From the Publisher
★ “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
“Three cheers for this well-written and rollicking revision of history full of timely mannerisms and bold adventure. Those who enjoy clever humor, colorful fantasy, and light romance will savor each page.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
“The Tudors meets Monty Python. Prepare to laugh and gasp and clutch your pearls.” — Tahereh Mafi, New York Times bestselling author of the Shatter Me series
“History, humor, and unexpected magic come together in this marvelous story.” — Jessica Day George, author of Silver in the Blood
“Adventure, intrigue, humor, and romance abound. A great choice for those who enjoy lighthearted, alternative history adventures.” — School Library Journal
Booklist (starred review)
★ “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.
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Three cheers for this well-written and rollicking revision of history full of timely mannerisms and bold adventure. Those who enjoy clever humor, colorful fantasy, and light romance will savor each page.
Jessica Day George
History, humor, and unexpected magic come together in this marvelous story.
Tahereh Mafi
The Tudors meets Monty Python. Prepare to laugh and gasp and clutch your pearls.
Kirkus Reviews
2016-03-16
Lady Jane Grey's nine days as queen are reimagined as a tongue-in-cheek shape-shifter romance. Between the reigns of adolescent King Edward VI and his bloodthirsty half sister, Mary I, England was ruled for nine days by doomed Lady Jane, a 16-year-old political pawn—or that's how it went in our world. In the world of this novel, both Edward and Jane have happier endings. Instead of Catholics and Protestants, England is torn between the Eðians, who shape-shift into animals, and the Verities, who loathe them. As in reality, Jane is wed to Gifford (Guildford in history) Dudley, installed as queen, and imprisoned by Mary. However, this Jane and Gifford escape their executions through animal magic. It's inconvenient for the newlyweds' sex life that Gifford spends every dawn to dusk as a horse, but it's also terribly convenient for frantic escapes from Mary's soldiers. Fourth-wall-breaking and pop-culture references that span from Shakespeare to Game of Thrones show signs of strain, especially the many references to The Princess Bride (1973). The latter, sometimes layered one atop the other without a break, merely highlight this book's contrast with the classic's stellar comic timing; perhaps it's for the best that few teen readers will be familiar with either the decades-old film or even older book. Joan Aiken or Terry Pratchett this ain't, but the lightweight, gleefully anachronistic comedy will entertain with its cast of likable heroes and buffoonish villains. (Fantasy. 13-17)
