Her Grace

A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

By: Shana Granderson A Lady

Narrated by: Karen Cass

Rather than protect their daughter like any good parent should, first Fanny and then Thomas Bennet push their sixteen-year-old daughter Elizabeth into a marriage with a much older man who happens to be a duke.

Fanny is seduced by the fact he is a duke, even if he is not interested in Jane, something she cannot believe at first, and his willingness to dower her remaining four daughters. For Bennet, when the Duke offers to break the entail on Longbourn after a certain condition is met, his half-hearted opposition to the match dissipates.

At first, Elizabeth refuses to marry the man and is adamant that even if dragged to the church she will never recite her vows. However, after a private meeting with the vile duke, she agrees. The question is why would she change her mind so drastically.

In that meeting, she demands certain clauses to be added to the marriage settlement. What are they and how do they change outcomes some had previously expected?

We explore why the Duke is looking for a wife outside of the ton in little market towns instead. We quickly see just how depraved the man is and why he is reviled by all in polite society. Is he the only villain in the tale?

Both Lady Anne and Robert Darcy are alive in this novel. Even with them both alive, their son manages to suffer from boot-in-mouth syndrome on more than one occasion, including when he meets Lizzy for the first time, who is still married to the Duke at that point. No, it is not at an assembly and there is not that insult delivered.

Including the much-loved Biggs and Johns, there are some non-canon characters featured in this story, as well as some new ones.

It is not an easy path for Lizzy to travel, but she is strong and intelligent, not to mention extremely protective of those she loves. We follow her to find out if she gets the HEA we all want for her. If she does, will it be with Fitzwilliam Darcy?

Join her to have these and many other questions answered.

This is a full-length romance featuring characters from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Intended for mature listeners.

©2023 Shana Granderson (P)2024 Podium Audio

A Good Yarn

This vagary has Elizabeth forced to marry a duke who is older than her father. She refuses, but he threatens to take Jane instead, so she accepts in order to save her sister. I found this multi-trope read a little over the top often, stretching my belief, but it held my interest. I really enjoyed this new-to-me narrator, Karen Cass. Excellent performance.

Wonderful!

I have read almost all of Lady Granderson’s works and was waiting with bated breath for the first audio to be released. I was not disappointed. I can’t wait till more are released.

A Bit Harsh

There was very little in the way of gray areas. The bad guys were demons and the good guys were perfect. All the good guys got happy ending and the bad guys got the worst of all endings. I found the absolute demonization of the Bennet parents to be unbelievable and over the top. There was zero forgiveness. Considering this was a time period when it was common practice to marry your daughters to men who could bring the most fortune to the family. I suspect that the community would not have turned their backs on the parents. There would have been more sadness at their demise.

Lizzy a Duchess!!

I have grown to really like the Jane Austen P&P variations by this author. Did I think they might have been a tad too hard on the Bennets and find it hard to believe Jane wouldn't have forgiven her parents - yes, but overall still a great story.

I usually can't stand the Wickam character so his redemption felt realistic and earned.

Caroline Bingley's comeuppance was quick, which I like because having her being just as delusional as Lady Catherine is tiring.

If you enjoy a much younger feistier Lizzy pitted up against a vile and corpulent sexagenarian then you will enjoy this variation.

If I never hear the word averred again it will be too soon.

The Narrator did well with bringing the characters to life. The main issue I had with the story which brought me out of it was abusing the frequency of the word ‘averred’. I have never in all my life or reading seen or heard this word used so incessantly. It got to the point where it wasn’t just annoying but completely distracting. The story was good especially for a vagary. And I quite enjoyed the Wickham role.

Over-the-Top Eye-Roller of a Yarn

If you are willing to suspend belief, don’t mind modern behavior for Regency persons, like lots of telling rather than showing, like a heroine who is Perfect and similar, then this story may be for you. The reader is very good.

A very young Elizabeth forced to marry

This is an outside canon story that starts with a just “out” Elizabeth. A very dissolute and abusive Duke who cannot find a wife from among other peers because of his behavior, searches the small town to find his next wife/victim. He is looking for someone he will enjoy breaking and so he wants a spirited wife. Mrs. Bennet as canon pushes Jane towards the Duke (the community doesn’t know he is bad until right before the wedding). Elizabeth is blackmailed into the marriage as he threatens her sister. Elizabeth is basically sold into slavery (her words) as the Duke promised to break the entail on her home is another reason why her parents push for this union. Elizabeth’s aunts and uncles are extremely upset about this and cut the Bennet parents off and take the other girls away. The support from many (peers and lower class) give Elizabeth the fortitude and strength to survive. There were a few surprises that turned out very well. Has a long epilogue for those that are interested. Overall an enjoyable story that could have benefited from some editing. With the audiobook the narrator was good and a new to me narrator.

Glad Shana Granderson has gone Audio!

This is not great literature but is really fun JAFF! I always enjoy Shana’s work and was thrilled to find this book in audio. The narrator was very good and able to voice both female and male voices creditably. Be aware that this is an R-rated version due to some depraved behavior and some wedding night descriptions.

In this vagary Mr and Mrs Bennet are more than willing to pledge 16 year old Elizabeth in marriage to a 70+ year old Duke who is in need of an heir. His son has died and he is in need of a new heir. Elizabeth is loathe to marry such a depraved old man but he has discovered her greatest weakness and employs it to gain her acceptance. Mr and Mrs Bennet do not gain anything by their poor choice to barter their daughter and come to rue that decision.

Elizabeth is very unhappy with her situation but she is strong and suffers less than might be expected. Additionally she is able to gather allies around her to aid in her resistance to the awful Duke. So what happens when Darcy meets a very married and pregnant Elizabeth? I highly recommend you listen to this book and discover that for yourself!

Horrifying yet amazing tale of Elizabeth of Pride & Prejudice

Wow! What an awesome yet horrific storyline of a Pride and Prejudice variation. From the very beginning, it lures you in to find yourself in a crazy and awful tragedy towards Elizabeth. There is never a dull moment from beginning to end! This dark adventure does turn into a happily ever after!

A new favorite P&P JAFF!

Excellent story and narrator! Made me laugh and cry many times! Enjoyed all of the character’s stories both new and familiar. Will definitely start following this author’s work… and this narrator as well. Well done!👍 👍