Mark of Character: A Pride and Prejudice Soulmark Story (Enchanting Tales)

I’ve read many soul marked stories and this one is a unique twist and was very well done.This story is based upon / inspired by this author’s previous short story (There Can Be No Doubt which is in the “Vexed a Little in Love collection). That is where the concept of soul sickness leading to death comes from as well as the idea of Caroline trying to fake a mark to match Darcy’s. But the difference here is that Caroline’s attempt at subterfuge was actually successful. This Caroline is truly despicable!It takes a good long while for ODC to figure out that Darcy was hoodwinked, there was a fair bit of angst and stress for both D and E along the way. I really thought after Lady C’s visit Darcy would have clued in but the man is just so blinded by duty sometimes. Gah! So frustrating! It’s Elizabeth who actually figures it out … with a little bit of inadvertent help from Bingley and the Colonel. ;).The ending was very dramatic and angsty… Elizabeth was blocked from seeing Darcy at nearly ever turn, Caroline was especially shrewd and I really thought for a moment that she was going to get her way in that!! Such a muddle! Thank goodness for good friends and a spirited sister!I loved the parts with the cat and Mr Collins. Sooo funny!Very enjoyable read. An excellent addition to the P&P soul mark trope.

I truly love a good story that never lags for even a moment. Add in a reasonable Mrs Bennet, Mr Collins leaving without a wife, Caroline and Wickham both getting what they deserve, and both Lady Catherine's being wonderful; and you have to give it an easy five stars.

Very quick read. Finished it in one sitting. Absolutely loved it. I loathed Caroline Bingley and actually like Lady Catherine in this one. Lol!

I detest story spoilers, so I will not relate what I figured out almost immediately after starting to read, and I hope no one else does either🤞🏻. Furthermore, it might be just me. If you don’t figure out what I mean quickly, you’ll enjoy this different ‘take’ on the classic narrative.

I was looking forward to this book but was disappointed. Within just a few pages I had figured out what was going on and on top of that I do not believe that Caroline and Wickham got what they deserved. As far as I was concerned they got off easy.I understand that my opinion of the book is opposite of the other reviews but it is my opinion.

Soulmark stories are quickly becoming a popular trope, but I can't complain; a deceptively straight-forward plot device, it opens the door to a surprising amount of possibilities. P&P is the original enemies to lovers story, but a simple little sweet william flower drawing has turned this tale into one of mutual pining, and I am here for it.In this version of Regency England, a large percentage of the landed gentry are gifted with soulmarks, drawings on their backs that are sometimes meaningless until they find someone else with the same little drawing. That person is your soulmatch, your perfect compliment that you are destined to spend the rest of your days hopelessly in love with. That is, as long as you find your soul match - if you don't, you will suffer from the soulweakening, and die a terrible, painful, lonely death. At the age of twenty, Elizabeth Bennet feels she has plenty of time to find her soulmatch - as long as her father stirs himself to make an effort and bring his only soulmarked daughter out into the world to see and be seen.Fitzwilliam Darcy had his soul mark appear at the age of eight, and believes that he has now found his soulmatch after twenty long years. He has at last become engaged to one Caroline Bingley. Unfortunately, he feels none of the incandescent happiness he was told to expect once he'd found his soulmate. Rather, Darcy walks into the Meryton Assembly with an unending sense of dread.What follows is much of the same beats as the original P&P - insults, time spent together at Netherfield Park, the annoying (and sneezing) Mr. Collins trailing poor Elizabeth - but rather than being colored by disagreements and distaste, Darcy and Elizabeth find themselves surprisingly drawn to each other. They share secret jokes, playful conversation, and companionable silence in equal measure. The fuming shadow of Caroline Bingley, and Elizabeth's unknown soulmatch loom ominously over each of their charged interactions, which keep happening, no matter how much they each try to avoid the other.It all comes to a head at the Netherfield Ball, which I won't spoil for you. I only mention it because it shows how quickly the entire story runs down, just a few months. I never feel rushed or confused, though; everything is neatly laid out and wonderfully entertaining. Sarah Courtney does humor amazingly well, and her Mr. Collins is the recipient of her wit in this novel. I loved his little side plot. Other characters are mentioned, like extended Darcy family members, but due to the brevity of the book we don't actually get to meet them. The book is so tightly and concisely edited, though, that this doesn't bother me as it usually would; you don't have time to miss people you haven't met.This book is listed as the second in a series of standalone novels. The first is "Disguise of the Worst Sort", which is also a great book. The two feel very similar to each other, which is more than I can say for some other standalone series I've read. If you're going to group books together, they should feel like sisters, or at least cousins. I finished this and immediately wanted to reread "Disguise".I was gifted a copy by the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.