Pemberley's Heir

A Pride and Prejudice Variation

By: Jeanna Ellsworth

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Young Fitzwilliam Darcy was born with everything he wanted. However, in a sudden turn of events, he finds he must join the militia to sustain his new, less-endowed life. For five years, he searches for the missing piece in his life; that journey leads him marching into Elizabeth Bennet’s presence on more equal ground. Darcy has no doubt that the sassy and intelligent Elizabeth deserves much more than a lieutenant’s salary can provide. For the first time in five years, Darcy sets out to find his lost heritage so that he can offer marriage for Elizabeth. Elizabeth has no idea that she has fallen in love with the richest man in Derbyshire and the heir to Pemberley. However, Lieutenant Wickham, Darcy’s childhood friend, is acutely aware of who Darcy is. As always, Jane Austen’s favorite villain from Pride and Prejudice has his own plans to stake a claim to Pemberley. Darcy must puzzle out his heritage and claim his birthright as Pemberley's heir before Wickham stakes a claim on the estate.

The story was mediocre; the narration was terrible.

The story has a promising premise, but was executed poorly. I think with more time, an editor, and a dictionary this author might have a bright future.

Virtual Voice was, as always, awful.

Interesting premise, horribly executed.

The author took huge liberties with each character. At one point Jane criticizes Elizabeth using Elisabeth’s statements to Darcy from his first proposal. Why? This is clearly not Austen’s Jane. The author uses Austen’s words entirely too often and uses them in bizarre and strange ways. The characters are weak and ridiculous and behave in confusing ways. Honestly besides the premise, the narration was the second best thing about this book, and it uses virtual voice.