Emma and the Vampires by Jane Austen and Wayne Josephson
A Jane Austen Undead Novel
Although this story follows the original with a flavor of Jane Austen throughout, I did have a few problems.
One quite small thing, but for me a real irritation is that Wayne Joesphson sent his vegetarian vampires, they don’t drink human blood and they have blue eyes and go into the woods to hunt for rabbits and raccoons. Raccoons are not and have never been native to Britain, we have badgers, weasels, stoats and foxes but NO raccoons.
Now, another problem I had and it could just be me, but, I found it odd that the gentlemen vampires both the vegetarian non human blood drinkers ones and the black eyed one’s whose eyes turn red after feeding on human blood were almost a completely different breed compared to the wild vampires.
The wild vampires continuously attack Highbury preying on any one they could sink their fangs into.
These wild vampires behave more like zombies and there is no back story of explanation to how or why they are so different.
I wasn’t even sure how aware the inhabitants of Highbury were as to who was and who wasn’t a vampire, it was quite difficult from the characters reactions to tell.
All in all this was quite a frustrating read for me but I am sure there are plenty of vampire loving friends out there who will love this book and it certainly has some memorable moments including Emma going into battle with wild vampire hoards with a stake tied to her thigh with silk ribbon, and then agreeing to marry one.
You might think he would find marrying a young woman who habitually wears a steak under her petty coat somewhat alarming.
However, if this book brings more youthful readers to Jane Austen’s original works then I am all for it.
