Mary, Queen of Scots, her betrothed, Francis the future King of France, and Nostradamus' daughter, Ari, navigate the hazards of court while on a coveted throne, shapeshifting in a country where it is illegal, and whatever the heck is going on in England that seems to be spilling over into their arenas.
The writing trifecta of Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows will be coming out with the much anticipated My Salty Mary novel in August 2024. In preparation for this, I read all three of the Lady Janies books and the first two Mary series books. Across five book reviews, I will share my thoughts on this wonderful, unique, sarcastic, YA historical fantasy series.
The Janies have concluded- onward to the Marys! My Contrary Mary, the first in a set of three books that retell the history of famous Marys through a slightly more magical frame, takes place in the same shapeshifting world of My Lady Jane, the first book that the trio wrote (and which was recently turned into a very cute series on Amazon Prime). Mary, Queen of Scots, is betrothed to Francis, the future King of France, and they get along surprisingly well. While Mary has to hide her shapeshifting abilities, her fiancé is a supportive confidant, and honestly, her mouse-alter-ego is the least of her problems. Francis comes from a long line of (drama) kings and queens, the Medicis, with conspiracies, suspect murders, and other secrets out the wazoo. When the duo take the throne, these issues are constantly nipping at their heels, and they seek the help of Nostradamus' daughter, Ari, to gain some clarity. Through supposed deaths, the ups and downs of being in love, and some dubious assumptions left to fester for far too long, can the trio keep themselves alive and bring peace to the kingdom?
I thought this book was another solid read- even more full of disguised pop-culture references thanks to Ari's ability to see the confusing images of the future, sometimes as far forward as our current day and age. This provides an endless stream of comedy, as does the fact that all of Mary's handmaids are also named Mary, despite having their own nicknames. I personally liked Ari's story the most, as her relationship with her father and her handmaiden queer love interest really felt like a much needed break from royal politics. The politics was played out well, but I found myself enjoying the POV of Francis more than Mary, as Mary sometimes jumped to rash conclusions that I felt were out-of-character at times. And while this novel takes place in the same world as My Lady Jane, the two are only tangentially associated with each other. Some of the characters make an appearance, but not for the entire novel.
I give this book a solid 3.5/5. I love this trifecta's writing style, and I find these books a fluffy, fun treat every time I read them.
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