Jane and the Damned

by Janet Mullany

Young Jane Austen has just been rejected. Well, actually, her first novel has been rejected, and she cannot help but to feel defeated. At the age of twenty-one, she needs something: either a husband or a writing career. A visit to the assembly rooms at Basingstoke will change all of this for Jane.

At Basingstoke, she will become one of the Damned. Yes, it’s true; Jane survives the bite of a vampire. Of course, she is quite sickly after the bite, so the Austen family heads to Bath, renowned for its healing waters. Plus, that’s where the real action is.

While Jane seeks the healing power of Bath, the French invade the town. At the same time, Jane is learning the ways of the Damned, fighting the French with her new vampire family, AND hiding the secret of her new ways from her family.

Whew! This is a completely different take on the Jane Austen/monster theme, and I loved it.

7/9/11