My Lady Jane

My Lady Jane primarily uses a third-person narration, which alternates between a limited perspective following a specific character and an omniscient perspective with access to knowledge beyond the characters’ experiences. This second perspective is often enabled through the literary device of direct address, in which the authors acknowledge their own existence and that of the reader, addressing statements to the reader directly. This address has elements of first- and second-person perspectives, as the authors incorporate their own perspective and the reader’s perspective alongside their narrative of the characters: For example, “We just wanted to take a break for a minute to tell you something important” (253).

These moments can also be called authorial intrusion, as the authors present their direct address as an interruption to the narrative, functioning like a character by presenting themselves in the first person. The first-person address creates a sense of intimacy, inviting the reader into a relationship with the authorial voice. It also invites the reader to see themselves as a presence in the narrative. The authors use rhetorical devices to position the reader alongside the protagonists, using flattery and building camaraderie: “[I]f you are bucker of the system, a friend of truth, an ally of love, and a believer in magic, then read on” (253).

The authors curate an informal, friendly tone through their direct address, incorporating tongue-in-cheek humor, to shape the overarching mood of the book. For example, in the Prologue they joke, “[W]e are merely narrators, and would hate to make assumptions about what the reader would find tragic” (8). They use this device to establish genre as well, acknowledging their light-hearted, fantastical approach to historical fiction: “[W]e’ve tweaked minor details. We’ve completely rearranged major details” (8). They do this throughout the narrative, but establish the technique firmly using the Prologue and then a second block of authorial intrusion in the middle, which they call the “midlogue,” a tongue-in-cheek, self-aware subversion of literary convention.

The authors also use direct address to convey information straightforwardly without requiring roundabout exposition. The Prologue explains the Ethian magic and the historical setting of Edward’s reign so that this context is established before the first chapter. This contextual information enables the opening chapter to follow Edward’s limited perspective more closely, building his character and creating suspense through what information he has access to and what is left unknown. The action can unfold without having to break Edward’s point of view to give background knowledge. The “midlogue” and other moments of authorial intrusion further enable the authors to build suspense and curiosity while retaining a light tone: They promise that there are many dangerous and strange adventures ahead, but imply the safety of the main protagonists.