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hitechredneck's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
cburgbennett's review against another edition
5.0
If you loved My Lady Jane, you will love this book! Kind of a continuation of that story, characters come back
daanin's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
restlessreason17's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
An overall enjoyable book. The romance felt a little lackluster (Ari and Liv's felt like instalove especially). Sometimes the jokes didn't land (I mean, come on, this book opened with a butt joke) and sometimes the characters got a little annoying, but I really did enjoy the last chunk. Definitely open to trying their other books!
carryonamelia's review against another edition
3.0
Either they peaked with My Lady Jane or I've grown out of the series.
amym84's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
The brilliant authors of [b:My Lady Jane|22840421|My Lady Jane (The Lady Janies, #1)|Cynthia Hand|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1444923765l/22840421._SY75_.jpg|42397220] now turn their talents towards various Marys of history beginning here with Mary Queen of Scots.
Mary has been living in France pretty much her entire life. Waiting for the day she can claim her throne while betrothed to the Dauphine, Francis. But Mary has a secret. She's a mouse. Yep a mouse. Meaning she's an Ethian (shapeshifter) living in a Verity (non-shapeshifter) court where her very existence is means for execution. But keeping her true self a secret isolates her from other Ethians within her kingdom who think Mary is a Verity like all the other rulers. Soon Mary and Francis find themselves embroiled in court intrigue and conspiracies after Francis is forced to take the throne upon his father's untimely death. Luckily Mary has a confidant in Francis as well as Aristotle, the daughter of Nostradamus.
If you haven't read the previous series by these authors, I note here that these are historical retellings and quite frequently do not play out with how actual history played out. They take a more tongue-in-cheek approach and I find them a fun read. I love how the authors do incorporate true events into the more fantastical and I like the creative license they take in changing a few events to suite the needs of a more Happily Ever After-type ending.
This time around I especially like Ari's premonitions particularly regarding certain pop culture phenoms and loved how the authors fit them into the story.
But this time around, I just couldn't get into the story as much as I did with previous books. I think it's because there's this certain level of disconnect between Mary and Francis. They're supposed to be best friends and confidants. But they're rarely on the same page and it take almost the whole book of missed connections and mixed messages until they finally get to the point where they are equally together. It was slightly frustrating. But I think this kind of speaks to the weight that was on both of their shoulders and at such a young age too when you think about it. Adding to that all the scheming going on around them, and I completely understand how things get muddled. I just wish it was one area the authors had chosen to make that one of the creative changes of the story.
Also, Ari was a wonderful character, but I almost wish she had gotten her own story separate from Mary and Francis. I guess maybe there was someone needed to break up the sections between Francis and Mary and offer a perspective of someone who was not of royal blood, but past a certain point in the book I felt like Ari was completely underutilized as a character. I wanted a bit more from her when all was said and done and I feel like she fulfilled that in the first half of the book moreso than in the latter half.
Overall, while this one was a bit more difficult for me to get through, I enjoyed many parts and pieces of it. As even referenced in the book there are A LOT of Marys in history. So I'm looking forward to who will be the next featured Mary. I do like that this book kind of brought things back to the very beginning in terms of chronological timeframe and setting even going so far as to feature characters from that very first Lady Janies book. If you've enjoyed other books in the series, you will love getting back into the same fictionalized history again.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The brilliant authors of [b:My Lady Jane|22840421|My Lady Jane (The Lady Janies, #1)|Cynthia Hand|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1444923765l/22840421._SY75_.jpg|42397220] now turn their talents towards various Marys of history beginning here with Mary Queen of Scots.
Mary has been living in France pretty much her entire life. Waiting for the day she can claim her throne while betrothed to the Dauphine, Francis. But Mary has a secret. She's a mouse. Yep a mouse. Meaning she's an Ethian (shapeshifter) living in a Verity (non-shapeshifter) court where her very existence is means for execution. But keeping her true self a secret isolates her from other Ethians within her kingdom who think Mary is a Verity like all the other rulers. Soon Mary and Francis find themselves embroiled in court intrigue and conspiracies after Francis is forced to take the throne upon his father's untimely death. Luckily Mary has a confidant in Francis as well as Aristotle, the daughter of Nostradamus.
If you haven't read the previous series by these authors, I note here that these are historical retellings and quite frequently do not play out with how actual history played out. They take a more tongue-in-cheek approach and I find them a fun read. I love how the authors do incorporate true events into the more fantastical and I like the creative license they take in changing a few events to suite the needs of a more Happily Ever After-type ending.
This time around I especially like Ari's premonitions particularly regarding certain pop culture phenoms and loved how the authors fit them into the story.
But this time around, I just couldn't get into the story as much as I did with previous books. I think it's because there's this certain level of disconnect between Mary and Francis. They're supposed to be best friends and confidants. But they're rarely on the same page and it take almost the whole book of missed connections and mixed messages until they finally get to the point where they are equally together. It was slightly frustrating. But I think this kind of speaks to the weight that was on both of their shoulders and at such a young age too when you think about it. Adding to that all the scheming going on around them, and I completely understand how things get muddled. I just wish it was one area the authors had chosen to make that one of the creative changes of the story.
Also, Ari was a wonderful character, but I almost wish she had gotten her own story separate from Mary and Francis. I guess maybe there was someone needed to break up the sections between Francis and Mary and offer a perspective of someone who was not of royal blood, but past a certain point in the book I felt like Ari was completely underutilized as a character. I wanted a bit more from her when all was said and done and I feel like she fulfilled that in the first half of the book moreso than in the latter half.
Overall, while this one was a bit more difficult for me to get through, I enjoyed many parts and pieces of it. As even referenced in the book there are A LOT of Marys in history. So I'm looking forward to who will be the next featured Mary. I do like that this book kind of brought things back to the very beginning in terms of chronological timeframe and setting even going so far as to feature characters from that very first Lady Janies book. If you've enjoyed other books in the series, you will love getting back into the same fictionalized history again.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
amym84's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
The brilliant authors of [b:My Lady Jane|22840421|My Lady Jane (The Lady Janies, #1)|Cynthia Hand|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1444923765l/22840421._SY75_.jpg|42397220] now turn their talents towards various Marys of history beginning here with Mary Queen of Scots.
Mary has been living in France pretty much her entire life. Waiting for the day she can claim her throne while betrothed to the Dauphine, Francis. But Mary has a secret. She's a mouse. Yep a mouse. Meaning she's an Ethian (shapeshifter) living in a Verity (non-shapeshifter) court where her very existence is means for execution. But keeping her true self a secret isolates her from other Ethians within her kingdom who think Mary is a Verity like all the other rulers. Soon Mary and Francis find themselves embroiled in court intrigue and conspiracies after Francis is forced to take the throne upon his father's untimely death. Luckily Mary has a confidant in Francis as well as Aristotle, the daughter of Nostradamus.
If you haven't read the previous series by these authors, I note here that these are historical retellings and quite frequently do not play out with how actual history played out. They take a more tongue-in-cheek approach and I find them a fun read. I love how the authors do incorporate true events into the more fantastical and I like the creative license they take in changing a few events to suite the needs of a more Happily Ever After-type ending.
This time around I especially like Ari's premonitions particularly regarding certain pop culture phenoms and loved how the authors fit them into the story.
But this time around, I just couldn't get into the story as much as I did with previous books. I think it's because there's this certain level of disconnect between Mary and Francis. They're supposed to be best friends and confidants. But they're rarely on the same page and it take almost the whole book of missed connections and mixed messages until they finally get to the point where they are equally together. It was slightly frustrating. But I think this kind of speaks to the weight that was on both of their shoulders and at such a young age too when you think about it. Adding to that all the scheming going on around them, and I completely understand how things get muddled. I just wish it was one area the authors had chosen to make that one of the creative changes of the story.
Also, Ari was a wonderful character, but I almost wish she had gotten her own story separate from Mary and Francis. I guess maybe there was someone needed to break up the sections between Francis and Mary and offer a perspective of someone who was not of royal blood, but past a certain point in the book I felt like Ari was completely underutilized as a character. I wanted a bit more from her when all was said and done and I feel like she fulfilled that in the first half of the book moreso than in the latter half.
Overall, while this one was a bit more difficult for me to get through, I enjoyed many parts and pieces of it. As even referenced in the book there are A LOT of Marys in history. So I'm looking forward to who will be the next featured Mary. I do like that this book kind of brought things back to the very beginning in terms of chronological timeframe and setting even going so far as to feature characters from that very first Lady Janies book. If you've enjoyed other books in the series, you will love getting back into the same fictionalized history again.
The brilliant authors of [b:My Lady Jane|22840421|My Lady Jane (The Lady Janies, #1)|Cynthia Hand|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1444923765l/22840421._SY75_.jpg|42397220] now turn their talents towards various Marys of history beginning here with Mary Queen of Scots.
Mary has been living in France pretty much her entire life. Waiting for the day she can claim her throne while betrothed to the Dauphine, Francis. But Mary has a secret. She's a mouse. Yep a mouse. Meaning she's an Ethian (shapeshifter) living in a Verity (non-shapeshifter) court where her very existence is means for execution. But keeping her true self a secret isolates her from other Ethians within her kingdom who think Mary is a Verity like all the other rulers. Soon Mary and Francis find themselves embroiled in court intrigue and conspiracies after Francis is forced to take the throne upon his father's untimely death. Luckily Mary has a confidant in Francis as well as Aristotle, the daughter of Nostradamus.
If you haven't read the previous series by these authors, I note here that these are historical retellings and quite frequently do not play out with how actual history played out. They take a more tongue-in-cheek approach and I find them a fun read. I love how the authors do incorporate true events into the more fantastical and I like the creative license they take in changing a few events to suite the needs of a more Happily Ever After-type ending.
This time around I especially like Ari's premonitions particularly regarding certain pop culture phenoms and loved how the authors fit them into the story.
But this time around, I just couldn't get into the story as much as I did with previous books. I think it's because there's this certain level of disconnect between Mary and Francis. They're supposed to be best friends and confidants. But they're rarely on the same page and it take almost the whole book of missed connections and mixed messages until they finally get to the point where they are equally together. It was slightly frustrating. But I think this kind of speaks to the weight that was on both of their shoulders and at such a young age too when you think about it. Adding to that all the scheming going on around them, and I completely understand how things get muddled. I just wish it was one area the authors had chosen to make that one of the creative changes of the story.
Also, Ari was a wonderful character, but I almost wish she had gotten her own story separate from Mary and Francis. I guess maybe there was someone needed to break up the sections between Francis and Mary and offer a perspective of someone who was not of royal blood, but past a certain point in the book I felt like Ari was completely underutilized as a character. I wanted a bit more from her when all was said and done and I feel like she fulfilled that in the first half of the book moreso than in the latter half.
Overall, while this one was a bit more difficult for me to get through, I enjoyed many parts and pieces of it. As even referenced in the book there are A LOT of Marys in history. So I'm looking forward to who will be the next featured Mary. I do like that this book kind of brought things back to the very beginning in terms of chronological timeframe and setting even going so far as to feature characters from that very first Lady Janies book. If you've enjoyed other books in the series, you will love getting back into the same fictionalized history again.
albooked's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
whovianpnw's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
gingerbread_void's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a delight! As always I loved the comedy. The characters were very likeable. I also loves that we got a little update on the characters from My Lady Jane. Overall this book was just a fun romp though some of the more darker parts of our worlds history.
My only complaint is the book was just a bit to long.
My only complaint is the book was just a bit to long.