This was good, but honestly...I wanted it to be better. My Lady Jane is my favorite of the Jane series, and each one after I liked a little less than the previous. Because of this, I was hoping a return to the world that My Lady Jane created would be what this book needed to find it a place near the top. However, it unfortunately was not all it needed. These authors are great at using a strong voice and witty humor to keep the reading experience fun and whimsical, but it's not always enough to make it a book I love. I'll keep continuing to read these as they're always enjoyable, but I am a tad disappointed.

Loved this book! The plot was very character driven and the writing style was very fun. This was the first book I read by this group of authors and it definitely made me want to check out more of their books

So I really wanted to love this one because but it fell a little short for me. There were some things I loved such as the sarcasm between the characters and I adored Mary and Francis' relationship. I also loved Aristotle's character and her part in the story. I didn't like that Aristotle's visions were movie references from our time. I realize they were meant to add humor but for me it threw off the story confusing the two time periods that way. It also felt a little slow at times but rushed at other times, there wasn't really a steady pace to it. Overall it was a good book, but not amazing enough to make me want to read the next ones.

This one fell a little flat for me. It was an enjoyable read but didn't have quite the punch that the other Jane titles did (especially My Plain Jane). I finished it a few weeks ago and I've already forgotten the ending.

I shouldn't be surprised that I did not like this one. For a few reasons, I didn't like the book in the Lady Jane series about lady Jane Grey, and I don't like Mary Queen of Scots. I have read books in the past that were historical fiction with magical realism that were about real historical figures who get a happy ending in the pages of the book but didn't in real life. However, in those cases that ending wouldn't change history as a whole. Which is the case with this book. I don't like books that change that much of history. However I will give the next two books in this series a chance as I like the second and third book in the Lady Jane series.

The Lady Janies are back, this time with a Mary story. This one ties into their first novel My Lady Jane and is about Mary, Queen of Scots.

This one brought us back to the world of Lady Jane, in which the Catholic and Protestant War is represented by those that have an animal form (Edians) and those that don't (Verities). Mary, being a Tudor cousin - her grandmother was a sister of Hentry VIII - is secretly an Edian hiding in plain site in a Verity country. If she's to hold onto her crown and her head, it must remain a secret.

Of course, like in all the other books by these lovely ladies, history is turned on it's head and tragic stories get a happy ending. In reality, Francis really does die of an ear infection, Mary does marry Darnley who tries to steal her crown, and she eventually looses her head when her Catholic supporters try to assassinate her cousin Elizabeth I.

But none of that happens here. We are once again treated to a hilarious history bending story chock full of cultural references. My personal favorite are the Ever After ones. If you are not familiar with this 1998 movie staring Drew Barrymore as a Cinderella character who marries Francis's father instead him marrying Catherine Medici, then I suggest you go watch it. I'll wait. Lady Jane also had a few references to it.

Then there's Ari's visions which all are about movies from the late 20th century. Star Wars, Titanic, Terminator, Frozen, The Sixth Sense, and even Sailor Moon. I laughed out loud too many times at her visions. The book is also spoofing The Princess Bride book where the author interjects into the story with a lot of parenthetical thoughts.

While I didn't enjoy My Calamity Jane as much as the others, I toughly enjoyed this one as much as the others. Five Lightsabers.

It took me a little bit to get into this book, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. The characters were well-written and the humor was just what I needed this year. I look forward to reading many more "Marys."

Following The Janes, My Contrary Mary picks back up with the E∂ian magics coupled with French court intrigue, riotous humor, and a splash of historical accuracy.

The Mary in question is Mary, Queen of Scots, and perhaps I’m showing my Millennial card here, but I’m having trouble picturing the characters in any other way but the characters from the CW’s Reign.

I enjoy these books because while the reality for the subject matter is certain death, these authors craft charming yet still harrowing experiences that dull the pain of losing these historical figures.

Quick, enjoyable reads for reluctant readers.

My Contrary Mary
By Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows

3.25/5

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary Stuart. Mary...the Mouse? When you think of Mary, Queen of Scots, you probably don’t think of a shapeshifter, but that’s exactly what this fun, lighthearted take on Mary’s teenage-ish years puts forth. My Contrary Mary tells the tale of betrayal and teenage romance set against a 16th Century background.

This was my first foray into the My Jane/Mary universe and it was not at all what I was expecting! I really enjoyed the humor - especially the breaking the 4th wall kind of comments - and most of the character POVs were fun to read. But honestly, the “mystery” really fell flat for me. It kind of felt like there wasn’t a ton of plot, and left me wishing for a bit more.

However, I definitely enjoyed the writing style enough to make me want to go read some of the My Lady Jane series since I know they are pretty highly regarded! If you’re looking for a quick and easy read that will make you laugh (and maybe pull you out of a series reading slump), MCM is a great choice for that!

*I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

This book combines some great historical elements with fantastical ideas and concepts tied in. What I enjoyed about My Contrary Mary were the characters. I love historical fantasies such as this, but the characters are always what brings it to life. Mary Queen of Scots was so fun to read as someone who loved the past figure. However, this Mary was so strong willed and her ladies in waiting had great stories as well.

While this book is for history lovers, I would say that readers should be prepared for off shoots to fantasy. IT's a great combination of both to try to guide those who may be wary of either genre. I would definitely recommend this for those looking for strong female characters and to suspend beliefs. Also great if you like narrators who give their opinion on the story.

BOOK REPORT for My Contrary Mary (Mary #1) by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

Cover Story: Montell Jordan
BFF Charms: Heck Yes, Yay, Maybe
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Drunk Herstory
Bonus Factors: Reign, Shapeshifting
Anti-Bonus Factor: Dan Scott Award for Awful Parenting
Relationship Status: If It Please You (It Pleases Me)

Cover Story: Montell Jordan
I'm so glad to see that this second series from Hand, Ashton, and Meadows is keeping the same cover designs as the previous one. I adore them and their cheeky nods to the humor within, as well as the general loveliness and fierceness of the cover models.

The Deal:
Mary, Queen of Scots, is someone you might have heard of. But you might not know the true story of how she came to be married to the King of France, nor how her hidden talents—one of them very small indeed—put her and all of her loved ones at risk, even more than just being royals did in her day.

BFF Charm: Heck Yes, Yay, Maybe
Mary's a badass, both in her time and ours. She's powerful and confident and when she realizes that she's being taken advantage of, she'll do whatever needs to be done to get her life back on track, even if that means going against the "norms" at the time. She does, of course, benefit a lot from being a queen, but she's not the kind of royal who ignores the fact that she pretty much has it made. I really appreciate that about her. And it would never hurt to make friends with a queen.

Francis, Dauphin of France, Mary's betrothed, and eventual historical tragic case, is a lot more decent in this book than one might think. For one, he's madly in love with Mary and sees everything that I do in her and more. He knows that she's the more powerful person in their partnership, and I applaud him for not falling prey to his fragile male ego (especially when confronted with their height difference, which goes in her favor). He might be a bit of a stubborn idiot at times, but he eventually comes around. (And, you know, if having a queen as a friend is a good thing, what might a king bring?)

The only member of the main characters who's not nobility, Aristotle de Nostradamus—a Nostradamus, not the Nostradamus—took a bit more for me to warm up to, and I'm still not entirely sure I'd want her as a friend. She's a smart, talented individual who's far better at potions than prognostications (all of her predictions make no sense to her, but if you're a modern movie buff, you'll recognize them), which is certainly a skill that would come in handy in a friend. But she's somewhat untrustworthy, in that she has a terrible time of placing her trust in the wrong people and betraying the right ones in the process. She does a lot of what she does in the name of love, but just because someone's in love doesn't mean that they need to be stupid.

Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Mary and Francis have been betrothed for a very long time, and have grown up together. Francis swoons over her frequently, but Mary loves him like a best friend … or does she?

Talky Talk: Drunk Herstory
When I reviewed this trio of authors' last book—My Calamity Jane—I assumed that was the last we'd see of their time-altering antics. "But there are so many more great women in history whose lives you should mess with!" I cried out. They obviously heard me, and that's where this new series came from. I couldn't have been more excited to dive back into their alternate history, and they once again came to play. While, mind you, including some accurate historical truths and a heavy helping of fist-pumping for a woman who often gets the short end of history's stick.

Bonus Factor: Reign
Although I didn't watch much more of this show than the first season, it was really hard for me to picture anyone but the cast of the show while reading. And I know the authors have seen it, too—

Francis loosed the arrow. It sailed past the dummy and into the grass.

"It's a good thing we're not at war," Henry III observed. "You can't even hit Bash."

"Bash?" Francis lowered his bow. "Do you mean the dummy?" He looked across the yard where the dummy stood, just a stuffed burlap sack the boys had constructed with sticks for arms and legs, and a slim wooden board holding up the target that serves as a head. Someone had painted a smile on its face and given it piercing blue eyes.

"Don't call Bash a dummy!" Charles IX said. "You take that back."

Francis looked between his younger brothers and the dummy. "Why did you name it Bash?"

"Because we bash him with our arrows. Sometimes our swords." Henry III rolled his eyes. "But don't talk bad about him. Bash is our friend."

"Yeah," Charles IX said. "He's like the older brother we never had."

Francis scowled. "I'm your older brother."

"Exactly," Henry III said.

(Disclaimer: I pulled this passage from an advanced reader copy; the final copy might be different.)

Bonus Factor: Shapeshifting
If you've read Hand, Ashton, and Meadows's My Lady Jane, you know that there are certain individuals with certain special abilities amongst the English. My Contrary Mary takes place in the same universe.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Dan Scott Award for Awful Parenting
If you watched Reign or know any history, you'll already know that Francis's parents—King Henry II and Catherine de' Medici—weren't exactly great parents. In the book, Henry is little more than a bumbling drunk, but Queen Catherine is 100% that … power-hungry royal. I mean, I get it, in part. She's a woman in a tenuous position who's doing everything she can for her children. But still. She's awful. Francis deserved better.

Relationship Status: If It Please You (It Pleases Me)
Sign me up to be a member of your court, Book, 'cause I'm bending the knee. You're as delightfully irreverent as I could have hoped, and we get along famously. I don't have a drop of royal blood in my body, but I bet I could be useful in your service!

I've got to be honest and say that I used to enjoy these books a lot more than I do now. I found the first Jane book to be really funny and I really liked the world that was created but my enjoyment has dwindled with each following book. I really liked the subject matter of this book and the setting but wasn't in love with the writing as much. It just felt almost too silly at times, and I know these books are supposed to be silly, but Mary in particular felt very juvenile and I just wasn't very invested in the book because it all seemed to be about the humor and less about the plot. Nothing ever truly felt like it was at stake so I was kind of bored throughout the book. The author interjections got to be a bit much by the end and I just wanted more from the characters and plot than I felt we got. I'm super bummed because I used to really like these books but I think they just aren't for me anymore.

I've been wanting to read these books for a while now, so when I got the opportunity to read an e-ARC from Netgalley of the latest one, My Contrary Mary, I jumped at the chance! I love Mary Queen of Scots (thank you, Reign), and this fun, historical fantasy tale was right up my alley!

My Contrary Mary is told from three POVs: Mary (Queen of Scots), Francis (Dauphin of France and Mary's betrothed), and Ari (Nostradamus, and yes, as in the daughter of that Nostradamus). I loved all three POVs and think they each brought something special to the story. It was such a fun tale, reminding me a lot of the Mary and Francis from Reign, while giving it that fresh, fantasy twist.

I think the E∂ians were a really fun concept that gave this "historical" retelling the quirkiness it needed. It can definitely be read without reading the Jane books, though I'm sure readers of the Jane books will appreciate some scenes more because they read the previous books.

I loved the bits of the "future" that Ari saw. It was a fun way for readers to engage, and I always looked forward to the pop culture references throughout the story.

The characters, the story, the setting, the twists. Readers will love this fun story of a young, strong queen, a king-in-training, a Nostradamus who sees particularly funny scenes of the future, and the animal inside of us.

Mary, Queen of Scots has been betrothed to Francis, the heir of the French throne, since they were children. They are best of friends and know all of one another’s secrets— including that Mary is an Eðian and on occasion turns into a mouse. They are lucky in their commitment because they like each other and it’ll be years before they are to be wed. When the king dies unexpectedly, they must marry hastily and secure the throne while trying to evade those who are vying to steal it, all while keeping the peace between the Eðians and Verities back in Mary’s own Scotland. All in a day’s work as a Queen and King.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review! I have read all of the Lady Janies series and was ecstatic to read this latest novel from Hand, Ashton, and Meadows. It absolutely didn’t disappoint! Returning to the land of Eðians, we get to know Mary, Queen of Scots and her lively ladies in waiting. Mary herself is an Eðian and trying to conceal her secret. Like many of the leading ladies in these novels, Mary is strong willed and self possessed. Francis is sensitive and plays a lovely support to our heroine. Though at times absurd, I would argue that My Contrary Mary might prompt young readers to look up the actual history to understand the context in which the book is written. The story is propelled by the wit and modern day references peppered throughout this reimagined history. Very fun, as always. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy history, theater, and period pieces.

I loved My Lady Jane and was pleasantly surprised to find that this story takes place in the same world (with some late appearances by the characters from MLJ). The humor from the first three books is there along with the subtle pop culture references that always make me laugh. I thought they were done really well in this book. I liked the story and it made me want to look up more information about the real Mary. My only complaint is that it is on the long side (500 pages) and toward the end I'm a little ready for it to wrap up.

I was excited to read this because I have been wanting to read more historical fantasy.  Historical fantasy is a mash up of my two favorite genres, and I have previously read several that I loved.  On top of that, Mary Queen of Scots is one of the most intriguing history figures to learn about.  I have loved stories about her life since I was young.  This book sounded perfect!

Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me.  At all. I found it very hard to get through, and I sometimes avoided reading anything at all because I didn't want to continue this book.

I was expecting a fun historical fantasy, but this seemed more focused on squeezing in every humorous remark and pop culture reference.  Sometimes these were amusing, but often they didn't land.

This book also has a very distinct narrator, who cuts into the story frequently for  little quips.  I found this jarring and it took me out of the story.

The characters felt over the top and exaggerated, usually with single minded motivations.  Like the only thing the king likes is parties, and he will do anything to have another party.  

It felt like reading a middle grade book, or at least very young YA.  The characters and their motivations are very simplistic.  The story overall isn't very complicated

Oh, and the pacing was slow and boring.

Unfortunately, nothing about this worked for me

I wanted to love this one. The premise was clever, and I enjoyed it in the beginning, but ultimately the humor wasn’t for me and it almost felt cheap. It’s was also longer than expected for this type of humorous novel.

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for my review. My opinions are my own.*

I just want to say that I adore the premise of this series. It is a spin off of the books about Lady Jane Grey, which I have not read yet, but definitely intend to. This book is about Mary, Queen of Scots, whose story is easily one of the more heartbreaking in the history of female monarchs. the book covers Mary's marriage to Francis, the Dauphin of France, with a bit of a magical twist-- she's an edian, a shapeshifter, and there's a war going on between those who shapeshift and those who do not. I loved the quirky references to modern day, and the way they changed her story to make it a little less tragic than what history tells us happened to poor Mary. If you're a history person, or you just want a good magical story with a female heroine, this one's for you.

My Contrary Mary was published on 6/22/2021 and is available for purchase now.

I really needed this book earlier in the series. It follows the first book My Lady Jane, and it's been a while since I read that, so all the talk of Verities and Edians was a bit confusing at first. This is YA, so I rated it on my YA scale and it comes out to a 4.25. It wasn't nearly as enjoyable as the first book in the series, and I struggled more with the author's breaking the 4th wall, and the random pop culture references than I did the first time. Perhaps the novelty has worn off? There were a lot of characters to keep straight too, and they all seemed to have the same name...Mary. I appreciated that for the most part the book contained historical accuracies while keeping to the fantastical world presented in the first book.

Like the books in the Lady Janies series — My Lady Jane, My Plain Jane, and My Calamity Jane, My Contrary Mary twists a well-known story into a fast-paced tale full of sarcastic wit and adventure.

The authors’ tongue-in-cheek humor and conversational tone make for an enjoyable read from beginning to end. Laced with truths from the time period, this fictional look at Mary feels rooted in time and place. That she is a shapeshifter feels natural and in keeping with the very real fears of the supernatural from that time period.

My Contrary Mary is told through alternating chapters that give readers the upper had as the story plays out. And puns and Disney references keep a smile on your face. If you’re looking for a fun summer read, this is it. I can’t wait to see what these authors have up their sleeves next.