Back in October (yes, the review backlog is a thing), I wanted a Halloween-ish read, but was trying to also stick to the TBR pile and not go buy something new. This proved difficult because horror/scary type books are not really my jam (Confession: I am 40 years old and have never read a single thing by Stephen King). But then I found this tucked away on my P&P shelf, stuck there as a joke, but never read. Perfect.
I didn’t know what to expect going in- how would zombies become a part of this beloved classic? Welp, in the usual way, it turns out. Mysterious virus causing a gradual descent into zombiehood.
Austen’s original novel is the backdrop for this, with zombie fighting being interspersed into the story. Mrs. Bennet is still obsessed with getting her daughters married… but Mr. Bennet is obsessed with making sure they are properly trained in the ways of the ninjas, properly equipped to kill as many zombies as possible. All five daughters have been sent to Asia to train, and return as fierce warriors, ensuring the safety of Longbourn and surrounding areas.
Mr Darcy is also quite the formidable counter-zombie force, and while we see many of the same interactions between he and Elizabeth, he also falls in love with her skill as a warrior.
This book is utterly and completely ridiculous. I couldn’t stop laughing (in the best way), and couldn’t stop wondering what Jane Austen herself would think of if she were here to read about the zombie-fighting Bennet sisters. Overall it was a fun departure from a traditional read of Pride & Prejudice. My only real complaint was the use of the word “oriental” as a blanket statement for all Asians. Pretty sure there could’ve been a way around that language (as it was part of the recently-added ninja narrative) – it made me cringe every time. Other than that, bravo for a new and fun concept.