My Contrary Mary (The Lady Janies)

Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodie Meadows have expanded their Lady Janie Stories to now include the powerful Marys of history. This first one is a revamp of the historical figure, Mary Queen of Scots. I like that it has cycled back to Verities Vs. Eðian (shapeshifter) and that cameo appearance of Lady Jane Gray and others from My Lady Jane are part of the plot.
Even when I know the basic history of the people used, I find myself always pausing mid-read to dig deeper into what happened so I can distinguish where our dear narrators have parted from the true account of history. This makes the series a great one to intrigue readers to learn more about history without ever having to preach to them that they should.
This series and style are a bit of a departure from my normal choice of books so I always see them as a nice palette cleanser from dark or dramatic-themed books. I love the easter eggs that are always embedded into the plot. In this story, Aristotle, daughter of Nostradamus, sees strange futures that she can’t understand. Yet, as the reader, it is a delight to pick up on the references to movies such as The Princess Bride, Titanic, The Sixth Sense, etc. I also like when the narrators break into the plot to give their opinions or commentary on what is happening.
Overall, our narrator's version of history is generally more entertaining, and wish there were a happily ever after making these historical figures so likable. I used the audiobook of this book and found the speaker to do a good job and I realized in between listening sessions her accent was in my head. I look forward to starting the next book and am excited for the third Mary book coming out later this year. This series is a fun historical fantasy that I would recommend.