My Contrary Mary: Now a Streaming Series (The Lady Janies, 12)

My Contrary Mary: Now a Streaming Series (The Lady Janies, 12)

Long live the queen: The authors who brought you the New York Times bestselling My Lady Jane kick off an all-new historical trilogy with the classy, courtly tale of Mary, Queen of Scots—perfect for YA fantasy and romance readers. Welcome to Renaissance France, a place of poison and plots, of beauties and beasts, of mice and . . . queens? Mary is the queen of Scotland and the jewel of the French court. Except when she’s a mouse. Yes, reader, Mary is an Eðian (shapeshifter) in a kingdom where Verities rule. It’s a secret that could cost her a head—or a tail.  Luckily, Mary has a confidant in her betrothed, Francis. But things at the gilded court take a treacherous turn after the king meets a suspicious end. Thrust onto the throne, Mary and Francis face a viper’s nest of conspiracies, traps, and treason. And if Mary’s secret is revealed, heads are bound to roll. With a royally clever sense of humor, Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows continue their campaign to turn history on its head in this YA fantasy ideal for fans of A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue. Shapeshifter Romance: Being Queen of Scotland is hard. Being a mouse is harder. Especially when it’s a secret that could get you beheaded. - Friends to Lovers: Mary and her betrothed, Prince Francis, have always been just friends. But as they’re thrust onto the French throne, navigating treason and conspiracies, their “just friends” arrangement gets complicated. - Found Family: Mary isn’t alone at court. With her four best friends (all also named Mary) by her side, she has a loyal crew to help her sneak out, shoot arrows, and survive the vipers’ nest of the palace. - Hilarious Historical Retelling: If you think you know the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, think again. From the authors of My Lady Jane comes another laugh-out-loud tale that turns a historical tragedy on its head. Gr 9 Up—The author team known as the Lady Janies don't let historical facts get in the way of a rollicking story full of queens, court intrigue, and shapeshifters. Set in the same world as the acclaimed "Jane" trilogy, this irreverent and wildly amusing first in a series focuses on Mary, Queen of Scots; her fiancé, the dauphin of France; Francis; and Ari, the famed seer Nostradamus's daughter. Mary, 17, and Francis, 16, have been engaged since they were five years old and best friends for almost as long, both working to keep Mary's true nature as an EÐian shapeshifter secret. For France is a country ruled by Verities, people who do not have such gifts, and where being EÐian is a death sentence. When Nostradamus has a vision of treachery in the court, Ari finds herself dragged into aristocratic life. Either age or his power has driven Ari's father out of his senses, but he does have one clear warning: Beware the biscuits. The authors manage to seamlessly blend modern humor and Renaissance France through a combination of parenthetical asides and wry self-awareness. While Mary and Francis' relationship-turned-romance takes center stage, Ari is a lesbian and has a sweet romantic subplot with one of Mary's ladies-in-waiting. The main cast is white, and the race of most supporting characters is undefined. VERDICT Full of puns, memes, and Disney references, this novel kicks off a trilogy with the perfect balance of history and paranormal and is, in short, pure fun. Recommended for YA collections.—Emmy Neal, Lake Forest Lib., IL Praise for My Calamity Jane :  “Witty and winsome, this rollicking tall tale makes its own rules.” - Booklist (starred review) “Full of twists, turns, and laugh-out-loud humor, this tongue-in-cheek feminist alternative history is impossible to put down. A thrilling alternative history that sparkles with wit and charm.” - Kirkus Reviews Praise for  My Plain Jane: ? “The authors’ affection for their source material is abundantly clear in this clever, romantic farce.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review) “A delightfully deadpan deconstruction of a Gothic novel, with a ghost almost no one can see providing the commentary. Marvelously self-aware and almost too clever for its own good.” - ALA Booklist (starred review) “A madcap story of ghosts, possession, revenge, and murder. Humorously blends fact with fiction and offers a gentler, more hopeful outcome for Charlotte, her siblings, and her heroine.” - School Library Journal (starred review) Praise for My Lady Jane :  “Wacky, irreverent, and just plain fun. This fantasy-adventure politely tips its hat to history before joyfully punting it out of the way. An utter delight.” - Booklist (starred review) “An uproarious historical fantasy that’s not to be missed.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Gleefully anachronistic comedy.” - Kirkus Reviews ★“Fast-paced, well-plotted, frequently hilarious—as delicious as the finest French pastry.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) The Lady Janies are made up of New York Times bestselling authors Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows. They fi