Gilt

One of my many reading obsessions is books about Henry the VIII. Up until now, they have been adult books. Katherine Longshore has taken it down to the young adult level. This is the story of Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry the VII. She was a young girl with lofty dreams and the duplicitous nature to pull off marrying the king. It takes the story from the point of view of her friend Kitty, who is brought to the castle to be a chamberer to the new queen. Kitty has a love-hate relationship with Cat and is made to cover up most of Cat's treasonous behavior. She is trying to maneuver through the treacherous life at court. Besides being at Cat's beck and call, she has her own love life to deal with. Does she marry the poxy old man her parents have "sold" her too, or sweet William who wants her to leave court and live in the country with him or Edmund, the sneaky friend, with questionable motives, who wants Kitty for less than chivalrous reasons. As Cat's life and lies begin to unravel, Kitty must decide if she will lie to save Cat or tell the truth to save herself. We know how this story ends, it isn't a happy one, but this is a glimpse at just how dreadful life at court was for women. Henry was a man who wouldn't be crossed and once he was, he was unforgiving. Cat was just not up to the challenge of being his queen for many reasons, but she certainly didn't deserve her fate. This was a great taste of this time period with a story line teens will relate to- intrigue, romance, friendship and loyalty. Happy reading my friends.