rubeusbeaky's reviews
538 reviews

I wanted to love this book, I was extremely excited for the magical retelling of a dark, and underdiscussed, era in American history. I couldn't wait to read the messages of female empowerment.
The book has that, and racial empowerment, and LGBTQ empowerment... And unfortunately glosses over them all with unrelenting exposition. Plot point after plot point, telling instead of showing, holding the reader's hand as if the audience is very young. And I don't think the audience /is/ meant to be young, because there are some teens-and-older themes: discovering your sexuality, coming to terms with trans-identity, systemic racism, abuse...

I was reminded of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", not by anything in the story's plot, but by the way that the story is /mostly/ plot, and doesn't stop to allow the scenery or the emotions to build. Characters simply announce, "We are friends now! We are in love now! We saved the day now!" The concept, the characters, and the world of Elysium Girls is all interesting, but the writing lacks finesse/artistry for an older audience.

This book is an absolute masterpiece!!! It's hilarious, it's emotional, it's a wonderful parody of Jane Eyre if you know the source material, /and also/ a delightful tale in its own right (someone unfamiliar to the Bronte sisters' writing would /not/ feel excluded!) The narration in particular, how it draws the reader in like we're sharing a piece of gossip, reminded me of the grandfather from "The Princess Bride", or the great Mr. Lemony Snicket: perfectly measured wit and insight. I also love how the three authors who collaborated on The Lady Janies series are rather like the Bronte sisters themselves, sharing their love of writing... So many layers in which to appreciate this book!!! <3

This book is terrifying and raw. Some of the details read like a modern Gothic horror story, the linkage of death and sex, sickness and love... It's a twisted tale told by an unwell narrator. Poe would be proud.

Oddly, this story is a rare case of "I think the adaptation actually did it better." The book has A LOT of extraneous characters, and the mini-series is more streamlined in its storytelling. The extra characters in the book all seem to be a little flat: All blonde girls are popular and mean, and all brunettes or curvy girls grow up to serve them... Very strange how the book makes these sweeping statements about how EVERYONE is trapped into who they will grow up to be as of middle school/high school. But the main characters are complex, and their dynamics are both horrifying and electrifying. Any scene where Adora, Camille or Amma play off each other is storytelling gold.

You would think the "heroes destined to be enemies, but instead they fall in love" setup would be tired by now, but this book is the exact opposite of "tired". The magic systems are fresh and interesting, the characters are human (both flawed and lovable), the plot has many twists and turns but the author takes time unfolding it all, pausing to build emotion and scenery... It's beautiful. It's romantic, in all senses of the word: nostalgic, yearning, steamy... And the switching POV is gripping, these two characters struggling with identity and compromise, it's a fable we all needed to hear. An absolutely un-put-down-able fairytale <3.

I haven't wanted to scream (in joy, rage, and grief) or throw a book this much since Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I inhaled this book like the last breath you take before screaming down a rollercoaster. I feel immensely rewarded for sticking with this series. My heart is still in my throat, hours after finishing this book. Masterpiece!

I am so glad I read "My Plain Jane" before I read "My Lady Jane", because MPJ is delightful, while MLJ is redundant and boring! Read this series. Follow these authors. They have wonderful wit. This first book does /not/; it is very much a first draft.

* Typos throughout. Who edited this book?
* The same "jokes" retold over and over. They weren't funny the first time, why should they be funny the hundredth time?
- A long list of synonyms is not a joke.
- Frequently reminded us that a person has a large nose is not a joke.
- Presenting a world where shapeshifters exist, and then expecting us to find a horse funny is not a joke. It's the world. Being a wizard in Harry Potter isn't a punchline.
- Sudden nudity, molestation, or unwanted oggling isn't a joke.
* In the final chapters the authors undo their own dramatic tension with frequent asides in parentheses explaining to the reader how they don't /actually/ need to worry about a character's safety, and they will be guaranteed a happy ending.
* Every single character is petulant and constantly bickering. The rampant jealousy in this book makes every arc insufferable. Why should a girl be jealous of a boy's /pet dog's/ affections?!
* Jane is the title character, but she is the least effective. Half the book is devoted to Edward's story. The half which follows Jane is largely about what guilt or drama her horse husband is going through. About halfway through the book, SPOILER Jane turns into a ferret, and needs to be carried around or rescued for another hundred pages. She becomes a /literal/ prop in her own book! Worst main character ever.

Indulgent in descriptions of nature and travel is about the only negative of this series. It's human, it's magical, it's timeless.

This book was an amazing, fresh perspective on the universe of Red Rising. Literally, since it shifts perspectives between 4 different narrators. It was exciting and invigorating to tell the tale from all the different echelons.

Sadly, 3/4 narrators were unlikable in the end, and Darrow is (rightfully) the villain of his own tale, at this point. It was a depressing turn of events from the previous trilogy's triumphant conclusion :(.