Magic & Manners

An Austen Chronicle, Book 1

By: C. E. Murphy

Narrated by: Gemma Dawson

It is a truth universally accepted that well-bred members of society are not beleaguered with magic. For Elsabeth Dover and her sisters, that truth means living in a perpetual state of caution, never using their sorcerous gifts in public. Elsabeth chafes under the stricture, although not enough to risk the possibility of good marriages for her sisters...until she meets handsome, arrogant Fitzgerald Archer. Elsabeth, attracted to Archer's wit and offended by his manner, strives to keep her impetuous youngest sister's use of magic in check so that their eldest sister, Rosamund, might find happiness with Archer's wealthy friend, Mr. Webber. But when Elsa fails to keep young Leopoldina in line, Archer's disapproval of the family taint means an abrupt end to Rosamund's hopes and leads to a terrible discovery about the price of magic....

©2016 C. E. Murphy (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Delightful romp

The story is a light fun retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I gave the story three stars because it cannot be given 3 1/2. The narration was wonderful. I will definitely be listening to this again.

book of qualities that will Captivate

this book brings you back in time when there was Noble classes and lesser classes. as well as it will show you the thoughts and intricacies of the societies. the author has you believing it will be one type of story and have an ending not befitting another but then it will show you towards the end of this book is entirely a different story that must have more to be.

Excellent book!

Enjoyed this story and worth the time. Very interesting story with twists, turns and good character a.

A fun variation on Pride & Prejudice

This is a Jane Austen knockoff, let's say that upfront. I enjoyed it immensely.

The Dover family lives at Oakton in circumstances that will be remarkably familiar to readers of Austen's Pride & Prejudice. Mr. Dover's family has a secret that could ruin them: Magic runs in the Dover line, and the five daughters are afflicted by it. That is why they live quietly in the country rather than in town. This may not be enough.

The five daughters are Rosamunde, Elsabeth, Ruth, Matilda, and Leopoldina. When Mr Robert Webber moves into the neighborhood, with his sisters Julia Webber and Mrs. Gibbs, Mr. Gibbs, and his friend Fitzgerald Archer, familiar events follow--with differences. Magic makes a very great difference. The fact that this is an alternate world where English gentry and nobility intermarry with gentry and nobility from the kingdoms of Africa makes a less obviously dramatic difference.

There's little point in talking about the plot, since it's very familiar. Murphy does some interesting things with it, though. I always thought there was a better outcome available, and a fairly obvious one, for the middle daughter. Murphy clearly agreed! It's nicely handled, and you will wind up liking Ruth a great deal more than Mary.

There's also another interesting development, that I hesitate to discuss too directly as it would be a spoiler. I'll just say that the phrase "Boston marriage' applies.

This is light, fun, and entertaining.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Audible in exchange for an honest review.

More manners than magic

Yet again I have to characterize a book as "nice", and it's killing me to say so. It's a nice read, peeps, but it doesn't deliver much excitement. It's pretty much Pride & Prejudice with a couple of different twists and a tiny bit of magic to spice things up. Overall it's a failed promise of all the things it could have been.


It might be just a tiny personal grudge on my behalf, but if you are creating a universe with alternative history of 19th century England where magic while still frowned upon in high society, is real and practiced, you might want to make it a bigger part of the plot.


Instead we are going through the phases of Pride & Prejudice with slightly changed names and slightly changed plot where here and there magic is thrown in to encourage the characters to think and act beyond what's expected of them.



I was surprised by it because I picked this book up solely on the strength of C.E. Murphy's name. I remember her urban fantasy as gritty and dark, and I at least expected some sort of reflection of it in Magic & Manners.


Alas, it's merely a pleasant read, but if you crave something a bit stronger and more twisted, try Sorcerer to the Crown or Shades of Milk and Honey instead.



Magic & Manners is quiet and unassuming and perfectly lovely. The characterization is full of depth and charm. I actually enjoyed all the sisters, and their friends and admirers.The countryside descriptions are idyllic and come to life easily while listening to the superb narrator. If you like your alternative history not to became a historical fantasy with paranormal elements, this book will be more to your liking. Unfortunately, I am used to stronger stuff in my fiction, and I found it lacking.


Still, recommended, with some reservations.

Book was interesting

I have read or listened to many books by this author. this story was good but in my opinion no where near as good as her Some of her other series / writting. Though book good I personally was disappointed since it came nowhere near as good as previous novels.

Starts classic, then explores new possibilities

For the first few chapters of the book I was concerned it was just a re-telling of the same story, but this story evolves very much into its own and maintains the air of old england society about it while it does.

very enjoyable

Great retelling of a classic. Murphy honors Jane Austen's words while adding some more contemporary issues. i could not stop listening.

good book

this is a fun first book in the series. i will look forward to more

Absolutely delightful!

So captivating, I kept resetting the sleep timer through the night! As a huge fan of the Walker series, I wasn't sure of what to expect, but Murphy's take on the Austen classic exceeded my expectations and then some.