Audiobook Review: Longbourn -Dragon Entail by Maria Grace

Author: Maria Grace

Narrator: Benjamin Fife

Title: Longbourn -Dragon Entail

Series: Jane Austen's Dragons #2

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Romance, Retellings

Format: Audiobook

Published: April 21, 2017

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

Darcy thought his problems were over when Pemberley hatched and successfully imprinted on humans. But baby dragons prove far more difficult than any dragon lore prepared him for. Only Elizabeth Bennet's notes offer him any help. When his imperious Aunt Catherine takes matters into her own hands, things take a turn for the worse and Pemberley’s life hangs in the balance. He desperately needs more of Elizabeth’s help, but she ignores all of his requests.

Elizabeth, though, has problems of her own. After the Bennet family dragon sent Pemberley away, life at Longbourn was supposed to return to normal and Elizabeth get on with the all-important business of marrying the heir to her father’s estate. Except that he is the last man in the world whom she could ever be prevailed on to marry—a bumbling, addle-pated dragon-hater who demands she gives up the dragons she lives for.

Can she, with the help of her dragon friends, find her way back to Pemberley before they both suffer their fate from the Dragon Entail?

Review:

Okieee I had to read book 2 right away. The last book left me needing more. I needed to see what was going to happen to our lovely cast. 

Darcy and Elizabeth thought everything was done and over with. Back to normal life. Darcy has his baby dragon and Elizabeth is going to (eventually) marry Mr Collins. However, life is never simple especially with dragons. 

I really enjoyed this one. I liked it more than book 1. I felt like I understood more about this world. Yes, we are still learning, but I felt like I had a grasp and there wasn't info-dumping here. Yayy!

Things between Darcy and Elizabeth FINALLY move forward. We get to see them go from enemies, to friends, and maybe JUST maybe more? Feelings, especially when the truth is all laid out, are blossoming. Yayy!

Mr Collins needs to be shipped away to some remote island where he can live alone. UGH. Unbearable man. Honestly...this version is top 5 of the worst Collins. 

Lady Catherine and Anne are unbearable too. Normally I pity Anne, but this version she is a little snot. Send these two with Collins so they can live together. 

I'm so glad to see Mary getting some love in this version. She is normally ignored and a super background character, but we get to see her more. Love that for her!!! I feel bad at a certain point at the end......but if she's happy......let it be. 

Now, I did switch up to the audiobook because I had an extra credit and I had no idea what to get and this popped up as a recommended so why not. The narrator was fine. The dragon voices grated on my nerves at first, BUT I did get used to them. Yes, I get why they had to use voice effects essentially but still.....it took a minute to warm up to them. Especially the higher up voices like April. *eye twitch*

THAT ENDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG OMG. Now I need to read book 3. Hahahaha. Damn these cliffhangers. 

All-in-all I did enjoy this one much more than book 1. However, I was 50/50 on the narration. I liked the people voices, but it took some time to get used to the dragon voices. I might switch back to the ebook/physical book. We'll see. 

I'll stamp this with 4 stars. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Better

Challenge(s):
- Audiobook #20

Book Review: Pemberley - Mr Darcy's Dragon by Maria Grace

Author: Maria Grace

Title: Pemberley - Mr Darcy's Dragon

Series: Jane Austen's Dragons #1

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Romance, Retelling. P&P Variation

Format: ebook

Pages: 319

Published: October 31, 2016

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a dragon.

Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley has the good fortune to be in possession of the first English firedrake egg laid in a century. Or, at least, he was until some miscreant stole it.

Mr. Darcy tracks the thief to Hertfordshire. Catching the thief, however, proves to be an entirely different kettle of brimstone, especially when he encounters fellow Dragon Keeper, Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn.

Elizabeth Bennet’s deep connection to dragons and remarkable grasp of their lore make her the ideal companion for finding the egg. It’s too bad that from their introduction she finds Darcy arrogant, conceited, and selfishly disdainful of the feelings

of others.

Time is running out for Darcy to win Elizabeth’s trust and recover the precious egg before it hatches, and the fragile peace between humans and dragons is lost forever.

Review:

Dragons and P&P variation? Yes pleasseeee!

Here we follow Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy. We know them. We love them. Here we have our duo in a world filled with dragons. Mr Darcy's dragon egg was stolen (5$ if you can guess who) and now he is on the hunt to find it. His search leads him to Hertfordshire. Enter in Elizabeth who is a fellow Dragon Keeper. She has a deep connection with dragons and has a great understanding of the lore, so this makes her a great companion for finding the gg. Too bad she finds Darcy arrogant, conceited, and selfishly disdainful of the feelings for others. Time is running out, so Darcy will have to do what he can to make Elizabeth and her dragon trust him. If the egg hatches without a human to imprint on, then the fragile peace between humans and dragons could be severed. 

Sooooooooooooooooooooooo the first half of the book was dreadfully long for me. Loads of info-dumping and it seemed to drag on and on. I get it. Lots of set up and etc. If I'm being frank here....I nearly called it quits. However, there was the mystery of the egg that kept me going. 

I'm glad I did. I started really enjoying the tale especially during the Ball. The scene at the Ball and thereafter made me extremely interested to read book 2! And yes, I already have it stored and ready to go when I have the time. 

Oooo that ending was sad and evil. BUT in a good way. I for sure need to read more now. Gah!!!!!!!!

I still have some questions about this world and about the roles some of the characters have in it. Like the Bingleys. Hopefully we'll learn more in book 2. 

I was also really, really annoyed with Mr Bennet and Elizabeth. They literally jumped on Darcy from the moment he entered the room. Like...calm down a touch guys. It's not his fault the egg was stolen. But, to be fair, Darcy should've explained it right away on who he believes the thief is (even though he doesn't have 100% proof). The prejudice is super high in this rendition. By the end we do see they relent a little bit, but now Elizabeth is bitter. I can't explain why, but you'll see. Curious to see how it all turns out in the next book, because Elizabeth and Darcy have a lot of things to weed through to find their HEA. 

All-in-all, I ended up enjoying this. It was rough waters for me in the first half. Once we hit halfway I was attached and had to finish. With THAT ending, I am forced to read book 2 because I HAVE to know what happens next. Eeeeee. But yes, this was an interesting world we find our characters. Very interesting indeed. 3 stars from me. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: (mmmmmmm....IDK for this one.....) Interesting?