Lovers of the original Pride and Prejudice will doubtless find themselves missing Austen's nuance and subtlety, but they still won't be able to resist discovering how their old favorite turns out when overrun by the undead. When Grahame-Smith's abilities as a storyteller fall short there is always the wit and wisdom of Austen to drive the story ahead and keep the reader's attention until he finds his voice again.

As for those readers for whom this is their first introduction to the timeless classic, as they will never miss the beloved passages which are the real casualties of all the added bloodshed in this adaptation, they should find it highly enjoyable. A Lizzy Bennett trained as a ninja and continually called upon to slay zombies may have more power to seduce readers who have always been reluctant to read her story before. Her character and will are equally as strong and her muscles are elevated to superhuman strength. Heated combat and the struggle against the zombie infection bring out the baser instincts of the characters and result in death, crippling injuries, and frequent vomiting at gory displays of fighting prowess. George Wickham is more despicable, Mr. Collins more stupid, and Lady Catherine more pompous.