The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub

Pages: 400

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books 

Released: 3rd of October 2023 

Miss Lydia Bennet may be the youngest, but what she lacks in maturity and responsibility, she more than makes up for in energy, fun - and magic.

In this exuberant reimagining of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Lydia Bennet puts pen to paper to relate the real events and aftermath of the classic story from her own perspective. Some facts are well known: Mrs. Bennet suffers from her nerves; Mr. Bennet suffers from Mrs. Bennet, and all five daughters suffer from an estate that is entailed only to male heirs.

But Lydia also suffers from entirely different concerns: her best-loved sister Kitty is really a barn cat, and Wickham is every bit as wicked as the world believes him to be, but what else would you expect from a demon? And if you think Mr. Darcy was uptight about dancing etiquette, wait till you see how he reacts to witchcraft. Most of all, Lydia has yet to learn that when you're a witch, promises have power . . .

Full of enchantment, intrigue, danger, and boundless magic, The Shocking Confessions of Miss Lydia Bennet, Witch, has all the irreverent wit, strength, and romance of Pride and Prejudice - while offering a highly unexpected redemption for the wildest Bennet sister.

What I Have to Say 

This was everything I wanted it to be. Magic, regency society and a nice scattering of Jane Austen. It was the perfect blend of a regency novel full of scandal and a fantasy novel of witchcraft and danger. The author also captured Lydia's voice perfectly. There was not a moment of this book where I wasn't entirely convinced this was the same Lydia from Pride and Prejudice. And this is the Jane Austen inspired book the I've seen that goes into what happens to Lydia after the scandal. 

I loved how the magic fit in perfectly to regency society. It was easy to go from a ball with women in tight dresses dancing with suiters to a coven meeting where naked witches danced around a bonfire. The style it was written made it feel completely natural. As though there was witchcraft in Jane Austen all along! 

The story itself was skilfully written. Everything fit perfectly with the events of the original text. I was so excited to see how it would all end and there was plenty of suspense and mystery created throughout the novel. The ending was perfect, it was clever, unexpected and it just fit so well. 

4 stars 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Jo Fletcher books for providing me with this gifted copy for review.