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A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience
Margaret Dunhaven may have been forced into marriage with the sinister vampire owner 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.
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.
62 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 5, 2024
About the author
Stephanie Burgis
77 books1,125 followersI grew up in America, but now I live in Wales with my husband, fellow writer Patrick Samphire, our two sons, and our sweet (and extremely vocal) tabby cat, Pebbles. I write fantasy rom-coms for adults (most recently Claws and Contrivances and Good Neighbors) and fun MG fantasy adventure novels, too (most recently The Raven Crown duology). My next series will be the adult romantasy trilogy The Queens of Villainy, published by Tor Bramble, starting in 2025 with Wooing the Witch Queen.
To get early sneak peeks at new stories and novels, sign up for my newsletter here: stephanieburgis.com/newsletter.
To join my Dragons' Book Club and get early copies of every ebook that I put out myself (so, all of my novellas, short story ebooks, etc!), check out my Patreon page, where I also published a series of fantasy rom-coms (Good Neighbors) across 2020-2021.
I only rate and review the books that I like, which is why all of my ratings are 4 or 5 stars.
To get early sneak peeks at new stories and novels, sign up for my newsletter here: stephanieburgis.com/newsletter.
To join my Dragons' Book Club and get early copies of every ebook that I put out myself (so, all of my novellas, short story ebooks, etc!), check out my Patreon page, where I also published a series of fantasy rom-coms (Good Neighbors) across 2020-2021.
I only rate and review the books that I like, which is why all of my ratings are 4 or 5 stars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
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August 6, 2024A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience is a gothic fantasy rom-com novella, published on my Patreon July 1st & everywhere else August 5th. The gorgeous cover is by Artscandare. ❤️
I had so much fun writing this story, and I can't wait to share these characters with everyone else! :)
**
ETA: And hooray! It's out NOW everywhere. :)
I had so much fun writing this story, and I can't wait to share these characters with everyone else! :)
**
ETA: And hooray! It's out NOW everywhere. :)
Read
August 6, 2024What a delightful crumpet of a book! This regency fantasy novella is set in a world where half the nobility are werewolves and vampires, thanks to the powers of a mysterious stone lost several centuries ago. Features a single-minded scholar heroine determined to find said stone, dragging her undead husband-of-inconvenience along for the ride. I had such fun and read this in one sitting.
Read
August 23, 2024If you loved EMILY WILDE, this short and sweet romantasy novella will be right up your street - it's cosy, it's cute, and it teams up a no-nonsense lady academic with the vampire husband foisted upon her by the machinations of her family. This was a "cackling out loud at zzz o'clock" story for me, and I loved the way that superior academic skills win the day.
August 17, 2024
A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience was a short and cozy historical fantasy set in an alternate version of 19th century England. Stephanie Burgis created a world where paranormal creatures such a vampires and werewolves live amongst the human population.
A short novella it may have been but that doesn't mean the characters or plot weren't great to read about, on the contrary even! I really liked both Margaret Dunhaven, a scholar, as well as Lord Riven, a vampire. Somehow they both find themselves to be hurriedly married to each other and when they realize they were both forced into this marriage, they decide to work together to find out who is actually behind all of this and how the Rose of Normandy, a mysterious heirloom with incredible power.
This really was a fun novella and with 62 pages it can easily be read in one sitting. For such a quick read it still had enough world and character building to make it a very enjoyable story. Initially Margaret and Lord Riven didn't get along very well but as they worked together and got to know each other more and went up against the villain of the story they realized they might not hate being married to each other after all.
I loved the humor, the lightheartedness of the story and most of all the two main characters. I would actually love a full novel or series set in this world. I, for sure, would love to read more about Margaret and Lord Riven!
A short novella it may have been but that doesn't mean the characters or plot weren't great to read about, on the contrary even! I really liked both Margaret Dunhaven, a scholar, as well as Lord Riven, a vampire. Somehow they both find themselves to be hurriedly married to each other and when they realize they were both forced into this marriage, they decide to work together to find out who is actually behind all of this and how the Rose of Normandy, a mysterious heirloom with incredible power.
This really was a fun novella and with 62 pages it can easily be read in one sitting. For such a quick read it still had enough world and character building to make it a very enjoyable story. Initially Margaret and Lord Riven didn't get along very well but as they worked together and got to know each other more and went up against the villain of the story they realized they might not hate being married to each other after all.
I loved the humor, the lightheartedness of the story and most of all the two main characters. I would actually love a full novel or series set in this world. I, for sure, would love to read more about Margaret and Lord Riven!
September 5, 2024
Sadly—no.
A gorgeous cover, an intriguing first half-page, and the lure of a paranormal Regency had me buying this. But the plot is overly contrived and relies on two sensible people both behaving illogically: I suspended disbelief most unwillingly. (Also—vampires, meh—so many ethical mudstains.)
The pacing is a problem in such a short piece (17.5k words), with the first two thirds effectively one long conversation between MCs, and the last part straying into "with one bound he was free" territory.
I've read other Burgis books I thought were more coherent and cohesive.
A gorgeous cover, an intriguing first half-page, and the lure of a paranormal Regency had me buying this. But the plot is overly contrived and relies on two sensible people both behaving illogically: I suspended disbelief most unwillingly. (Also—vampires, meh—so many ethical mudstains.)
The pacing is a problem in such a short piece (17.5k words), with the first two thirds effectively one long conversation between MCs, and the last part straying into "with one bound he was free" territory.
I've read other Burgis books I thought were more coherent and cohesive.
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September 8, 2024A lighthearted, read-in-one-sitting romance with gothic trappings that fits in nicely alongside Burgis's Good Neighbours novellas. Here, Margaret, a driven student of academia, and Riven, a reclusive vampire lord, are tricked into an unwanted marriage by bad actors on either side. While trying to untangle the lies that got them married in the first place, they are led to Margaret's academic rival and their shared fascination with the Rose of Normandy, an ancient magical artefact of great historical significance that was responsible for the creation of the vampires and werewolves in the ruling class.
Like Burgis's other fantasy romances, this is a quick, sweet novella with a fun plot, and delightful characters whose romance you can't help but want to work out. I wish it had been a little longer and more fleshed out, but as long as you go in expecting a cupcake of a book rather than a full dessert spread, you should find it a charming read.
Also, I absolutely adore the cover art.
Like Burgis's other fantasy romances, this is a quick, sweet novella with a fun plot, and delightful characters whose romance you can't help but want to work out. I wish it had been a little longer and more fleshed out, but as long as you go in expecting a cupcake of a book rather than a full dessert spread, you should find it a charming read.
Also, I absolutely adore the cover art.
Read
July 21, 2024We all need more cozy vampire stories in our lives!!
An Emily Wilde-esque heroine is dropped into a vampiric marriage of convenience—or decidedly inconvenience—in Stephanie Burgis’s new novella. Margaret and her new vampire husband Lord Riven discover that they have been hurried to the altar so inconveniently by person or persons unknown who have a secret agenda of their own. It will take Margaret’s scholarship and Lord Riven’s family history to uncover the plot—as well as copious pots of tea along the way.
This was just super cozy and fun, in an England of supernatural monsters where the heroine is a scholar and decidedly annoyed to find herself married to a vampire. This just-kissing novella was a lot of fun and a great way to kick off the fall season!
An Emily Wilde-esque heroine is dropped into a vampiric marriage of convenience—or decidedly inconvenience—in Stephanie Burgis’s new novella. Margaret and her new vampire husband Lord Riven discover that they have been hurried to the altar so inconveniently by person or persons unknown who have a secret agenda of their own. It will take Margaret’s scholarship and Lord Riven’s family history to uncover the plot—as well as copious pots of tea along the way.
This was just super cozy and fun, in an England of supernatural monsters where the heroine is a scholar and decidedly annoyed to find herself married to a vampire. This just-kissing novella was a lot of fun and a great way to kick off the fall season!
July 29, 2024
The nitty-gritty: Short and sweet with a touch of (implied) spice, A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience is a gothic fantasy treat.
Stephanie Burgis is back with a short but delightful gothic fantasy romance with a vampire love interest, and as I do with all her books, I enjoyed this immensely!
Margaret Dunhaven has just found herself married (not by choice) to Lord Riven, a vampire, after her aunt and uncle insisted that the family would be ruined if she didn’t. When she and her new husband sit down to talk about their situation, Margaret realizes that Lord Riven was duped as well. Forced into an odd marriage of (in)convenience, Margaret takes charge and the two decide to get to the bottom of what really happened—and of course, to figure a way out. At the center of the mystery is a fabled family heirloom called the Rose of Normandy, a gem with immense powers that could fix their problem.
A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience is barely a novella at less than seventy pages, but Burgis works her magic and gives readers a complete story—a mystery with just a touch of romance. I loved Margaret, a go-getter who refuses to accept anything less than the perfect cup of tea and won’t sit still until she’s unraveled the mystery behind their unfortunate forced marriage. Margaret is a scholar who has been studying the Rose of Normandy for years and is somewhat of an expert on it, so that helps when they realize their situation revolves around this mysterious and valuable gem.
I also enjoyed learning about the history of the gem throughout the years and how it was responsible for creating an army of werewolves during the Battle of Normandy. Because of that, humans live alongside supernatural creatures, so the fact that Margaret finds herself married to a vampire isn’t that unusual. But still, the fact that she was blackmailed into marriage is simply terrible, so it’s a good thing she’s determined to set things right.
Burgis adds a few twists to her mystery, and I did love the way the gem storyline is resolved. There’s a cute part about how vampire bites can add spice and excitement to a married couple’s, er, bedroom activities, and despite the couple’s annoyance at being thrown together against their will, Margaret and Lord Riven eventually acknowledge their common ground. I thought they were adorable together, and I wouldn’t mind another story centered around these characters. And although we only get a glimpse of this world, it’s intriguing enough that I’d love to revisit it. Fingers crossed!
Big thanks to Stephanie Burgis for providing a review copy.
Stephanie Burgis is back with a short but delightful gothic fantasy romance with a vampire love interest, and as I do with all her books, I enjoyed this immensely!
Margaret Dunhaven has just found herself married (not by choice) to Lord Riven, a vampire, after her aunt and uncle insisted that the family would be ruined if she didn’t. When she and her new husband sit down to talk about their situation, Margaret realizes that Lord Riven was duped as well. Forced into an odd marriage of (in)convenience, Margaret takes charge and the two decide to get to the bottom of what really happened—and of course, to figure a way out. At the center of the mystery is a fabled family heirloom called the Rose of Normandy, a gem with immense powers that could fix their problem.
A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience is barely a novella at less than seventy pages, but Burgis works her magic and gives readers a complete story—a mystery with just a touch of romance. I loved Margaret, a go-getter who refuses to accept anything less than the perfect cup of tea and won’t sit still until she’s unraveled the mystery behind their unfortunate forced marriage. Margaret is a scholar who has been studying the Rose of Normandy for years and is somewhat of an expert on it, so that helps when they realize their situation revolves around this mysterious and valuable gem.
I also enjoyed learning about the history of the gem throughout the years and how it was responsible for creating an army of werewolves during the Battle of Normandy. Because of that, humans live alongside supernatural creatures, so the fact that Margaret finds herself married to a vampire isn’t that unusual. But still, the fact that she was blackmailed into marriage is simply terrible, so it’s a good thing she’s determined to set things right.
Burgis adds a few twists to her mystery, and I did love the way the gem storyline is resolved. There’s a cute part about how vampire bites can add spice and excitement to a married couple’s, er, bedroom activities, and despite the couple’s annoyance at being thrown together against their will, Margaret and Lord Riven eventually acknowledge their common ground. I thought they were adorable together, and I wouldn’t mind another story centered around these characters. And although we only get a glimpse of this world, it’s intriguing enough that I’d love to revisit it. Fingers crossed!
Big thanks to Stephanie Burgis for providing a review copy.
July 15, 2024
A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience by Stephanie Burgis is such a cute and comforting story!
A scholarly young lady gets forced into a marriage with a vampire lord, who also might not actually have wanted said marriage, for reasons this novella is bound to uncover.
I absolutely loved both main characters, who are quite strong willed, yet able to see when they were wrong. The banter and friendship forming went down like a wonderful mug of iced coffee (it's 30°C in my flat, so hot cocoa does not sound appealing in the least right now 😅)
My only gripe is the length - I would have loved to have a whole novel about these two!
A scholarly young lady gets forced into a marriage with a vampire lord, who also might not actually have wanted said marriage, for reasons this novella is bound to uncover.
I absolutely loved both main characters, who are quite strong willed, yet able to see when they were wrong. The banter and friendship forming went down like a wonderful mug of iced coffee (it's 30°C in my flat, so hot cocoa does not sound appealing in the least right now 😅)
My only gripe is the length - I would have loved to have a whole novel about these two!
July 28, 2024
The author was kind enough to send me an arc. She's one of my favourite authors and I drop everything to read her work whenever I get it. This was another book I really enjoyed. Stephanie's humor and lighthearted stories feel like a warm blanket on a cold and rainy day, no matter what she writes.
A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience is a fun romcom with gothic elements and vampires. I would've loved to see more of the gothic house (that's one of my favourite tropes). Even with so little pages, she knows how to incorporate enough worldbuilding to make it interesting and give you more context on the state of the world. Maybe we'll see more of this? I certainly hope so.
A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience is a fun romcom with gothic elements and vampires. I would've loved to see more of the gothic house (that's one of my favourite tropes). Even with so little pages, she knows how to incorporate enough worldbuilding to make it interesting and give you more context on the state of the world. Maybe we'll see more of this? I certainly hope so.
August 25, 2024
"No, for better or worse, we are joined together from this day forwards, just as that droning minister ordained. At least you may take some consolation, madam. As you don't happen to share my curse, this won't have to be an eternal union. You'll be released from it in a mere sixty years or so, leaving me to start the whole inconvenient process over again."
I was feeling gloomy and once again Stephanie Burgis comes to rescue! I think this is a twelfth story I read by her this year? I'm clearly in love...
This is very short and very funny story, centering on sharp, academically proven heroine Margaret who marries a vampire lord to save her family from ruin... only to find out that she had been tricked. As was her new husband for that matter. I think you know how it goes from then on...
Some things that I loved:
- Margaret can't function without tea - very relatable!
- She looks at him and goes in her head "he looks both like a warrior and dancer and not a bit like a scholar, this can never work out between us!" and then he says something clever and she's like "oh no, this is VERY distracting!" 🤭
- When she tells him she has some expectations regarding the marriage he assures her immediately that there will always be enough of good tea 😂
I overall really enjoyed this. I loved how the heroine is the one that ultimately takes the lead and shines, but at the same time Lord Riven (blast it, does he have a first name?) has her back and occasionally makes his own contribution. Since the story is really short, it does have a certain insta-loveyness to it, but I think that can be forgiven since avoiding that would have been an impossible feat. So, yeah, this was great! Can't wait to read more from Burgis... possibly Good Neighbors... or actually probably Undead Philosophy 101 and some of her other shorter works... did I say I'm obsessed?
September 16, 2024
I very much enjoy Stephanie Burgis's books and this was no exception.
This author has a wonderful way of combining great magical world-building with charming, quirky and awkward - but likable! - characters and putting those characters into interesting situations.
While this was a short story it was still a lovely well-written story and peopled with characters I very much liked. I was only sorry there wasn't more of it to like.
I always look forward to new books from Burgis and having read multiple books across most of her series' I have never been disappointed and recommend all of them.
If you might enjoy books set in magical worlds, with an "Austenesque" feel to them, you may enjoy Stephanie Burgis - I certainly do!
This author has a wonderful way of combining great magical world-building with charming, quirky and awkward - but likable! - characters and putting those characters into interesting situations.
While this was a short story it was still a lovely well-written story and peopled with characters I very much liked. I was only sorry there wasn't more of it to like.
I always look forward to new books from Burgis and having read multiple books across most of her series' I have never been disappointed and recommend all of them.
If you might enjoy books set in magical worlds, with an "Austenesque" feel to them, you may enjoy Stephanie Burgis - I certainly do!
September 14, 2024
Here there be
• women in magical STEM (one of the best fantasy subgenres)
•a hot vampire
•an arranged marriage (but like...shoddily arranged. last-minute, everyone sleep deprived)
•Emily Wilde Energy
I was going to say "what more do you need?" but there was ample opportunity for there to be Only One Bed, AND YET
Also, part of me would have liked for it to have been longer? But sometimes it's nice to read something short. A little book snack.
• women in magical STEM (one of the best fantasy subgenres)
•a hot vampire
•an arranged marriage (but like...shoddily arranged. last-minute, everyone sleep deprived)
•Emily Wilde Energy
I was going to say "what more do you need?" but there was ample opportunity for there to be Only One Bed, AND YET
Also, part of me would have liked for it to have been longer? But sometimes it's nice to read something short. A little book snack.
September 24, 2024
Delightful cozy fantasy-romance, frothy and fun!
August 16, 2024
Very cute, quick, vampire cozy fun. I really liked it.
August 8, 2024
Meh. Brief and lite with a plot that hangs on the hero, heroine and chief villain each acting too stupid to live at key moments, so much so that it was hard for me to suspend disbelief.
September 17, 2024
Excellent book! I love Stephanie Burgis and, after reading everything she's written, I've decided that my favorites are her Good Neighbors set and A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience. Irascible women who are forced against their preferences to associate with, respectively, a necromancer and a vampire. I just love the characters!
August 14, 2024
https://lynns-books.com/2024/08/14/re...
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Good Things in Small Packages
Stephanie Burgis is an author who never lets me down and I have to give a little shout out for her Regency Dragons Series which I absolutely love, Scales and Sensibility and Claws and Contrivances. She’s a wonder at quirky comedy of manners type series and combining period charm with fantasy elements. I couldn’t wait to tuck into A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience and discover her latest concoction involving a vampire and his new wife.
Set in the Victorian period (I think, my knowledge of such is sketchy so feel free to correct me) which feels fitting given that the hullabaloo surrounding vampires seemed to really boom around that time, the story brings to us two very easy to like characters. Lord Riven of Shadowcroft Manor, the said vampire of our story, finds himself married, in a very hasty fashion to Margaret Dunhaven, who has equally been pushed into this most unlikely arrangement – she’s furious and the fact that a decent cup of tea is impossible to locate, well, tempers are frayed to say the least.
Margaret and Lord Riven, soon discover that although, on the face of it, their marriage seemed imperative, it now appears that they both may have been duped and once the outrage simmers a little they set out on a little adventure in search of freedom.
I don’t want to say too much about the plot. What worked for me with this particular story was the two central characters. Margaret is a forthright, speak your mind, woman and an academic constantly in search of knowledge whose hustle and bustle creates some crazy situations. Lord Riven is a long lived vampire who has a very interesting backstory surrounding a gem known as the Rose of Normandy, not to mention he has an almost inexhaustible supply of patience which does come in very handy.
This is a little gem of a story. Beautifully written, captivating and with a budding romance slowly steeping between our two main characters. My only real complaint – like Oliver, I would like more please. I’m rather hopeful that this is a precursor to something else coming our way. This world and these characters could easily blossom into their own full length novel or maybe a series of adventures combining Margaret’s smarts and Lord Riven’s knowledge of history. Please lets make it happen.
I’ll end this here – this is a short story and a little dinky review – the length is certainly not a reflection of my feelings for the story – this is a gem.
I received a copy courtesy of the author for which my thanks The above is my own opinion.
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Good Things in Small Packages
Stephanie Burgis is an author who never lets me down and I have to give a little shout out for her Regency Dragons Series which I absolutely love, Scales and Sensibility and Claws and Contrivances. She’s a wonder at quirky comedy of manners type series and combining period charm with fantasy elements. I couldn’t wait to tuck into A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience and discover her latest concoction involving a vampire and his new wife.
Set in the Victorian period (I think, my knowledge of such is sketchy so feel free to correct me) which feels fitting given that the hullabaloo surrounding vampires seemed to really boom around that time, the story brings to us two very easy to like characters. Lord Riven of Shadowcroft Manor, the said vampire of our story, finds himself married, in a very hasty fashion to Margaret Dunhaven, who has equally been pushed into this most unlikely arrangement – she’s furious and the fact that a decent cup of tea is impossible to locate, well, tempers are frayed to say the least.
Margaret and Lord Riven, soon discover that although, on the face of it, their marriage seemed imperative, it now appears that they both may have been duped and once the outrage simmers a little they set out on a little adventure in search of freedom.
I don’t want to say too much about the plot. What worked for me with this particular story was the two central characters. Margaret is a forthright, speak your mind, woman and an academic constantly in search of knowledge whose hustle and bustle creates some crazy situations. Lord Riven is a long lived vampire who has a very interesting backstory surrounding a gem known as the Rose of Normandy, not to mention he has an almost inexhaustible supply of patience which does come in very handy.
This is a little gem of a story. Beautifully written, captivating and with a budding romance slowly steeping between our two main characters. My only real complaint – like Oliver, I would like more please. I’m rather hopeful that this is a precursor to something else coming our way. This world and these characters could easily blossom into their own full length novel or maybe a series of adventures combining Margaret’s smarts and Lord Riven’s knowledge of history. Please lets make it happen.
I’ll end this here – this is a short story and a little dinky review – the length is certainly not a reflection of my feelings for the story – this is a gem.
I received a copy courtesy of the author for which my thanks The above is my own opinion.
August 4, 2024
*I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
A Marriage of Undead Convenience is exactly what it wants to be, short and sweet but with a nice bite to it. I’d almost call it cosy, for all that that Shadowcroft Manor itself is no such thing (it needs a proper scrub-up!); it’s a lovely wish-fulfilment romance, where the stakes are plenty high but nothing really terrible is going to happen, so you can just settle in somewhere comfortable to enjoy the story.
You know exactly what you’re getting from the (fabulous) opening line;
Burgis does a great job at gently making it clear that Margaret doesn’t need a man, or marriage, while letting Margaret realise for herself that it is perfectly acceptable to want one, especially one who supports and appreciates and admires you. And there’s no getting around the fact that this kind of marriage is extremely convenient for a woman in this sort of setting (stale tea aside) – as Margaret herself says, there’s a great deal a married couple can do together that an unmarried woman can’t do at all, and why not avail yourself of that, when the man is a great one?
I love stories about scholars, and characters in general who have intense passions, and Margaret’s deep study of the Rose of Normandy delighted me. Her scholarliness infuses every aspect of her character and never goes forgotten, from her careful handling of age-old texts, to reflexively maintaining the order in which they’re stored, to how wonderfully appalled she is at seeing original sources mistreated – and that’s without going into her rivalry with another, complete asshat of a researcher who I badly wanted to punch in the face. What a despicable, yet depressingly believable, little man!
It’s the attention to detail that elevates A Marriage of Undead Convenience, like the (much better than the real-life version, imo) in-universe explanation for the name of the War of the Roses, or what exactly an ancient gem would look like, having not had the benefit of modern jewel-cutting techniques. It adds just a little bit of sparkle – the details, I mean, not the gem-cutting! – so that a sweet novella also has…a little ginger? I don’t know how to put it, but I suspect most readers know what I mean anyway.
I approve!
A Marriage of Undead Convenience is exactly what it wants to be, short and sweet but with a nice bite to it. I’d almost call it cosy, for all that that Shadowcroft Manor itself is no such thing (it needs a proper scrub-up!); it’s a lovely wish-fulfilment romance, where the stakes are plenty high but nothing really terrible is going to happen, so you can just settle in somewhere comfortable to enjoy the story.
You know exactly what you’re getting from the (fabulous) opening line;
It was Margaret Dunhaven’s opinion that a marriage which constrained her to drink stale tea could not be described as “convenient” in any meaningful sense of the word.
Burgis does a great job at gently making it clear that Margaret doesn’t need a man, or marriage, while letting Margaret realise for herself that it is perfectly acceptable to want one, especially one who supports and appreciates and admires you. And there’s no getting around the fact that this kind of marriage is extremely convenient for a woman in this sort of setting (stale tea aside) – as Margaret herself says, there’s a great deal a married couple can do together that an unmarried woman can’t do at all, and why not avail yourself of that, when the man is a great one?
I love stories about scholars, and characters in general who have intense passions, and Margaret’s deep study of the Rose of Normandy delighted me. Her scholarliness infuses every aspect of her character and never goes forgotten, from her careful handling of age-old texts, to reflexively maintaining the order in which they’re stored, to how wonderfully appalled she is at seeing original sources mistreated – and that’s without going into her rivalry with another, complete asshat of a researcher who I badly wanted to punch in the face. What a despicable, yet depressingly believable, little man!
It’s the attention to detail that elevates A Marriage of Undead Convenience, like the (much better than the real-life version, imo) in-universe explanation for the name of the War of the Roses, or what exactly an ancient gem would look like, having not had the benefit of modern jewel-cutting techniques. It adds just a little bit of sparkle – the details, I mean, not the gem-cutting! – so that a sweet novella also has…a little ginger? I don’t know how to put it, but I suspect most readers know what I mean anyway.
I approve!
August 9, 2024
Thanks to the Author. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Let’s start with the bad, so we can concentrate on the good parts: it is too short! Okay, that’s not technically true, the book is short, for sure, but it packs so much and it does everything so amazingly well that the length of it (or lack thereof) is not a problem. But I want more! So much more!!
So yeah, truthfully there is nothing bad in this short story, it’s just me having a small tantrum!
Really, this book is just sooooo good! Starting with the cover, which is beautiful, and the title! I love the title! It is quirky, it is funny (and it is almost impossible to write right, at least for me!).
And between these pages, we have it all: great characters and an intriguing plot! So much banter, some epic scenes, and some swoon-worthy ones! I know that I am repeating myself here, but trust me, this short story has it all!
Margaret is a delightfully pragmatic woman, and she reminded me a bit of Kingfisher’s characters (because they usually have such amazing pragmatism, too!), in the best possible way. She is also an academic, who is good at what she does and is so passionate about it. So much so, that her academic side can take the upper hand on her pragmatism. And this helps to make her real! She doesn’t feel like a character but like a real (amazing) person. And I loved her to pieces!
It was Margaret Dunhaven’s opinion that a marriage which constrained her to drink stale tea could not be described as ‘convenient’ in any meaningful sense of the word.
This is the first sentence of the book and it is perfect! It gives you all you need to know (or almost all) about Margaret, and it is such a great beginning for the book! Once I read it, I was hooked. I knew I was in for a blissful time, I relaxed and lost myself in the reading. Because, mind me, it is also quite an immersive read! I didn’t want to put it down even for a second!
And Margaret is not the only good character, because her new husband, Lor Riven is the perfect counterpoint to her (and he is also swoon-worthy, be warned!). I loved their banter! And they are such a perfect pair!!
I know that by now I am only repeating myself, but really, do yourself a favor, and read this short book! It is short, it is sweet, it is fun as hell, it is quirky, it is soooo relatable, it is swoon-worthy, it has amazing characters and it is delightful! You can’t ask for more, so go and grab it, now!!
Let’s start with the bad, so we can concentrate on the good parts: it is too short! Okay, that’s not technically true, the book is short, for sure, but it packs so much and it does everything so amazingly well that the length of it (or lack thereof) is not a problem. But I want more! So much more!!
So yeah, truthfully there is nothing bad in this short story, it’s just me having a small tantrum!
Really, this book is just sooooo good! Starting with the cover, which is beautiful, and the title! I love the title! It is quirky, it is funny (and it is almost impossible to write right, at least for me!).
And between these pages, we have it all: great characters and an intriguing plot! So much banter, some epic scenes, and some swoon-worthy ones! I know that I am repeating myself here, but trust me, this short story has it all!
Margaret is a delightfully pragmatic woman, and she reminded me a bit of Kingfisher’s characters (because they usually have such amazing pragmatism, too!), in the best possible way. She is also an academic, who is good at what she does and is so passionate about it. So much so, that her academic side can take the upper hand on her pragmatism. And this helps to make her real! She doesn’t feel like a character but like a real (amazing) person. And I loved her to pieces!
It was Margaret Dunhaven’s opinion that a marriage which constrained her to drink stale tea could not be described as ‘convenient’ in any meaningful sense of the word.
This is the first sentence of the book and it is perfect! It gives you all you need to know (or almost all) about Margaret, and it is such a great beginning for the book! Once I read it, I was hooked. I knew I was in for a blissful time, I relaxed and lost myself in the reading. Because, mind me, it is also quite an immersive read! I didn’t want to put it down even for a second!
And Margaret is not the only good character, because her new husband, Lor Riven is the perfect counterpoint to her (and he is also swoon-worthy, be warned!). I loved their banter! And they are such a perfect pair!!
I know that by now I am only repeating myself, but really, do yourself a favor, and read this short book! It is short, it is sweet, it is fun as hell, it is quirky, it is soooo relatable, it is swoon-worthy, it has amazing characters and it is delightful! You can’t ask for more, so go and grab it, now!!
July 12, 2024
I received this novella from the author, in exchange for an honest review: my thanks for this opportunity.
A new work by Stephanie Burgis is always something I greet with enthusiasm, because I know it will both entertain and delight me - and this novella met once again all my expectations.
Margaret Dunhaven is simply furious: not only has she been snatched away from her beloved academic studies, and taken on a long journey with no stops and no rest. No, she has been forced by her guardians to enter a marriage of convenience with a total stranger to avoid her aunt and uncle’s utter financial ruin, and this total stranger is a vampire to boot… But that’s not the worst detail of the whole, crazy situation: what’s absolutely, wretchedly unacceptable is that in her new husband’s house there are no means to prepare a decent cup of tea!
This… ahem… horrifying discovery is the one that sets the tone of the story, an entertaining take on the subject of convenience marriages and of the enemies-to-lovers theme that here is explored through Ms. Burgis’ trademark brand of whimsy, portraying a no-nonsense heroine who refuses to bend or break under the weight of circumstances and manages to overcome the obstacles on her path. While the course of the novella might look predictable, with the initial clash between Margaret and her new husband lord Riven slowly turning into complicity first and then love, what matters here is not so much the destination as the journey, and the latter is indeed an enjoyable one, carried by Margaret’s indomitable spirit and her hands-on approach to the matter at hand.
And the way the story ends is equally enjoyable because it takes an unexpected direction from what it might appear at first: I don’t want to share any more details here because I would do a disservice to other readers, but I was happily surprised by the resolution and by its potential (hope springs eternal here…) about possible sequels, which I would be more than happy to read (no pressure, of course… ;-) ).
A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience will be published at the beginning of August, so my recommendation would be to make some space on your TBR for this very delightful novella!
Originally posted at SPACE and SORCERY BLOG
A new work by Stephanie Burgis is always something I greet with enthusiasm, because I know it will both entertain and delight me - and this novella met once again all my expectations.
Margaret Dunhaven is simply furious: not only has she been snatched away from her beloved academic studies, and taken on a long journey with no stops and no rest. No, she has been forced by her guardians to enter a marriage of convenience with a total stranger to avoid her aunt and uncle’s utter financial ruin, and this total stranger is a vampire to boot… But that’s not the worst detail of the whole, crazy situation: what’s absolutely, wretchedly unacceptable is that in her new husband’s house there are no means to prepare a decent cup of tea!
This… ahem… horrifying discovery is the one that sets the tone of the story, an entertaining take on the subject of convenience marriages and of the enemies-to-lovers theme that here is explored through Ms. Burgis’ trademark brand of whimsy, portraying a no-nonsense heroine who refuses to bend or break under the weight of circumstances and manages to overcome the obstacles on her path. While the course of the novella might look predictable, with the initial clash between Margaret and her new husband lord Riven slowly turning into complicity first and then love, what matters here is not so much the destination as the journey, and the latter is indeed an enjoyable one, carried by Margaret’s indomitable spirit and her hands-on approach to the matter at hand.
And the way the story ends is equally enjoyable because it takes an unexpected direction from what it might appear at first: I don’t want to share any more details here because I would do a disservice to other readers, but I was happily surprised by the resolution and by its potential (hope springs eternal here…) about possible sequels, which I would be more than happy to read (no pressure, of course… ;-) ).
A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience will be published at the beginning of August, so my recommendation would be to make some space on your TBR for this very delightful novella!
Originally posted at SPACE and SORCERY BLOG
July 24, 2024
5 stars
Thank you to the author for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.
When I saw a couple of quote posts on Stephanie Burgis' social media showcasing great banter, I knew I had to read this. And whilst A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience is only 62 pages long, it's a fabulous little read. I consumed it in one sitting and was constantly giggling at the humour, and I was really impressed by how fleshed out both main characters were. One of my biggest critiques with novellas, especially under 80 pages, is how can a story be told without compromising on core structure or overlooking critical details, and Burgis managed to set the scene without preamble for Margaret and Lord Riven in their marriage of (in)convenience storyline.
I adored Margaret's very Emily-Wilde-esque mannerisms immediately, and her somewhat cranky and rather guileless new husband was a delight. Margaret's keen intelligence and brisk nature steal the show, one pot of tea at a time, and I appreciated that they each accepted their lot enough to work together to solve the betrayal set out from their rushed marriage. This is cosy, banter-filled gothic fantasy at its best, and the addition of Lord Riven being a vampire well-versed in ancient history complimented Margaret's scholarly achievements and gave them both common ground to build upon. Whilst nothing overly vampiric comes out to play, I enjoyed Margaret's nonplussed behaviour even in the company of a disgruntled, just woken up from his Sleep vampire, and how begrudgingly impressed she becomes the longer he is awake and she adjusts to his nocturnal schedule.
The romance was adorable yet never overwhelmed the storyline, and I liked how the author managed to weave in a Beauty and the Beast twist too. Overall, I had a fabulous time, and this was a great introduction to Stephanie Burgis' stories.
Thank you to the author for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.
When I saw a couple of quote posts on Stephanie Burgis' social media showcasing great banter, I knew I had to read this. And whilst A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience is only 62 pages long, it's a fabulous little read. I consumed it in one sitting and was constantly giggling at the humour, and I was really impressed by how fleshed out both main characters were. One of my biggest critiques with novellas, especially under 80 pages, is how can a story be told without compromising on core structure or overlooking critical details, and Burgis managed to set the scene without preamble for Margaret and Lord Riven in their marriage of (in)convenience storyline.
I adored Margaret's very Emily-Wilde-esque mannerisms immediately, and her somewhat cranky and rather guileless new husband was a delight. Margaret's keen intelligence and brisk nature steal the show, one pot of tea at a time, and I appreciated that they each accepted their lot enough to work together to solve the betrayal set out from their rushed marriage. This is cosy, banter-filled gothic fantasy at its best, and the addition of Lord Riven being a vampire well-versed in ancient history complimented Margaret's scholarly achievements and gave them both common ground to build upon. Whilst nothing overly vampiric comes out to play, I enjoyed Margaret's nonplussed behaviour even in the company of a disgruntled, just woken up from his Sleep vampire, and how begrudgingly impressed she becomes the longer he is awake and she adjusts to his nocturnal schedule.
The romance was adorable yet never overwhelmed the storyline, and I liked how the author managed to weave in a Beauty and the Beast twist too. Overall, I had a fabulous time, and this was a great introduction to Stephanie Burgis' stories.
August 6, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Not spicy
- fun and quick read
- cozy monster romance
- marriage of actual convenience
- great gothic vibes
- great banter and chemistry
- engaging and fun mystery
This was such a fun little read, a real story all rolled up into a little package. Married to each other under false pretense, a human and a vampire are quickly thrust into each others spaces, needing to understand how and why they were manipulated into their current situation. As the hunt a fabled relic, chasing down the perpetrator and orchestrator of their current dilemma, they have some really marvelous banter between eachother and you can see how sparks fly. Definitely recommend!
Not spicy
- fun and quick read
- cozy monster romance
- marriage of actual convenience
- great gothic vibes
- great banter and chemistry
- engaging and fun mystery
This was such a fun little read, a real story all rolled up into a little package. Married to each other under false pretense, a human and a vampire are quickly thrust into each others spaces, needing to understand how and why they were manipulated into their current situation. As the hunt a fabled relic, chasing down the perpetrator and orchestrator of their current dilemma, they have some really marvelous banter between eachother and you can see how sparks fly. Definitely recommend!
August 11, 2024
I don't know if it's the length of the story, and the characters just didn't have enough time to cook, or if it's a general issue for Burgis where historical romance is "in," but she's not desperately keen on it.
I saw parallels between this and Emily Wilde, and while I could agree that this is an average read, it's nowhere near comparable to Emily Wilde. Lady Riven lacks the endearing awareness that Emily has of her inability to figure out people, and I wasn't really convinced by her expertise. She came across as the caricature of a rather obsessed academic, rather than the knowledgeable master that she was trying to pass for.
And Lord Riven is even less fleshed out, offering no real witticism, nor engaging reparté.
I think I'd have found it fine without the comparison to other books, but the comparison really makes its flaws stand out.
I saw parallels between this and Emily Wilde, and while I could agree that this is an average read, it's nowhere near comparable to Emily Wilde. Lady Riven lacks the endearing awareness that Emily has of her inability to figure out people, and I wasn't really convinced by her expertise. She came across as the caricature of a rather obsessed academic, rather than the knowledgeable master that she was trying to pass for.
And Lord Riven is even less fleshed out, offering no real witticism, nor engaging reparté.
I think I'd have found it fine without the comparison to other books, but the comparison really makes its flaws stand out.
August 7, 2024
What a fun novella! We have a brooding vampire male lead, a hot-tempered academic scholar for a female lead, and a fast-paced mystery to solve. Along the way, there's lots of snarky banter and significant character growth on the part of both leads.
Readers who enjoy historical paranormal or gaslamp fantasy (both niche subgenres) will love this. Or, to put it another way, if you liked Burgis' GOOD NEIGHBORS, you are almost certainly going to love A MARRIAGE OF UNDEAD CONVENIENCE.
As with other Burgis romances, there is no on-page sex or vampire biting scenes; it's fade-to-black.
Readers who enjoy historical paranormal or gaslamp fantasy (both niche subgenres) will love this. Or, to put it another way, if you liked Burgis' GOOD NEIGHBORS, you are almost certainly going to love A MARRIAGE OF UNDEAD CONVENIENCE.
As with other Burgis romances, there is no on-page sex or vampire biting scenes; it's fade-to-black.
August 16, 2024
This was such a delight! Burgis is obviously a master at creating characters that feel fully fleshed-out within the bite-sized format of a novella. Margaret and Lord Riven were both so relatable and I loved seeing them grow throughout the course of the story. Their banter was stellar, too – I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time I was reading – and the world they inhabited was utterly fascinating. I’d gladly read a whole series set in this alternate England. I really hope we get more of it in the future ♡
August 30, 2024
I never thought I would be five-staring a romance book with a vampire as romantic interest and yet here we are. Witty, funny, with wonderfully academic heroine, it was such a pleasure to read. My only complaint is that since it's a novella the development of their relationship and the resolution of the main plot felt very quick. I wish it was a novel which would have a chance to develop everything over weeks or months instead of days, but wishing a book were longer is never a bad thing.
Reading time: 1h 37m
Reading time: 1h 37m
September 18, 2024
A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience is an adorable gothic fantasy rom-com novella.
Margaret Dunhaven is a scholar researching a mysterious stone that turned people into monsters- vampires, werewolves and zombies several centuries earlier and then was lost. She is unwillingly maneuvered into marriage with Lord Riven, a vampire with connections to the stone.
I very much enjoyed this story and only wish it could have been longer! Fans of Emily Wilde will love this determined academic and her supernatural partner.
Margaret Dunhaven is a scholar researching a mysterious stone that turned people into monsters- vampires, werewolves and zombies several centuries earlier and then was lost. She is unwillingly maneuvered into marriage with Lord Riven, a vampire with connections to the stone.
I very much enjoyed this story and only wish it could have been longer! Fans of Emily Wilde will love this determined academic and her supernatural partner.
August 7, 2024
A great read
A fabulous short story about a vampire and his unwilling bride. The bride, obviously, needs a good cup of tea, and so their relationship doesn't get off to the best start!
My only niggle is that it wasn't long enough! Stephanie Burgis writes characters so well that you feel you know them from their first descriptions. I'd love to read more about them both.
If you want a quick romantic novel, with magic, then this is the book for you.
A fabulous short story about a vampire and his unwilling bride. The bride, obviously, needs a good cup of tea, and so their relationship doesn't get off to the best start!
My only niggle is that it wasn't long enough! Stephanie Burgis writes characters so well that you feel you know them from their first descriptions. I'd love to read more about them both.
If you want a quick romantic novel, with magic, then this is the book for you.
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