My Lady Jane

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows Published by: HarperTeen Genre: Historical Fiction, YA, Fantasy, Romance Length: 491 pages Goodreads Rating: 4.17* Copy: Hardcover, delivered by OwlCrate.

The comical, fantastical, romantical, (not) entirely true story of Lady Jane Grey. In My Lady Jane, coauthors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows have created a one-of-a-kind 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 is about to become the Queen of England.

I don't consider myself a fast reader at all, I usually average a novel (300-400 pages) a week (which is fast for me), but I finished this 500 page whopper in less than 5 days; without locking myself at home all weekend. I simply couldn't put it down. I have to admit that when I received the book through my OwlCrate subscription in June, I was little unsure about it. I wasn't the biggest fan of history growing up and the idea of reading a historical fiction made me hesitant, but since I received it I figured I may as well give it a try. It definitely is not a book I would have been likely to pick up on my own. Clearly I'm an idiot because it was amazing! One of the best books I have read in a really long time and I recently read all of the Morgan Matson books and became Morgan Matson's biggest fan!

I haven't felt this swept up by a book since...... (I'll get back to you on this!)

Lady Jane

Jane was just brilliant. She resonated with me big time and not just because of her incessant love of books! She was intelligent and forthcoming about what she wanted. She was independent and brave and would have made a pretty amazing queen if you ask me. Although I do agree with the final decision in the end. This book has made me delve into research about the House of Tudor and the infamous nine day queen. (It has actually made me a lot more interested in the British monarch in general). In the start I had hoped that Jane would end up with Edward, but I grew to love Gifford as the book progressed just as Jane did.

Lord Gifford

G was just awesome. He was a stud... literally! haha. I've totally been waiting for an opportunity to use that one!

Gifford: "Father, don't be daft. What my wife desires—and what you should have guessed, had you paid attention—is bookcases. And books, of course, to fill them. Not more decorations or useless items. She wants books." Jane: "My husband is correct. Bookcases. Books. There’s nothing I like more." Gifford: "Except me."

Jane insists that this was a joke and not true, but I think she was obviously just unaware of her own feelings at the time, because she was totally falling for him too!

"I’ve been weak. I’ve been a horse, when I should have stayed a man. But I can’t go in there and face whatever we’re about to face without you knowing that I am yours. Flesh, man, fur, horse . . . I am yours, Jane. For most of my life, it’s been easier to run. What if my heart’s true desire is to keep running? What if I can’t get my house in order, and be the man you want? But Jane." He took her hand and kissed it. "Dear Jane. You are my house. My home. I may have only half a life, but what I have, I pledge to you. I . . . I love you."

Ready? one, two, three..... AWWW!!!!!! <3 I absolutely loved Jane and G's relationship and how jealous he got about Edward. I love that they essentially made him Shakespeare. I love that they included Sonnet 18 (my all time favourite poem) in the book too. My heart leapt out of my chest at the sight of that first line of the poem. I love the speech he gave her (the one I quoted above) when he finally broke his curse. I love his reaction to her at their wedding. I just love it all really.

King Edward

Probably not the intention, but I found Edward hilarious from the very beginning! I loved his voice and how that came through. I loved that despite being a dying king, he still was such a 15-year-old boy! I loved his relationship with Jane and eventually, Gracie. I totally guessed that he was being poisoned and of course it had to be the nose who was responsible. I love the stories about King Henry and him being the "Lion King" and "eating the messenger" haha. I love that in the end he gave up the crown and clearly grew and matured into a real leader. I loved all of his inner thoughts and how he was so swept up in desires of romance. I love that he overcame his beliefs about women not being suited for the crown.

Basically there is pretty much nothing that I can think of that I disliked about this book. In fact I think I am going to have to demote The Promise and Anna and the French Kiss as favourites of mine and give the crown (haha) to My Lady Jane! I think I loved it so much especially because I wasn't expecting to..... Right- in that case forget everything I just said. Its an awful book. Have very low expectations of it so that you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was and end up falling head over heels for it like I did! It was the worst. Jane is such an annoying damsel in distress! (Did it work? Great now start reading!)

My Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

#myladyjane #ladyjanegrey #cynthiahand #brodiashton #jodimeadows