Jaime's Review of Gilt by Katherine Longshore

Gilt (The Royal Circle #1)

Katherine Longshore

Hardcover: 416 pages

Release Date: May 15, 2012

Publisher: Viking (Penguin)

ISBN: 0670013994

Source: Sacramento/San Francisco Book Review

Rating: Really Liked

From Goodreads.

In the court of King Henry VIII, nothing is free— and love comes at the highest price of all. When Kitty Tylney’s best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII’s heart and brings Kitty to court, she’s thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat’s shadow, Kitty’s now caught between two men—the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat’s meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.

Remember how I said I wasn’t a fan of historical fiction? I may be changing my mind after reading Gilt by Katherine Longshore! Then again I love all things Henry VIII and that time period so I may be biased when it comes to this book. Also and I know Katherine will groan when I say this but I loved the show The Tudors c’mon Henry Cavil and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers need I say more ;) ;)

The thing I loved about this book was it was historically accurate (or as accurate as it could be) Katherine being a history buff did her research and did it well! That being said Catherine Howard wasn't my favorite of Henry’s wives and I actually couldn’t stand her in the book either; she was a selfish obnoxious brat. I actually felt myself feeling really sorry for poor Henry marrying such a horrible person heck I would have chopped her head off too! I adored Kitty though the MC she was brave and selfless, sometimes a little naïve in the ways of the court but, she held her ground against some pretty big rivals. The one thing I didn’t like about her was her protectiveness of Cat, I would have told on her in a heartbeat and saved myself lol she was never a true friend only a social climber. There were a good amount of handsome men in this book but only one captured mine and Kitty’s heart his name was William and he was *sighs* perfect. What I really loved about William and Kitty’s relationship was that it started outside of court so we got to see them as they were, and not twisted into some deception or game of Cat’s because that chick loved her games. I mean William thought Kitty was beautiful covered in mud which coincidentally just happens to be the passage I’m going to share with you ;)

Ok so before the passage I just wanted to say that Katherine is writing the next book in The Royal Circle trilogy and, she said it takes place 20 years before Gilt. If my math is correct that would mean it’s around the middle of Catherine of Aragon’s reign, a few years after the birth of Mary.  So maybe the next two books are about the first Catherine and Anne Boelyn??? (One can hope)

Here’s the passage between William and Kitty J

I wiped at the mud ineffectively. William coughed. If he started laughing again, I thought I might smack him.

“It’s a lovely color on you, Kitty,” he said.

Lovely color. It was a horrible color. Reminiscent of bodily functions. In spite of myself, laughter burbled in my chest.

“I look frightful,” I admonished him. “Mud is a color flattering to no one.” I caught a smile creeping across my own lips.

“Monks’ habits are often that very brown.”

“We don’t see many monks around here, anymore,” I reminded him. Not since King Henry had shut down all the religious houses. “Besides, I don’t think I’d be accepted into a monastery.”

“Oh, really?” he asked with a grin. “Skeletons in your cupboard?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Actually,” he said “I find secrets get in the way.” And suddenly his expression opened. Vulnerable. I could read everything he was thinking. He looked shy. And hopeful.

“That’s good,” I said. “Because I have none.” None of my own, anyway. I looked away to hide the hope my own face reflected.

Westminster Palace stared back at me from its empty eye sockets. I remembered what William had said before I fell into the mud.

“Is it really more beautiful up close? I asked. From Lambeth, it didn’t look beautiful at all.

“I didn’t mean Westminster,” he said quietly. I felt his gaze on my face and couldn’t move. Could hardly think. “I meant you.”

Add Gilt to your Goodreads shelves.

Buy your copy now!

Places you can fine Katherine. Facebook/Twitter /blog /Goodreads