if you love fantasy and/or Pride & Prejudice!
That being said, ALL THE STAAAAAAAARS!!
January 8, 2017
“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.”
This book… was amazing!
I’m going to start by saying that I’m not usually a fan of epic historical fantasy it’s just too much for me to ingest and this cover just screams it with that dragon… but I knew I had to give it a try when I read it was touted as Pride & Prejudice meets dragons, wyverns and warriors!
From the very first page I was pulled into this story, and yes you get hints of the P&P elements in both the plot and characters, but White has created her own story here filled with fantasy and imagination. It’s both familiar and something completely new and wondrous.
Aliza Bentaine lives at Merybourne Manor with her parents and sisters… the manor has recently come under attack by a pack of gryphons, including an attack that took the life of one of her beloved sisters. Aliza is our Elizabeth here… she’s quiet but loyal and loves her sisters and family, and she would do anything to keep them safe so the loss of her sister is heartbreaking. She’s reassured though when Lord Merybourne decides he has no choice but to hire a group of Riders to come rid the grounds of the gryphons and so arrives Alastair Daired.
Alastair is our Darcy equivalent character and dare I say he’s exactly who I had hoped he would be. Descended from a legendary warrior, Edan the Fireborn, he is a dragonmaster and cranky and grumpy and everything you would expect he might be. Of course it doesn’t hurt that he’s also handsome. From the get go Alastair and Aliza butt heads and disagree on so many things, but the predicaments they are forced into also build a level of trust and admiration between them.
But not only are our main characters well done, the secondary characters are wonderfully developed… from Master Brysney to Anjey, Leyda & Mari I loved getting to know each of them, and their parts of the story were just as developed as Aliza and Alastair. I also really enjoyed the development of all of the relationships in this story… from the sisters to the riders, their stories kept me turning pages and again you get hints of P&P here in the relationships that develop, but they are still totally unique!
Of course there is some romance… there are moments you will definitely swoon and if you’re like me, you can’t help but cheer for Aliza and Alastair as they learn that maybe they aren’t the person they originally thought each other were and learn more about what makes them who they are. Let’s just say my shipper heart was super happy… even if I did want some more kissing.
I mentioned that there are dragons in this story and I have to tell you that I loved them… I loved the history that White has created for them, and I really loved their role in this story. But dragons aren’t the only fantastical creature here… White introduces us to so many others and the world-building around them was wonderfully done.
It makes me sad to say that this is a stand-alone, because I selfishly want more! I will be looking forward to anything that White will be writing in the future. With excellent world-building, action-packed story-telling, and incredibly developed characters and relationships, I’m excited to get this on my all-time favorites bookshelf!
This book… was amazing!
I’m going to start by saying that I’m not usually a fan of epic historical fantasy it’s just too much for me to ingest and this cover just screams it with that dragon… but I knew I had to give it a try when I read it was touted as Pride & Prejudice meets dragons, wyverns and warriors!
From the very first page I was pulled into this story, and yes you get hints of the P&P elements in both the plot and characters, but White has created her own story here filled with fantasy and imagination. It’s both familiar and something completely new and wondrous.
Aliza Bentaine lives at Merybourne Manor with her parents and sisters… the manor has recently come under attack by a pack of gryphons, including an attack that took the life of one of her beloved sisters. Aliza is our Elizabeth here… she’s quiet but loyal and loves her sisters and family, and she would do anything to keep them safe so the loss of her sister is heartbreaking. She’s reassured though when Lord Merybourne decides he has no choice but to hire a group of Riders to come rid the grounds of the gryphons and so arrives Alastair Daired.
Alastair is our Darcy equivalent character and dare I say he’s exactly who I had hoped he would be. Descended from a legendary warrior, Edan the Fireborn, he is a dragonmaster and cranky and grumpy and everything you would expect he might be. Of course it doesn’t hurt that he’s also handsome. From the get go Alastair and Aliza butt heads and disagree on so many things, but the predicaments they are forced into also build a level of trust and admiration between them.
But not only are our main characters well done, the secondary characters are wonderfully developed… from Master Brysney to Anjey, Leyda & Mari I loved getting to know each of them, and their parts of the story were just as developed as Aliza and Alastair. I also really enjoyed the development of all of the relationships in this story… from the sisters to the riders, their stories kept me turning pages and again you get hints of P&P here in the relationships that develop, but they are still totally unique!
Of course there is some romance… there are moments you will definitely swoon and if you’re like me, you can’t help but cheer for Aliza and Alastair as they learn that maybe they aren’t the person they originally thought each other were and learn more about what makes them who they are. Let’s just say my shipper heart was super happy… even if I did want some more kissing.
I mentioned that there are dragons in this story and I have to tell you that I loved them… I loved the history that White has created for them, and I really loved their role in this story. But dragons aren’t the only fantastical creature here… White introduces us to so many others and the world-building around them was wonderfully done.
It makes me sad to say that this is a stand-alone, because I selfishly want more! I will be looking forward to anything that White will be writing in the future. With excellent world-building, action-packed story-telling, and incredibly developed characters and relationships, I’m excited to get this on my all-time favorites bookshelf!
May 8, 2017
DNF
Mini review:
I had been hearing good things about this book. So I decided to read it. Unfortunately I did not enjoy this.
The beginning was really good and so funny! But after that it went downhill. I couldn't even feel the romance. It came out of nowhere. And I was just found myself bored.
Still recommend.
Mini review:
I had been hearing good things about this book. So I decided to read it. Unfortunately I did not enjoy this.
The beginning was really good and so funny! But after that it went downhill. I couldn't even feel the romance. It came out of nowhere. And I was just found myself bored.
Still recommend.
September 10, 2018
Actual rating: 4.00
May 16, 2019
"...a Rider in possession of a good blade must be in want of a monster to slay..."
Pride & Prejudice dragon style? YES PLEASE!
*************
Hmm. This was a bit disappointing. The story was only barely OKAY. 2.5 stars, not sure if I can round up. The biggest problem was that all the original Pride and Prejudice jerks and weirdos were painted as super nice peeps. Well, except for Wickham. You can’t make everybody nice without making the story boring!
Lady Catherine - nice
Mr Collins - kind and fair
Mrs Bennett - not loud and stupid
Mr Bennett - responsible, loving father
Caroline Bingley - heroic martyr
Lydia - good intentions and apologetic about errors
Elizabeth - zero spunk or sass
Sorry to tell you, but now the story is dead. P&P is both a social satire and a comedy about human foibles! You can’t have Jane Austen without ridiculous people!
The spooky bad guy from the beginning just disappeared from the story. Poof!
The climax of the story is...a battle with a giant worm. The sort-of bad guy gets offed by Darcy and we don’t get any details! I mean, if Elizabeth can stab a gryphon to death in a bloody mess, I think we can handle some deets about wicked Wickham’s demise!
Pride & Prejudice dragon style? YES PLEASE!
*************
Hmm. This was a bit disappointing. The story was only barely OKAY. 2.5 stars, not sure if I can round up. The biggest problem was that all the original Pride and Prejudice jerks and weirdos were painted as super nice peeps. Well, except for Wickham. You can’t make everybody nice without making the story boring!
Lady Catherine - nice
Mr Collins - kind and fair
Mrs Bennett - not loud and stupid
Mr Bennett - responsible, loving father
Caroline Bingley - heroic martyr
Lydia - good intentions and apologetic about errors
Elizabeth - zero spunk or sass
Sorry to tell you, but now the story is dead. P&P is both a social satire and a comedy about human foibles! You can’t have Jane Austen without ridiculous people!
The spooky bad guy from the beginning just disappeared from the story. Poof!
The climax of the story is...a battle with a giant worm. The sort-of bad guy gets offed by Darcy and we don’t get any details! I mean, if Elizabeth can stab a gryphon to death in a bloody mess, I think we can handle some deets about wicked Wickham’s demise!
February 5, 2017
so WHOOPS I accidentally read that in one day. This is by no means a perfect book but BOY HOWDY did i love reading it! Ships and humor and dragon riders and beasties and shippity ship and yes, slightly rushed execution and kinda dropped plots but YOU KNOW WHAT if this means a surprise sequel I am heeeere for it
tl;dr, it's got some debut growing pains but this book is thoroughly enjoyable, both as a P&P retelling and a high fantasy in its own right. Tbh I think I liked the parts where it differed from P&P the best, which is odd for me because I could probably recite a good quarter of P&P from memory, but I'll sort my feelings out more in the full review. Basically, I LIKE. I LIKE V MUCH.
August 14, 2018
Pride and Prejudice and dragons. Have you ever heard a more wonderful idea? I chanted pleasebegoodpleasebegoodpleasebegood the whole time I was downloading the audio, for which I was awesomely rewarded. It's kind of amazing how true to the source material this story is but how winsomely unique it is at the same time. I almost can't even with how much I loved this novel. The dragons! The other mythical creatures! The sisters! The romance(s)! So much yes! Oh, and the narration is kinda perfection, if audiobooks are your thing. ;0)
February 7, 2017
This book is...odd. There are talking dragons, "Darcy" has a mohawk neck-braid, "Lizzy" plays with Hobgoblins, and griffons are roasted on the spit. Yet the plot outline follows the BBC Pride and Prejudice miniseries (not the book) so very, very closely. That is not the problem, however. What it is missing is real emotional tension and depth of character.
Three generous stars for some unique (albeit strange) ideas and a hearty attempt at a reimagining.
Three generous stars for some unique (albeit strange) ideas and a hearty attempt at a reimagining.
October 27, 2018
This is at least the third Pride and Prejudice + magic mashup I've attempted (see also CE Murphy's Magic and Manners and Kowal's Shades of Milk and Honey), and I've liked none of them. I suspect the central problem is that it's very, very hard to out-Austen Jane Austen. Not so to out-Grimm a Grimm fairy tale; half the events make no sense, and the characters make cardboard seem three dimensional, so retelling a Grimm and offering real motivations and characterizations is a reasonable undertaking. But Jane Austen novels are already fully fleshed and written with such acute and unsparing observations that surely retellings are doomed to be derivative at best.
This is not at best. Heartstone is an earnest, sweet, blow-by-blow retelling of Pride and Prejudice that, despite the addition of dragons and blood and a shirtlessDarcy Daired, hasn't got a tenth of the original's charm or zing. I liked the idea of P&P + dragonriders, but the writing is clumsy in the way of novice Regency romances, the characters wooden, and the worldbuilding unconvincing. Author Elle Katharine White never makes a compelling argument for reading her fan fiction version over the original. (Case in point: the dragonriders have what certainly sound like mullets. Mr. Darcy as a dragonrider: okay, maybe. Mr. Darcy as a mulleted dragonrider: uh, hell no.)
Despite being a regular fantasy reader, I had a hard time buying that a Regency-esque society that cares about evening gowns, accomplishments, balls, marrying well, and decorum could coexist with one in which dangerous magical creatures roam the countryside and regularly pick off or at least injure the humans. I'm not a strict believer in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, but it does seem like a world with imminent physical danger would have different priorities and have developed societies that reflect the constant need for protection.
Plus, White feels the need to redeem even such delightfully ridiculous characters as the equivalents of Mr Collins and Lady Catherine DeBourgh. Even Charlotte has to be given a noble and compelling reason to marry Mr Collins beyond her devastating practicality. Why??
Strip away the social commentary, the unsparing character portraits, and the razor wit from P&P, and what you have left is a romance, and not a very interesting one at that. Dragons can't save everything. I hate to give a first novel one star, so let's say 1.5 for the occasional witticism and be done with it.
This is not at best. Heartstone is an earnest, sweet, blow-by-blow retelling of Pride and Prejudice that, despite the addition of dragons and blood and a shirtless
Despite being a regular fantasy reader, I had a hard time buying that a Regency-esque society that cares about evening gowns, accomplishments, balls, marrying well, and decorum could coexist with one in which dangerous magical creatures roam the countryside and regularly pick off or at least injure the humans. I'm not a strict believer in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, but it does seem like a world with imminent physical danger would have different priorities and have developed societies that reflect the constant need for protection.
Plus, White feels the need to redeem even such delightfully ridiculous characters as the equivalents of Mr Collins and Lady Catherine DeBourgh. Even Charlotte has to be given a noble and compelling reason to marry Mr Collins beyond her devastating practicality. Why??
Strip away the social commentary, the unsparing character portraits, and the razor wit from P&P, and what you have left is a romance, and not a very interesting one at that. Dragons can't save everything. I hate to give a first novel one star, so let's say 1.5 for the occasional witticism and be done with it.
June 28, 2018
This was a fun way to spend several hours, but I actually think I would have liked it better if I had never read Pride and Prejudice. If you're not aware, Heartstone is debut author Elle Katharine White's retelling of the Jane Austen classic (a top ten book for me), but with dragons (and such).
I want to be clear that I find nothing wrong with this book at all. It's a cleverly told story that takes the frame of its source material and transforms it from a romantic comedy of errors with a satirical edge, to a straight fantasy novel with a hate to love romance in the middle. It's also somewhat of an adventure novel. Some of the adaptations really impressed me, for example (slight spoilers for the beginning of the novel), in the original novel, Caroline Bingley is a reprehensive character who Austen very much meant to represent the shallow aristocracy, but here (since this novel isn't at all a social commentary), her counterpart (whose name I have now forgotten) is still in love with the Darcy counterpart, but she's also grieving for the loss of her wyvern, who was killed in battle. That, instead of her hatred of the Bennets (here, the Bentaines), is what drives her behavior.
But overall, it just didn't have the spark for me. My emotions never really got engaged, and I found myself more and more not focusing on the book itself, but on what was different and missing from the source material. I missed Austen's clever wit. I missed her way with human emotion. Maybe it was because the setting was so alike, and White kept so close to the plot of the original, but I found myself just wanting to read the original. Even with the dragons! Which: actually. Okay. Maybe I do have a complaint. In my opinion, there needed to be more dragon in this book.
[3.5 stars]
January 15, 2021
4.5*s. This book was ADORABLE, I couldn’t put it down. A retelling of Pride and Prejudice, it stays loyal the the plot whilst managing to include dragons and hobgoblins, gryphons and centaurs. It’s quite young, but not in a grating way. I’ll definitely be reading book two. Full review to come.
July 9, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
A great beginner fantasy & must read for all Pride & Prejudice fans!
A great beginner fantasy & must read for all Pride & Prejudice fans!
January 13, 2018
This is a unique retelling of Pride and Prejudice, with some elements that I really liked and others that didn't quite work. In this story, Aliza Bentaine and her family live in Arle (a map is provided in the front and looks suspiciously similar to England), a land that is populated by humans and several types of mythical creatures. On one side, there are humans, dragons, and wyverns, and on the other there are direwolves, lamias, and other enemies of humankind. Arle is protected by Riders and Rangers, humans who have learned to fight alongside their allies to keep everyone safe. When Aliza's home is attacked by gryphons, a Rider company that includes Alastair Daired and his dragon (yes!! Alastair!!) arrives to help defend the town. The story proceeds from there, with all of the familiar plot points of the original book translated onto this background.
I liked many of the worldbuilding elements that appeared in the book, particularly the central concept of the "heartstone," which is the last drop of blood from a slain mythical creature and also the engagement gift of choice. (At one point Aliza and her sister, Leyda - guess which sister she is - go into a jeweler and view all the different types of heartstones, including one from a banshee.) But there was just too much going on. This is a society that is constantly in danger of attack, and it seemed fairly egalitarian in its treatment of the genders: in this telling, Brysney's sister Charis (aka Caroline Bingley) is also a Rider who slays gryphons with abandon, just like everyone else, and no one bats an eye. Wounds are dressed in the open and women wear fighting gear. But there's still somehow pressure for the Bentaine women to get married to Riders because of their social standing, and they wear dresses, curtsey, and address others in Arle with specific titles. I don't think the Regency elements of the original work mapped quite as well onto the culture that is otherwise described, and for that reason I sort of wish this hadn't been a retelling at all. I think if the story and plot hadn't been hampered by the familiar beats, this might have been a better and more original book.
Other things that didn't quite work:
I'm struggling to articulate why I liked Eligible so much, but didn't have the same reaction for this book. I think it's because Eligible takes the central concerns of Pride and Prejudice and applies them successfully to our world. It's still a book where class, etiquette, and relationships are center stage, albeit updated for societal progress. That's why it's fun - it imagines the onset of "spinsterhood" not through age, but through fertility, and applies the class distinctions to American society. That doesn't happen in Heartstone, despite the author's best efforts, because the society is unfamiliar and isn't internally consistent.
Still, this was fun to read, and I think other fans of Austen and fantasy may like this more than I did.
I liked many of the worldbuilding elements that appeared in the book, particularly the central concept of the "heartstone," which is the last drop of blood from a slain mythical creature and also the engagement gift of choice. (At one point Aliza and her sister, Leyda - guess which sister she is - go into a jeweler and view all the different types of heartstones, including one from a banshee.) But there was just too much going on. This is a society that is constantly in danger of attack, and it seemed fairly egalitarian in its treatment of the genders: in this telling, Brysney's sister Charis (aka Caroline Bingley) is also a Rider who slays gryphons with abandon, just like everyone else, and no one bats an eye. Wounds are dressed in the open and women wear fighting gear. But there's still somehow pressure for the Bentaine women to get married to Riders because of their social standing, and they wear dresses, curtsey, and address others in Arle with specific titles. I don't think the Regency elements of the original work mapped quite as well onto the culture that is otherwise described, and for that reason I sort of wish this hadn't been a retelling at all. I think if the story and plot hadn't been hampered by the familiar beats, this might have been a better and more original book.
Other things that didn't quite work:
I'm struggling to articulate why I liked Eligible so much, but didn't have the same reaction for this book. I think it's because Eligible takes the central concerns of Pride and Prejudice and applies them successfully to our world. It's still a book where class, etiquette, and relationships are center stage, albeit updated for societal progress. That's why it's fun - it imagines the onset of "spinsterhood" not through age, but through fertility, and applies the class distinctions to American society. That doesn't happen in Heartstone, despite the author's best efforts, because the society is unfamiliar and isn't internally consistent.
Still, this was fun to read, and I think other fans of Austen and fantasy may like this more than I did.
Shelved as 'dnf'
August 7, 2024Ugh I'm sorry but this was boring.
vlog: https://youtu.be/Wy0KTuysMpo
vlog: https://youtu.be/Wy0KTuysMpo
April 17, 2017
When I first heard about this book, I was immediately drawn to it because of the dragons, and because it seemed like a fantasy debut that was worth a read. Once early reviews came out, and I realised it was a Pride & Prejudice retelling too, I immediately preordered it, because anything linked to P&P is right for me.
In Heartstone, Aliza Bentaine lives in a Manor with her parents and sisters, and in the recent months, the manor has been attacked by gryphons, and the Lord has no other option but to hire the Riders to come and destroy the beasts. These Riders, are gentlemen and women, who have a Dragon partner, and are part of the upper echelons of society. Aliza's eldest sister, Anjey, becomes attracted to one of the Riders, who appears to like her back, and all of the Manor seem to wish for a union to take place. Aliza, however, is one of the only ones, who isn't falling over herself to impress the Riders, and one in particular, Alistair Daired, has particularly got her back up. When the Riders get rid of the gryphons, with the help of Aliza, they leave, and Merybourne Manor is left to deal with the fall out. However, that isn't the end to it all, as the gryphons were just the beginning.
I adored this book. Like I thought, it was perfect for me, and everything about it, was just what I wanted. Both the retelling elements, and the fantasy elements, were extremely well written, and if I didn't know better, I would have said this book was by a seasoned author, and not a debut. The descriptions were so rich and vibrant, and the characters well written and fleshed out.
Aliza and Alastair, of course, were my favourites, though all of the characters had qualities I enjoyed. Even Charis, the Caroline Bingley character, who I hate in about every single P&P retelling I've ever read, was such a good character, and had one of the best story lines, apart from the main story. Even the dragons, especially Akarra, Daired's dragon, were so well written, and played such an integral role in the story. The romance between Aliza and Alastair, was exactly what I'd want, and I never tire of reading about these two falling in love, in whatever manner it may be. Obviously, it was slow, and took some getting past the hatred to the mutual respect and love, but each moment of that made the book better, and the danger of the story line, with the dragons and whatnot, helped readers become more invested in their romance than ever.
I'd definitely recommend this book to any lovers of Pride & Prejudice or fantasy, and can't wait to see more from the author in future. I kind of hope for a sequel from the book, but it was so well written, and everything wrapped up, that it's just because I adored the story so much, and would never tire of more.
August 29, 2023
Reread in August 2023
**********
Pride and Prejudice is my favourite book and I have a large obsession with dragons so reading a book that combines the two was always going to be a winner in my eyes. So my review might be a bit biased as I went into this book determined to like it.
And I did enjoy it. It combined the supernatural world with the ‘regency’ setting well and the author created a believable history for the world she created. The dragons were done soooo well and it was so easy for me to believe that they were a natural part of the world and all the supernatural creatures introduced whether they were capable of speech or not had distinct personalities.
One thing I particularly admired was the fact that the author didn’t sacrifice action and story consistency for the sake of sticking to the plot of Pride and Prejudice too rigidly. She kept as many elements of Pride and Prejudice as she could but changed what wouldn’t work and I think the novel is better and more coherent for this flexibility.
I loved the characters. Each sister had elements of their personality that was clearly inspired by Pride and Prejudice but they were also very distinctively their own people as well, especially Anjey (Jane). I absolutely loved what the author did with the character inspired by Lady Catherine. I don’t want to say more than this about the characters as I don’t want to spoil anything for people who are familiar with Pride and Prejudice but just know that the similarities and differences in the characters were a really interesting part of the novel for me.
I do think that even people who haven’t read Pride and Prejudice would enjoy this novel as it is an interesting novel in its own right especially since it contains dragons, but that may be my bias coming through.
**********
Pride and Prejudice is my favourite book and I have a large obsession with dragons so reading a book that combines the two was always going to be a winner in my eyes. So my review might be a bit biased as I went into this book determined to like it.
And I did enjoy it. It combined the supernatural world with the ‘regency’ setting well and the author created a believable history for the world she created. The dragons were done soooo well and it was so easy for me to believe that they were a natural part of the world and all the supernatural creatures introduced whether they were capable of speech or not had distinct personalities.
One thing I particularly admired was the fact that the author didn’t sacrifice action and story consistency for the sake of sticking to the plot of Pride and Prejudice too rigidly. She kept as many elements of Pride and Prejudice as she could but changed what wouldn’t work and I think the novel is better and more coherent for this flexibility.
I loved the characters. Each sister had elements of their personality that was clearly inspired by Pride and Prejudice but they were also very distinctively their own people as well, especially Anjey (Jane). I absolutely loved what the author did with the character inspired by Lady Catherine. I don’t want to say more than this about the characters as I don’t want to spoil anything for people who are familiar with Pride and Prejudice but just know that the similarities and differences in the characters were a really interesting part of the novel for me.
I do think that even people who haven’t read Pride and Prejudice would enjoy this novel as it is an interesting novel in its own right especially since it contains dragons, but that may be my bias coming through.
February 5, 2017
Очередное ми-ми-ми.
Гордость и предубеждение и драконы.
Серьезно))
Но только если в версии про зомби я плевалась и возмущалась, то тут наслаждалась, кайфовала и местами восторженно попискивала, привлекая очень много подозрительных взглядов в метро)
Сюжет достаточно тесно переплетен с оригинальным "ГиП", но при этом все же уникален и не лишен собственного очарования. Драконы и монстры, люди и чувства. Незыблемая классика и любимое фэнтези.
Что-то из основного сюжета убрано (например, линия с Уикхемом), что-то написано близко к первоисточнику (некоторые диалоги и мотивы).
Имена и фон другие. Атмосфера прекрасна. Пересказывать не могу xD
Минусы тоже есть. Местами мне не хватило чувств и напряжения. Но это дань той самой классике, так что жаловаться грех.
В общем, как поклонник каждой отдельной составляющей этого шикарного коктейля, в целом я довольна результатом.
Рекомендую хотя бы попробовать ;)
Гордость и предубеждение и драконы.
Серьезно))
Но только если в версии про зомби я плевалась и возмущалась, то тут наслаждалась, кайфовала и местами восторженно попискивала, привлекая очень много подозрительных взглядов в метро)
Сюжет достаточно тесно переплетен с оригинальным "ГиП", но при этом все же уникален и не лишен собственного очарования. Драконы и монстры, люди и чувства. Незыблемая классика и любимое фэнтези.
Что-то из основного сюжета убрано (например, линия с Уикхемом), что-то написано близко к первоисточнику (некоторые диалоги и мотивы).
Имена и фон другие. Атмосфера прекрасна. Пересказывать не могу xD
Минусы тоже есть. Местами мне не хватило чувств и напряжения. Но это дань той самой классике, так что жаловаться грех.
В общем, как поклонник каждой отдельной составляющей этого шикарного коктейля, в целом я довольна результатом.
Рекомендую хотя бы попробовать ;)
August 12, 2024
It's fine. A little boring. Really leans into the Fantasy Worldbuilding without having a lot of those worldbuilding elements actually matter
July 23, 2019
A nice retelling of Pride and Prejudice without being a simple duplicate of the original (with dragons). The world of Heartstone was rich but for myself a tick too hard to get into. I enjoyed reading it but have no interest to pick up the rest of the series.
Jane Austen July 2019: Read a modern retelling of a Jane Austen book.
Jane Austen July 2019: Read a modern retelling of a Jane Austen book.
September 18, 2020
The story description and Debbie's review are excellent and say much of what I would.
I have read several JAFF authors' stories which venture into the sci-fi world of dragons, gryphons, lindworms, wyverns, lamias, etc. However this variation is different in that the characters who parallel those in P&P canon have different names. Part of the attraction of this story for me was identifying those and then paying attention as to how their characteristics matched those of Jane Austen's masterpiece. For instance, Caroline Bingley is Charis and twin to Master Cedric Brysney. She fights along side her brother but we really don't read of her pursuing the Darcy character, Alastair Daired, although they have an allegiance to each other as they fight for the same cause.
Lord Daired is part of Riders hired to fight an invasion of gryphons...who have killed (among others) our leading lady's sister, Katarina. The story is told from Aliza Bentaine's POV (Elizabeth Bennet) and she is one of five sister; the others being Angelina (Anjey), Mari, the deceased Rina, and Leyda.
The author follows the outline of canon for the most part and so it is that Daired comes off as a cold man disdainful of those he is hired to protect in the area surrounding Merybourne Manor. In this tale, however, Daired's sister, Julienna, has also trained to fight and we meet her later in the tale. However she has had a tragic experience at the hand of Wydrick (Which I won't explain as it would be a SPOILER). Yes, he is our Wickham-type character. Charis is another female in this story who has had a loss but not with any connection to Wydrick.
Daired's dragon takes a liking to Aliza and they develop an unusual friendship...one that breaks some of the rules in this world. Akara is the one to explain Daired's background to Aliza when Aliza throws accusations in his face about his attitude as well as his treatment of Wydrick.
As the battle against the gryphons is won and the story expands we learn of a greater war against a major lindworm which threatens the world in which this story is set. And the worm is impervious to fire. Thus dragon fire is useless in this war. Also its sting is fatal and there is no known cure. This comes into play for a major character.
I found this story vastly interesting. The relationships between the humans and the non-human characters drew me into the story. Aliza makes friends on several levels, not disdaining even the low hobgoblins who tend gardens.
There is not as much romance herein as I would have liked but the story is a page-turner. I highly recommend it.
BTW: The Collins character, Wynce Curdred, adds a positive note to the story as he marries Gwyn, Aliza's best friend and we see him show traits other than those in canon.
I have read several JAFF authors' stories which venture into the sci-fi world of dragons, gryphons, lindworms, wyverns, lamias, etc. However this variation is different in that the characters who parallel those in P&P canon have different names. Part of the attraction of this story for me was identifying those and then paying attention as to how their characteristics matched those of Jane Austen's masterpiece. For instance, Caroline Bingley is Charis and twin to Master Cedric Brysney. She fights along side her brother but we really don't read of her pursuing the Darcy character, Alastair Daired, although they have an allegiance to each other as they fight for the same cause.
Lord Daired is part of Riders hired to fight an invasion of gryphons...who have killed (among others) our leading lady's sister, Katarina. The story is told from Aliza Bentaine's POV (Elizabeth Bennet) and she is one of five sister; the others being Angelina (Anjey), Mari, the deceased Rina, and Leyda.
The author follows the outline of canon for the most part and so it is that Daired comes off as a cold man disdainful of those he is hired to protect in the area surrounding Merybourne Manor. In this tale, however, Daired's sister, Julienna, has also trained to fight and we meet her later in the tale. However she has had a tragic experience at the hand of Wydrick (Which I won't explain as it would be a SPOILER). Yes, he is our Wickham-type character. Charis is another female in this story who has had a loss but not with any connection to Wydrick.
Daired's dragon takes a liking to Aliza and they develop an unusual friendship...one that breaks some of the rules in this world. Akara is the one to explain Daired's background to Aliza when Aliza throws accusations in his face about his attitude as well as his treatment of Wydrick.
As the battle against the gryphons is won and the story expands we learn of a greater war against a major lindworm which threatens the world in which this story is set. And the worm is impervious to fire. Thus dragon fire is useless in this war. Also its sting is fatal and there is no known cure. This comes into play for a major character.
I found this story vastly interesting. The relationships between the humans and the non-human characters drew me into the story. Aliza makes friends on several levels, not disdaining even the low hobgoblins who tend gardens.
There is not as much romance herein as I would have liked but the story is a page-turner. I highly recommend it.
BTW: The Collins character, Wynce Curdred, adds a positive note to the story as he marries Gwyn, Aliza's best friend and we see him show traits other than those in canon.
June 11, 2017
Heartstone was an excellent Pride and Prejudice retelling. It was similar enough that enjoyment of the connections to the source material could be made and different enough to make this something rather original. Heartstone was a very enjoyable read! It was an updated Pride and Prejudice with dragons! We can't forget the dragons.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,170 reviews