Review: My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

Title: My Lady Jane
Authors: Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: June 7, 2016
Source: Library

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "Edward (long live the king) is the King of England. He’s also dying, which is inconvenient, as he’s only sixteen and he’d much rather be planning for his first kiss than considering who will inherit his crown…

Jane (reads too many books) is Edward’s cousin, and far more interested in books than romance. Unfortunately for Jane, Edward has arranged to marry her off to secure the line of succession. And there’s something a little odd about her intended…

Gifford (call him G) is a horse. That is, he’s an Eðian (eth-y-un, for the uninitiated). Every day at dawn he becomes a noble chestnut steed—but then he wakes at dusk with a mouthful of hay. It’s all very undignified."

My Two Cents:

"My Lady Jane Grey" turns the story of Lady Jane Grey, otherwise known as the nine-day queen on its head. As a historical reminder, Lady Jane Grey became queen for 9 days before being killed after the death of Edward VI, who was Henry VIII's son. It's a very tragic story and definitely not one with a happy ending. In the hands of the three authors of this book, Lady Jane Grey is given a much better ending. This is a great story filled with magic and a much happier ending.

In this book, Jane is known as the one at court who always seems to have her nose in a book. She's promised to Gifford, who is hiding a secret, and doesn't want to get married. In this world, there are beings called "edians," who can turn into animals. Jane is absolutely fascinated by this and is pulled in to this world and making sure that those that are able to turn into animals have the safety to do so. It sounds like an incredibly strange permits for book but it definitely works. I was not ready for this book to end!

I love the way that the authors were able to be blend a bunch of magic with a bunch of historical detail as well. This is the first effort between Cynthia Hand, Brittany Ashton, and Jody Meadows and I'm definitely hoping that it won't be the last!