Review: My Plain Jane (The Lady Janies #2) by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows

Title: My Plain Jane

Series: The Lady Janies #2 (but can be read as standalone)

Previous book in this series: My Lady Jane

Author: Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows

Genre: YA, historical, fantasy

Publication date: June 2018

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: 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 rating: ★★★★★

In my review of My Lady Jane, I mentioned how I just don’t really read historical-type books, but recently I was in the rare (and weird) mood where I was craving something a little historical. I honestly blame Chain of Thorns. Lol. I was in that world for a long time, and then I finished it and I was still wanting something historical... but with a paranormal element to it! Enter this book! My Plain Jane is a retelling of Jane Eyre... but with ghosts! It was great!

Review: My Lady Jane (The Lady Janies #1) by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows

Title: My Lady Jane

Series: The Lady Janies #1 (but can be read as standalone)

Authors: Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows

Genre: YA, historical, fantasy

Publication date: June 2016

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: This comical, fantastical, romantical, New York Times bestselling, (not) entirely true story of Lady Jane Grey is “an uproarious historical fantasy that’s not to be missed” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

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

At sixteen, Lady Jane Grey is about to be married off to a stranger and caught up in a conspiracy to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about. Jane gets to be Queen of England.

Like that could go wrong.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I'm not really one for historical-type books, but this one, for whatever reason, really appealed to me. And I'm glad I read it because I ended up really enjoying it! It was fun and ridiculous and I liked it more than I thought I would.

Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Title: Everneath

Series: Everneath #1

Author: Brodi Ashton

Genre: YA, paranormal romance, Greek mythology

Publication date: January 24, 2012

Published by: Balzer + Bray

Source: The publishers via Netgalley

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Synopsis:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

My rating: ★★★★☆
I love my mythology, and I have to say, this was an interesting take on the Underworld. A bit on the odd side, but still interesting :)

I think I saw a little Orpheus/Eurydice twist in there (Nikki and Jack), I thought that was very sweet...that Greek story is really moving. Nikki felt a bit empty in the beginning, but I think that was the point. Cole...Cole I thought was a very complicated character. Sometimes I hated him so much I wished he would just go back and stay in the Underworld (AKA the Everneath) forever! Other times he was very sweet and charming and making me swoon like a fangirl...then he would be a jerk again, making me want to smash that guitar of his over his head! Speaking of Cole, I still don't fully understand what the heck he is!! I know he isn't a god...hmm...maybe I'll get more info in the next book?

Anyway, I thought the story was really interesting. I really liked the flashback type things...I thought they were really insightful. And even though it had a terribly sad ending (I still can't believe that happened!), I thought it was a great book overall and I can't wait for the next one to come out!

P.S. I love the cover! It's beautiful!

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a comment! :)