Through Pemberley Woods

 


Title and Author: Through Pemberley Woods by Emily Russell
Type: P&P Alternate Path 
Perspective: Darcy and Elizabeth
Romance Level: Austen level
Recommended: 3.5 stars
Access: free for Amazon Kindle Unlimited

Summary: This variation takes place before P&P even starts during the summer before the events of the books. Elizabeth visits the Pemberley area with her Aunt Gardiner, staying with her aunt's friend Mrs. Water. As a great walker, she makes her way through Pemberley Woods, not realizing a dangerous poacher has been in the area. When Darcy comes upon her, he warns her off in his brusk manner and makes a poor impression.  Elizabeth later meets Georgiana in town and the two become friends. As Elizabeth becomes better friends with Georgiana, she comes to know Darcy better. And Georgiana decides not to go to Ramsgate, leading Mrs. Younge to take matters into her own hands.   

Things I Liked:
* The friendship between Georgiana and Elizabeth is genuine and sweet. 
* There was no drama from Elizabeth's family, but some was added by the family she is staying with. 
* It was fun watching Darcy and Elizabeth recover from completely different misconceptions than the original. 
* I love how Wickham and Mrs. Younge got what was coming to them.
* It was fun to have elements from other Austen books as part of the story. 

Things I Didn't Like:
* Darcy never would have allowed his sister to develop this friendship without knowing more about Elizabeth (she is staying with a family even lower class than her own). Even a conversation (or a covert looking into who she was) would have made this more believable. (And becoming engaged before he understands is even more absurd.)
* The last part has Elizabeth acting out of character and doing things Darcy would never have allowed.  
* I could spot the outcome with Captain Waters from almost the beginning. 

Books Reviewed 
Other Books by this author reviewed: Disruption at Pemberley , Trapped at Rosings, and Follies and Vices

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