Books to fall for

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand/Brodi Ashton/Jodi Meadows (Book Review)

Kat Impossible34 Comments

mylady

Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 512

For those of you who didn’t know yet, I received My Lady Jane as part of my June OwlCrate box (more about that here). I was super proud to have guessed the book right, however, I didn’t actually know what it was about. I knew that it was some sort of alternate historical novel, but I had never heard of Lady Jane Grey before (I am totally oblivious to some things … such as the succession history of British monarchs). I definitely didn’t expect the book to be as hilarious as it was though, even though multiple reviews have claimed that already. Humour, after all, is something very subjective.

I don’t really want to spoil you for the story, because where’s the fun in that? But the special spin on the story is that it’s fantasy – there’s a definite element of magic in form of Eðians (pronounced as eth-y-uns). Said people are able to transform into certain animals, yet not all of them can control their change. It’s so very interesting to find out how the different animals correspond with characteristics of the people. The country is split between those capable of that ancient magic and those not, which in turn just creates a prime example of racism (or magicism … no idea). Also, the book covers female empowerment as well, with grace and humour like nothing I have seen before.

So, the book treats those really important topics, while being funny and entertaining to no end at the same time. It has strong characters, which I am sure you can find part of yourself in without a problem. Jane, foremost, is so outspoken and bookish, she could really be any of us!

mlj

Nonetheless, the book is not flawless, how else could it be? Sometimes the pacing is a bit wonky and it doesn’t go as in depth with the characters as it maybe could, but that is what makes it such a light and enjoyable read and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! It has one of the sweetest and most on point happy endings I have seen and I am still so very glad that I got it in the OwlCrate box! Now, I am only hoping I am right for July as well (my guess is on This Savage Song)!

Fazit: 5/5 stars! Will make you laugh out loud in public places without shame, because it’s just that good!

5stars

Have you heard of My Lady Jane? Do you want to read it? Which animal would you turn to, what do you think?

34 thoughts on “My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand/Brodi Ashton/Jodi Meadows (Book Review)”

  2. This book has moved so far up my TBR, I’m ready to kill someone for this book! I want to read this book so badly! If I to turn into an animal, I’d probably want to be a camel because have you seen how fabulous those things are? 😛

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  3. OH MAN that would be SO COOL if “this savage song” came in the July one!!! Now you’ve gone and gotten my hopes up. *crosses fingers* I really enjoyed this book, too! It was so much fun and such a great, happy ending (:

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  6. I got the June Owl Crate as well, and since I received this book and started seeing all the reviews that have popped up on WordPress I have just become more and more excited to actually read it myself. I keep bumping it up my to-read list 🙂
    I do actually know a fair bit about Jane Grey and her history (I’m English so we learnt all about her and the Tudors during history at school) but I’m hoping this book has a happier ending. It certainly sound hilarious which I love in a story!
    Great review! 😀

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  7. I keep meaning to read this! I keep hearing that it’s hilarious and written with a very sarcastic and dry kind of humor, which I like. WHY HAVEN’T I BOUGHT THIS YET? And I remember reading about Lady Jane Grey back when I took history and it was one of the very, very few things I remembered because of how UNFAIR it was.

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  9. I read this one last week and I enjoyed it so much! I think it’s actually much better going in without knowing much about Lady Jane Grey or the Tudors because I found that there were some things that were a bit predictable since I did know about the history. But I still found it hilarious and gave it 5 stars as well!

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    • I can see how that might be a little tricky. I don’t know why I know so little about them though. I didn’t even really watch the Tudors TV shows … I did watch a bit of Reign though, so, the Queen of Scots rang a bell hahaha

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      • Haha I think there’s just a bigger focus on Henry VIII and Elizabeth I in general. Everything else in between is a bit of a blur. I just had this massive obsession with Tudor history a few years ago so I know quite a bit about it. I haven’t watched any of Reign but I’ve heard lots of good things about it from people who have seen it.

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      • I couldn’t take Reign for an entire season, so I am not sure I can attest to the greatness of the show hahaha
        But I have phases of obsession with certain topics as well. I totally had a pirate and viking phase at some point.

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  10. Great review, Kat! (Yes, I am here, you can scream at me, haha, but I saw your review and I had to read it.) I heard good things about that book so far, but I wasn’t sure it was for me. However after reading your review, I’m intrigued and I think I want, NEED to add it to my TBR. I don’t know anything about these parts of history, but I’m hoping going into this completely blind like you were will make me enjoy the ride so much more 🙂

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  11. Ahh this sounds so amazing!! I’m not usually into alternate history, but the sound of this one sounds sooo good! That quote alone had me cracking up and I love the idea of Eðians- that kind of magic sounds brilliant!! Great review!

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