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Buy Jane Slayre
Special: $11.70 (Regular price: $15.00)
Publisher: Gallery Books
Format: Paperback
Reviewer: Melissa on May 15, 2010
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
When I first heard about the monster mashup phenomenon, I’ll admit I was a little weary of the idea. I’m an English major through and through, so the thought of having books like Pride And Prejudice and Jane Eyre transformed into a landscape of vampires, zombies and werewolves wasn something I wasn’t sure I’d like. It’s not that I’m against paranormal fiction – I LOVE the Gothic genre – I just wasn’t sure how it would fit together. Still when the opportunity arose to review Jane Slayre: The Literary Classic With A Blood-Sucking Twist came up, I jumped at the chance to see how Sherri Browning Erwin was able to blend these two disparate genres.
Erwin’s blending of Charlotte Brontë’s classic masterpiece is pitch perfect. While I thought that, perhaps, the premise might be a little ridiculous, I found that the author weaves the paranormal thread in a nearly seamless way. For example, when young Jane examines a book behind the curtain of the window sill, it is now because the Reeds are a household of vampires rather than the earlier explanation. Throughout the novel, she encounters the vampires, zombies and werewolves and deftly slays or cures them of their “undead” predicament. The point being that the author changes to the original text, which are logical given not only the new concept presented in JaneSlayre. While some Brontë purists might reject the monster mash-up additions, I’m a hardcore fan of JaneEyre and still found myself swooning at and delighting in by the extended Gothic romp at the appropriate moments.
When it comes to other features of this novel, I’m pleased to say that it’s always impressive. When you get your hands on this paranormal book, the first thing that will strike you is the blood splatter on the front cover. You’ll find that it’s exactly the right amount of gore. Trust me, the picture on my blog doesn’t do it justice, you really have to see it in person to get the full effect.
Another welcome addition to the original novel is the ironic additions to Jane’s interior monologue and other humorous details scattered throughout the narrative. While they may not have been things that a Victorian reader would have thought while reading Brontë’s version, a modern reader and thus, a modernized Jane, might very well think to themselves either what other head could Jane have painted her pictures from than “the head that [Rochester] see[s] now on [Jane's] head. Or in the paranormal of Jane Slayre that Jane might say “The very same.” and then think to herself “I was not a zombie. I only had one [head], and it was not detachable.” Yeah, I had a giggle at that too. 
Beyond this moment, many of the situations lead to somewhat slapstick events, but I wouldn’t say that these moments degrade the original. Rather, they add a lot to the entertainment value.
While I can’t say for sure that a monster mash-up novel will lead to someone being interested in reading the original novel, I don’t believe that this is the only positive possibility. Perhaps getting someone to read – no matter what they choose to pick up – is worth. More to the point, what both long time fans of Jane Eyre and those completely new to the story get out of Jane Slayre is a reward in and of itself.
Check out this humorous trailer for Jane Slayre to get into the vampire slaying mood and then buy Jane Slayre:
Jane Slayre by Simon and Schuster
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If you like what you read and saw in the trailer, then make sure you enter my Jane Slayre giveaway, which ends on Friday, May 21st! American and Canadian residents only as per the publishers request.
Melissa has always been a voracious reader of fiction and has an M.A. in English Literature to prove it. Like many other adults, she got caught up in the young adult crossover fiction phenomenon. Now, one of her great joys comes from sharing her love of YA lit on this popular review site. Come with expectations of intellect, magic, and honest reviews, and you won’t be disappointed.
