Could anything be worse than to be trapped in a confined space with the woman you love? Fitzwilliam Darcy knows his duty, and it does not involve succumbing to his fascination for a dark-eyed beauty from an unheard of family in Hertfordshire. He has run away from her once already. Yet fate has a wicked sense of humour and deals him a blow that not only throws him back into her path but quite … quite literally puts him at Elizabeth Bennet’s mercy. Stranded with her at a remote inn and seriously hampered by injury, Darcy very quickly loses the battle to conquer his feelings, but can he win the war to make himself better understood without the ability to speak?
Thus begins an intense journey to love and understanding that is at times harrowing, sometimes hilarious and at all times heartwarming.
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Pain. Can’t Breathe. Mind Numbing Fear.
You, the reader, are engulfed with these terrifying visions right from the opening chapter. I was taking in deep breaths wondering what had caused this nightmare. And, as this novel is in Mr. Darcy’s point of view, you learn what has happened to him as he learns it.
I found this story experiential and beautifully written. I felt as if I was in that room with Darcy and Elizabeth as they slowly, and I mean s.l.o.w.l.y., learned to communicate and understand each other, for Darcy could not speak. I loved how the evolution of their communications led to topics that Darcy wanted to avoid but eventually came to being ‘discussed’.
“He could not speak. What the bloody hell was he to do with no voice?” (quote from the book)
The pain and torment Darcy feels is further compounded by trying to keep his heart in check. He cannot allow Elizabeth to get under his skin, again. But we all know that is one battle he will lose.
“A man would ‘need’ to be dead to survive such close confinement with Elizabeth and remain indifferent.” (quote from the book)
I cannot begin to tell you how poignant, evocative, at times funny, and beautiful this story is. Elizabeth’s wit and impertinence shines through despite her own struggles to deal with the events that have placed them together.
“Why was it that every conversation with Elizabeth led to another facet of him being undone?”
I wholeheartedly recommend this incredible variation that has Mr. Darcy ‘speaking less’ than in canon!
I really enjoyed “Speechless” by Jessie Lewis. In a couple where words were so often taken the wrong way, Lewis took verbal communication away from Darcy via an injury from a horse. Lewis did not try to write in Austen’s style (I hate when authors attempt; they fall so short), but I felt that she still took care of Austen’s characters in a new and inventive way. Great fan fiction but also a good read on its own.
I was utterly enthralled from the very first paragraph. The descriptive writing was immersive. I love that this story is from Darcy’s perspective. His agony, both physical and emotional, leaps from the page with gripping, poetic, masterful storytelling. It was deliciously satisfying to witness his painful transformation as he struggles to learn how to effectively communicate and his opinions of those around him evolve. All the while, Elizabeth is our efficient and understanding heroine. A particular scene had me applauding and beaming at the cleverness of it. The double meaning of being speechless was delightfully revealed, and the connection between our dear characters was enchanting. This was a Pride and Prejudice variation unlike any other I’ve read and just may be my favorite one yet!
This is the Pride and Prejudice story told like no other. Darcy is critically injured. He cannot speak. Lizzy finds help for him at a nearby inn. He is completely dependent upon her. No medical aid as a snow storm has blocked the roads. They learn to communicate both with sign language and the written word. They begin to understand each other. This is the most unique retelling of the classic tale. Don’t miss reading it.
“If you can sit in silence with a person for half an hour and yet be entirely comfortable, you and that person can be friends. If you cannot, friends you’ll never be and you need not waste time in trying.” –L.M. Montgomery, The Blue Castle
Darcy: “The higher man is distinguished from the lower by his fearlessness and his readiness to challenge misfortune.” –Friedrich Nietzsche, The Will to Power
This story was told completely from Darcy’s POV. We opened with him confused and in horrible pain. Something terrible had happened and he couldn’t seem to remember it. He was struggling to understand and make sense of what happened and where exactly he was. He could hardly breathe, swallowing was next to impossible, and he was unable to speak. When he opened his mouth, nothing would come out leaving him in excruciating pain. What on earth had happened and why was Miss Elizabeth Bennet taking care of him? Where were they exactly?
Elizabeth: “You’ve got to have someone who loves your body. Who doesn’t define you, but sees you. Who loves what he sees. Who you don’t have to struggle to be good enough for.” –Deb Caletti, The Secret Life of Prince Charming.
We don’t know Elizabeth’s thoughts only what Darcy can see, hear, and experience with her. We see their interactions through his eyes and his perception of what is going on. They have to learn to communicate in an alternate manner as he is unable to speak. He watches as she worries over his health and wellbeing while she struggles with limited supplies. Slowly Darcy begins to see Elizabeth in a different light. In their spending time together, she is able to inform him of his actions, behavior, and misconceptions. He is able to clarify her misunderstandings on a few things as well, to her shock and surprise.
Snowbound at a little inn: “It’s in those quiet little towns, at the edge of the world, that you will find the salt of the earth people who make you feel right at home.” –Aaron Lauritsen, 100 Days Drive: The Great North American Road Trip
What more can I say about the characters at the little inn where Darcy and Elizabeth were stranded? I loved those guys. We don’t meet them until way into the story.
This was a gripping story. If you have ever had a severe case of strep throat and laryngitis then you just might sympathize with Darcy’s pain. The D&E time was amazing as they struggled to communicate with each other through alternate means. I loved the slow reveal as to what had happened to them. We were totally in Darcy’s head and we didn’t learn things until he did. Then he had to backtrack and rethink situations after Elizabeth gave him a new perspective. He was so willing to listen and learn from his mistakes as well as Elizabeth did when she learned a few facts about situations herself. Talk about your study of characters. We also see a characterization of her family as well as his. That was really insightful. You don’t usually see them described in that manner. This was an amazing story. I know I keep saying that. I highly recommend this to all JAFF lovers.
I volunteered to read an ARC from Jessie Lewis and Quills & Quartos Publishing with no expectations of a review. The views expressed are my own.