A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience

by Stephanie Burgis

Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 62
Series: The Unexpected Adventures of Lady and Lord Riven #1
Rating:

Synopsis:

Margaret Dunhaven may have been forced into marriage with the sinister vampire lord of Shadowcroft Manor in order to fulfill a family obligation, but she's not about to stay trapped there for long. The beastly man doesn't even have any decent tea leaves in his kitchen!

However, when she realizes that she's not the only one who's been forced into this marital union, it's time to join forces with her unwanted new husband. If they can combine her scholarly skills with his ancient history, then, working together, they might just manage to reclaim her inheritance, break his curse, and find their freedom.

...Just so long as they don't fall in love along the way.

A witty and sparkling 17,000-word novella that puts a new twist on Beauty and the Beast in an alternate-history version of late 19th century England.

Stephanie Burgis’ A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience was originally meant to be a standalone, a quick novella in which a young scholarly woman gets married off to a vampire by her family in order for them to steal her inheritance and steal a treasure previously guarded by the vampire’s family.

Naturally, Margaret isn’t best pleased about being married off, especially to someone who doesn’t keep tea in the house for goodness’ sake, but she quickly bands together with her new husband to figure out their situation — and maybe get back to her scholarly work?

I can see why this turned into a little series, because though it does turn into something of a romance, there’s not a lot of room for it to breathe. I thought the romance part skipped the most interesting parts of the development during Margaret and Lord Riven, personally; a bit more time spent with them on the journey, watching them interact, would’ve helped.

Nonetheless, it’s a pretty fun story, even if something about the structure reminded me a lot of Burgis’ other story, Good Neighbours. I enjoy Margaret and her scholarly nature, with shades of Lady Trent and Emily Wilde. I went on to the second book quite eagerly!

Rating: 3/5 (“liked it”)