My Contrary Mary Review

This is the first book of the Mary series. Written by the same authors who wrote the Lady Janies series. 

This is a historical fantasy book inspired the the life of Mary, Queen of Scots (our titular Mary) and Francis II (her husband), and other real life historical figures at the time that they worked with or were related to. Mary and Francis are two of our POV characters, still told in third person. There are also some made-up brand new characters related to real historical figures, and one of them is our third POV, Ari. She is the daughter of the famed psychic and apothecary Nostradamus. Ari is not super good at being a psychic, but she is a good apothecary.

It takes place in the same world as My Lady Jane, the first book of the Mary series, where everyone is either and Ethian (someone who can turn into an animal) or a Verity (those who cannot turn into animals). The Ethians and the Verities are always in conflicts with each other. In Scotland where our titular Mary is from, almost everyone thinks Mary is a Verity, but she is secretly an Ethian (she can turn into a mouse). She has lived in France since she was a child and she is set to Mary her childhood friend, Francis. But it turns out their marriage isn't as ideal as they thought, as there are many forces affecting it: First, Mary's two uncles were part of setting up their marriage and they seem to have ulterior motives for the future of Scotland and France. Second, Francis's mother Queen Catherine seems to have something against her own son and Mary and tries to get her close friend Nostradamus and his daughter Ari to intervene in their plans. Third, one of Mary's ladies in waiting, Liv, seems enamored with Ari, and Mary worries how it will affect her friendship with her as she doesn't trust Ari at first. Ari herself is conflicted, too, as she can't disobey the queen, but doesn't want everyone to get hurt either. 

Just like all of the author's previous historical fantasy books, it's great! There are so many twists, and turns, and you will feel all the feels throughout the story. The characters from My Lady Jane make cameo appearances towards the end of the novel, too. 

I gave it 4.5 stars, but that was for the usual reasons I took points off the book: it took me a while to understand who the characters were, and then whenever characters died or talked about dying. 

I am excited to read My Imaginary Mary next!