PRAISE FOR KATHERINE LONGSHORE:
“A more literary version of “Gossip Girl” overlaid onto 16th-century England . . .”—The Los Angeles Times on Gilt
“I found my new favorite series . . . see for yourself why I couldn't put the book down.”—MTV.com on Gilt
“A good, juicy story . . . royally riveting for the reader.”—Booklist on Gilt
“The raw emotions and unflinching honesty of a young girl caught in a whirlwind of history shine through, keeping readers engaged to the end.”—Kirkus on Tarnish
“Swoon overload . . . Funny, witty and entertaining, Tarnish is a must-read for anyone wanting to add invigorating drama and sensual romance to their bookshelf.”—MTV.com on Tarnish
“Great for readers of romance, royal fiction and history, or those looking for a summer read that makes them think a bit, too.”—Shelf Awareness on Tarnish
"...readers will find themselves both fascinated and terrified as this independent young woman fights to live and love on her own terms." —Booklist on Brazen
"Longshore skillfully blends history with romance, weaving a compelling, poignant story of love, loss and betrayal." —Kirkus on Brazen
"Fans of the author’s other offerings about the Tudors—Gilt (2012) and Tarnish (2013, both Viking)—and the TV show Reign will enjoy this steamy historical romance, perfect for teens not yet ready for Philippa Gregory’s novels." —School Library Journal on Brazen
"This book makes a great entry for readers not yet introduced to the novels of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir." —Library Media Connection on Brazen
07/01/2014
Gr 9 Up—Married at age 14 to the illegitimate son of King Henry VIII, Mary Howard feels alone and confused at court. Her isolation is compounded by the king's command that she shall not share quarters with her new husband. Befriended by two other maids-in-waiting, Madge Shelton and Margaret Douglas, Mary makes her way through the tenuous waters of the Tudor court and explores the complexities of love, power, and duty. Longshore combines two remarkably unstable things in this dense novel: modern teenage sensibilities and King Henry VIII. Despite these tantalizing topics, repetitive text and a number of subplots make this a convoluted read. A brief author's note details the true history of Mary Howard and her companions at court. Fans of the author's other offerings about the Tudors—Gilt (2012) and Tarnish (2013, both Viking)—and the TV show Reign will enjoy this steamy historical romance, perfect for teens not yet ready for Philippa Gregory's novels.—Sara Saxton, Wasilla Public Library, Wasilla, AK
2014-04-30
In a companion to Gilt (2012) and Tarnish (2013), Longshore chooses as her heroine a member of Henry VIII's household less well-known than Catherine Howard and Anne Boleyn, the respective subjects of her earlier novels.Mary Howard FitzRoy's story provides a fresh perspective for a retelling of the cruel and tragic drama of the Tudor court. The child bride of Henry VIII's illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy, young Mary has the misfortune to fall in love with her 14-year-old husband. Although marriage to the royal heir makes her a duchess and thus higher in rank than her haughty mother, her life as a royal wife is mostly frightening and lonely. The young spouses are forbidden to consummate their marriage for fear of injury to the male heir. Fitz is often away on court business, while Mary is alienated from her female companions and left to wait on the doomed Anne Boleyn. Mary's unsatisfying romance with her young husband plays out against a backdrop of court intrigue, power struggles, and the sequential rises and demises of Henry's wives. The couple plot to run away together, but they are held by the invisible ties of the powerful men who determine their destiny and those of the people around them.In this third novel in her trilogy, Longshore skillfully blends history with romance, weaving a compelling, poignant story of love, loss and betrayal. (family tree, author's note) (Historical fiction. 13-17)
