Thank you Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books for organizing this tour!
See below for the full schedule
I am thrilled to be part of the My Lady Jane blog tour!
This book was SO MUCH FUN.
Today, I'm sharing a fact about Jane as well as my thoughts on the book.
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by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows
Read: April 5 - 8, 2016
Published: June 7, 2016 by HarperTeen
Source: ALA (Thank You, Harper!)
Category: YA, fantasy, history rewritten
Book Description: For fans of The Princess Bride comes the comical, fantastical, romantical, (not) entirely true story of Lady Jane Grey.
Book Description: For fans of The Princess Bride comes the comical, fantastical, romantical, (not) entirely true story of Lady Jane Grey.
Lady
Jane Grey, sixteen, is about to be married to a total stranger—and caught up in
an insidious plot to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But that’s the
least of Jane’s problems. She’s about to become Queen of England. Like that
could go wrong.
Find: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound | Harper Collins
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A Fun Fact About Jane:
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My Thoughts:
My Lady Jane is a story filled with elements that by all rights should not work together at all, and yet somehow they do. Perfectly and hilariously so. First of all, this book takes a bloody and chaotic time in English history - Lady Jane Grey herself could attest to that fact, though she's dead, because she was beheaded - and turns it into a romantic comedy. I'm not sure why the authors thought this was a good idea, but I'm glad they did. That apparently wasn't enough ridiculousness, because these authors (there are three of them, maybe that's the secret formula?) decided to add another element of fun and fill this book with characters who can turn themselves into animals. I mean, check out the UK cover of the book (I must own this btw!):
My Thoughts:
My Lady Jane is a story filled with elements that by all rights should not work together at all, and yet somehow they do. Perfectly and hilariously so. First of all, this book takes a bloody and chaotic time in English history - Lady Jane Grey herself could attest to that fact, though she's dead, because she was beheaded - and turns it into a romantic comedy. I'm not sure why the authors thought this was a good idea, but I'm glad they did. That apparently wasn't enough ridiculousness, because these authors (there are three of them, maybe that's the secret formula?) decided to add another element of fun and fill this book with characters who can turn themselves into animals. I mean, check out the UK cover of the book (I must own this btw!):
I know this all sounds a little bit crazy, and it is. But that is also what makes the story so much fun to read. I'm not even completely sure why this book works so well, but I do know that one of the elements that makes it great is the characters. In fact, I don't think this book would have worked as well (or at all) without them and the way they tell their story.
My Lady Jane has three authors, and also three narrators (see how that works out). We have Lady Jane Grey, for whom the story is named. Her favorite pastime is reading - who's isn't? Secondly, there's young King Edward, who's not been feeling so well lately. (You don't want to know how that ends in real life). And finally, we have Jane's future husband Lord Gifford Dudley, who would rather be a horse most days, which is good, because he is a horse every day. I'm not sure that I could pick a favorite narrator of the three. They each have their own distinct voices and personalities, but their narratives blend together seamlessly.
This story follows the historical plot somewhat, but it also veers off into its own direction (thank goodness for that!). And it never takes itself too seriously, which is a key element to all the fun. I don't want to talk about what happens, because it's better to discover it as you read. I enjoyed finding out how the plot veered away from the original account, though it doesn't matter if you know that or not. What this book has in abundance is scheming, attempted murder, and characters turning into animals. Also, humor. I laughed and giggled my way through the whole thing.
There are two romances at play and no love triangles. Jane and Dudley are one one, obviously. But I won't tell you who's involved in the other one. I liked both of these romances a lot, though I would have gone for more kissing. A few things did get a little crazy in the second half. I couldn't figure out why the white bear plot was in there, for instance. And though the asides amused me, they slowed down the story in places. But those are minor things in a book that I enjoyed wholeheartedly.
I definitely said the word fun too much in this review, but My Lady Jane is exactly that. Fresh, fun and fantastically delightful in every way. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Although this is a standalone with a solid ending, I hope these authors decide to rewrite another little known historical tragedy into a hilarious rom-com.
Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone (I hope these authors write more together though!)
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About the Authors:
We're the authors of the upcoming young adult
novel, MY LADY JANE, which will be out with HarperTeen on June 7, 2016. Our
group is made up of Brodi Ashton (author of the EVERNEATH series and DIPLOMATIC
IMMUNITY), Cynthia Hand (New York Times bestselling
author of the UNEARTHLY series and THE LAST TIME WE SAY GOODBYE), and Jodi
Meadows (author of the INCARNATE and the ORPHAN QUEEN series). Between the
three of us we've written thirteen novels, a bunch of novellas, a handful of short
stories, and a couple of really bad poems, but this is the first time we've
taken a stab at writing a book together. We're friends. We're writers. We're
fixing history by rewriting one sad story at a time.
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Follow the Tour:
June 6 - Angie @ Lady Knight Reads & Sarah @ The YA Book Traveler
June 7 - Sarah @ What Sarah Read & Lauren @ Love is Not a Triangle
June 8 - Lauren @ Bookmark Lit & Stephanie @ A Dream Within a Dream
June 9 - Mary @ Mary Had a Little Book Blog & Nori @ Read Write Love 28
June 10 - Bonnie @ A Backwards Story & Gail @ Ticket to Anywhere
June 13 - Kelly @ Belle of the Literati & Lisa @ Lisa Loves Literature
June 14 - Lori @ Writing My Own Fairytale & Alyssa @ The Eater of Books
June 15 - Mishma @ Chasing Faerytales & Sarah @ Aphonic Sarah
June 16 - Jessica @ Step Into Fiction & Jen @ The Starry-Eyed Revue
June 17 - Kassiah @ Swoony Boys Podcast & Lisa @ Lost in Literature
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Giveaway
Win one of three copies of My Lady Jane!
Open internationally (as long as Book Depository ships to your country).
Oooh, good question. Rather hard given my most I have to do with history is reading fictionalized versions...Hmmmm. Well, I love Emily Dickinson and loved Nobody's Secret. It's hard to say since she was such a private person in her personal life but I'd like it to be written happier for her.
ReplyDeleteI am desperately in need of a fun, light-hearted but engaging read so this is exactly the book I'll be picking up today. I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Lauren, and especially that the multiple authors and POVs worked well. Lovely review, dear! :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so fun - and I love how well the three authors created seperate and unique voices in Lady Jane. I'm thrilled you enjoyed this, Lauren. I can't wait to read it myself.
ReplyDeleteIf I was to rewrite the story of a particular historical figure, I would choose Queen Boudica because she was a brilliant strategist, and a powerful warrior.
ReplyDeleteIf I could rewrite the story of a history figure, it would be Harriet Tubman.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway; I think I would write about my favorite president Abraham Lincoln. :)
ReplyDeleteI would rewrite Jane Austen's story because she died so young. I wish she'd lived long enough to write more wonderful books!
ReplyDeleteQueen Hatshepsut! Girl was pretty awesome!
ReplyDeleteStunning blog tour post Lauren :D Eee, so glad you loved this book too. <3 Wasn't it just SO AWESOME? :D Eee. I also wish there were more kissing, though, haha. But thought the romance was sweet even so. Thank you for sharing your lovely thoughts about it sweetie. <3 All the hugs.
ReplyDelete"I'm not sure why the authors thought this was a good idea, but I'm glad they did." LOL this is such a perfect sentiment :D I really love your review, you summed up my feelings as well. I loved that they followed history in some ways and twisted away in others. And fun is the best word to describe it, it was such a delight to read! I hope they write more books together too (more alternate hist fic in particular!). Cleopatra would be really great.
ReplyDeleteYay for no love triangles! Hmmm... If I could rewrite anyone's story, it would probably be wither Nefertiti or Alexander the Great. That is, if I had any writing skills at all. Alas, I kind of don't. Love your post :D
ReplyDelete