Jane Austen has attained a certain literary immortality, not unlike the legendary vampire.
Janet Mullany has put the pen to the audacious synthesis of these two reflections of immortality in her novels in which she presents the beloved British spinster as one of the Eternally Damned.
"Jane Austen: Blood Persuasion" is Mullany's second work portraying Miss Austen as a vampiress. (William Morrow, 286 pages)
The very prim Miss Austen's pastoral tranquility is upset when her Creator, William, and several other vampires move to her village.
William endeavors to have Jane return to their fold and enlists her aid in negotiating a truce between his followers and a renegade tribe of the Undead.
While trying to protect the virtue of her young niece from the attentions of a rogue vampire, Jane herself faces temptation in the form of her former consort, Luke.
Janet Mullany blends interesting biographical elements of Miss Austen in this gothic tale.
While Mullany pens a rather witty and very readable Regency romp, this reviewer hopes that the illustrious Miss Austen is allowed to rest in peace.