sandsing7's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
allie_schick's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
chakelligence's review against another edition
4.0
This was so fun! I actually learned a lot more about Mary Shelley and how horrendous her life turned out apart from her success from Frankenstein. Good grief, she definitely needed a new happy ending. I honestly wish everyone would give famous historical women with tragic endings a rewrite. Also the hilariousness of these books is just so good. I will read anything they write together!
sonshinelibrarian's review
5.0
I do not joke when I say this book made me literally cackle. I haven't laughed aloud at a book like this for a while. I enjoyed this even more than I liked My Lady Jane, which is saying something. The balance of imagination, history, snarky dialogue, anachronistic asides, magic, and science is hilariously brilliant.
persephonedreaming's review against another edition
4.0
My Imaginary Mary is an enjoyable and witty novel. Ada Lovelace and Mary Shelley might never have met in real life, but in this fantastical alternative history, you will wish they had. Something unique about this novel is the way that embraces the format of the alternative history and marries it with the fantasy aspects of the fae. I found the addition of the fae plot and the way that it added to the humor, social commentary, and historical discussion to make it well worth the momentary jarring while becoming grounded in the story’s universe and provides a lovely backdrop, allowing the reader to be immersed in their knowledge of the modern world, yet allowing Ada’s immense genius and inventing process to have the impressiveness it might have lacked without a firm grounding in the history of computer science.
I wasn’t sure initially how I felt about the asides offered by the narrator explaining history or terminology, but ultimately I think the style works for the story. It pulls the reader out of the story temporarily, but the confusion about the historical terms or events more than make up for the minor distractions. The authors also have a way of addressing the reader in these moments that is endearing and adds to the atmosphere of the story.
This was my first book in this series, and I would definitely recommend this book to any reader who enjoys humorous YA novels, Jane Austen romances, or YA historical romances. This book is delightful and found myself barely able to put it down. I know my library carries some of the Janey books, and I was delighted to discover that we already had the audiobook preordered.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this eArc of My Imaginary Mary. All opinions are my own!
This is a review of the audiobook.
I wasn’t sure initially how I felt about the asides offered by the narrator explaining history or terminology, but ultimately I think the style works for the story. It pulls the reader out of the story temporarily, but the confusion about the historical terms or events more than make up for the minor distractions. The authors also have a way of addressing the reader in these moments that is endearing and adds to the atmosphere of the story.
This was my first book in this series, and I would definitely recommend this book to any reader who enjoys humorous YA novels, Jane Austen romances, or YA historical romances. This book is delightful and found myself barely able to put it down. I know my library carries some of the Janey books, and I was delighted to discover that we already had the audiobook preordered.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this eArc of My Imaginary Mary. All opinions are my own!
This is a review of the audiobook.
katesulli's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
stuffandthings's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
halfcentreader's review against another edition
4.0
The re-imagining of Mary Shelly , and her creations along with Ada Byron, science prodigy. The girls become fast friends after being introduced by their fae godmother as being fae themselves and required to undergo tutorage. This is an empowering, clever, funny novel that gives the historical Mary a chance to be counted without her historical husband Percy Shelly taking center stage. Together the two young women try to help a young man who is "accidentally" brought to life from an automaton.
As usual the authors/narrators engagingly speak to the reader and many sprinklings of pop culture references are seemingly effortlessly incorporated into the narrative.
Looking forward to a third Mary book collaboration in the future.
As usual the authors/narrators engagingly speak to the reader and many sprinklings of pop culture references are seemingly effortlessly incorporated into the narrative.
Looking forward to a third Mary book collaboration in the future.
penke's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0