Customer Reviews

Emma and the Werewolves: Jane Austen's Classic Novel with Blood-curdling Lycanthropy

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was basically "Emma" with an occasional paragraph about werewolves thrown in. There was no connection between the actual novel and the new elements except shared space. The two stars are only because it's never a chore to read "Emma".

The reason "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" and "Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters" are so funny is because they're parodies. They're funny because they have zombies and seamonsters thrown into Regency England without much change to their manners or social behaviors. They don't take themselves too seriously.

This book, however, does. The weak werewolf subplot never makes into the main plot, and the humor is all Austen's own. My suggestion: read "Emma" and keep looking for that great werewolf book somewhere else.

Ema and the Werewolves, by Jane Austin and Adam Rann, is a kick. This is Austin meets King, and I am amazed that Mr. Rann could pull if off. He introduces dark fantasy into a comedic social romance seamlessly.

The characters are well-defined and three dimensional, the plotting strong, and the suspense is taut. A sweet blend of Austin's social commentaries and the supernatural adventure, this story is graced with a strong-minded heroine and a powerful hero. Toss in a few vicious werewolves. Mix in the niceties of old English society and a mysterious wolf woman. Add a few fight scenes, introduce a romantic misstep or two to cloud the happily ever after and you have this tightly woven action/drama with touches of the absurd and just the right amount of romantic entanglement to do Jane Austin, Gorgette Hayers and their ilk proud. Slip in a revealing letter from Frank Churchill, then sit back and enjoy the sight of werewolves running amok in the genteel English countryside.

I love the wave of monster/classic mashups over the past year or two, it brings a new way to read these classics to those who love them (like I do) and and introduces these stories to new readers.

I am particulary fond of of the previous Jane Austen monster mashups, but this one just falls flat.

While the other mashups were a clever coming together of the monster genre and the original novel, this one falls flat. The werewolves plot seems just pushed into certain parts of the story without the successful mingling of the genres.

The author tries, but its not as good as others.