Buddy Read Review - My Lady Jane

Coll's Rating: 3.75 Stars
Tiina's Rating: 3.5 Stars

T: This time we’re buddy reviewing My Lady Jane by Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton, and Cynthia Hand. These three ladies focus on one story in particular and then take vast liberties with it. I have to start with a confession, despite having studied English history, I couldn’t remember much about the actual Lady Jane Grey. So basically I went in with very little knowledge of the story: apart from the actual Henry VIII, his wives, and the succession issues. I did love how the E∂ians (pronouced Ethians) symbolised the Church of England. I think that was my favourite part. Such a clever twist.

C: Yeah I remembered a decent amount about Jane so I was excited to see how they would work that historical story into something more fantastical. There seemed to be a decent amount of research done by the authors before writing it, but it is a rather loose account of the story, which was the goal I guess. I am a HUGE fantasy fan so I loved the elements they used to twist the story into something more magical. E∂ians, people who could shape-shift into animals, and Verities, the people who opposed them, was a great way I think.

T: Exactly. I mean to take apart history like this you need to know the nuances well, and it worked in this case. The fantasy element was done well, it was really seamless. After reading the blurb I kept thinking how they’d work the horse thing into the story, and I was surprised as to how easily I accepted it. It is also interesting how the three authors worked well together. That can’t have been easy. Do you think each of them was in charge of one narrative voice (Jane, Gifford, and Edward)?

C: Oh yeah, I totally think they each wrote a certain character. I think that is why it worked so seamlessly for me. Usually I don't like author collaborations because they can be a bit choppy sometimes, but I think having each author voice a different character is a great technique to use. I also agree with you that the fantasy aspect was presented in a way that was believable to me, which is always a sign of a good fantasy story. Also is it just me or did this read a lot like a fairy take to you? The entire time I was reading I kept thinking "Hey this is so like a fairy tale for adults!"

T: Ha, good point about the fairy tale. It wasn’t my immediate thought, though. I got more Princess Bride vibes. And this reminds me of how I enjoyed the allusions to other more modern literature. I think it was a fun twist. By the way, they will also cover two more Janes: Jane Eyre and Calamity Jane. The first is my favourite book so I look forward to seeing how they fare with her. I don’t think the story needs too much changing, however.

C: Okay so as much as I did enjoy My Lady Jane, I did have a few issues while reading it. I don't want to give any spoilers so I will try to keep this vague but informative. Throughout the story there were little comments scattered about by the authors, usually relating to what was going on. While oftentimes I found these funny, they did start to grow tiresome at a point. I also found they went off on tangents sometimes that seemed unnecessary. So I had mixed feelings on that aspect. What did you think?

T: I agree. I’ll admit, for the first half of the book, they didn’t bother me all that much. I’m a huge fan of parenthesis, so I was definitely biased. However, in the second half (and especially in the last 50ish pages) they actually annoyed me. I understand they are meant to take you out of the story, but it wasn’t done perfectly, as it was more annoying that informative. Less would have been more in this case. Also, I think in general my hopes were too high for this book. I heard only good things and how hilarious it’ll be, so the whole novel actually fell a bit flat for me. Some of the jokes were even a bit lazy and obvious. They came

Cover comparison:
Paperback    vs    Hardcover

off as authors’ inside jokes, and those can be done well, but they didn’t all work here. My rating for this book is thus 3,5 stars. I liked it, I enjoyed reading it, but it wasn’t absolutely amazing. On Goodreads I rounded it down to 3 for a very superficial reason: I read the paperback and I just did NOT understand that cover decision. The hardback one is so crisp, lovely, and extremely striking. The paperback one comes off severely dowdy in comparison, although I see how it’s meant to look like paintings at the time. 
What about you, Coll? Rating?

C: Oh man I was so torn on my rating. I loved reading the book and was always looking forward to picking it back up. To me it was a great example of YA historical Fantasy (is that a thing?) and I did find it quite funny at times. I caught some ASOIAF references (GoT for those who didn’t read the book series) and that I really appreciated. I was at 4 stars until something at the end irked me. It had nothing to do with the author comments, or the cover (I had a very pretty cover on mine and Tiina was quite jealous), but with the way a certain influential and well-known historical writer was represented at the end of the book. Vague, I know, but I don't want to spoil anything. Is this petty of me? I don't think so, I just know how I felt and went with that. I actually give it a 3.75 (4 on GR). I feel like for me it was above 3.5 but not a full 4. To some, that .25 of a percent might be insignificant, but it is huge people!

T: I wouldn’t say it’s petty since I know what Coll is talking about and the same thing annoyed me. It seemed like a last minute decision as it’d seemingly been a huge plot point throughout the book, but in the end the resolution was mentioned in passing. Very unsatisfying. So yeah, not quite a 4 star read for either of us but I would definitely recommend it to others. Well, mainly because Jane is every book lover’s spirit animal ;-) (You will get it when you read the book). I did enjoy the reading experience, and it was definitely unique among the books I’ve read.

C: Yeah overall I really had a great time reading this book. It is worth the read and I am glad that I own a signed copy of it (thanks Uppercase Box!). I also think a wide range of people would enjoy this book. It is fun, an easy read, and you will learn something from it too. I think it will also prompt people to go look into the story of the real Lady Jane (be prepared to be depressed from that though, fyi). So yeah, to make a long closing short, My Lady Jane is a really delightful book and we definitely recommend it.

“Armies aren't very good about carrying libraries with them. I can't imagine why. We'd fight so much less if everyone would just sit down and read”

If you want to hear from the author’s about how they, the writing process, and the book idea check out this adorable and very awesome Uppercase Box video on YouTube, with Cynthia, Brodi, and Jodi giving their accounts of everything. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zdiL83am0U

Buddy Read Review - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Tiina's Rating - 3.5 Stars
Coll's rating - 3.5 Stars

OK, so we decided to let the hype around Harry Potter and the Cursed Child die down a bit before we jumped onto the bandwagon. And by hype, I really do mean controversy. There have been a lot of issues surrounding the published script book, and it is universally acknowledged that it’s not the tightest of plays, plot-wise. Then again neither of us has actually seen the stage production so the review will focus only on the written version. Here’re our thoughts.

T: Right, so I’ll start with an odd disclaimer. Unusually for anything related to Harry Potter, I went into this with very low expectations. And I think I was right to do so. What about you? What were your thoughts before starting?

C: Oh, yeah. Same for me. I actually didn't mind waiting to read it until a month or so until after it was out. I didn't want to be swayed by the hype and I also wanted to disassociate it as much as I could from the original HP books. I just wanted to go into it viewing it as its own entity and not being influenced by anything else. I felt that was the best way to form an honest opinion of it, ya know?

T: Yep, I completely agree. I think if one was to listen to JK Rowling and read this as belonging to the canon, then the reader would be very … disappointed even. I mean after finishing I’ve read up more and more about it, and I think it did feel rushed, and most of the things I love about HP weren’t there. There was some humour, though, which I enjoyed. I think Scorpius was a hoot and a half. Is this a spoiler? I mean we find out quite early on that he’s a good egg.

C: Oh Scorpius was the high point of the book for me! I adored everything about him and the juxtaposition between him and his relatives. Is this a spoiler? I agree it felt rushed, but I attribute that to the format. I think the main thing this book suffered from was lack of detail. Any true HP fan will, either consciously or subconsciously, go into this book hoping for an in-depth and detailed story, and that is not what you get from Cursed Child. This mainly has to do with it being written in play format. I believe that as an actual fiction book this could have been quite amazing. I just felt I was not being totally immersed in the story or the characters and that is what I was really wanting.

T: I’m not sure it counts as a spoiler since we find out in the first act that Scorpius is not like his parent. And as to the rest you said? Exactly!! The facts and details are what were clearly missing from this play. I’m not even fully sure it’s about the format, for some reason it comes off as not a lot of thought went into this. I am not sure I’m making sense. I think it’s just a little cheesy, they always went for the most obvious joke, the most obvious “calming phrase” or a lecture on morality. It’s like all the characters were caricatures of themselves, not the real thing. Ron, for instance, was made out to be a boy in a man’s body, when everyone else had grown up. This may be controversial, ha!

C: Oh yeah, I had some issues with several character portrayals. Not only Ron but also Harry and Albus, as my main two to point out. However I can't help but wonder if this was done in order to make it stand out on the stage. Like if they went for dramatic character actions as opposed to subtle to make them stand out. Am I making sense? Now I don't want it coming off like I have only negatives to say about the book because there was quite a lot that I liked. Like the main premise of the story, for example, which I won't go into detail about so I avoid spoilers. I just thought it was quite creative and drew on a lot from the original books, which I quite liked. Not to mention there were several twists I did not expect, which made it more interesting. Also I found myself gaining a slight soft spot for characters that I would normally hate, which I think was Rowling's way of showing that people can change.

T: Yep, although there was a lot about the main plot that was very convenient, but I did enjoy a whole play on something that was only slightly dealt with in one previous book. And I think it in a way answered a lot of questions people would have about this aspect. It’s a used trope, sure, but it worked well in this world, and showed how we really shouldn’t meddle with… you-know-what. You’ll know if you read this script book.

There is one aspect about the play that I didn’t think was very nice.  I was warned about this before, and I didn’t think it’d be this obvious, but it was. Unfortunately, and so unnecessarily in this day and age. I’m talking about queerbaiting here. I didn’t know the term for this before The Cursed Child, and now I do, which is sad. I got a very strong feeling throughout the whole play that Scorpius and Albus are meant to be a couple. There were strong indications from the start, as if they are skirting around the subject of them falling in love, until it’s yanked away towards the end with very obvious and awkward manifestations of straightness. Did you get that feeling at all?

C: Yeah I was also a bit confused by that. There were certain connotations in the beginning that just got pushed aside towards the end and forgotten about. Maybe I was just reading too much into character interactions, but I feel like it was quite obvious and something most people would have noticed. I also noticed a few plot holes, and some things that had me stop and think "Well if this were the case,wouldn't we have noticed something in the previous books?". I feel like we are bashing the book though and it did have it's high points. After all we both ended up giving it 3.5 stars, so we did like it quite a bit.

T: I don’t think we’re exactly bashing the book, but a play that is so high-profile as this one – I mean Harry Potter is a world-wide phenomenon and there probably isn’t a person alive who hasn’t heard of it – it just seems like slightly shoddy work, to be honest. Too much controversy for a work like this. But I stand by my 3,5-star rating: for the nostalgia factor, for a good time, for some really great humour. I’d recommend it to other readers, but with a caveat of not expecting an eight Harry Potter novel. I know it’s obvious, but I’m sure many read it as such. I’m glad I read it, and I would watch it performed on stage if I ever got the chance. Unlikely, but hey, there ya go. Any final thoughts?

C: I think if it had not been sold as part of such an iconic series like HP this book would have not faced as much criticism, obviously. Looking at it for what it is, it was quite enjoyable, humorous, nostalgic, and well worth the read. Yes, there was plenty that I wish had been added or elaborated, but we don't always get our wishes. ;-) I did enjoy my time reading it and it gave me many great feelings and made me want to go back and reread the series (for the fourth time). I definitely think it should be read, but only if you go into it without expectations and minimal comparisons. In the end it did not make me think less of any characters, and it made me think more highly of a few, so in the end that is always a good thing.

Our rating: 3,5 stars, rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.

Buddy Read Review! - Rebel of the Sands

T: One of the reasons why we started this blog was to have a more official outlet for our buddy read discussions. So far, we've been kind of slacking on that, mainly because we've been unable to find a medium that works for a joint review. So here goes. It's going to be awkward, people.

Coll: Man, why did we never plan this out if it was our main reason for doing a blog? LOL

T: Because we got carried away with choosing the appropriately bookish wallpaper and fonts? Anyways, we ask you to bear with us if you are reading this. The buddy review is a work in progress and your feedback would be appreciated! So, how about I kick this off. Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton. All I heard before starting was that the book is a Middle Easterny YA fantasy with a kickass heroine. Also, the cover is drop-dead gorgeous.

Coll: Well I have always been a YA fan (#noshame) and the idea of this being Middle Eastern set came off as very awesome to me. It was just something so out of the ordinary in terms of YA novels, which often follow a certain theme in terms of setting and the nationalities of protagonists. So yeah, this being so out of the box made me really enjoy it, as well as the desert setting. Hell I think the majority of desert set books I have read have been non-fiction, so this was a nice change for a fiction book.

T: Oh yeah, I agree with it being completely unusual and a little bit different to the typical US- and UK-centric literature that it out there. Also, the only other desert books I’ve read have been historical crime fiction, so this seemed like a treat. The novel had overwhelmingly positive reviews so the hype made me slightly hesitant, but I ended up really loving the book. I think it’s a strong 4.5 stars in my opinion, and I can’t wait to continue on with the adventure. I knocked off half a star because I didn’t feel thoroughly connected to the characters throughout the whole book.

Coll: Yeah, one of my big issues, which I am sure has become apparent from my reviews, is that I really want strong connections with the characters. If that is missing for me it becomes a slight dilemma, and unfortunately that was one of the flaws for me with Rebel. I did not feel especially connected or sympathetic to the main character. I actually felt more of a bond with a secondary character than I did the main, so that threw me off a bit. But that is kind of a small complaint for me, I suppose, because of how much I enjoyed the story. One aspect that I fell in love with was the melding of mythos with reality in the world the book is set in, Miraji.

T: Yep, I agree. And I don’t often read books about djinnis so that made it even more special for me. I think the author walked that fine line between info-dumping and brilliant world-building very well. It would’ve been easy to just explain everything at once, but I loved how we got smallish bits throughout the whole thing. Also, we got not only the mythology of one country, but an idea how a similar legend was transformed in different cultures. This was so well-done, I think.

Coll: Oh yeah definitely! I will admit it threw me off a bit at first because I did not know how much of the myth and folklore would be worked throughout the book, but only a few chapters in I realized how brilliantly Hamilton was merging everything together. I mean, throwing a fantasy aspect into a book will usually hook me, meld it with reality and I am all yours. There was also a romance facet in the book that was not overbearing, which made me very happy. I have had many a book ruined for me by the story getting interrupted by romance and that was one of my fears going into this book. I feel like it was all done on the right levels though, and it actually helped to build the story.

T: Yep, and it wasn’t instalove. Yes, in a way there was attraction right away but mutual respect took time to develop. I actually wanted a tad more romance (of course I did), and I loved, loved, loved how there wasn’t a hint of a love triangle. Yet. There better not be one, is all I’m saying! Sidenote. Were you also trying to figure out which actual Middle Eastern/European/African countries inspired the fictional ones? I did, but hopefully being ignorant about world politics will actually pay off in the sense that I won’t be spoiled for the possible future plot points ;-)?

Coll: Well of course you wanted more romance. You aaaaalways do. But for me it was just right. ;-) And yes, I did spend a great deal of time trying to figure out the locations that inspired the setting. I actually got so into thinking about that at one point that I had to shove those thoughts aside and just get on with the story. Overall I enjoyed almost everything about the book. Sure there were a few issues for me, such as some shortfalls with character development and lack of attachment, also I felt some parts were just a little too rushed. But as is the case with many first books in a series, it is a lot more about building the story before getting to the meat of everything.

T: I kind of agree about it being slightly rushed. The ending and ultimate showdown felt a bit confusing and quick. Still, it was great fun and I can see how it’s setting up for sequels. Now, one last thing that I have to mention: one of my favourite things was how I completely misjudged any coming plot twists. Everything I guessed would happen, didn’t. I loved that. Also, what did you end up rating the book?

Coll: Yeah, some parts left me a little let down, like I expected a bigger final climax after everything, but it was still enjoyable for me. And oh hell yeah, I was WAY off the mark with my predictions, so kudos to Hamilton for fooling us. Actually, one of my favorite things was how all my predictions were wrong because then I got to be surprised in the end. I went with a four star rating. I found the book incredibly entertaining and I did not want to put it down. Any issues I had were small in regards to the big picture and I will definitely be continuing with the series. How about you?

T: Definitely picking up the second one. Thankfully the ending didn’t feature a huge cliffhanger so I won’t be dying.  All in all, this was a fun book. Like I said before, 4,5 stars. It was a really quick read and I really do look forward to the future instalments. I just hope the covers are as gorgeous. ;-)

Coll: Well I could have done with a slightly bigger cliffhanger, but you know me, I am a glutton for punishment like that. But yeah, altogether a fun read, unique plot, and awesome world. I have high hopes that the series will just continue to get even better and I look forward to the day where I am once again immersed in the world of Miraji. So there you have it, our take on Rebel of the Sands. We hope you enjoyed our first Buddy Read Review. Thanks for tuning in! :-)

“Tell me that and we’ll go. Right now. Save ourselves and leave this place to burn. Tell me that’s how you want your story to go and we’ll write it straight across the sand”