My Lady Jane was everything I hoped it would be, and more. I knew I was signing up for a historical YA book about Lady Jane Grey, but I had no idea how fun and silly and fantastic it would be. 
Reasons I loved this book:
Oh my dear Lady Jane, I love you. You are fiercely loyal, courageous, and kind. Your preference for books above all else in the world means that I instantly connected with you. I love how you are so unapologetically yourself, and oh so flawed. I am so happy the narrators gave you better fate than history itself did.
Gifford, you wonderful man. You are so genuine and adorable, equally as flawed and wonderful as our dear Jane. Despite your horse tendencies, or maybe because of them, you are majestic at times, but also a big softie (we all know what you get up to during your midnight dalliances).
My Lady Jane has fantastical elements that involves people being able to change into animals or creatures, sometimes at their discretion and sometimes not. They are persecuted, which adds an additional political aspect, but primarily this adds a lighthearted vibe to the story as characters suddenly transform from humans into horses or any variety of creatures. This sounds utterly ridiculous, and maybe it it, but it helps make this story just SO fun.
I’m a history major focusing on the medieval period, which I thought might actually hinder my love for this book. I am trained to look at everything historical with a critical eye, so I thought I would be doing the same while reading a YA book set in my particular period of focus. Instead, I just found myself loving the way the authors brought Jane to life. They actively note that it is not a historically accurate portrayal, and frequently interrupt the story to tell the reader how they’ve adjusted history here or there. It was great, I didn’t worry about how true to history it was, and just found myself on a silly adventure of a story with lovable characters who I was rooting for from start to finish.
I really adored this book! The historical setting was one of my favorites, and the manner in which the authors played around with it was very well done! My Lady Jane is full of perfectly lovable characters that I hold dear to my heart. It was a fun historical adventure, and I could not recommend this book enough.
Lovely review, I’m glad another history major loved this too! I had the same worries but the tone was so different and so silly & fun that it was easy to get swept away in the story. And I was so happy that Jane got a happier ending! The characters were wonderful and I loved how they worked magic into the story to mirror the religious wars. Now I want to read this book again! 🙂
thank you! and omg you’re a history major too?! that’s so cool! If anything I think it made me love the story more, not less, which was definitely because of how fun it was! I totally agree. 🙂 You definitely should!!
Your review cinched the deal for me! I love historical fiction and always try and get my hands on anything that takes place in a different time. Throw in some fantasy elements, witty authors, an MC that loves reading, and I think I might have fallen in love.
Great review! 🙂
I have yet to read one negative review about this book, ahah. It’s so good to see a book that’s loved so much, and I need to add it to my TBR right away 🙂