'Little Women and Werewolves': a step too far?

First there was "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." Then came "Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters." Now brace yourself for "Little Women and Werewolves." Is this a sign the mashup trend is about to run out of gas?

That's the conclusion you could draw from looking at early reader comments on i09.com as news of the new release was posted.

The first two books – "mashups" of Jane Austen's classics by Seth Grahame-Smith and Ben H. Winters – have been runaway hits. The combination of Regency-era manners and classic horror figures somehow tickled readers pink. But how will America's most beloved girls' story mix with lupine predators?

Not too well, if you judge by reader reactions:"This trend has to end. It's not funny anymore." "This phenomena is not interesting to me any longer. What is next to butcher???" "I admit I got a chuckle out of the idea of 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.' But now its just annoying and forced."

Here's the publisher's description of the upcoming book to be "mashed" by Porter Grand:  "In this retelling of Louisa May Alcott's classic, the beloved little women must keep not just the wolf, but the werewolves, from the door ... and the kindly old gentlemen next door and his grandson may have some secrets to hide – or share with the March girls."

Hmm. Maybe safer to stick with this recommendation from Galley Cat:  "If you want to read the good-old-fashioned 'Little Women,' Project Gutenberg has a free eBook version."