#Review - My Calamity Jane by Hand, Ashton, Meadows #YA #Fantasy

Series: The Lady Janies #3
Format: Hardcover, 544 pages
Release Date: June 2, 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy

Hold on to your hats: The authors of My Plain Jane are back with a side-splittin’, whopper-filled (but actually kind of factual?) historical retelling, and it’s the not-so-tall-tale of the one and only Calamity Jane. 


Welcome to 1876 and a rootin’-tootin’ America bursting with gunslingers, outlaws, and garou—better known as werewolves.

Calamity Jane’s her name, and garou hunting’s her game—when she’s not starring in Wild Bill’s Traveling Show with Annie Oakley and Frank “the Pistol Prince” Butler, that is.

But after a garou hunt goes south and Jane finds a suspicious-like bite on her arm, she turns tail for Deadwood, where there’s been talk of a garou cure. But things ain’t always what they seem—meaning the gang better hightail it after her before they’re a day late and a Jane short.

My Calamity Jane, by co-authors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows, is the third installment in the authors The Lady Janies series. The authors turn back the hands of time to the year 1876 where we find 17-year old Calamity "Heroine of the Plains" Jane in Cincinnati, Ohio with Wild Bill Hickok’s Traveling Show. There's Wild Bill Hickok, of course, Pinkerton Detective Charlie Utter, and Frank “the Pistol Prince” Butler who was born in Ireland and is a deadly accurate sharpshooter.

In infamous gunslinger Bill Hickok's Wild Bill's Wild West theatrical traveling show, the group travels around the country entertaining audiences with tales of their adventures and performing sharpshooter and rodeo tricks. But, this isn't about the show itself, it's about a group of individuals who are secretly loup garou hunters. Bill has been hunting the Alpha for years. When words gets back to them that workers at a local plant have been infected, turning humans into loup garou, the group sets off to set the Alpha straight.  

They are joined by 16-year old Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Mosey; August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) who taught herself to shoot and challenges Frank's dominance which proves that women are just as badass as men. Frank's pretty sure he's met the love of his life. Too bad that she may have some prejudices she needs to examine before they can rush into marriage. Unfortunately during the hunt, Jane is bitten by one of them and since there's no cure, she'll likely to become a loup garou. These same wolves nearly killed Annie when she was young, so she has a good reason to want a little revenge. This turn of events sends Jane off on what might be a fruitless hunt for a cure, and everyone else on a hunt for Jane.

This takes the group from Cincinnati, to Deadwood where someone is claiming that they are able to cure loup garou. As with the previous installments, the authors use (3) narrators to tell the story: Jane, Annie, and Frank. Jane loves living life on her own terms and has come a long way from the tragedies of her childhood, but sometimes the sadness still lingers and she gets to explore it more when her life takes an unexpected turn. Annie wants to support her family, but her  impulsiveness to go on an adventure ends up costing her. She's really does have supreme confidence in her abilities and never backs down in the face of unfavorable odds. Including making friends with two Indian women who have seen first hand what Deadwood, Dakota Territory is capable of. 

I'm impressed that the authors are able to mix in a bit of fantasy with actual historical figures like Annie, Wild Bill, Frank, and Jane. There's a bit of realism involved as well since it is the last 19th century and things aren't exactly perfect for everyone who lived in this area. There is a bit of romance on two fronts: Annie and Frank who apparently really did fall in love in real life, while giving Jane, who was totally not the person the author depicts her to be in this story, one as well.

 
Calamity Jane (May 1, 1852 – August 1, 1903) really did make a name for herself in the Wild West, and by all accounts, had the same larger-than-life personality as our fearless protagonist. But like the best revisionist history, My Calamity Jane tweaks minor details, completely rearranges major details, and turns a true story on its head in service of fun, romance, and good storytelling. In the real world, Jane was a deadly shot. In this book, she's deadly with a whip. The real Calamity Jane had a reputation big enough to eclipse the moon, but not everything folks said was kind—or true. In this story, our big-hearted, whopper-telling Jane gets a happier ending. 

 
At its core, My Calamity Jane is a tale for all the ladies of the Wild West who tended to be overshadowed by their male counterparts. Annie and Jane are powerful, complex characters and each brings a different kind of tough to the table.

 

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#Review - My Plain Jane by Hand, Meadows, & Ashton #YALit #Fantasy

Series: The Lady Janies # 2
Format: E-Book, 464 pages
Release Date: June 26, 2018
Publisher: HaperTeen
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Genre: Young Adult / Romantic Comedy

You may think you know the story. After a miserable childhood, penniless orphan Jane Eyre embarks on a new life as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There, she meets one dark, brooding Mr. Rochester. Despite their significant age gap (!) and his uneven temper (!!), they fall in love—and, Reader, she marries him. (!!!)

Or does she?

Prepare for an adventure of Gothic proportions, in which all is not as it seems, a certain gentleman is hiding more than skeletons in his closets, and one orphan Jane Eyre, aspiring author Charlotte Brontë, and supernatural investigator Alexander Blackwood are about to be drawn together on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights.

My Plain Jane is the second installment in The Lady Janies series by authors Hand, Meadows, and Ashton. Move over, Charlotte Brontë, the authors of My Lady Jane are back with a fantastic, romantic, hilarious reimagining of Jane Eyre. Once again, the authors write another irreverent tale of mischief, mayhem, and romance—perfect for fans of The Princess Bride or A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue.

Let me start out by saying that this story takes place in 1834 when William the IV was King of England. Let me also say that the story revolves around three specific characters; Jane, Charlotte and Alexander Blackwood. While the story itself is part of the Lady Janies series, it is really Charlotte who tells the story, and plays much more of an important role than Jane does. It starts out with two girls, Jane and Charlotte, who are part of the Lowood Girls home. 

Charlotte is a parsons daughter who has already lost 2 sisters to the so called Graveyard Disease. She also has 2 younger sisters, and a brother. She is a wannabe writer who writes about every subject, but her most interesting is Jane Frere. Jane is a penniless orphan who was dumped at Lowood by her own aunt after calling her disobedient, and a heathen girl headed for hell.  Oh, did I mention that Jane has the ability to see ghosts? 

Since a bad deal happened to her when she was a child, Jane has been able to see ghosts. Jane has a few rules when it comes to ghosts: Rule # 1 - Never tell anyone that you can see ghosts. 2. Never interact with or speak to a ghost in the presence of a living person. Rule # 3 - No matter how tempted, no matter how interesting the ghost, no matter how pressing the situation, refer to Rules 1 & 2. All this is fine and dandy, but when your best friend is a ghost, and your other best friend is a writer who is inquisitive, it is hard to be secretive about her ability. 

In this reality, there's an organization called the Royal Society for the Relocation of Wayward Spirits. As you have already been introduced to Jane and Charlotte, this where you get to discover Alexander Blackwood who works for the society. Alexander is at the top of his game. He has successfully collected and relocated more ghosts than anyone else. Until he discovers a girl who can see ghosts but pretends that she doesn't. Alexander tracks the girl, Jane, to Lowood and offers her a job. 

You obviously know what happens next since the authors have tried to stay somewhat true to the original story. Jane discovers an ad for a governess position at Thornfield Hall. There she meets Mr. Rochester who she finds herself drawn to. Meanwhile, Charlotte takes control over her own life. She stalks Blackwood down, and travels back to London with him where all sorts of hijinks and they embark on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights. While the mystery deepens, Charlotte knows that Jane may be the only one able to help them solve a life or death mystery. Will she abide, or will she walk into the sunset with the secretive Mr. Rochester?

Not sure if I said this before, but it is really interesting to read parts of the story where the authors are actually talking to the readers directly to explain what they are doing, and why they are making a mockery out of certain aspects of the classic works that have been re-imaged. One of my favorite characters in this book, Helen Burns, just happens to also be Jane's best friend and the ghost I mentioned earlier. She's pretty humorous and keeps things moving along. 

I would say that Charlotte is my second favorite because she's very determined, and she's a captivating character who you definitely want to root for. Jane really isn't necessarily a main character. She's the focus of Charlotte's story, and therefore there are things that readers will only learn by reading her parts of the story. While My Plain Jane is definitely darker than My Lady Jane, it still has all the markings of this series: humor, ridiculousness, paranormal creatures, loveable characters, and top-notch writing.  

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#Review - My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows #YALIT #Fantasy

Series: The Lady Janies # 1
Format: Hardcover, 512 pages
Release Date: June 7, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult /  Romantic Comedy

In the tradition of The Princess Bride comes a fantastical, romantical, hilarious(ical) adventure inspired by the true story of Lady Jane Grey—or, “an uproarious historical fantasy that’s not to be missed” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Lady Jane Grey, sixteen, is about to be married to a total stranger—and caught up in an insidious plot to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his crown. But that’s the least of Jane’s problems. Jane’s about to become Queen of England.

Like that could go wrong.

In My Lady Jane, coauthors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows have created a one-of-a-kind fantasy featuring a reluctant king, an even more reluctant queen, a noble steed, true love, and only a passing resemblance to actual history—because sometimes history needs a little help.

My Lady Jane is the first installment in The Lady Janies series by co-authors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows. Let's get the facts out of the way first. This is a story about a real life historical figure named Lady Jane Grey who spent 9 days as Queen of England before... See, I'm pushing you towards actually looking up to what she really happened to her. You need more HISTORY in your lives! The authors have manipulated and tweaked and completely rearranged major details. 

They added a touch of magic to keep things interesting. So really anything could happen. The authors then added a bit of hijinks, romance, action, adventure and plenty of fun where history gets turned on its bloody head. The year is 1553. In this world, there are those called Edian. The E∂ians were blessed (or cursed, depending on your point of view) with the ability to switch between a human form and an animal one. That second group (known as Verities) believed that human beings had no business being anything other than human beings.

And because Verities were largely in charge of everything, E∂ians were persecuted and hunted until most of them died out or went deep into hiding. The story begins in the middle of tense times, with an increasing animosity brewing between E∂ians and Verities, a teenage king with a tenuous grasp on the throne of England, and a young lord and lady who have no idea their destinies are about to collide. Totally against their will.

As King Edward is being told he only has months to live, his cousin 16-year old Lady Jane Grey is being forced into marrying a complete stranger (Lord Guildford). Jane, who has been previously betrothed numerous times, loves to read and research history, philosophy, and religion. Jane is also notoriously willful which has left four previous suitors in the dirt. Jane really doesn't care for G when they meet. First, they have to marry at night. NIGHT, I say unto thee! Why in bloody hades must one be married at night!!!

Second, she believes the rumors about his womanizing, especially since nobody, including her best friend, or his family, failed to tell her the truth about her intended. The twisted part is that Lord Guildford is what the authors called a undomesticated horseman who lives an entirely nighttime existence. Horse by night, human by day. Even though it believes it to be a curse, he wouldn't change the freedom of what being a horse brings to him. The twist part is that the two have such a rollercoaster ride of emotions that you can't hope and keep your fingers crossed that things work out for them. 

Since this is a retelling of the famous Tudor family, let's say that the Verities are Catholics, and Edian's are Protestants. The country is on the cusp of a war between the factions due in large part because the Edian's can shapeshift, and the Verities hate them for that. The Verities are all about burning, beheading, and whatever it takes to keep the Edian's from gaining any power. So, here we have a King, Edward, who has never kissed a girl, or fallen in love, on the edge of dying at a very young age. After changing the rules of succession, suddenly Jane becomes Queen. But.....

By the way, I liked this Edward. I especially loved his relationship with not only Jane who he grew up with, but his sister Bess, who you can call Queen Elizabeth. Then there's Gracie who refuses to call him King, and is really an interesting character. Lady Grey is a feisty girl with intelligence and things are going to drive you wild once you get through the story and discover the twists. Next, there is G, for Guildford he considers his "condition" to be a curse, others consider it a blessing, including Jane who would love to be able to shapeshift. Naturally we have the villains, who, I will just call her Bloody Mary and you can figure out who I am talking about.

“Very funny, my lady. And that reminds me"---he pointed a finger at her---"no horse jokes."
He was making it too easy. "Ah, my lord, why the long face?"
"That's it!”

Curiosity oftens sends me on researching different historical characters so, let me just say that these are historically accurate characters with a modern day spin and twist to make them have totally different lives than they actually lived. Yes, they all existed. They all played a part in the days of the Tudors, including Elizabeth Tudor, the sister to Mary and Edward. The story also includes Mary Queen of Scots. The story is actually broken into 2 parts. The first part is where history is pretty much followed as it apparently happened, while part 2 is history manipulated by the authors to fit their twisted imaginations. It definitely works.

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