A Review of Lucy Marin's Latest Book, "The Recovery of Fitzwilliam Darcy" + Giveaway

My reading time has been limited as of late, and my attention has been all over the place. I blame Spring Fever! No doubt some of my readers can relate. While I've struggled to focus on my reading, I've actually started five separate JAFF books (yes, you read that right). Sadly, in recent weeks, I've not made steady progress on them. However, Lucy Marin's new release, The Recovery of Fitzwilliam Darcy has been an exception. I've breezed through it and am almost finished with it (at the time of this post). It's a page turner full of angst (which I love). The angst, however, does not stem from any common tropes (e.g., force marriage scenario, etc.). This book presents an alternative reality that from the beginning of the story does not follow cannon. Oftentimes, books like this that take a sharp, alternate path don't work for me, but when they're good, they're SO SO GOOD! I'm thinking Caitlin Williams' The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet and L.L. Diamond's Undoing. Have these comparisons piqued your interest yet?

For starters, here's the book's blurb:

I have no notion who I am meant to be.

1n 1789, a terrible crime is committed, plunging one family into grief as another rejoices at the gift of an unexpected son. Two decades later, a chance meeting leads to the discovery of the lost heir of Pemberley and the man who knew himself as Mr William Lucas is restored to his birthright as Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley.

Discovering the truth about his past means leaving behind everyone and everything he has ever known and loved--including his childhood best friend and soon-to-be betrothed, Elizabeth Bennet. Tormented by questions about himself, and his place, Darcy struggles to understand and adapt to his changed identity and his new life. he must contend with a father buried in the shadows of the past and family relationships he does not understand.

The truth has come out. Some have gained by it, some have lost by it, and I am in the middle. I cannot possibly make everyone happy. No matter what I do, someone will suffer. No matter what I do, I shall suffer.

Somehow, he must find a way to do right by his new and old families, especially if he is to avoid losing Elizabeth forever.

So far, I'm 80% through the book. I must say that it is a breath of fresh air and is holding my splintered attention! I've actually paused several times while writing this blog post to continue reading. I was up until 1:30 AM last night reading even though my alarm was set to go off at 6:15 AM. I think that says a lot. 

I often choose a short passage from the book I'm reviewing that sticks me or encapsulates the spirit of the text. For this post, I chose the following, because it really captures how torn and anguished Darcy was after assuming his rightful place as the heir to Pemberley and member of the first circles.

"Fitzwilliam could not bear the though of witnessing the debauchery they seemed to favor. He never liked it, but after seeing Elizabeth, it made him sick to think of it. He had wanted to go home and be alone. If he had been able to separate himself from John, he would have gone to Elizabeth, even if only to spend a few minutes at her side. Somehow, he knew she held the answers he sought, even though he had not yet determined what the questions were."

Lucy Marin developed a love for reading at a young age and whiled away many hours imagining how stories might continue or what would happen if there was a change in the circumstances faced by the protagonists. After reading her first Austen novel, a life-long ardent admiration was born. Lucky was introduced to the work of Austen variations after stumbling across one at a used bookstore while on holiday in London in 2002. This led to the discovery of the online world of Jane Austen fan fiction and, soon after, she picked up her pen and began to transfer the stories in her head to paper.

Lucy lives in Toronto, Canada surrounded by hundreds of books and a loving family. She teaches environmental studies, loves animals and trees and exploring the world around her. Her first novel, Being Mrs. Darcy, was published in March 2020 and was followed by a novella, Mr. Darcy: A Man with a Plan, in July 2020.

 Follow Lucy via these social media platforms for updates:

• Facebook: Lucy Marin
• Twitter: @LucySMarin1
• Goodreads: Lucy S Marin
• Instagram: lucymarin613

The Jane Austen State of Mind blog is just one of several stops along the blog tour for The Recovery of Fitzwilliam Darcy. For more great insights as well as additional excerpts chosen by the author, check out the schedule below:

Last but not least, a couple of lucky winners who comment on one or more of the blog tour posts will be entered for a chance to win a copy of The Recovery of Fitzwilliam Darcy. The winners will be announced approximately a week after the blog tour via the Quills & Quartos Facebook page. Good luck and happy reading!