Review: Emma's Dragon by M. Verant

At this point the trilogy ceases to be a retelling of Pride and Prejudice and becomes an overall Austen mashup.

Emma is introduced as unpleasant as she is in the original, but there's a twist. Harriet and Mr. Knightley are Black.

The author does mention Bridgerton, but also points out that race in the Regency was, well, complicated. Racism certainly existed, but class trumps race in many ways.

Emma's attempts to help Harriet become pure white saviorism.

And then there's the war. And the dragons. Although despite the title, Emma does not bind a draca in this book. Mostly because she's afraid of commitment, poor girl.

I mean, I don't entirely blame her. There's a certain amount of middle movement syndrome in this book, despite the action and drama.

I feel sorry for the black dragon.

Review: Dragons of the Great Wyves: Fire and Song by M. Verant

At this point, the trilogy has completely diverged from Austen (and the author herself makes a cameo). Healing the song takes a lot of work, some changing of partners to get the dragons with the right wyves, and a lot of, well, destruction.

The twist didn't surprise me at all except that I should have realized it was going to happen. Those are, of course, the best plot twists. The ones that make you go "Aha" and "Dang it" at the same time.

I actually really enjoyed this trilogy, which is a testament to Verant's writing (and also to, well, that would be a spoiler, but let's just say sapphic women have their moment in this one).

Verant claims this is noblebright. If this was noblebright I wouldn't be allergic to the term. (I have to assume he is oblivious to some of the stuff related to it).

Also, the draca, all of them, are cute, and now I want a book set in modern times in which they come back, starring the descendants of Elizabeth Bennett and, yes, Jane Austen herself. Can we? Please? I want a tykeworm...

Recommended to all Jane Austen fans and fantasy fans who might be willing to give it a go.

I received copies of these books for review and award consideration purposes.