Publishers Summary:
In Austen’s original novel, Darcy and Elizabeth are compelled to overcome countless obstacles — but that’s nothing compared to what they face in Vampire Darcy’s Desire. This inventive, action-packed novel tells of a tormented Darcy who comes to “Netherfield” to escape the intense pressure on him to marry. Dispirited by his family’s 200-year curse and his fate as a half-human/half-vampire dampir, Darcy would rather live forever alone than inflict the horrors of a vampire life on a beautiful wife. Destiny has other plans. Darcy meets Elizabeth and finds himself yearning for her as a man and driven to possess her as a vampire. Uncontrollably drawn to each other, their complex relationship forces them to confront their pride and prejudice like never before and to wrestle with the seductive power of forbidden love. Meanwhile, dark forces are at work all around them. Most ominous is the threat from George Wickham, the purveyor of the curse, a demon who vows to destroy each generation of Darcys and currently has evil intentions for the vulnerable Georgiana.
My Thoughts:
First, before I get going. When I started writing reviews I said I would never use a publisher’s summary. If I can read the book and tell you what I thought of it, I can come up with a few sentences of my own to give a little hint at what’s going on. However, I read this about 40 books back, but I keep thinking of it, especially after all of the vampire books I’ve downed as of late. So I really want to focus more on my thoughts of the book than summarizing it.
This is not the first Jane Austen variation out of Regina Jeffers, and I knew that going into this book. Though I hadn’t read Darcy’s Passions or Darcy’s Temptation before reading this, I knew that I had only seen positive reviews of Jeffers’s books.
Now to focus on Vampire Darcy’s Desire.
First, this is the first Pride and Prejudice sequel/variation I had read that had any paranormal element to it. I was VERY skeptical going into this book, because honestly, Darcy and Elizabeth just shouldn’t be messed with that way. However, I was able to keep an open mind when it came to Mr. Darcy’s being a half-vampire. And when it comes down to it, I’m glad I did, because I ended up really enjoying this book.
It is obvious to any reader that Jeffers put some serious thought into the background of this book. The folklore behind the Darcy family curse, the rituals that Wickham engages in, and the magic that can be used against him isn’t like anything else I’ve read to date. Darcy and Elizabeth do marry in this book, and she actually catches Darcy’s eye by singing a song about his ancestors, the ancestor that caused the family curse in the first place. Later, he finds out that one of the parties involved in the 200 year old curse is an ancestor of the Bennett family, and that is why she has a soft spot for the song, even though its sad. I found that I was really happy that the two married. Darcy was dead set against marriage. He basically just wanted to keep his home going as long as he could and depend on Georgiana to provide heirs for the Darcy legacy. But what fun is all work and no happiness?
Once Darcy opens up more about the curse on his family and his part in everything Elizabeth jumps right in. Elizabeth, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and even Georgiana all help Darcy to do research to find the weaknesses of Wickham. When the time for the final fight comes, both Colonel Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth are there, but they are killing the vampires that Wickham had created to be his backup. It’s hard work, but it is what they can do to ensure Darcy gets a fair chance to win.
The only thing that really bothered me in this book is the whininess of Darcy and Elizabeth not consummating their marriage. Elizabeth wants to, but Darcy refuses lest he pass the curse onto another generation. And even so, it isn’t something that is constantly complained about as it is in other books, Darcy and Elizabeth related and not. So really, I didn’t mind it, it could have been plenty worse, and he could have been holding out for worse reasons.
Basically, I enjoyed this one, surprisingly enough. If anyone out there is looking for a vampire Mr. Darcy that is tolerable, I would suggest to begin here.
Among Stories 