Reviews with content warning for Gore - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Deluxe Heirloom Edition

The author had no consideration for the original setting of the book. I was obviously not expecting historical accuracy, because the book is about zombies, but I can only suspend my disbelief for the paranormal, not the blatantly ignorant. This not normally a problem for me, but Grahame-Smith chose to keep the English setting, but wrote about wooden churches (not a thing), and the final straw for me was when a chipmunk ran across the road. Strange, I know, but I just lost the will to keep reading it.

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ameliegrech's review against another edition

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adventurous funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A great, fun read if you're a fan of Austen (and zombies of course).

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bluejay21's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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elsary's review against another edition

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Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? No

2.0

Make no mistake: the two stars are here only for the original work. This book - if it deserves to be called such - is a blasphemous caricature of the original masterpiece, yet I am physically incapable of giving it less than two stars for Jane's original beautiful words. For everything that has been added and changed and taken away, I have nothing but the question why. Spoilers ahead.

Why do the sisters fight zombies with daggers?!? Isn't the point of a zombie fight to keep the monster as far away from you as possible? As if this wasn't enough, they also engage in hand-to-hand combat with the zombies. Why??

Why did they do away with Volumes? Storytelling-wise, they add the excitement, the power of the twists - why were they taken away?

Why is Miss King not mentioned by name in the first instance she appears but only later - and then, without any explanation? This is a small thing, but it annoyed me to no end.

Why is Mr. Collins so fat? Fatphobia isn't funny.

Why were the characters' personalities so altered? Everyone in this novel is either a semi-stupid or fully-stupid side character incapable of fighting, or a martial arts expert who's lusting for blood and vengeance and fantasising about murder. I admit they bear some resemblance to the original characters in how they act, but their thoughts seem not be much different form the zombies they slaughter.

And on that note, the ableism in relation to Mr. Wickham is not simply "why" - it's gross and disgusting. Why did anyone think it was okay?

Why does Mr. Collins kill himself? That just makes no snese whatsoever to his original charcter, or the society they are living in, and it doesn't really do much for the plot either. He could've been killed by Charlotte, that would've been funnier and more suitable.

And maybe the biggest why: the orientalism, racism, cultural appropriation. Just... No. Emma Coffin (2016) has done a great job in analysing the orientalism in the book, and I wholeheartedly recommend her essay. It's more in-depth and better articulated than I could write, blinded by my rage after I had to read about a maid servant "dressed in a kimono and shuffling about on bound feet", the slapstick ninjas, and whatever is "zarizushi". Considering this was written in 2009, how is it possible to have such inaccurate, misinformed, fully racist and exotifying portrayal of Asian cultures?

I have wanted to read this novel for a good while, and I am now glad it is over. Can not recommend to anyone. If I have to read the words "deadly arts" ever again, I will practice them myself in ripping each fingernail of the author away and rubbing salt into the wound, after which I will claw the eyes out.

If you want a good historical novel with zombies, I beg of you to read Justina Ireland's DREAD NATION. It's ACTUALLY good.

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maddness22's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I really wanted to enjoy this. However, the only enjoyable parts of the novel were the ones untouched by the new author. There was very little cohesion between the zombie sections and the original narrative. There was also very little respect for the original characters. The ninja part was out of left field and didn't belong in the tale except to serve as a shock factor. In fact, most of this book is mostly dependent on shock factor moments. It's also incredibly gross and not meant for the weak of stomach.

I think this would be very fun for casual readers who have trouble getting into classics, but it felt incredibly disrespectful to the original story for me to truly get into it.

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