Brazen

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