Katherine LongshoreBesprekingen
Auteur van Gilt
Besprekingen
It is clear from the writing that Katherine Longshore's Anne Boleyn is incredibly intelligent and does not hold back so as to appear less so when she is around men. I love her interpretation of how witty and flirtatious she is while still being entirely in control of her own fate.
first of all anne is a very confident and impulsive woman. she was interesting when she spoke, but i feel like her inner voice - her narration - was rather dull. i found i had to force my way through the book. and there wasn’t much conflict or tension, either, i felt. the plot needs work. the plot needs a lot of work. perhaps it was because i just came from reading a book with high stakes, and yes, that is more of the type of the book i enjoy, but i didn’t like the plot. once again, we get a bloody love triangle. (okay, so i said, i didn’t like reading cishet romances unless they stood out … but like, i thought this would stand out.) more like a love polygon, because you’ve got the stuff with percy and then you’ve got wyatt and you know that anne ends up with the king at the end. it is a Foregone Conclusion.
maybe it was just that the type of story that longshore chose to write wasn’t my preference. i realize now i would much rather read about anne boleyn’s later life, before she was executed. i see how i would have liked it, and there were some tense parts but not enough. a lot of it was sitting around and talking, or the romance part.
what i did like was the relationship with anne and mary, and anne and jane. those were a lot better than how the romance with wyatt was portrayed. and i know that anne did get together with king henry but here, it seemed very quickly brought on and it didn’t come across as strong as i would have liked.
katherine longshore, though, is great at describing things. i could picture anne’s world, the english royal court, and i could picture the dresses and the people in it and what she was seeing. i don’t think the present tense narration worked out very well in this book, though. it works for some books and it doesn’t work for others and this was one it didn’t work for. i felt disconnected to anne even though a first person perspective, while there are books that i feel fully connected to a character even though it’s third person.
anne was a good character, though. i did like her. i think that she was portrayed as being very confident and sure of herself, and also wanting to have a voice in something. that was another thing i liked. historical queens are great and anne is one of them. she stuck out in a good way and made me like her throughout the book, even if she was a little too dependent on men for my liking. (then again this is the 16th century what am i expecting.)
i give this book a 5/10 and recommend this for anyone who likes the history of the english monarchy, or anyone who likes historical romance
This was an okay YA book about life in the court of Henry VIII. The story follows Kitty Tylney, best friend to Catherine Howard (who worms her way into marrying Henry VIII). Kitty ends up being summoned to court after Catherine marries the King.
I listened to this on audiobook and it was a well done audiobook. The narrator did a good job with character voices and portraying emotion. I would recommend listening to on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.
At the start of the book I enjoyed this look into what it took to get into King Henry's court and how wondrous it seemed to Kitty. However, the story ended up being a bit surfacey...it just didn't had a lot of depth. The characters, the story, and the writing all fell a bit short for me; it wasn't very engaging or anything all that special.
The ending is fairly open ended; some things are resolved and others aren’t. It was an okay way to end the story but I would have liked a look at where our heroine ended up.
Overall this was an okay historical fiction read. I enjoyed the look into King Henry VIII’s court but was disappointed at how shallow and fluffy the book was; there just wasn’t a lot of substance here. I personally wouldn’t recommend, there are much better historical fictions out there.
This is a YA historical romance. There is nothing objectionable or inappropriate for a public or school library. I think because it’s a YA book, the dialogue is not as authentic as you would find in an adult level book. It sends a positive message to readers in that sometimes in order to be happy, you have to bend social norms and expectations. Charlotte has been betrothed to Andrew, a future duke. Charlotte is not sure she likes him. She has her eyes on a cute footman, with whom any interaction is forbidden. Harry has been in love with Janie her entire life, but will she love him back?
If you have a lot of historical romance readers or Downton Abby fans, this book might be a good addition to your school library. It has an interesting twist, the cover art is attractive and most female readers who like this genre would enjoy this book. Aunt Beatrice is a character that most readers will find interesting and fun. There are not really any curricular connections. This is a good free read. It’s fast, easy and a nice escape into the 1910s in London, England.
Historical, England 1539 – 1542
Kitty Tylney has always lived in the shade of Cat, her best friend. Now Cat has wormed her way into both the court and heart of Henry VIII. When Kitty becomes part of Cat’s inner circle she gets her own chance at court with fabulous gowns, opulent parties and for the first time dashing men vying for her attention in a glittering new life. Kitty soon finds out that while all is beautiful on the surface underneath is a world of lies, secrets, trysts and behind the scenes deals. A world where the price of gossip could very well be someone’s head. Though once you are at the top and Queen of England there is only one way to go and that is down.
This takes a period of history and brings it to life for the reader. The reader gets a glimpse of what it must have been like in the Court of King Henry VIII both the good and the bad. The reader also gets a chance to see how in many cases the nobles and lower classes were out to get what they wanted and didn’t care who they had to step on to get there. The intrigue that was constantly going on at court is enough to make people’s heads spin. It shows just how far both good and bad people were willing to go. This book also will have readers looking for more from this author and this story proves to be very difficult to put down once you start. The story proves to be more of a story of history with some light romance in it but still is a very good read.
4.5 stars... review to come!
If you love period novels and enjoy the drama of Downton Abbey, this book makes for great reading in between episodes or seasons. Entirely age-appropriate for younger readers, this is a story of love, identity, family, and, of course, social drama. The book ends with a startling plot twist, which gives it some oomph, but otherwise, this is a charming, easy, and light read.
Beautifully written and an enchanting YA story, Manor of Secrets was a great book for my morning commute. Katherine Longshore has written a delightful story for an audience who craves to be lost in the romanticism of an elegant society and a good cup of tea.
3.5 Stars
Read the A Reader of Fictions.
Tarnish by Katherine Longshore was very nicely narrated by Leslie Bellair. Her voice was expressive and well paced although not overly animated allowing the reader to enjoy a very laid back narration of this historical story.
I have read just about every book about Anne Boleyn that I can find, she is such a dynamic historical figure with such a tragic story. Tarnish is unique in that some possibilities were explored that I had never considered or read in any other portrayal of her life. Reading this made me recall Susan Bordo's novel "[b:The Creation of Anne Boleyn: A New Look at England's Most Notorious Queen|15814396|The Creation of Anne Boleyn A New Look at England's Most Notorious Queen|Susan Bordo|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348098502s/15814396.jpg|16482706]" where she talks about how each generation interprets Anne in a way that fits with that time period. In this case, Anne is depicted in a manner that will appeal to young adults while still remaining very close to what is established history. Longshore's Anne Boleyn was much softer and more approachable than the haughty queen with the biting wit that she's been painted by many other fictional portrayals.
I enjoyed that Tarnish explored the possible relationship between Anne Boleyn and Thomas Wyatt. This is so well done and entirely historically plausible. Several times throughout the story, I felt a little jolt of sadness at some seemingly offhand comment by Anne or Thomas that sounds so innocuous unless you know how this story plays out.
Tarnish begins shortly after Anne's return from France and ends right as her relationship with the king is beginning. I enjoyed imagining Anne as an insecure girl thrown into a hostile court with dreams of being more than a woman of that time period can usually expect. In Anne's strained relationship with her brother and father, Tarnish puts into perspective the way women were viewed in 1500's England.
Overall, this is a wonderful read that I would highly recommend for fans of historical fiction. This is a great introduction to Anne Boleyn for anyone who only knows her as the tragic queen of Henry VIII. And for those who are very familiar with Anne's story, this is a fascinating fresh perspective.
I know the story, I've read my Tudor history. Katherine Longshore took me through events that I have a great knowledge of with an expert hand. She made me hope for a different ending and gave me hope and a stunning conclusion.
First line- "A deep breath is all it takes to enter a room."
Reviewer’s Notes --First off I must say to the world, Katherine Longshore writes some of the most emotional historical fiction novels I have ever read. Vivid, heartbreaking, and incredibly human, TARNISH constantly tugged on heart strings. You may think you know Anne Boleyn, but you haven't heard anything yet. I read this book on a day long car trip cover to cover and I can't wait to read it again.
TARNISH may be the story of Anne Boleyn, but this is her story before she became queen. I loved Longshore's spin on Anne's relationship with Thomas Wyatt. In this book, it's not just some fling or rumored affair; it's a story about love and inevitable heartbreak. I anticipate Wyatt's poetry as well as Anne's reactions to not only Wyatt but also to Percy and The King. They're so insanely human that I could feel her tears and emotions just soaring out the book and slamming right into me. To say this novel took me on an emotional journey is an understatement.
Throughout the book Anne believes the only reason people can see her is because of Wyatt's poetry. This is somewhat true but what I found fascinating was how she couldn't see how beautiful she was or why men would literally go to war over her. I always thought of Anne Boleyn as this confident seductress, but now I see her more as an insecure girl stuck between love and duty. Even though I knew the end result, I still hoped that the story would change somehow. I guess it's just the girl in me who still believes in love and good people coming out on top.
Though this book does focus a lot on Anne's secretive affairs (and her not so secretive ones), it also focuses on her family and the relationships she has with her siblings. Anne's relationships with Catherine and Mary were complex (to say the least), but her relationship with her brother George was brilliantly written and just truthful in general. I loved how much he adored her and refused to show it, yet everyone else could see it. Keep in mind his life wasn't easy either. His family relationships were no more stable than Anne's. He's supposed to be there to advise Anne as well as carry the Boleyn name; even if that means marrying someone he doesn't want to love. The one thing that stayed true was his obvious adoration for his sister and her love for him, written in a voice all siblings can relate too. Everyone should have a brother like George or mine.
My only fault with this novel was that I wished it were longer. I wish we could've seen Anne as the queen and everything that unfolded after. With that being said, will there be a sequel? PLEASE?
All in all, I highly recommend TARNISH to all Tudor fans, historical fiction buffs, and anyone else who loves a great story. If you're not a fan of historical fiction, I still recommend checking out TARNISH. It reads like a contemporary novel, and believe me, you don't want to miss out on all the relatable characters that you thought you knew. They will make you soar, right before they break your heart.
(Description nicked from B&N.com.)
“Anne Boleyn is the odd girl out. Newly arrived to the court of King Henry VIII, everything about her seems wrong, from her clothes to her manners to her witty but sharp tongue. So when the dashing poet Thomas Wyatt offers to coach her on how to shine at court—and to convince the whole court they’re lovers—she accepts. Before long, Anne’s popularity has soared, and even the charismatic and irresistible king takes notice. More than popularity, Anne wants a voice—but she also wants love. What began as a game becomes high stakes as Anne finds herself forced to make an impossible choice between her heart's desire and the chance to make history.”
After reading Longshore’s Gilt, I was fully prepared for a new and fresh young-adult take on Anne Boleyn. I figured that it would be tricky to pull off, given what the historical Anne did and lived through, but the author managed to handle Katherine Howard with a good deal of skill, so I didn’t fear too much for the story of Anne.
However, this novel takes the unusual approach of not focusing on the most active and controversial part of Anne’s life—namely, her relationship with Henry. Instead, this story takes place during the time when Anne was newly come to court and struggling to find her place within it. In comparison with the parts of her life that are more widely known, this time period was fairly uneventful; therefore, the author has to draw on what few events are known and try to make them interesting.
In this, she mostly succeeds, at least as far as concerns a love story. She and Wyatt orbit each other, neither quite able to trust the other, while others vie for Anne’s attention. Anne’s conflict between love and ambition plays out fairly plainly against this backdrop. The ambition appears to take second place, though, and very little of the historical context of this time is presented. This is different from Gilt, which did a much better job at weaving together Katherine’s embellished story with the facts. I have to wonder why you would set a novel in the Tudor era with such a polarizing main character if you weren’t going to use that era to maximum effect.
This is the problem that I had with the book personally: I love Tudor history, and I know a lot about Anne Boleyn. This novel makes her out to be much less confident than she actually was, and much more inclined to allow men to define her fate. Even given that many readers won’t necessarily know much about her, I do wish she had been portrayed as a bit stronger of a personality.
On a technical note, there was some repetition in this book that got a little hard to miss. The word “tarnish” is used several times, and since that’s the title, it stands out. Anne also harps over and over again on the fact that she wants love, that she wants her own voice, and the words that she uses don’t significantly vary from use to use. Bear in mind, I read an advance copy of the book, and this may have been edited differently in the finished product.
This definitely isn’t a bad book by any means; on the contrary, as a teen romance, it will likely appeal to the female young adult crowd. I just had very high expectations of this book after being so impressed by the first one; therefore, as a historical novel, I think it left something to be desired. Tarnish doesn’t quite live up to its potential, but it has some high points that will please many readers.
This review originally appeared on Owlcat Mountain on June 11, 2013.
There's not much to say because I loved this story! If there was a lull, I don't remember it. If the writing was poor, I didn't notice it. I enjoy reading and learning about the Tudor era. The friendship, the betrayal, the lies are all there within the Kings Court. I could identify with the entanglements of court. It happens in todays society with friendships public and private. There's always a leader and followers in every circle of life. A full review or better written one will follow.
Originally posted here.
This review begins with a confession. Intrigued? Here we go. Confession #1: I cheated on King Henry. Oh wait, that wasn't me! That was Catherine (like that narrows it down). Oops! I got ahead of myself. Actually, my confession is that, much as I love reading historical fiction, I really am not a huge fan of reading about the Tudors. They're a completely fascinating (i.e. batshit insane) family, especially during Henry VIII's reign. However, I have been burned by books and movies about these years before. I know everyone else loved The Other Boleyn Girl but both the book and the film were big fat DNFs for me. Because of this, I enter every Tudors thing with a larger than usual (and usual is prodigious) amount of skepticism. Well, this one I loved.
One thing that often frustrates me about the Tudors, even the show (which I largely enjoyed) is the romanticizing of Henry. Partly, this is because he tends to be younger in much of the fiction, a lot of which focuses on Anne Boleyn. I'm not saying Henry doesn't come off as a womanizing bastard (he does), but he also generally seems like he gets so much play because he's attractive and charismatic. Again, I think that was fairly true when he was young, although I definitely think much of his appeal had to do with the crown even then. However, as he got older, he got fat and had serious health issues. I love Katherine Longshore for displaying Henry as what he really was.
I totally get why shows make Henry more attractive (who wants to watch some guy who looks like that?), but that doesn't make it accurate, and there's less of a reason for it in fiction. That seems unfair to say, but oh well. The same is true of Catherine, who is portrayed as a completely fetching blonde in the show, but pictures reveal her to be somewhat plain. In Gilt, Cat is described not as beautiful, but as vivacious and so charming no one can tell that she's not gorgeous.
What really drew me into Gilt, though, is Kitty. I identified so much with Kitty and her desperation. She has nobody and she wants so badly to believe that she has a real friend in Cat. She is loyal to a fault (a big one). For the most part, I really am not like Kitty, but I liked Kitty so much, and I just kept hoping she would make the right decisions such as avoiding ruinous people.
There are so many right bastards (both literally and figuratively I'm sure) walking around Henry's court. Women's options were so incredibly limited. Of course, there were also the freedoms that they had. I cannot believe how easy it was for women to be, well, easy. Even in a dormitory packed full of beds, with more than one girl per bed no less, girls managed to carry out affairs; there's nothing awkward about that. Don't even get me started on the rage I feel about how men could rape any woman they wanted to and claim that she wanted it, so obviously it's her fault. Instead, I will let Kitty send that message in my favorite quote. I love her when she has a backbone.
Gilt is truly wonderful. I laughed, I was grossed out, I was enraged and I nearly cried. Gilt really is a lot like a more historically accurate, YA version of The Tudors. There's sex, backstabbing and dirty jokes galore. I loved every single minute of it. If you enjoy reading all of those things, get thee to a bookstore anon!
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: As you watch the young queen with the same anticipation you feel in a horror movie, you heart aches for Kitty and her unwavering loyalty to Catherine. There’s romance, but I was happy to find the focus is on Kitty and Cat’s close friendship, not a hot guy.
Opening Sentence: ”You’re not going to steal anything.”
The Review:
While I’m a big historical romance buff, I’ll admit Henry VIII and his various wives have never been my favorite to read about. I’m too big a fan of Happy Endings. So I didn’t know a lot about Catherine Howard and her best friend Kitty before picking up this novel. From what I’ve heard from my friends who do devour Tudor novels, Longshore does a great job of sticking to the historicity of the period. Of course the novel and all its details are fictionalized from Kitty’s point of view, but I think history-purists will be pleased by Gilt.
Kitty Tylney has gone through a lot before the beginning of the novel. As in, she’s-carrying-around-a-crippling-amount-of-baggage. Her family tosses their worthless daughter over to be a servant in Cat’s step-grandmother’s house, the Duchess of Norfolk. Apparently, a lot of ton daughters got sent there for “betterment,” which as I understand really just means “they’re your problem now.” In true Mean Girls style, Catherine Howard runs the show as the Queen of Misrule. It isn’t long before Cat catches the eye of Henry, despite being on his fifth wife.
When Cat goes to court, her ever loyal Kitty is at her side. Her best friend and most loyal confidant, Kitty keeps all Catherine’s secret. Kitty’s devotion to Cat makes you want to alternately applaud her loyalty and shake her for being an idiot. She lies and placates Cat, usually to her own expense, as the girls find themselves seduced deeper and deeper into the heart of Henry VII’s cut-throat court. It’s only William, steward to the Duke of Norfolk, who seems to recognize Kitty’s unwavering devotion as unhealthy. Though their romance blossoms into a very satisfying subplot, the whole focus of the novel is on the relationship between Kitty and Catherine.
If watching Catherine ease her way into Henry’s heart is like watching a train wreck, then waiting to find out Kitty’s fate had all the anticipation of watching a plane crash. We all know the fate of Catherine Howard, but what about Kitty Tylney? How does her unwavering loyalty play out in the bitter end? The tension is threaded through the romantic novel like a ticking bomb waiting to go off.
I can’t imagine the time and research that went into recreating this world. Longshore paints a vivid picture of Greenwich Castle and its courtiers, one I couldn’t help but sink into. She doesn’t weigh the reader down with needless details to prove she knows what she’s talking about, but weaves the tense time period in with the scene. I’m excited to hear that Gilt is a part of a series, because I want to read more of this world and Longshore’s writing.
Notable Scene:
“No one is happier thank I am that you’re finally getting all you deserve. Beautiful clothes. Jewelry. A man you love.”
She stopped moving. Stopped breathing. Then snapped, “Get out,” over her shoulder, and Joan and Alice disappeared as quickly as dandelion fluff on the wind.
“Who told you?” she asked, her voice more deadly than ever. “No one knows.”
“Francis,” I whispered, my voice a paroxysm of nerves.
“Francis Dereham?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said. “He saw you at court. Then he came here to get his old job back. I spoke with him.”
“Francis?” She repeated, and her eyes opened wide, radiating surprise, or possibly fear.
FTC Advisory: Viking/Penguin provided me with a copy of Gilt. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
As young girls growing up in the Tudor age, both Catherine Howard and Kitty Tilney dream of making their way to the court of King Henry VIII - one likely more so than the other. Stuck living as ward's of Catherine's grandmother, the dowager duchess at Norfolk House, they spent their time in the maiden's chambers dreaming of getting away.
Kitty knows she has no real prospects, but Catherine is a Howard and that gives her possibility.
When Cat gets works her way into court - and possibly King Henry's heart, as well - she follows through on a promise and brings Kitty along. It's filled with jewels, beautiful dresses, and fancy parties, yes, but court life isn't perfect or easy.
Kitty finds herself somewhere she never thought she'd be - torn between two men.
And Cat may have more than her heart in danger if she keeps up her flirting ways. Kitty will have to learn how to be Cat's friend but also keep herself safe in a place where gossip no longer just gets your in trouble - in could get you killed.
I'm kind of a sucker for historical fiction - well, good historical fiction - and Tudor period ones, specifically.
When you read a good - completely fictitious - novel, you're often left wishing there was more. Another book, another chapter, some sort of epilogue, something. You can imagine things all you want but it never quite reaches the level of awesome that the book did because those characters were created in the author's head. With really good historical fiction, it's interestingly the same way. You finish a book wishing there were more about those characters, that you could keep reading about them . . . Then you remember there is because they're real (well save for any characters created for the novel). The only problem is, they're never quite the same as they were in whichever book you've just read because in a sense, the author created these characters as well - or at least brought them (back) to life.
Katherine Longshore does that in Gilt. I've read other novels set during the same time period with some of the same historical figures involved but this novel goes around the main players to and gives readers a bit of an outsiders (though not that outside) perspective. It's told through Kitty, Cat's best friend, confidante and surrogate sister. While we don't have the perspectives on King Henry that a novel told from Cat(herine)'s view might give, we do get a great view on who Cat, later Queen Catherine, is.
Not who she sees herself as, but who someone who's almost always known her sees her as.
Kitty also has a great view on the different men and women at court. From the way they're perceived to how they act to little secrets about them. It's likely that she, not being that high up in the court's hierarchy sees things that even one of the other ladies might not be privy to - or might not care to notice.
Gilt is not only a great historical fiction novel, it's a great character study that brought up a lot of things I hadn't thought about before in my other readings on the same time period. Even if you care nothing (or very little) about the time period, it's a tremendous read for the friendship between Cat and Kitty and the struggles they face - both with each other and that life puts on their bond.
This may be a young adult historical fiction but I think it easily stands up to the adult historical fiction novels - like those by Carolly Erickson and Alison Weir.
Rating: 9/10
thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my e-galley of this title for review
Gilt is the story of Catherine Howard, fifth wife of King Henry VIII, from the perspective of Kitty Tylney. Cat and Kitty grew up together, closer than sisters, as poor relations in the house of the Duchess of Norfolk. Unloved and often unsupervised, Cat devises wild schemes and scandalous parties in the maidens' quarters, often presiding as the Queen of Misrule, with Kitty always in her shadow. When Cat is whisked away to court by her ambitious relatives, she catches the eye of the king. Cat promised Kitty and the others that she would try to bring them with her if she gained any influence at court. Now, as the most influential woman in England, Cat brings her old friends to her side -- for the sake of friendship, or the better to keep a lid on her less than virtuous past. It doesn't take a scholar to know that Cat's past will catch up with her . . . but will Kitty share her friend's fate?
This book employs the use of 21st-century dialogue, with mixed results. Though Tudor English would probably have turned off many potential readers looking for stories about Mean Girls in History, the characters seem a little too modern at times. Kitty is also a mix of historical and modern, as she is submissive and often servile toward Cat, yet determined to find love and romance on her own. This probably won't deter most readers -- without the hints of romance in Kitty's life, the story would be much flatter. Though I had a few issues with this book, I would still recommend it to teens who enjoy historical fiction with romance, deceit, and court intrigue.
Deze bespreking is geschreven voor LibraryThing Vroege Recensenten.Although this book is about Kitty, and is told from her perspective, the tale intertwines her story very heavily with Cat’s, which means that the story essentially revolves around Cat. Kitty is basically with Cat from the start, witnessing Cat’s escapades while they are girls and eventually going to court to serve under her as queen. As the story progresses, Kitty realizes she is simply living a life in Cat’s shadow, wanting things because Cat wants them, and not doing anything for herself.
The frustrating thing was seeing her know this, and not really doing anything about it. While Cat was definitely stuck in the situation she found herself in, Kitty has plenty of opportunities to get out and chooses to stay with Cat. Her rationalization is that without Cat, she would be nothing. However, I don’t know if being grateful to someone means you owe them the potential to lose your head on the block, which is essentially what Kitty is risking in this story.
That being said, her misplaced loyalty in Cat is admirable, and it was sweet to see her stay despite her best interests. Kitty does try to stand up to Cat in a few situations, but it becomes obvious that it’s a bit futile to do that. Even before she was queen, Cat was always getting her way, usually at someone else’s cost.
My heart went out to Kitty in this story because I don’t think I would have stayed in the same situation. The fate of Anne Boleyn is ever present in this story, being mentioned regularly as Cat becomes more and more involved with Thomas Culpeper, and I don’t think I would have remained that loyal of a friend if I had been in Kitty’s situation.
I also think this portrays a more realistic point of view of what would have really happened to someone in Kitty’s position. In other novels, she really just gets away with no risk, which has always confused me. In this one, you truly do not know what her fate will be given her involvement in Cat’s life. That’s one of the fun parts of a relatively unknown historical figure – you can do what you want with their fate! We all know what really happened to Catherine Howard, but who really knows what happened to Katherine Tylney.
Deze bespreking is geschreven voor LibraryThing Vroege Recensenten.Kitty is a rare breed in the Tudor court. She wants to marry for love, and she refuses to backstab, lie, or deceive in order to climb the rungs of the social ladder. Her loyalty to Cat is perhaps her biggest flaw, which is sad, but true! Cat, while a complete brat, I loved reading about her. Little is known about Catherine Howard, and I've read books where she's portrayed as merely a pawn in her Uncle's chess game who wishes to follow her heart, as well as books like this where Catherine is a manipulative and greedy girl scheming her way to the throne. Either way, I think I enjoy the scheming and manipulative Cat a little bit better.
Katherine Longshore has an amazing ability to bring history to life, staying true to many facts while using her creative license to expand on things that are not fully known. Her writing is elegant and accurate, while giving a character like Cat a completely sympathetic personality in the end. Despite the fact that I knew how Catherine Howard's life would end, I was pleasantly surprised with Longshore's ability to make me cry my eyes out at Kitty's desolation at the loss of her friend. Any author who can make me reach my heart out to a long dead queen deserves a standing ovation. Being able to keep predictability out of historical fiction is always hard, because we know how it ends. Longshore's ability to twist that ending and make it something memorable is something I absolutely love.
Overall, I loved the crap out of this book and I can't wait to get myself a pretty finished copy to place on my shelf. Katherine Longshore's ability to bring my favorite historical figures to life in a new and exciting way has me highly anticipating whatever she comes up with next. I would love to see Longshore write something about Catherine of Aragon, or even Anne Boleyn (who is my favorite of the Tudor queens!) Katherine Longshore is not only an amazing writer, but an amazing story-teller and she will grab you from the very beginning. If you're looking for some genuinely well-written, accurate, romantic, and pulse-pounding historical fiction, Gilt is something you should definitely pick up!
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AnnaBabyy | 40 andere besprekingen | Jun 11, 2012 |
AnnaBabyy | 40 andere besprekingen | Jun 11, 2012 | Deze bespreking is geschreven voor LibraryThing Vroege Recensenten.Deze bespreking is geschreven voor LibraryThing Vroege Recensenten.I was very surprised at the YA rating. The sexually, in my opinion was a little much for that age group.
Deze bespreking is geschreven voor LibraryThing Vroege Recensenten.Kitty is the type of character that is easily lead by others and that drove me nuts. One on hand, I felt badly for her as sometimes she had no choice in her decisions, because she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. The problem with this is the fact that Catherine is a royal brat and I wanted to slap her across the face. One minute I liked her, the next minute she would do something so annoying and backstabbing that I loved to hate her. The dynamics between Kitty and Cat were interesting nonetheless as Gilt also examines friendship and popularity.
Just when I thought I was over novels about the Tudor Era, I get sucked into Gilt. I can confidently say now that I am NOT over this era and that Longshore has brought me back in. What is not to love? There's major drama, backstabbing, lies, intrigue, affairs, romance, gossips, etc. Half of what occurs is unbelievable, but what is even more captivating is the fact that most of these events actually occurred. Henry VIII is downright crazy and I loved being thrown back into his unpredictable court. Gilt reminded me not only of how much I love this time period, but how much I miss the show The Tudors and Gilt was a nice fix.
Even though we know how things end for Catherine Howard, I was still hopelessly addicted to Gilt. I devoured it book quickly and was totally invested in Kitty's story. I highly recommend Gilt to fans of historical fiction; you won't be disappointed. So, if you plan on reading any historical fiction this summer, it quite simply has to be Gilt. Katherine Longshore is one debut author that I definitely have my eye on.
1 CAS2199 | 40 andere besprekingen | Jun 1, 2012 |
CAS2199 | 40 andere besprekingen | Jun 1, 2012 | 
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Seeing as I've been in a bit of a historical fiction mood, I thought I'd give it a shot. Unfortunately, after devouring books like Conn Iggulden's Wars of the Roses: Trinity and Robert Fabbri's Masters of Rome recently, I feel that Brazen was probably just a bit too childish and pedantic. I mean, it's not exactly a bad book for young adults, but for someone who's familiar with Phillipa Gregory's Tudor series, etcetera, this book is just not wow enough for me. Someone else said that Brazen doesn't particularly transcend well from YA to Adult reading, and I'm inclined to agree, because heck ... I tried to finish this book, but I couldn't.
This wasn't the first time I've read YA historical fiction either, so that's not completely the problem. The reading-level was simply too low and the writing too staccato. Basically, if I could go back in time, I'd skip this one without a second thought.
The cover's real pretty though ...
Review originally posted at: