Review of Tarnish by Katherine Longshore

Tarnish (Royal Circle #2)  by Katherine Longshore
To be published by Viking Juvenile on June 18, 2013

Plot Summary of Tarnish by Katherine Longshore

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.

Review of Tarnish by Katherine Longshore

Gilt, book one in the Royal Circle series, was about Catherine Howard, the queen consort of Henry VIII. 
The Royal Circle series is now heads backwards in time to look at scheming, ill-fated Anne Boleyn. I think if you’re British, you learn a little mnemonic to keep the fate of the wives who don’t survive straight:
annulled, beheaded, died, annulled, beheaded, survived 
I think that Anne was the first beheaded and Catherine Howard the second, but correct me if I’m wrong on my historical timeline!  
In any case, Tarnish begins as Anne Boleyn returns from France and ends right as her relationship with the king is beginning. So this story focuses on a different time of their relationship than is usually portrayed.
It’s a story of a misfit trying to find her place in the world, trying to overcome gossip about herself and her sister, to break free of her father’s control and to steer her own destiny. 
Anne is smart and outspoken, something she will have to learn to channel in the right ways at court.
It’s a long book but an interesting one that looks at a period in Anne Boleyn’s life that most other fictionalized accounts skim over.

You can also check out my Review of Brazen by Katherine Longshore, the final book in the series.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

35 Comments

  1. I still haven't read Gilt but it's been sitting on my TBR for a while! I love historicals and Tudor England is among my favorite time periods. And you're right, Catherine came after Anne 😉 I really need to start with this series or I'll get even further backlogged… thanks for reminding me of it!

    My WoW

  2. I liked Gilt, but I didn't love it. Still, I'm curious to read Anne's story. I love that time period…it makes for great retellings. 🙂 Thanks for sharing! Here's my WoW. Happy Wednesday! 😀

  3. I haven't read Gilt, but I don't really know if these would be books for me. I have enjoyed quite a few historical novels lately, but I don't tend to pick them up. I love the cover though. Great pick!

  4. Anne and Catherine were first cousins both put in front of/offered to the King by their uncle the Duke of Norfolk. Anne is more infamous for the power and influence she held over Henry because of her he took on the Catholic church and brought about religious reform to England. Leading Henry to form the Church of England and making him and absolute soverign that answered to none save himself, since the time of the Magna Carta. However it would be the same power he would turn around use against both Anne and Catherine. I can't wait for this next installment also! 🙂

  5. Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived.
    At least I think that's how it goes!
    I'm not the biggest fan of historical fiction, but thisdoes sound good 🙂
    I really want the elite by keira cass 🙂

  6. Hi Jen, just stopping by to check out your WOW post. Tarnish is an excellent choice. I love historical fiction, and the Boleyns have fascinated me since I saw the movie, The Other Boleyn Girl. Here's my WOW post and an interview that I did with the author (Elizabeth Reyes)of my WOW choice (Hector). I hope that you'll check both out and tell me what you think.

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape
    http://www.abookishescape.com

  7. Oh, I hadn't heard that K. Longshore had a new one coming out! I liked Gilt too. I have to admit I am liking the historical fiction YA that is coming out these days:)

  8. I haven't read The Other Boleyn Girl, but I did watch the movie. A while ago I read this nonfiction book (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10104.The_Six_Wives_of_Henry_VIII) about the Wives of Henry VIII. I really liked the way the author approached the topic–the style she used. It isn't YA–but I would definitely recommend it if you find yourself with questions about this time in history. 🙂

    Shanan
    http://thebookaddictnet.blogspot.com