Helpful Score: 3
Reviewed by Ashley B for TeensReadToo.com
Yet another young female has caught the eye of the aging King Henry Tudor.
This time it is fifteen-year-old Catherine Howard, cousin to Anne Boleyn. Less than a year has passed since her arrival at court, and she is now the Queen of England. Catherine's new life of luxury and being the king's "rose without a thorn" is different.
But Catherine's past haunts her, so she must be careful. She dreams of that kiss she shared with her (distant) cousin, Thomas Culpeper. A perfect kiss. Her relations with other men. But all must stay a secret, or death caused by treason could come her way.
Being the huge historical fiction fan I am, I just had to buy this book when I could find it around. This was one of the novels I couldn't put down, because I really wanted to continue on and find out what was going to happen.
There isn't much else to say, aside from I loved THE KING'S ROSE. If you enjoy historical fiction, you should definitely check this one out.
Yet another young female has caught the eye of the aging King Henry Tudor.
This time it is fifteen-year-old Catherine Howard, cousin to Anne Boleyn. Less than a year has passed since her arrival at court, and she is now the Queen of England. Catherine's new life of luxury and being the king's "rose without a thorn" is different.
But Catherine's past haunts her, so she must be careful. She dreams of that kiss she shared with her (distant) cousin, Thomas Culpeper. A perfect kiss. Her relations with other men. But all must stay a secret, or death caused by treason could come her way.
Being the huge historical fiction fan I am, I just had to buy this book when I could find it around. This was one of the novels I couldn't put down, because I really wanted to continue on and find out what was going to happen.
There isn't much else to say, aside from I loved THE KING'S ROSE. If you enjoy historical fiction, you should definitely check this one out.
From School Library Journal
Grade 8 UpBeautiful Catherine Howard, 15, has attracted the attention of aging King Henry Tudor, who is becoming increasingly desperate for a son. His only son, Edward, is a sickly youngster, and Henry is worried about the succession. He has already rid himself of three wives and, now, he finds a way to dispense with his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, so he can marry Catherine. Catherine has been thrust before him by her powerful Howard relatives, and she knows that her role is to keep the king happy, but she has grown up in the morally lax household of her grandmother, the dowager Duchess of Norfolk, and she has secrets in her past that, if revealed, will ruin her. Told in Catherine's voice, the story gains real immediacy as she glories in the excitement and glamour of the court, but soon realizes that she is in great danger. Her love for young Thomas Culpepper overcomes her common sense, and their affair seals her doom. Period activities such as a bear-baiting contest are skillfully woven into the plot. The dowager Duchess and her accomplice, Lady Jane Rochford, are deliciously amoral in their relentless political scheming. One particularly effective scene has Catherine shocked at seeing a portrait of the youthful Henry and realizing how much he has deteriorated. While numerous sexual encounters are part of the political reality, they are subtly handled. A real treat for lovers of historical fiction.Quinby Frank, Green Acres School, Rockville, MD
Grade 8 UpBeautiful Catherine Howard, 15, has attracted the attention of aging King Henry Tudor, who is becoming increasingly desperate for a son. His only son, Edward, is a sickly youngster, and Henry is worried about the succession. He has already rid himself of three wives and, now, he finds a way to dispense with his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, so he can marry Catherine. Catherine has been thrust before him by her powerful Howard relatives, and she knows that her role is to keep the king happy, but she has grown up in the morally lax household of her grandmother, the dowager Duchess of Norfolk, and she has secrets in her past that, if revealed, will ruin her. Told in Catherine's voice, the story gains real immediacy as she glories in the excitement and glamour of the court, but soon realizes that she is in great danger. Her love for young Thomas Culpepper overcomes her common sense, and their affair seals her doom. Period activities such as a bear-baiting contest are skillfully woven into the plot. The dowager Duchess and her accomplice, Lady Jane Rochford, are deliciously amoral in their relentless political scheming. One particularly effective scene has Catherine shocked at seeing a portrait of the youthful Henry and realizing how much he has deteriorated. While numerous sexual encounters are part of the political reality, they are subtly handled. A real treat for lovers of historical fiction.Quinby Frank, Green Acres School, Rockville, MD
I was scared this book was going to read like it was for high schoolers, but if I hadn't been told I wouldn't have guessed this was labeled 'young adult'. While I would've liked to have a little bit more of Kathryn's life before the king explained, and known who Margaret Poole is, rest of this book was great. The author has Kathryn's voice perfectly, the visuals of her clothes, her fear of the ghost of her cousin Anne Boleyn, all great. I highly recommend this book to adults as long as you have some understanding of Tudor history as this book really dosen't explain much of that.
