To Wake The Sleeping Dragon

A Pride and Prejudice Variation

By: Selene L. Garrou

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

To Wake The Sleeping Dragon
WARNING: There are no actual Dragons in this Book
Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of France in December of the year 1804, he said to a room of his closest advisors and supporters, ‘China is a sleeping dragon, let her sleep for when she awakens, she will shake up the world!’ Those words set a chain of events that would change the destiny of several of England’s most prominent families. And the lives of a country squire and his small family of daughters, in ways they could have never dreamed possible.
Thomas Bennett is a man whose entire life had fallen apart on the night of an Assembly Ball, where he learned Francine Bennett, his wife, had been having an affair, with one of his neighbors for years. To make matters worse, he also learned, his youngest daughter Lydia, who was a terror, was not his daughter at all. It was at that moment, Thomas realized how indolent he had allowed himself to become over the years, while in his unhappy marriage.
Thomas Bennett is a man whose entire life had fallen apart on the night of an Assembly Ball, where he learned Francine Bennett, his wife, had been having an affair, with one of his neighbors for years. To make matters worse, he also learned, his youngest daughter Lydia, who was a terror, was not his daughter at all. It was at that moment, Thomas realized how indolent he had allowed himself to become over the years, while in his unhappy marriage.
On the same night his daughters, Elizabeth and Jane found a badly beaten young Asian man in Longbourn’s barn, the estate where they lived. Neither of them were willing to allow the young man to die, Jane being a natural healer set to work on the young man saving his life.
The girls were quite taken with the young man, finding he could speak the King’s English as well as they, and had the manners of a lord. When it was discovered, he could not remember anything from his former life. They then welcomed the young man to live at Longbourn. Over the years, the young man, whom they gave the name of Xi Wang, became the son Thomas always wanted.
Just when they thought all was good in their lives. A Mr. Bingley leased another estate in the area, called Netherfield Park. He brought with him several of his friends, a Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, his cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, and another gentleman Dewayne Vassell. As well as his sisters, Caroline Bingley, Louisa Hurst, and her husband Mr. Hurst. Before the Bennett’s knew what was happening, they became a part of a conspiracy that encompassed two major Empires! A conspiracy filled with, betrayal, lies, treason, and greed.
Join the Bennett family and their friends as they try to discover the identity of their young Asian guest. While keeping him safe, from the men who wish to murder him, and anyone who has had contact with him. Their goal is to protect the young man and try to prevent a war that would destroy Crown and Country; and to bring treasonous noblemen to pay for their crimes.

Swashbuckling Adventure

This is far from a typical JAFF. It’s a really fun listen but if you have not previously read this author know that her tales are epic and very “tongue in cheek”. So if you want an action-packed adventure featuring your favorite P&P characters, look no further. If you aren’t interested in a bit of parody try reading or listening to Melanie Rachel, Summer Hanford or Melissa Anne (a few of my favorites! 😊)

Mostly good!

I loved the story but dislike all the swooning and brother talk… I suppose it would have read funnier if it was not for the monotone tone of the virtual voice.

The virtual voice sounds like a natural voice however lacks in cadence and natural pausing when it is read. Also mispronouncing words takes away from the story. If you are able to correct that and give different characters their own voices it would make it easier to listen to.

Pride, Prejudice & Punching

I'm an MST3K fan, and this is like a mash up between P&P and Shanghai Noon. characters are generally faithful, but there's a lot of eye rolling, "falling into their arms", swooning, and far more sarcasm than any one should expect. but it's a pretty good soap opera. One cannot listen to it at less than 1.2x, there were some mispronunciations (🎀 and bow, as in the action, were regularly mixed up) but less than I've found in many other readings. I cannot tell if this was written to be utterly hilarious or utterly serious, but I found myself laughing at most of it (ie, Darcy realized he loved Elizabeth immediately after Jane traumatized his solar plexus). I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be listening to it on a long road trip I have upcoming. It's fun, funny, light hearted, and there are some new characters with lots of twists and turns to keep it interesting.

Far too many effusive declarations

I thoroughly enjoyed the first half (~) of the story, but my God all of the swooning, winking, and effusive declarations of love, family, country, brotherhood, etc... became at first just tiring and boring and eventually downright obnoxious. And I love a happy ending as much as anybody, but this was just absurd.

As for the narration, I've listened to a few of these books narrated by Virtual Voice and my complaints are the same for all of them: 1. There is no differentiating between characters; a character who is a soft spoken lady who is whispering sounds exactly the same as a gruff, chain-smoking man who is screaming. 2. Words are often mispronounced. It's so annoying. 3. The cadence is very often completely off. It often pauses when it shouldn't, and doesn't pause when it should. Credit where it's due: Sometimes it's eerily realistic. I forget I'm not listening to a real person, and then one of the above mishaps occurs and ruins the moment. I really miss voice actors.

Such Fun

I thought it would be heavy and involved. But it was a great combination of humor and suspense.

The Bennet family takes in an injured man and learns to love.

When I read this book I was amazed at the talent Selene Garrou has when writing. The story was fabulous. The growth within the family and those around them was touching. The story is long and I’m so glad I got to listen to the book. It made my experience so memorable. If you love JAFF and like to walk down another path this book is for you.

Incredible Variation—-Authored by Best Imaginations of true Storyteller— 4. Once AI doesn’t get in the Way

All of our fav characters become their true selves & we watch them grow , actually explode into their Truist Possibilities; intellectually, physically & full of caring love. The education of two cultures coming together creating peace to surround the world is so enlightening , key to the book. Fabulous descriptions of the times, growth in their thinking, of their surrounds, the dress and fashions is exquisitely done. Especially the fashion designs created by first air powered Sewing Machines, investing in free enterprise is most exciting.

Clean and fun

This story is true to the characters, but there is a fun deviation in the plot and all the characters get the outcome they deserve. Each Bennet girl has a happy ending. There are several misspelled and therefore mispronounced words. If that makes you cringe, this isn’t for you. But if you can overlook that and the overuse of the word, “mayhap” you’ll enjoy this retelling.

So much fun

Absolutely love this book. The story is complex and most entertaining. The Bennetts and their friends stay one step ahead of their opponents. I liked the Chinese aspect . It is a long book but I never lost interest. It would have been perfect if performed by a good narrator.

Fantastical

Great fantasy. Poor writing. The verb tenses, homonyms, and punctuation errors made for difficult understanding with Virtual Voice. But the story was a romp. And I will not hear the word “swoon “ again without thinking and laughing at this book.