The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub
Published by Grand Central Publishing
Publication date: October 3, 2023
Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Magical Realism, Mystery
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If you’ve read the Jane Austen novel Pride & Prejudice or seen the movie you know that Lydia Bennet was one of the most annoying little sisters in the fictional world, nearly bringing down her family’s reputation with her foolish behavior and hasty decisions. But what if there was more to her than that? Melinda Taub answers that question in The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch. Just as she always wants to be, Lydia is front and center in this delightful reimagining of her life. First of all, and most importantly, she’s a witch. But she’s Lydia and the combination of the two means she’s landed herself and everyone around her into deep trouble with a powerful warlock.
Lydia is no slouch when it comes to magical powers. Lonely as a child she transformed a barn cat into another girl. Her closest companion, seen and known to everyone as her sister Kitty. But she’s still Lydia so when she was seven she made a promise to an imprisoned ancient warlock. That debt has come due and involves procuring for him a treasure of such power that he’ll be released and able to destroy them all. A treasure she’s never heard of and has no idea how to find. Her situation gets worse and worse, until she gets help from an unlikely source. The price of that help is that Lydia write a full and honest confession of her life and that’s The Scandalous Confessions, a kind of diary.
Taub’s creativity in conjuring this novel is a marvel. She adheres to the original story completely, but overlays it with a wholly unexpected, magical landscape. The entire cast is represented, but from Lydia’s perspective and with a limited knowledge of the witchy world. All of the family relationships are largely the same as are the circumstances they’re facing. Scandalous Confessions is Pride & Prejudice but with witches and magic. Given how well fantasy has been working for me this year it’s probably not a surprise that I found this to be delightful. Lydia is the same frivolous, shallow ditz she ever was, but now there’s something more to her and not just the magic. Also, if this sounds interesting but you’ve never read Pride & Prejudice you don’t need to at all. Maybe watch the movie with Kiera Knightley because it’s so yummy, but you don’t need to know the story to enjoy The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch.
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