Welcome to another session of Turning Pages!
Spin-offs, sequels, retellings. Love it or hate it, there’s never a moment when a Jane Austen novel isn’t getting some play somewhere, whether with text messages, zombies, or space ships. Funnily, I don’t recall who suggested this book (Book Smugglers? Smart B’s?) and by the time I came to it in my TBR pile, I’d forgotten why it was suggested… I figured dragons? I was halfway through the book before I recognized it – I blame the sinus infection. If you enjoy novels of repressive Victorian society, manners, and mores; if you adore costume and courting …if you love Our Jane, this one’s for you.
Synopsis: Aliza’s grief at the loss of her sister to the vicious talons of gryphons, underscores the reasons Lord Merybourne strained his slender resources to hire a troop of Riders to eradicate them. The farmers and craftspeople of Hart’s Run have suffered bitter losses from the Tekari, the Oldkind which are enemies of mankind. Aliza’s father’s way of dealing with his grief is to immerse himself in Lord Merybourne’s estates, and in their management, remaining a loving yet vague presence in the lives of his daughters. Aliza’s mother’s way of dealing with her grief is to get her children away from Merybourne Manor by any means necessary. The Bentaine purse doesn’t stretch to sending all the girls away to finishing school and none of them show a particular bent to be apprenticed in any art, but they’re girls, after all. They can marry out. Riders must have noble blood, and the ability to communicate with their Shani – or friends of mankind – Oldkind mounts – some of which are dragons – and their work pays them well and takes them far. Since they’re already in Hart’s Run to eradicate the nest of gryphons…
Aliza, and her older sister, Angelina, are both amused and troubled by their mother’s single-mindedness in marrying off one of her daughters, but at least one of the Riders, Lord Brysney has caught Anjey’s fancy. The other Riders are either indifferent or, in the case of the dragon-riding Daired Lord, horrible snobs. Aliza isn’t too fussed about one distasteful man. She’s a competent herbologist and healer, and there’s always something going on in the garden, or with her hobgoblin friends who live there. There also was an Oldkind at Lord Merybourne’s party, threatening someone… who? Brysney’s sister, Lady Charis, whose loss of her wyvern mount causes her great grief, seems quite willing to be Aliza’s friend… sometimes. As Anjey and Brysney become closer, it becomes clear that there is more to the Riders than meets the eye. But, all of the household drama pales in comparison to the earthquakes and oddities going on. The Tekari are rising — something truly wicked is coming for Hart’s Run… and there’s nowhere to hide. The Shani, with their Riders are going to have to work their magic, supported by the commoners the Riders may have scorned for any of them to survive.
Observations: I was amused to see this book listed as an historical fantasy… and while I know that it is, and what that means, I also laugh since there’s been no time in OUR history, anyway, that people have ridden dragons…! Despite sounding like its set in Victorian times, with the costumes, social stratification, and Lord-ing/Lady-ing, the decision to include green-haired hobgoblins did not extend to human author people of color in this non-noble farming and crafting community. As there were doubtless persons of Asian, South Asian and African ancestry in the Victorian England in which Austen set her original series, it is an unfortunate erasure.
The addition of dragons (and the odd wyvern and bearlike beoryn)to any Austen novel has the potential to enliven it! I won’t say “improve,” since Austen novels don’t really need “improvement,” per se. While an examination of the manners and mores of Victorian times doesn’t necessarily translate into this fantasy retelling, the observant snark and humor of the narrative find their place in this novel. Aliza doesn’t take her mother’s machinations very seriously, nor does she suffer unduly from the dislike of the Daried lord. He’s just a donkey’s bum, no big deal. Mari, rather than being obnoxious, is simply introverted and much more amused by time to herself with a book than dressing and going into society – and the author makes clear that there’s nothing wrong with it. Readers will appreciate Aliza’s relationship with the lesser Oldkind, as it makes plain the kindness of her personality, that no Shani creature is too small for her consideration, and that muddy hems are a small price to pay for friendship. Her no nonsense dealings with the care of her sister during illness, and her bravery in turning down the offer to learn to kill more Tekari also speak to a girl who knows her own mind, and regardless of what others might believe she should be doing, or how they believe she should be reacting, she will go her own way.
Conclusion: You might indeed be well over Austen retellings, or find the original tale tedious and frustrating. And yes, Aliza’s mother still needs a brisk slap, but at least the reasons for her behavior make much more sense this time, and you’ll appreciate that Leyda is redeemed and doesn’t have to live with her mistake for very long. This novel’s brimstone of dragonfire and slash of wyvern’s talons breathes adventure into a familiar story, making it more accessible to certain audiences. Magic, adventure, war, and romance, this is one to tuck into your bag to make airport delays something you don’t even notice.
I received my copy of this book courtesy of the public library. You can find HEART STONE by Ella Katharine White at an online e-tailer, or at a real life, independent bookstore near you!
