Mackenzi Lee

Mackenzi Lee is an American author known for her young adult historical fiction novels that often feature LGBTQ+ characters and themes. Her work frequently combines historical settings with contemporary social perspectives. Lee's breakthrough came with her 2017 novel "The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue," which won a Stonewall Honor Award and made the New York Times bestseller list. The book follows a young bisexual nobleman on his grand tour of Europe in the 18th century. Her other notable works include "The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy" and "The Madness Blooms" (also published as "This Monstrous Thing"), both of which continue her focus on historical settings with diverse characters. She has also written Marvel novels featuring characters like Loki and Gamora. Beyond her writing career, Lee holds a BA in History and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Simmons University. She has worked as a bookseller and in children's publishing.

Readers praise Lee's blend of humor with historical settings and LGBTQ+ representation in young adult fiction. Her dialogue and character dynamics receive frequent mention in positive reviews, particularly for "The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue." What readers liked: - Fun, witty writing style - Historical accuracy while addressing modern social themes - Strong character development - Romance plots that avoid common YA tropes What readers disliked: - Pacing issues, especially in later books - Some find the modern perspectives in historical settings unrealistic - Character decisions that seem forced to drive plot - Declining quality in sequel novels Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue: 4.1/5 (169,000+ ratings) - The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy: 4.0/5 (38,000+ ratings) - This Monstrous Thing: 3.7/5 (4,000+ ratings) Amazon averages 4.5/5 stars across her titles, with "Gentleman's Guide" receiving the highest reader engagement.

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue - A young bisexual nobleman embarks on a Grand Tour of Europe in the 1700s with his best friend and sister, encountering highwaymen and pirates while uncovering an alchemical secret.

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy - A young woman in the 1700s pursues her dream of becoming a doctor while getting entangled in a quest involving pirates and mythical sea creatures.

The History of the World in 50 Dogs - A collection of historical stories featuring significant dogs throughout human history, from ancient Egypt to modern times.

Bygone Badass Broads: 52 Forgotten Women Who Changed the World - Brief biographical accounts of overlooked women throughout history who made significant contributions to science, politics, art, and exploration.

This Monstrous Thing - An alternate history reimagining of Frankenstein set in 1818 Geneva, featuring a young mechanic who uses clockwork to bring his brother back to life.

Loki: Where Mischief Lies - A young adult novel following Marvel's Loki before the events of Thor, as he investigates mysterious happenings in Victorian London.

The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks - The youngest Montague sibling struggles with anxiety while searching for answers about his mother's death in the 1700s.

Mary E. Pearson writes historical fantasy featuring complex female protagonists and forbidden romance plots. Her Remnant Chronicles series includes political intrigue and kingdom conflicts similar to Lee's works.

Alison Goodman combines historical settings with supernatural elements in her Lady Helen series. Her works feature young women navigating society's expectations while dealing with dangerous magical threats.

Cat Winters sets her novels in historical time periods with paranormal elements woven throughout. Her characters face both supernatural challenges and real historical issues like war, disease, and social change.

Julie Berry creates historical fiction with romance and mythological elements. Her work includes detailed research and complex character relationships similar to Lee's storytelling approach.

Elizabeth May writes historical fantasy with Scottish settings and faerie mythology. Her books include LGBTQ+ representation and strong character dynamics within historical contexts.