My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows Series: The Lady Janies #1
Published by HarperCollins on June 7, 2016
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Historical, Young Adult Fiction / Girls & Women, Young Adult Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, Young Adult Fiction / Royalty
Pages: 512
Format: eBook
ISBN: 9780062391797In My Lady Jane, coauthors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows have created a one-of-a-kind YA fantasy in the tradition of The Princess Bride, featuring a reluctant king, an even more reluctant queen, a noble steed, and only a passing resemblance to actual history—because sometimes history needs a little help.
At sixteen, Lady Jane Grey is about to be married off to a stranger and caught up in a conspiracy to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about. Jane gets to be Queen of England.
Like that could go wrong.
This has been on my TBR for a while and with the show premiering in June, I decided it was time to read it. It’s definitely one of the funniest novels I’ve read in a while, if not years. I was snort laughing at least every other path, if not every page.
It was definitely a re-imagining of Lady Jane Grey and her life. I mean there are shapeshifting animals in the novel, Ethians. It was definitely a way to explain the Protestant vs. Catholic friction in England with the division between Verities (non-animal shifters) and Ethians (animal shapeshifters). While obvious for me and others who have gone through a few history classes, for the young adult audience (ages 12-18ish) it’s a fun, introductory analogy to explain the debate. It’s not perfect but the authors don’t intend it to be.
One of the aspects I loved was the breaking of the forth wall throughout the book. The prologue chapter and intermission chapter, along with parenthetical interjections, were such an fun way to show that this is definitely a fake history while also at the same time the narrators are purporting that this is the true history. Those sections were quite funny to read as they balanced out the real history, the true one, and still keep it all funny. I was surprised by how well the book flowed with three authors. I was expecting some writing shifts with tone or word choice but the authors managed to write it so well that at many times it felt like one author.
Are three main characters felt like such real teenagers (which was refreshing as someone who believes that no matter what teenagers are teenagers, doesn’t matter what time period or country). Jane was definitely great and the one I related to (her love of books was relatable). I appreciated that she wasn’t shocked or upset by her upcoming wedding. Sometimes historical fiction books are written were the woman are so shocked or outraged by their parents arranging a marriage, when at a time it would’ve been common and expected. Jane even has this thought “She’d always known she’d have to get married, of course. The string of destitute ex-fiancés could not continue forever.” I’m also happy that she didn’t come off as a Not Like Other Girls™, while she enjoys reading and learning she doesn’t look down on others for not liking those things (except when it comes to Edward, the king, but she teases him like a little sister teases her older brother, which is appropriate).
Speaking of Edward, he’s such a overwhelmed boy king. I love his arc through the book. Once away from the castle he sees that nothing has really changed with the treatment of Ethians, and that his higher ups where just running things and he didn’t actually act as a king. Finally, he understands that the kingdom should have someone better to rule it then a young boy who doesn’t want to for simply being born a boy. I loved this for him (and for his relationship with Gracie)! He definitely gave off early Nikolai vibes from King of Scars.
Finally, our lovely tortured poet, Gifford, oh apologies, G. He’s such a lovable bastard. So rude but funny, afraid of not being loved that he puts on a mask to make sure he doesn’t get close to people. But then his arranged marriage with Jane happens and he starts falling in love with this weird bookish girl. There miscommunication, misunderstanding, became a little tiring and old after a while. I was happy when everything turned out happy, as we knew it would. If you’re looking for a funny, lighthearted novel, then definitely add this to your TBR!
I was absolutely not expecting the twists this one took! I’m really familiar with Lady Jane Grey’s story but it was a delight for this new version