Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'
The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub
4 reviews
karlin0336's review
I just can't get interested in this book at the moment. I do plan on coming back to it, but, as a mood reader, now just isn't the time.
There have been several things that really aren't helping boost my enthusiasm for this book:
I never was very much a fan of Lydia as a character in Pride and Prejudice, but I had hoped that this retelling would help me see a better side of her. So far, I'm really not enjoying her as the narrator.
Much of the book up till now has been less of a retelling of the familiar events from Pride and Prejudice, and more of a "this is what Lydia was doing while those other events were happening" kind of thing. I was hoping to follow the original story more closely.
I was also hoping to see more of Mr. Darcy (the book's blurb sure makes it seem that way), but he's been almost completely absent from the book at this point (mostly just referenced by Lydia and the othet characters). Elizabeth and Jane haven't been around much either, and they are by far my two favorites of the sisters.
[Note to Self: I stopped reading at the beginning of Chapter 15. Will probably just start from the very beginning if I do decide to come back to it, though.]
There have been several things that really aren't helping boost my enthusiasm for this book:
I never was very much a fan of Lydia as a character in Pride and Prejudice, but I had hoped that this retelling would help me see a better side of her. So far, I'm really not enjoying her as the narrator.
Much of the book up till now has been less of a retelling of the familiar events from Pride and Prejudice, and more of a "this is what Lydia was doing while those other events were happening" kind of thing. I was hoping to follow the original story more closely.
I was also hoping to see more of Mr. Darcy (the book's blurb sure makes it seem that way), but he's been almost completely absent from the book at this point (mostly just referenced by Lydia and the othet characters). Elizabeth and Jane haven't been around much either, and they are by far my two favorites of the sisters.
[Note to Self: I stopped reading at the beginning of Chapter 15. Will probably just start from the very beginning if I do decide to come back to it, though.]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Sexual content
jillysmith's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I love a Pri alwaysde and Prejudice retelling, and a fantasy one at that! In this book we stick very closely to Lydia as she explains her life and her choices leading up to her elopement with Wickham with the small addition that she is a witch. At the same time we find out that post the events of the original novel, she gets tangled up helping Miss Darcy escape a hex. This is a fun and easy going little story. I had difficulty with the character of Wickham who is three, potentially four separate characters in this book and it's not always clear to the reader who he is until a little after the fact. This makes the development of his relationship with Lydia difficult to buy into. The end becomes an epistolary novel rather quickly, as though the author suddenly wanted to wrap it all up, but this is very fun and enjoyable, and I'll always love the idea of Kitty the Cat, regardless of what retelling we're in.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Sexual content, and Lesbophobia
devynreadsnovels's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Blood, and Colonisation
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Pregnancy
outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Lydia Bennet, a character whose actions are pivotal in Pride & Prejudice & yet we learn relatively little about her character beyond what other characters tell us. This reimaging of P&P sees Lydia relate the events from her point of view through the medium of writing her thoughts down in a book. In this world, Lydia is the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter (three older sisters having died as children) & therefore a witch, whilst Kitty is revealed to be her feline familiar bewitched to appear human in front of others. Lydia's quest to improve & use her magic leads her into all kinds of mischief & dangerous situations.
The narrative is all from Lydia's point of view apart from a few letters at the end which are from another character who appears in the book. It seems like it should be a light retelling with the focus on magic, but the author manages to cover some weightier subjects: racism, sexism/misogyny in society, the confining of women to the domestic sphere & marriage, & a society where a fifteen year old girl would be married off to an older man for the sake of her (& her female relatives') reputation whilst his would eventually carry on as before. Jane & Elizabeth are mentioned but sadly do not appear on the page, although just about every one else does & Georgiana has a bigger role here. Overall it was a nice enough read but it didn't really grab & hold my attention as I thought it would.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Quercus Books/Jo Fletcher Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
The narrative is all from Lydia's point of view apart from a few letters at the end which are from another character who appears in the book. It seems like it should be a light retelling with the focus on magic, but the author manages to cover some weightier subjects: racism, sexism/misogyny in society, the confining of women to the domestic sphere & marriage, & a society where a fifteen year old girl would be married off to an older man for the sake of her (& her female relatives') reputation whilst his would eventually carry on as before. Jane & Elizabeth are mentioned but sadly do not appear on the page, although just about every one else does & Georgiana has a bigger role here. Overall it was a nice enough read but it didn't really grab & hold my attention as I thought it would.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Quercus Books/Jo Fletcher Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Minor: Animal death and Sexual content