In the world of Heartstone, Regency society is stratified less along class lines; Lizzie's unsuitability is rooted in her status as a non-Rider, rather than being a member of the ton. The character of Kitty has been discarded, her throat ripped out by a gryphon before the novel begins. Darcy and Co. are hired to clear out a pack of dangerous gryphons (see: dead Kitty) and Darcy's standoffish nature is more to being a Rider and trauma from battle, rather than disdaining everyone because of their class.
Caroline, here Bingley's twin, is less shallow classist and more hardcore Rider. She's likeable and far less conniving. Lydia is less a flibbertigibbet and is just a young girl who longs for adventure and idealizes the world of the Riders and the Guard. Darcy's and Caroline's interference in Jane-Bingley romance is rooted in Bingley's tendency to fall for women quickly and then have his heart broken, than Jane's class and pushy, impolitic mother. Jane falls ill because she's attacked and wounded, rather than simply having a poor constitution. (Lizzie's trained under her uncle as a healer and Jane survives because of Lizzie's knowledge of plants rather than Jane having to weather a bad cold.) Elizabeth bonds with Darcy's dragon over Lizzie's sketching and her respect for Oldkind. (The dragons can speak.)
Mr. Collins is just a metrosexual with a tendency to extemporize rather than a sycophant. Charlotte marries him to save her father from dangerous creditors (there's also some embezzlement) rather than simply being practical. The pair actually fall in love, with Charlotte becoming pregnant. During Lizzie's visit, Mr. Collins shows himself to be a shrewd and fair magistrate and Lizzie (we) realize that she misjudged him. They end up on friendly terms.
Lady Catherine is the rider of the most dangerous dragon in England and has the battle scars to prove it. Lady Anne is dead from tekari attack. Her power and influence stem from being a Rider rather than deference due to her title. Her self-image stems from her skill rather than a puffed-up ego ('I would have been excellent if I ever deigned to learn' becomes 'I am excellent, my record proves it.'). Mr. Collins is welcome in her home less because of his fawning nature and more due to his competence in job. Darcy is far more awkward in dealing with his attraction to Lizzie and while the rejection of his proposal is still related to the Bingley-Jane situation, it's more obvious how much Elizabeth's prejudice and Wickham's lies influence her opinion.
I enjoyed this adaptation of P&P and will be continuing the series. (I'm curious to see if it incorporates other Austen works or just remains a P&P story.)
******* Spoilers ahead: *******
Speaking of Wickham, he's so much more dastardly than his Austen counterpart -- not only the reason for Darcy's enmity, but also in how he uses Lydia. Wickham wanted to be a Rider but his character made him too unattractive to be chosen by a dragon. One took pity on him, but soon saw his ugliness and rejected him, becoming Georgiana's dragon instead. In revenge, Wickham attacked and maimed the dragon so that it could no longer fly. He stole Georgiana's birthright as a Rider, since she wouldn't give up her dragon after he became earth-bound.
The addition of mythical monsters raises the stakes beyond the standard 'my daughters must marry to save us from the poor house' P&P trope. The Worm -- a deadly tekari that's unstoppable -- has awoken and the other tekari flock to follow it. The Worm progresses across England, with the tekari killing anyone in their path. Clueless of the realities of war (and Wickham's character), Lydia runs off to join Wickham's unit in the Guard. When they're overrun fighting the Worm horde, Wickham wounds her and leaves her TO BE BAIT and to save himself. Darcy looks for and finds her (even more meaningful because of the threat of DEATH).
The drama at the end is less about saving the Bennet family reputation. (Their main concern over Lydia's impulsive decision is Lydia ending up dead, rather than ruining the sisters' chances for a match.) Instead, it is Elizabeth's race to find a cure for a dying Darcy. She bravely faces the Broodmother Crone of the Lamias to learn the cure and escapes only just. When Caroline learns that the only cure is the heartstone of the Worm, she and her dragon nobly sacrifice themselves to give the others the chance to destroy it. The objection to the Darcy-Lizzie union is from/by Lady Catherine's dragon, rather than Lady Catherine. She likes Lizzie and gives her blessing to the marriage.
All of this combines to be an entertaining and engaging tale that gives a welcome twist to a classic favorite.
4 stars
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