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Royal Circle #3
Brazen
Mary Howard has always lived in the shadow of her powerful family. But when she’s married off to Henry Fitzroy, King Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, she rockets into the Tudor court’s inner circle. Mary and “Fitz� join a tight clique of rebels who test the boundaries of court’s strict rules with their games, dares, and flirtations. The more Mary gets to know Fitz, the harder she falls for him, but is forbidden from seeing him alone. The rules of court were made to be pushed…but pushing them too far means certain death. Is true love worth dying for?
524 pages, Hardcover
First published June 12, 2014
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5,028 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
April 29, 2015
This month, I kept picking up books that I couldn't get into, so my solution? Pick up the biggest book on my shelf. And which book was that? Brazen by Katherine Longshore, the third book in a companion series set during Henry VIII's reign as king. Tudor Times? I read Tarnish a while back for book club, so when I was flipping through Penguin's catalog for upcoming releases, I knew I needed to request this beast of a book. Both Tarnish and Brazen sucked me in with the world, the cast of characters, and of course the drama. ()
September 18, 2018
T/W- Death, Grief
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading Brazen. A YA Historical fiction novel set during my favourite time period in History: Tudor England! Mary Howard, a cousin to Anne Boleyn, is married off to the King's illegitimate son Henry Fitzroy. Due to their ages, they are not allowed to spend any time alone together. But that is easier said than done, as both of them start to fall head over heels for each other. In a court where breaking rules could result in extreme consequences, can their romance survive? I loved the settings, dialogue was well-written and kept the story pacing steady. Although the start of Brazen was slow, the action picked up quickly and left me wanting more. I can definitely see myself re-reading this one!
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading Brazen. A YA Historical fiction novel set during my favourite time period in History: Tudor England! Mary Howard, a cousin to Anne Boleyn, is married off to the King's illegitimate son Henry Fitzroy. Due to their ages, they are not allowed to spend any time alone together. But that is easier said than done, as both of them start to fall head over heels for each other. In a court where breaking rules could result in extreme consequences, can their romance survive? I loved the settings, dialogue was well-written and kept the story pacing steady. Although the start of Brazen was slow, the action picked up quickly and left me wanting more. I can definitely see myself re-reading this one!
October 2, 2016
“If you only do as others say, be who they want you to be, you will lose yourself. And that will be the greatest loss of all.�
Due to my extreme book hangover, I've dedicated the past couple of days to befriending Google and stalking Mary and Henry Fitzroy and, naturally, proceeding to be a complete history nerd.
I have to admit: Fitz doesn't look that bad for a historical dude.
ANYWAY.No, I don’t spend my time judging historical figures based on their portraits. Who do you think I am? *chuckles nervously*
After reading and practically devouring this 500 page book in a day, I was hit with the realization that Brazen, despite its flaws, was one of my favorite reads of 2014.
Brazen is the story of Mary Howard, cousin of Anne Boleyn, who is caught in an arranged marriage with the illegitimate child of Henry VIII--Henry Fitzroy. She is thrust into the elaborate world of the Tudors, and loses herself in the deception and scandals of the court. Her relationship with Fitz is awkward at first, but slowly unfurls and grows into something bright. Mary questions her role, her friendships, and her loyalty in her attempt to find herself, but she isn't met without opposition. The plot thickens as the story becomes larger than her and her husband's romance, and Mary discovers the fake facade behind the opulent Tudor court.
By now, I think I’m fairly familiar with Katherine Longshore’s style of writing, given that I've been loyally following her Tudor series. In my opinion, Brazen is her best novel by far. I can easily track her improvement as a writer; Gilt, her first novel, was okay-ish, while Tarnish, her second, hit me by surprise. Can you imagine my astonishment while reading her latest novel, which was near-perfect in execution? � (call me cruel but that pun is totally intended.)
If you need help, it was along the lines of wowthatwassuchanamazingbookwherecanIgetthenextone then CRAP THERE ISN’T GOING TO BE ANOTHER ONE then can I just sit here quietly drowning in my intense feels while I ponder the meaning of my life. Yes, my friends, this book was that good.
Don’t let the synopsis fool you. While you may get the distinct impression that this is some sort of teenage fluffy romance novel disguised as historical fiction, that impression is far from the truth. You not only get romance, but you also get Tudor intrigue and women thinking ahead of their time (which is the best). I think Brazen is suffused with meaning and deep in terms of themes and emotional punch. And trust me, Longshore has quite a strong punch when it comes to that department. Brazen is equal parts historical and coming-of-age, which I think will appeal to those who aren't familiar with the historical fiction genre.
The first aspect I noticed was the fluid yet emotional writing, which captured my attention from the beginning and held it captive until the very last page. I don’t think my attention diverted at all in the course of this novel; an accomplishment which can be attributed to the lovely writing.
I actually did not appreciate the depth of Longshore’s characterization until I began to do further research on the characters. Even immediately after finishing the book, I felt as if I had intimately known each individual--or most of them, at least. The major characters--including Mary and Fitz’s group of Hal, Marge, and Margaret--are characters I feel deeply connected to and am considering doing a reread because of this attachment.
Strip this book of its historical setting, and you’d get a simple yet compelling coming-of-age story of a girl who is torn between speaking her mind and following the rules. When we first meet Mary, she is a timid, awkward girl who surely is not fit for marriage. Watching her grow into her skin as the novel progresses was perhaps one of my favorite parts of the novel, and this proves to me that Longshore would have a knack for writing contemporary novels as well. Moreover, the romance was just� can I get an applause? It was brilliantly handled and although it did take up a significant chunk of the novel, I’m not complaining. Also, the relationship between the girls--Marge, Margaret, and Mary--was done in a very realistic and genuine manner.
The only major flaw that stuck out to me was the dramatization of mostly everything. It made the plot, at times, seem a bit juvenile and contrived. I've noticed this in all of Longshore’s novels, and while it’s definitely downplayed in this novel, I can’t decide whether or not it’s a deliberate choice of the author. After all, who can deny the overall shallowness of the Tudor court? (Deliberate or not, it was still annoying at times.)
I could go on for days on the value of Brazen and all its assets. The romance, the relationships, the historical accuracy, the wonderful prose, and, to put the cherry on top, the heart-breaking ending (not sure if that would count as an asset, though�) leave me supremely satisfied.
When it comes to historical fiction, I’m extremely fastidious--so once I find a near-perfect embodiment of my love for the genre, I will never stop raving about it.
Due to my extreme book hangover, I've dedicated the past couple of days to befriending Google and stalking Mary and Henry Fitzroy and, naturally, proceeding to be a complete history nerd.
I have to admit: Fitz doesn't look that bad for a historical dude.
ANYWAY.
After reading and practically devouring this 500 page book in a day, I was hit with the realization that Brazen, despite its flaws, was one of my favorite reads of 2014.
Brazen is the story of Mary Howard, cousin of Anne Boleyn, who is caught in an arranged marriage with the illegitimate child of Henry VIII--Henry Fitzroy. She is thrust into the elaborate world of the Tudors, and loses herself in the deception and scandals of the court. Her relationship with Fitz is awkward at first, but slowly unfurls and grows into something bright. Mary questions her role, her friendships, and her loyalty in her attempt to find herself, but she isn't met without opposition. The plot thickens as the story becomes larger than her and her husband's romance, and Mary discovers the fake facade behind the opulent Tudor court.
By now, I think I’m fairly familiar with Katherine Longshore’s style of writing, given that I've been loyally following her Tudor series. In my opinion, Brazen is her best novel by far. I can easily track her improvement as a writer; Gilt, her first novel, was okay-ish, while Tarnish, her second, hit me by surprise. Can you imagine my astonishment while reading her latest novel, which was near-perfect in execution? � (call me cruel but that pun is totally intended.)
If you need help, it was along the lines of wowthatwassuchanamazingbookwherecanIgetthenextone then CRAP THERE ISN’T GOING TO BE ANOTHER ONE then can I just sit here quietly drowning in my intense feels while I ponder the meaning of my life. Yes, my friends, this book was that good.
Don’t let the synopsis fool you. While you may get the distinct impression that this is some sort of teenage fluffy romance novel disguised as historical fiction, that impression is far from the truth. You not only get romance, but you also get Tudor intrigue and women thinking ahead of their time (which is the best). I think Brazen is suffused with meaning and deep in terms of themes and emotional punch. And trust me, Longshore has quite a strong punch when it comes to that department. Brazen is equal parts historical and coming-of-age, which I think will appeal to those who aren't familiar with the historical fiction genre.
The first aspect I noticed was the fluid yet emotional writing, which captured my attention from the beginning and held it captive until the very last page. I don’t think my attention diverted at all in the course of this novel; an accomplishment which can be attributed to the lovely writing.
I actually did not appreciate the depth of Longshore’s characterization until I began to do further research on the characters. Even immediately after finishing the book, I felt as if I had intimately known each individual--or most of them, at least. The major characters--including Mary and Fitz’s group of Hal, Marge, and Margaret--are characters I feel deeply connected to and am considering doing a reread because of this attachment.
Strip this book of its historical setting, and you’d get a simple yet compelling coming-of-age story of a girl who is torn between speaking her mind and following the rules. When we first meet Mary, she is a timid, awkward girl who surely is not fit for marriage. Watching her grow into her skin as the novel progresses was perhaps one of my favorite parts of the novel, and this proves to me that Longshore would have a knack for writing contemporary novels as well. Moreover, the romance was just� can I get an applause? It was brilliantly handled and although it did take up a significant chunk of the novel, I’m not complaining. Also, the relationship between the girls--Marge, Margaret, and Mary--was done in a very realistic and genuine manner.
The only major flaw that stuck out to me was the dramatization of mostly everything. It made the plot, at times, seem a bit juvenile and contrived. I've noticed this in all of Longshore’s novels, and while it’s definitely downplayed in this novel, I can’t decide whether or not it’s a deliberate choice of the author. After all, who can deny the overall shallowness of the Tudor court? (Deliberate or not, it was still annoying at times.)
I could go on for days on the value of Brazen and all its assets. The romance, the relationships, the historical accuracy, the wonderful prose, and, to put the cherry on top, the heart-breaking ending (not sure if that would count as an asset, though�) leave me supremely satisfied.
When it comes to historical fiction, I’m extremely fastidious--so once I find a near-perfect embodiment of my love for the genre, I will never stop raving about it.
June 16, 2014
I am so happy to be alive today. By today I mean in the 21st century where women have a right to vote, a chance at making something out of ourselves, a chance at freedom, a chance at love. Mary never stood a chance, and all she had was luck at her side. At least in this book she did. Katherine Longshore paints us an honest yet hopeful picture of 16th century England. To me it sounds like a horrible place to be at but it does give us a great setting for an enthralling tale.
Mary Howard is only a daughter until she marries a Duke, and not only just a Duke but the bastard son of the King of England. Suddenly she is thrown head on unto the King and Queen's court where secrets, lies, and treachery lie abundant. Mary faces it all at first with the heart and mind of a child. She is not ready to be a wife to a boy she barely knows, nor is she ready to be a Duchess. However Mary is just a pawn in a very elaborate game which only the high and mighty King might ever hope to win. Women are accessories, chips to be bargained away for the right price, you can only hope that fate is on your side.
To be completely honest the beginning of this novel is incredibly slow. But after you stick to it for a little bit... Yeap, it is still slow as hell. But then again if you are into historical fiction with a tint of romance then you would already be used to this. If you are not into these sorts of reads you have been warned. The thing that kept me going on was Mary for the most part, and the writing. Mary is this quiet girl who is very conflicted with the choices that were thrust upon her. She tries to do the right thing and honor the people who deserve it. In the grand scheme of the novel Mary was like a breath of fresh air. Plus the second half of the novel is ridiculously good and scandalous. People start getting killed left and right and Katherine Longshore starts pulling at your heart strings... really the second half of the novel is where it's at!
What makes it difficult as well is that Mary Fitzroy is not a very hyped character in history so she also doesn't have that going for her. But the Mary Fitzroy Katherine Longshore brought to life is a girl worth getting to know, a girl who believed in doing things right and in being herself, no matter how much fiction there is to her character it still brings this historical girl back to life.
Also there are SO many characters! Half of the time I would have to go back and figure out who the hell we were talking about. Half of them don't have much of a personality so they all start to blend together. All the characters that actually matter are very distinctive so the rest are just puppets that keep the plot moving along.
"I don't want to say yes, but I do. I don't want to like the way his hand feels in mine. But I do.
I want to fall in love with him.
But I don't."
The romance was very slow as well. Mary and Fitz married very young so I understand the author's intention of building on their romance and taking it slow but it took them a whole year to actually kiss. It is slow and painful, but when they actually fall in love it is beautiful... and painful. Ritz comes to grow on you but it takes at least 200 pages for this to happen.
So yes, Brazen is slow but after you get into the story and it's characters it will go by rather fast. It is interesting and I like learning about "history" in a fun sort of environment, you know as much as you CAN learn. Something not to be missed is the author's note at the end of the book. The author takes her time and tells you what happens to the characters after her tale (for the most part not good things, but come on it is England in the 1600s).
Brazen is one of my first historical romances. Usually I don't lean towards these kinds of reads but learning about Mary Fitzroy was worth the time you put into it. I think I might actually pick up another historical romance novel, but only if it is written by Katherine Longshore.
Mary Howard is only a daughter until she marries a Duke, and not only just a Duke but the bastard son of the King of England. Suddenly she is thrown head on unto the King and Queen's court where secrets, lies, and treachery lie abundant. Mary faces it all at first with the heart and mind of a child. She is not ready to be a wife to a boy she barely knows, nor is she ready to be a Duchess. However Mary is just a pawn in a very elaborate game which only the high and mighty King might ever hope to win. Women are accessories, chips to be bargained away for the right price, you can only hope that fate is on your side.
To be completely honest the beginning of this novel is incredibly slow. But after you stick to it for a little bit... Yeap, it is still slow as hell. But then again if you are into historical fiction with a tint of romance then you would already be used to this. If you are not into these sorts of reads you have been warned. The thing that kept me going on was Mary for the most part, and the writing. Mary is this quiet girl who is very conflicted with the choices that were thrust upon her. She tries to do the right thing and honor the people who deserve it. In the grand scheme of the novel Mary was like a breath of fresh air. Plus the second half of the novel is ridiculously good and scandalous. People start getting killed left and right and Katherine Longshore starts pulling at your heart strings... really the second half of the novel is where it's at!
What makes it difficult as well is that Mary Fitzroy is not a very hyped character in history so she also doesn't have that going for her. But the Mary Fitzroy Katherine Longshore brought to life is a girl worth getting to know, a girl who believed in doing things right and in being herself, no matter how much fiction there is to her character it still brings this historical girl back to life.
Also there are SO many characters! Half of the time I would have to go back and figure out who the hell we were talking about. Half of them don't have much of a personality so they all start to blend together. All the characters that actually matter are very distinctive so the rest are just puppets that keep the plot moving along.
"I don't want to say yes, but I do. I don't want to like the way his hand feels in mine. But I do.
I want to fall in love with him.
But I don't."
The romance was very slow as well. Mary and Fitz married very young so I understand the author's intention of building on their romance and taking it slow but it took them a whole year to actually kiss. It is slow and painful, but when they actually fall in love it is beautiful... and painful. Ritz comes to grow on you but it takes at least 200 pages for this to happen.
So yes, Brazen is slow but after you get into the story and it's characters it will go by rather fast. It is interesting and I like learning about "history" in a fun sort of environment, you know as much as you CAN learn. Something not to be missed is the author's note at the end of the book. The author takes her time and tells you what happens to the characters after her tale (for the most part not good things, but come on it is England in the 1600s).
Brazen is one of my first historical romances. Usually I don't lean towards these kinds of reads but learning about Mary Fitzroy was worth the time you put into it. I think I might actually pick up another historical romance novel, but only if it is written by Katherine Longshore.
January 19, 2016
I don't know I just have so many feelings right now and I can't get over any of them and I'm just going to go curl up in a ball and cry forever because WHY!?! WHY IS HISTORY SO CRUEL!?! Just read this it's amazing and you'll get all the feels. I swear.
January 17, 2020
Eh. It's alright. While I genuinely enjoyed GILT & TARNISH, this third volume didn't hold my interest.
First: Unlike Anne (TARNISH), who continually instigates by virtue of her forceful personality, or Kitty (GILT), who cannot instigate for herself but is repeatedly swept along by virtue of her servitude, Mary is a very passive lead. Even when her private wishes coincide with the machinations of those around her (like, say, sleeping with her own husband), she *still* doesn't act toward that end. She just sits there. Literally. She sews up a storm & moons over Fitz & regrets that she's nothing like her friends, then sews more & moons again & bemoans the dangers her friends put themselves in by, y'know, doing plot-type things beyond the confines of her narrative. Madge is having affairs out her ears & Margaret commits treason regularly, but we rarely see this happening because they're not the narrative lenses for this story -- which ultimately harms the dramatic value, at least for yours truly. I'm a spectacularly boring person, all things considered; reading, watching baseball, & walking my dogs are major facets of my life. But that's precisely why I prefer to read about people with a bit more flamboyant oomph. Mary was just passive & bland.
Second: Bad pacing. Mary & Fitz's passion is as incomprehensible & instalove to the reader as it is to them; with all the stretches of nothingness, there's more-than-sufficient pagetime build some kind of realistic foundation for their epic love (esp because the author is filling in gaps which have no definite record, & therefore speculation is needed). Yeah, I know it's portraying the tragedy of arranged political marriages between teenagers, but that doesn't mean the reader should have to take reasonable depth of character on faith.
Third: The finale is an uber Debbie Downer. Both prior books had somewhat upbeat endings, despite the lack of traditional HEAs. That's fine & dandy. But here, it's just depressing. End of story.
Anyway. Despite my gripes, you could do worse for historical YA. There were some good scenes & the smothering, backstabby, brutal Tudor court comes through loud & clear. But the preceding books were much better.
First: Unlike Anne (TARNISH), who continually instigates by virtue of her forceful personality, or Kitty (GILT), who cannot instigate for herself but is repeatedly swept along by virtue of her servitude, Mary is a very passive lead. Even when her private wishes coincide with the machinations of those around her (like, say, sleeping with her own husband), she *still* doesn't act toward that end. She just sits there. Literally. She sews up a storm & moons over Fitz & regrets that she's nothing like her friends, then sews more & moons again & bemoans the dangers her friends put themselves in by, y'know, doing plot-type things beyond the confines of her narrative. Madge is having affairs out her ears & Margaret commits treason regularly, but we rarely see this happening because they're not the narrative lenses for this story -- which ultimately harms the dramatic value, at least for yours truly. I'm a spectacularly boring person, all things considered; reading, watching baseball, & walking my dogs are major facets of my life. But that's precisely why I prefer to read about people with a bit more flamboyant oomph. Mary was just passive & bland.
Second: Bad pacing. Mary & Fitz's passion is as incomprehensible & instalove to the reader as it is to them; with all the stretches of nothingness, there's more-than-sufficient pagetime build some kind of realistic foundation for their epic love (esp because the author is filling in gaps which have no definite record, & therefore speculation is needed). Yeah, I know it's portraying the tragedy of arranged political marriages between teenagers, but that doesn't mean the reader should have to take reasonable depth of character on faith.
Third: The finale is an uber Debbie Downer. Both prior books had somewhat upbeat endings, despite the lack of traditional HEAs. That's fine & dandy. But here, it's just depressing. End of story.
Anyway. Despite my gripes, you could do worse for historical YA. There were some good scenes & the smothering, backstabby, brutal Tudor court comes through loud & clear. But the preceding books were much better.
November 17, 2013
I was so excited to find an ARC of BRAZEN (Penguin/Viking) by Katherine Longshore in my mailbox last week. I've read and absolutely loved her other two books, GILT and TARNISH, and I've been looking forward to BRAZEN, which isn't due out until 6/12/14. I had a busy week planned, but I was intrigued by the tagline: "There's only one man Mary Howard wants - the one she's forbidden from having ... her husband" so I figured I'd read Just A Few Pages. That was it ... my busy week was shelved and I flew through 528 pages in three days.
BRAZEN is the story of Anne Boleyn's cousin, Mary Howard, who married King Henry VIII's illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy by arrangement at the age of 14. I started the story knowing nothing about Mary and enough about Henry Fitzroy to appreciate the journey even though I knew the destination, which made the story all the more bittersweet. BRAZEN is a richly layered love story about two teenagers who were bound together by the politics of King Henry VIII's court and risked death if the rules were broken. And can I say it now? Henry VIII had all the makings of a psychopath! If I had said that 500 years ago, my head would have landed in a basket.
I have tremendous respect for writers of historical fiction, because I think they have a responsibility to those who are no longer here to tell their story. Katherine Longshore has a phenomenal voice for historical fiction, her attention to detail is just right, and she has a talent for tapping into the very soul of her characters and their story. I am quite sure if Mary Howard and Henry Fitzroy were on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, they would shower BRAZEN with five stars, too.
BRAZEN is the story of Anne Boleyn's cousin, Mary Howard, who married King Henry VIII's illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy by arrangement at the age of 14. I started the story knowing nothing about Mary and enough about Henry Fitzroy to appreciate the journey even though I knew the destination, which made the story all the more bittersweet. BRAZEN is a richly layered love story about two teenagers who were bound together by the politics of King Henry VIII's court and risked death if the rules were broken. And can I say it now? Henry VIII had all the makings of a psychopath! If I had said that 500 years ago, my head would have landed in a basket.
I have tremendous respect for writers of historical fiction, because I think they have a responsibility to those who are no longer here to tell their story. Katherine Longshore has a phenomenal voice for historical fiction, her attention to detail is just right, and she has a talent for tapping into the very soul of her characters and their story. I am quite sure if Mary Howard and Henry Fitzroy were on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, they would shower BRAZEN with five stars, too.
July 15, 2014
This review contains spoilers for anyone who doesn't know basic Tudor history
Reading about history can be dull. I don't mean dull in a this-textbook-is-literally-putting-me-to-sleep, I-am-having-a-fabulous-dream-about-dinosaurs-right-now kind of way, not for me. I love history in every way, shape, and form, whether that's a textbook or a documentary or actually visiting historical monuments and buildings and walking where famed royalty walked hundreds of years ago.
The kind of "dull" I mean is in an emotional sense. It's one thing to read the words "Anne Boleyn was beheaded in 1536." It's a step closer to real when you visit the Tower of London and walk on the Tower Green, where Anne's execution actually happened. But you're always one step removed.
And then Katherine Longshore's books step in and actually transport you through space, time, and emotional distance until you're actually there.
BRAZEN is probably the weakest of Longshore's three Tudor novels in a lot of ways -- it's long, the plot meanders a bit, there are a lot of scenes that could probably have been cut -- but I don't care about all that. This is a book that told me so many things I knew before, but showed me other sides of historical events I thought I knew all about, to the point where everything felt fresh and real and utterly human. This is a book that showed me Anne's execution, showed me all the details I even knew had happened -- how her ladies helped her removed her hood, how she took off her necklace, how she prayed and didn't realize the sword was falling when it was -- but showed them in a way that impacted me more than any history book or tour guide ever could. Because Katherine Longshore doesn't just show you the facts, she shows you the humans. You know Anne as a person and her death affects you because you know her. You know Henry FitzRoy dies young, and yet you pray for history to rewrite itself because he and Mary are 4ever, goddamn it.
Ahh. Anyway. Read this book. Read all Longshore's books. They are the real thing.
Pre-read review:
OMG OMG OMG ANOTHER KATHERINE LONGSHORE TUDOR BOOK.
This woman is on my must-buy list.
BRAZEN. Yet another perfect title. And GAH the plot sounds amazing. I was always curious about Henry Fitzroy, so I'm excited to learn more about him. This sounds great!!!
Reading about history can be dull. I don't mean dull in a this-textbook-is-literally-putting-me-to-sleep, I-am-having-a-fabulous-dream-about-dinosaurs-right-now kind of way, not for me. I love history in every way, shape, and form, whether that's a textbook or a documentary or actually visiting historical monuments and buildings and walking where famed royalty walked hundreds of years ago.
The kind of "dull" I mean is in an emotional sense. It's one thing to read the words "Anne Boleyn was beheaded in 1536." It's a step closer to real when you visit the Tower of London and walk on the Tower Green, where Anne's execution actually happened. But you're always one step removed.
And then Katherine Longshore's books step in and actually transport you through space, time, and emotional distance until you're actually there.
BRAZEN is probably the weakest of Longshore's three Tudor novels in a lot of ways -- it's long, the plot meanders a bit, there are a lot of scenes that could probably have been cut -- but I don't care about all that. This is a book that told me so many things I knew before, but showed me other sides of historical events I thought I knew all about, to the point where everything felt fresh and real and utterly human. This is a book that showed me Anne's execution, showed me all the details I even knew had happened -- how her ladies helped her removed her hood, how she took off her necklace, how she prayed and didn't realize the sword was falling when it was -- but showed them in a way that impacted me more than any history book or tour guide ever could. Because Katherine Longshore doesn't just show you the facts, she shows you the humans. You know Anne as a person and her death affects you because you know her. You know Henry FitzRoy dies young, and yet you pray for history to rewrite itself because he and Mary are 4ever, goddamn it.
Ahh. Anyway. Read this book. Read all Longshore's books. They are the real thing.
Pre-read review:
OMG OMG OMG ANOTHER KATHERINE LONGSHORE TUDOR BOOK.
This woman is on my must-buy list.
BRAZEN. Yet another perfect title. And GAH the plot sounds amazing. I was always curious about Henry Fitzroy, so I'm excited to learn more about him. This sounds great!!!
March 25, 2014
I've never been one to lean in the direction of historical fiction until I started reading Katherine Longshore's books and BRAZEN is my favorite to date. Her writing just keeps getting better and better. It's so rare to find a book that is historically educational while also as tantalizing and swoon worthy as a very popular romance. An amazing read.
Mary Howard and Henry FitzRoy are chess pieces in the very real and dangerous games being played in King Henry VIII's court. But love has a power all it's own and Longshore gives us front row seats to the danger and intrigue. You do not want to miss your chance to be a part of this. Read BRAZEN--better yet--read GILT, TARNISH and then BRAZEN asap!
Mary Howard and Henry FitzRoy are chess pieces in the very real and dangerous games being played in King Henry VIII's court. But love has a power all it's own and Longshore gives us front row seats to the danger and intrigue. You do not want to miss your chance to be a part of this. Read BRAZEN--better yet--read GILT, TARNISH and then BRAZEN asap!
March 4, 2015
I will read ANYTHING Katherine Longshore writes. Her historical fiction is brilliant and very well done. I have loved this companion trilogy and Brazen was no exception. I'd never heard of Mary Fitzroy but she and her story fascinated me. I want more historical fiction!
May 28, 2014
My new favorite in this "series". Beautifully executed (har har) and exquisitely told.
_______________________
An advance copy of this novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review can also be found at .
I don't know as much about the Tudor dynasty as I probably should, given that it's one of my favorite historical periods to read about, but Katherine Longshore excels at bringing that period to life in a way that is romantic -- poetic, even -- and not at all overbearing. It doesn't feel like a history lesson, but I learned a few things all the same, and I appreciate the author's note at the end detailing what liberties she took with the story and how they compare to what is known of that time period.
And I have to say that BrazenÌýis now my favorite of her novels. I read an , and even from that brief bit of the story, I knew that I would end up preferring this novel over the rest in the series, though I also have to attest that it made me want to pick up the others again for a re-read. There was just something about this main character that I felt the others had been lacking. Maybe it's the fact that she bucked society's norms in a time when women had few rights and were little more than pawns. Maybe it's because she fought for love when she was told she could not have it. But I honesty just think I liked Mary's fire, her spirit and willingness to be good and honorable, even if those around her were not.
I really love how the focus of these books is always on one of the lady's maids to King Henry VIII's flavor of the moment. His breaking ties with Rome irrevocably changed the course of history, but the same could be said of the women's lives he touched as a result of that split. Ìýfollowed young Catherine Howard's rise to the queenship and her demise. (She was wife #5.)Ìý Ìýfollowed a beguiling Anne Boleyn's rise to power. (For this book, the author took us back to Henry's second wife.)ÌýBrazen picks up at the end of young Anne's reign and her fall from grace, but it also depicted a friendship between Anne and her cousin and lady's maid Mary Howard and the heroine of our story.
When we first meet Mary, she is fourteen and about to marry Henry FitzRoy, King Henry VIII's illegitimate son, also only fourteen. And then the two are kept apart and not allowed to consummate the marriage for fear that it would bring illness to young FitzRoy if he was not mature enough when the deed was done. This meant that poor Mary's situation was always in flux, never knowing whether the King had other plans for his only son and planned to annul the marriage in favor of better partnerships.
That part is all true. Where Longshore deviates from the script is the actual relationship that develops between Mary and Fitz. Obviously, Mary had little power to control her future, but she did endeavor to love the man she was essentially forced to marry. With the help of her brother -- Fitz's best friend and boyhood companion -- and Mary's own friends Madge and Margaret, Mary and Fitz were able to spend a little time together and get to know one another, forming a bond despite the King's wishes. I loved how their awkward first encounters paved the way for some unbelievably swoony moments later on in the book.
And though I did know how their story would end, I was glad for those moments of happiness for them, especially considering how meddlesome both of their families were. As I said before, women were just used as pawns to strengthen alliances and in other business dealings, but the same can be said of illegitimate sons. Mary never had a hope of pleasing her mother, but her marriage to Fitz was everything her father could have dreamed of considering his aspirations to make Mary a queen. Or it could have been, had Mary done as he'd asked and gone against the King's wishes. But none of that compares to the demands the King made on young FitzRoy. Fitz wanted a father, but the King never deigned to be such to his only son. All the boy wanted to do was escape all of the court intrigue and be allowed to love his wife, but Henry VIII never saw fit to grant him that wish. Without the love of their parents that they so desired, Mary and Fitz took comfort in each other.
That's when things got interesting and quite delicious...until they took a turn toward heart-breaking. History -- or should I say the King -- wasn't particularly kind to any of Henry VIII's wives, nor to any of their lady's maids, and Mary is no exception. Nor were her friends. But Mary was quite a strong girl, and through it all -- family squabbles, Kingly dictates, and royal beheadings -- she held by her convictions and remained the good-hearted girl she'd always strived to be. The story Katherine Longshore presented here may be mostly fictitious, but I choose to believe that some good came from Henry's blasphemy, even if history is a cruel mistress. And because of that, Brazen will remain my favorite novel in this series...well, at least until the next book she writes.
GIF it to me straight:
Yep. Pretty much. But also...
_______________________
An advance copy of this novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review can also be found at .
I don't know as much about the Tudor dynasty as I probably should, given that it's one of my favorite historical periods to read about, but Katherine Longshore excels at bringing that period to life in a way that is romantic -- poetic, even -- and not at all overbearing. It doesn't feel like a history lesson, but I learned a few things all the same, and I appreciate the author's note at the end detailing what liberties she took with the story and how they compare to what is known of that time period.
And I have to say that BrazenÌýis now my favorite of her novels. I read an , and even from that brief bit of the story, I knew that I would end up preferring this novel over the rest in the series, though I also have to attest that it made me want to pick up the others again for a re-read. There was just something about this main character that I felt the others had been lacking. Maybe it's the fact that she bucked society's norms in a time when women had few rights and were little more than pawns. Maybe it's because she fought for love when she was told she could not have it. But I honesty just think I liked Mary's fire, her spirit and willingness to be good and honorable, even if those around her were not.
I really love how the focus of these books is always on one of the lady's maids to King Henry VIII's flavor of the moment. His breaking ties with Rome irrevocably changed the course of history, but the same could be said of the women's lives he touched as a result of that split. Ìýfollowed young Catherine Howard's rise to the queenship and her demise. (She was wife #5.)Ìý Ìýfollowed a beguiling Anne Boleyn's rise to power. (For this book, the author took us back to Henry's second wife.)ÌýBrazen picks up at the end of young Anne's reign and her fall from grace, but it also depicted a friendship between Anne and her cousin and lady's maid Mary Howard and the heroine of our story.
When we first meet Mary, she is fourteen and about to marry Henry FitzRoy, King Henry VIII's illegitimate son, also only fourteen. And then the two are kept apart and not allowed to consummate the marriage for fear that it would bring illness to young FitzRoy if he was not mature enough when the deed was done. This meant that poor Mary's situation was always in flux, never knowing whether the King had other plans for his only son and planned to annul the marriage in favor of better partnerships.
That part is all true. Where Longshore deviates from the script is the actual relationship that develops between Mary and Fitz. Obviously, Mary had little power to control her future, but she did endeavor to love the man she was essentially forced to marry. With the help of her brother -- Fitz's best friend and boyhood companion -- and Mary's own friends Madge and Margaret, Mary and Fitz were able to spend a little time together and get to know one another, forming a bond despite the King's wishes. I loved how their awkward first encounters paved the way for some unbelievably swoony moments later on in the book.
And though I did know how their story would end, I was glad for those moments of happiness for them, especially considering how meddlesome both of their families were. As I said before, women were just used as pawns to strengthen alliances and in other business dealings, but the same can be said of illegitimate sons. Mary never had a hope of pleasing her mother, but her marriage to Fitz was everything her father could have dreamed of considering his aspirations to make Mary a queen. Or it could have been, had Mary done as he'd asked and gone against the King's wishes. But none of that compares to the demands the King made on young FitzRoy. Fitz wanted a father, but the King never deigned to be such to his only son. All the boy wanted to do was escape all of the court intrigue and be allowed to love his wife, but Henry VIII never saw fit to grant him that wish. Without the love of their parents that they so desired, Mary and Fitz took comfort in each other.
That's when things got interesting and quite delicious...until they took a turn toward heart-breaking. History -- or should I say the King -- wasn't particularly kind to any of Henry VIII's wives, nor to any of their lady's maids, and Mary is no exception. Nor were her friends. But Mary was quite a strong girl, and through it all -- family squabbles, Kingly dictates, and royal beheadings -- she held by her convictions and remained the good-hearted girl she'd always strived to be. The story Katherine Longshore presented here may be mostly fictitious, but I choose to believe that some good came from Henry's blasphemy, even if history is a cruel mistress. And because of that, Brazen will remain my favorite novel in this series...well, at least until the next book she writes.
GIF it to me straight:
Yep. Pretty much. But also...
July 14, 2014
Me upon finishing this book:
April 10, 2015
I don't know why but I will always be intrigued and enamored with the Tudor era. I liked how Mary Howard's story was depicted. I really wish that her love affair had been as magical and full of passion in real life. I loved this book and I highly recommend it.
March 6, 2016
My obsession with Henry VIII's court continues. This series is by far my favorite historical fiction series I've ever read. They are fascinating. I could not put this down!
January 31, 2017
The best historical fiction series I've ever read. Absolutely in love with this series. I could get lost over and over again in King Henry VIII's world.
January 18, 2019
Brazen was certainly entertaining at times, but it took a while for me to get invested, and while I eventually came around to the romance, it was a process. There also wasn't really a plot, to be honest with you, which meant that I felt like the story just sort of meandered along. There are several points where I feel like Longshore could have given a sense of build to the arc, instead of just some general ebbs and flows. There were also a lot of characters and I was unable to attach to many of those characters, even when it was clear that Mary and others did. However, I flew through the book, despite its impressive length, and generally enjoyed myself. I just don't think I'll remember anything about this book in a week.
Mary Howard, at the ripe old age of fourteen, is married as a political move to the equally young Henry Fitzroy, the king's illegitimate son. Given their age, the husband and wife are not allowed to spend time together alone, which means they can never really become close to one another. As their time in the court continues and political alliances shift and fall apart around them, the two begin to fall in love with each other, their spouses. (There's mention of rebellion in the blurb on the back of the book, but I think that's not a really accurate portrayal of what happens.)
Spoilers Discussion
I wish the romance were less insta-love. I totally understand that they want to like each other, they've been forced to marry each other, of course, and I get that they want to spend time together etc. But their attachment was just too quick, and they didn't actually hang out ever? Like they went to see the stars this one time and� that's sort of it? They did some kissing also. But they didn't have real bonding time where they could actually fall in love. That sort of stuff bugs me.
I liked Mary. She was involved and moral enough to make it easy for her to root for while also being able to compromise some of those values when necessary. I like the ending (case in point of how I couldn't bond to the characters-- I couldn't care about Fitz's death. He died alone, as written on a separate page even!, and I couldn't get myself to really care. Anyway) and how she fights to be her own person. The author's note at the end mentioned that she fought for her title and her money for the rest of her life, refusing to remarry, and I like envisioning the Mary we got to know over the course of this story living out the rest of her days like that.
I liked the three friends, and I liked how their allegiances shifted and changed. The story of Madge and the king is, of course, an all too common one of a man in power using that power to get a much younger woman (Madge is borderline a girl, she's like fifteen?) into bed with him. And Queen Anne's pain was absolutely understandable and painful, especially given a comparison with how Anne and the king started the book.
However, I did not connect to Queen Anne in the way that Mary did and the way that I think I was supposed to. She seemed to me to be a fine woman, and I understand that Mary was looking for female role models, and I like how she was a bit of a disruptor, but she was also remarkably cruel and didn't really seem to me to do much to inspire confidence in her maids/companions. (Also, why was Madge, with whom Anne's husband cheated, there for her beheading? I feel like that's not the person I would want standing by me in that moment.)
I think the plot was just soooo sloooow. It would be so easy to make the difficulties between Anne and the king feel more dangerous and urgent and have the story build to the moment of their fall-out. Instead, I felt like we were distracted by a bunch of different things (who was having an affair with the king and who a bunch of other people were sleeping with, for good measure) when really there's this huge drama happening in the middle. I wish there were a way that Longshore could indicate to the reader that the drama with the queen and king is the key to the whole thing, and all the other friendship and romance issues should be seen in the light of that drama. But, of course, the issue of having the queen and king be the main drama of the story is that Mary isn't one of them! So then is the story all about Mary and Fitz's relationship? I guess that could work, but then they need to spend way more time together, instead of the whole book being "Fitz is away at [English town/province/city] and the court is traveling between [____shire and _____shire]" which makes it hard to bond to them!
I'm not super interested in pursuing this author further, though this was absolutely a fine effort!
Fin!
Fine, but slow and I couldn't connect: 82%
Mary Howard, at the ripe old age of fourteen, is married as a political move to the equally young Henry Fitzroy, the king's illegitimate son. Given their age, the husband and wife are not allowed to spend time together alone, which means they can never really become close to one another. As their time in the court continues and political alliances shift and fall apart around them, the two begin to fall in love with each other, their spouses. (There's mention of rebellion in the blurb on the back of the book, but I think that's not a really accurate portrayal of what happens.)
Spoilers Discussion
I wish the romance were less insta-love. I totally understand that they want to like each other, they've been forced to marry each other, of course, and I get that they want to spend time together etc. But their attachment was just too quick, and they didn't actually hang out ever? Like they went to see the stars this one time and� that's sort of it? They did some kissing also. But they didn't have real bonding time where they could actually fall in love. That sort of stuff bugs me.
I liked Mary. She was involved and moral enough to make it easy for her to root for while also being able to compromise some of those values when necessary. I like the ending (case in point of how I couldn't bond to the characters-- I couldn't care about Fitz's death. He died alone, as written on a separate page even!, and I couldn't get myself to really care. Anyway) and how she fights to be her own person. The author's note at the end mentioned that she fought for her title and her money for the rest of her life, refusing to remarry, and I like envisioning the Mary we got to know over the course of this story living out the rest of her days like that.
I liked the three friends, and I liked how their allegiances shifted and changed. The story of Madge and the king is, of course, an all too common one of a man in power using that power to get a much younger woman (Madge is borderline a girl, she's like fifteen?) into bed with him. And Queen Anne's pain was absolutely understandable and painful, especially given a comparison with how Anne and the king started the book.
However, I did not connect to Queen Anne in the way that Mary did and the way that I think I was supposed to. She seemed to me to be a fine woman, and I understand that Mary was looking for female role models, and I like how she was a bit of a disruptor, but she was also remarkably cruel and didn't really seem to me to do much to inspire confidence in her maids/companions. (Also, why was Madge, with whom Anne's husband cheated, there for her beheading? I feel like that's not the person I would want standing by me in that moment.)
I think the plot was just soooo sloooow. It would be so easy to make the difficulties between Anne and the king feel more dangerous and urgent and have the story build to the moment of their fall-out. Instead, I felt like we were distracted by a bunch of different things (who was having an affair with the king and who a bunch of other people were sleeping with, for good measure) when really there's this huge drama happening in the middle. I wish there were a way that Longshore could indicate to the reader that the drama with the queen and king is the key to the whole thing, and all the other friendship and romance issues should be seen in the light of that drama. But, of course, the issue of having the queen and king be the main drama of the story is that Mary isn't one of them! So then is the story all about Mary and Fitz's relationship? I guess that could work, but then they need to spend way more time together, instead of the whole book being "Fitz is away at [English town/province/city] and the court is traveling between [____shire and _____shire]" which makes it hard to bond to them!
I'm not super interested in pursuing this author further, though this was absolutely a fine effort!
Fin!
Fine, but slow and I couldn't connect: 82%
April 17, 2019
3.5 Stars
This book is a work of fiction and takes a lot of liberties with history. We will never know how involved FitzRoy was with Mary. The author, Katherine Longshore, could be hitting close to home or could be totally off base, but what she does is creates a great story between 2 people who were actually married. You will find facts in her book, as well as fiction.
It was a scary time to be alive and under the King. He was finding fault with everyone, except himself. FitzRoy is the King's bastard son, he is wed off to a Duke's daughter - not a princess. They spend a vast majority of their time apart from one another. It's hard to grow a relationship when you are a pawn to the king. If the King decides to make Fitz his heir, then he is fit to marry a princess. Otherwise, Mary is good enough. Yet they aren't allowed to consummate the marriage until the King decides.
With the help of Queen Anne, Madge, & Margaret - Mary finds herself, her voice, and her love. At the end of the book, you realize that Mary does love Fitz and vice-versa - I can only hope that happened in real life too. I hope Mary found happiness and love in her marriage because it sounds like her parents were real dickbags.
This book is a work of fiction and takes a lot of liberties with history. We will never know how involved FitzRoy was with Mary. The author, Katherine Longshore, could be hitting close to home or could be totally off base, but what she does is creates a great story between 2 people who were actually married. You will find facts in her book, as well as fiction.
It was a scary time to be alive and under the King. He was finding fault with everyone, except himself. FitzRoy is the King's bastard son, he is wed off to a Duke's daughter - not a princess. They spend a vast majority of their time apart from one another. It's hard to grow a relationship when you are a pawn to the king. If the King decides to make Fitz his heir, then he is fit to marry a princess. Otherwise, Mary is good enough. Yet they aren't allowed to consummate the marriage until the King decides.
With the help of Queen Anne, Madge, & Margaret - Mary finds herself, her voice, and her love. At the end of the book, you realize that Mary does love Fitz and vice-versa - I can only hope that happened in real life too. I hope Mary found happiness and love in her marriage because it sounds like her parents were real dickbags.
July 18, 2014
*An ARC of this novel was provided in exchange for an honest review*
Those crazy Tudors--they're at it again!
Where do I begin? When I won a beautiful copy of Brazen, I was ecstatic. I've always been fascinated by the Tudor court, and now I had the opportunity to read a book that comprised three of my favorite things: YA, historical fiction and forbidden romance. I remember happy dancing in my room, up until my mom came in and looked at me with a strange expression, to which I could only reply "It's all good." This one's for all you hopeless romantics out there.
If you have even a basic knowledge of Tudor history, you will most likely have been spoiled for this book. But Katherine Longshore has managed to weave together such a compelling perspective that it doesn't matter whether you know how the story ends or not. She has created a fascinating, exciting, and intricate story of romance, rebellion, and tenacity. And I always respect an author that can build up that good old sexual tension. *fans self*
The author truly brings each and every character to life, so much so that when I was finished reading, I delved right into Wikipedia and other sources to learn more about who these characters really were (and by that I mean just Mary and Fitz because... come on). Of course what actually happened doesn't hold any water to what this story gives the reader, but hey, that's why we have fiction, right? HURRAH FOR FICTION! *clears throat* Anyway, onto the character analysis...
Mary: Mary Howard is the embodiment of why I love historical fiction, particularly of the British persuasion, so much. I completely felt for her as a 16th century young woman trying to survive in a world where to have an opinion as a female is almost unheard of, and to be controlled by your male associations is the norm. Ms. Longshore crafted a Mary Howard that begins as timid and malleable, only to leave her to us by the end of the story as empowered, tenacious, and inspirational, while still maintaining her with a sense of grace and dignity. And that, my friends, is part of the reason why I love historical fiction so damn much (when it's handled correctly).
Fitz: My poor heart! How can I resist? What is it about young British boys of yore that just make me swoon? Is it the charm, the chivalry, the forbidden fruit of it all? I think it's all of the above... They don't make 'em like that anymore girls! Fitz was perfect in all the right places: Adorably awkward, seductively confident, delightfully sweet. It is easy to connect with the pressure he feels as the bastard son of King Henry VIII--there and yet not really there; always on the sidelines and waiting to be told whether he actually matters within the Tudor bloodline, and even then he is only important when it is at the convenience of the King. The pain and uncertainty that comprises Fitz's very existence is captured extremely well.
As I've mentioned earlier, each and every character within this story is distinct. Even Mary's best friends, Madge and Margaret, didn't feel like they were just thrown in to make Mary seem awesome. Madge was a hard-spoken strong spirit with a distinct personality. She does make her fair share of mistakes, but you can tell that all she's really looking for is love and acceptance. Margaret herself was more "lady"-like but still a delightful character in her own right. I found myself truly invested in what was happening in their lives, and I felt as close to them as Mary felt. Anne Boleyn's characterization was also handled so well; there was never an Anne scene that was wasted--it always meant something. I never thought that the author slacked in any way, shape, or form, no matter how minuscule the character's part.
THIS IS TO YOU, MARY'S PARENTS (WHOSE NAMES I NOW FORGET):
YOU JUST GOT BURNED, BITCHES
I also thought the misogyny and prejudice against women during this era was executed wonderfully, and I am honestly so thankful that I am a 21st century female, where my opinions and thoughts can be heard, I can be heard, and I don't have to worry about being sent to the chopping block or imprisoned or exiled for some ridiculous reason. Where I don't have to be married off to a complete stranger in order to placate my parents, and my love isn't dictated by how advantageous it is to my bloodline. Heck, where I don't have to wear a damn bodice and corset every freaking day!
This story is all about finding love where you least expected it and digging through the slop of other people's expectations to discover who you truly are, made all the more powerful by the fact that it takes place during such a tumultuous point in history. And the ending. -sniff, sniff- Why is history so cruel?!
Compelling, romantic and bittersweet, Brazen is not a story to be passed up. I'm now dying to get my hands on the first two books of this trilogy (which seemingly doesn't have to be read in any particular order), Gilt and Tarnish. I would read this book again and I'm quite the happy camper knowing it has its own special space on my bookshelf.
Those crazy Tudors--they're at it again!
Where do I begin? When I won a beautiful copy of Brazen, I was ecstatic. I've always been fascinated by the Tudor court, and now I had the opportunity to read a book that comprised three of my favorite things: YA, historical fiction and forbidden romance. I remember happy dancing in my room, up until my mom came in and looked at me with a strange expression, to which I could only reply "It's all good." This one's for all you hopeless romantics out there.
If you have even a basic knowledge of Tudor history, you will most likely have been spoiled for this book. But Katherine Longshore has managed to weave together such a compelling perspective that it doesn't matter whether you know how the story ends or not. She has created a fascinating, exciting, and intricate story of romance, rebellion, and tenacity. And I always respect an author that can build up that good old sexual tension. *fans self*
The author truly brings each and every character to life, so much so that when I was finished reading, I delved right into Wikipedia and other sources to learn more about who these characters really were (and by that I mean just Mary and Fitz because... come on). Of course what actually happened doesn't hold any water to what this story gives the reader, but hey, that's why we have fiction, right? HURRAH FOR FICTION! *clears throat* Anyway, onto the character analysis...
Mary: Mary Howard is the embodiment of why I love historical fiction, particularly of the British persuasion, so much. I completely felt for her as a 16th century young woman trying to survive in a world where to have an opinion as a female is almost unheard of, and to be controlled by your male associations is the norm. Ms. Longshore crafted a Mary Howard that begins as timid and malleable, only to leave her to us by the end of the story as empowered, tenacious, and inspirational, while still maintaining her with a sense of grace and dignity. And that, my friends, is part of the reason why I love historical fiction so damn much (when it's handled correctly).
Fitz: My poor heart! How can I resist? What is it about young British boys of yore that just make me swoon? Is it the charm, the chivalry, the forbidden fruit of it all? I think it's all of the above... They don't make 'em like that anymore girls! Fitz was perfect in all the right places: Adorably awkward, seductively confident, delightfully sweet. It is easy to connect with the pressure he feels as the bastard son of King Henry VIII--there and yet not really there; always on the sidelines and waiting to be told whether he actually matters within the Tudor bloodline, and even then he is only important when it is at the convenience of the King. The pain and uncertainty that comprises Fitz's very existence is captured extremely well.
As I've mentioned earlier, each and every character within this story is distinct. Even Mary's best friends, Madge and Margaret, didn't feel like they were just thrown in to make Mary seem awesome. Madge was a hard-spoken strong spirit with a distinct personality. She does make her fair share of mistakes, but you can tell that all she's really looking for is love and acceptance. Margaret herself was more "lady"-like but still a delightful character in her own right. I found myself truly invested in what was happening in their lives, and I felt as close to them as Mary felt. Anne Boleyn's characterization was also handled so well; there was never an Anne scene that was wasted--it always meant something. I never thought that the author slacked in any way, shape, or form, no matter how minuscule the character's part.
THIS IS TO YOU, MARY'S PARENTS (WHOSE NAMES I NOW FORGET):
YOU JUST GOT BURNED, BITCHES
I also thought the misogyny and prejudice against women during this era was executed wonderfully, and I am honestly so thankful that I am a 21st century female, where my opinions and thoughts can be heard, I can be heard, and I don't have to worry about being sent to the chopping block or imprisoned or exiled for some ridiculous reason. Where I don't have to be married off to a complete stranger in order to placate my parents, and my love isn't dictated by how advantageous it is to my bloodline. Heck, where I don't have to wear a damn bodice and corset every freaking day!
This story is all about finding love where you least expected it and digging through the slop of other people's expectations to discover who you truly are, made all the more powerful by the fact that it takes place during such a tumultuous point in history. And the ending. -sniff, sniff- Why is history so cruel?!
Compelling, romantic and bittersweet, Brazen is not a story to be passed up. I'm now dying to get my hands on the first two books of this trilogy (which seemingly doesn't have to be read in any particular order), Gilt and Tarnish. I would read this book again and I'm quite the happy camper knowing it has its own special space on my bookshelf.
October 19, 2017
I really enjoyed this read. It was fast paced entertainment. The writing and character development was well done. I’ve enjoyed the series. Didn’t seem like 500+ pages at all.
July 6, 2023
I have been changed.
September 11, 2014
This book is exactly why I love historical fiction.
To say that I have been waiting impatiently for this book to get into my grubby little hands would probably be an understatement. I have always loved historical fiction and when I stumbled upon Katherine Longshore’s Gilt I was instantly a fan of hers. She mixes in a great deal of history but as a reader, I am never overwhelmed and of course, there is the swoony stuff which I love.
Brazen is about Mary Howard’s life beginning on the day of her marriage and I have to admit, I loved this book from the very first page. Mary is thrown into a marriage at the age of fourteen to Henry Fitzroy, the bastard son of Henry VIII. Once the marriage takes place, they are not allowed to be together though and in all honesty, that is the only thing either of them want once they get to know each other.
I loved Mary. She was an interesting mix of personalities and I have to believe that is because of who she is and how she grew up. I loved when she would dare to challenge the norms of society and do what she wanted. This was usually when it was something related to Fitz. Obviously, as a woman in the sixteenth century, she didn’t really have many choices but as a member of the Tudor court, she was able to bend some of the rules, with the help of her brother and her friend.
Fitz was an interesting character. He was a good friend of Mary’s brother and he knew Mary distantly when they were married. As they get to know each other better, it is clear that Fitz walks a fine line. Yes, he is the son of the King but he is also illegitimate so while Henry keeps him close, he also doesn’t see him as a “true� son. Fitz fights constantly for Henry’s respect and ultimately doesn’t really get it�.which made me so sad for him. On the other hand, Fitz is swoony…no question. All he wants is to be with his wife and love her but because of decisions that Henry has made, he can’t even do that.
I loved Fitz and Mary together. Both of these characters are being used by their families but despite that, they end up loving each other and even though they can’t technically be together, they find ways to get to know each other and ultimately fall in love. I’m not going to lie here…things don’t necessarily go as they would hope but I was glad to see that these characters had a bit of happiness together. I honestly wish they had had more time together but I suppose that wouldn’t be accurate.
One of the other things I enjoyed about this story was the way Longshore tied the story of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII back into this book. It was done well and I was able to see how their relationship deteriorated while still focusing on the story of Mary and Fitz. It was definitely frustrating to see Henry blame everyone else for his issues in having an heir. The things he got away with just make me cringe.
I am in no way doing this story any justice � I know this and it is mostly because there was so much to this book that I don’t even know where to start. Unfortunately this happens to me with books I love. All you really need to know about this book is that I loved it and couldn’t put it down…literally. I think the only reason I did put it down was because I had to get off the plane. Regardless, this book was exactly what I wanted to read. It has love, betrayal, friendships, and some fantastic characters. If you love historical fiction, definitely check this one out when you can.
Thank you to Viking/Penguin Group for the review copy.
To say that I have been waiting impatiently for this book to get into my grubby little hands would probably be an understatement. I have always loved historical fiction and when I stumbled upon Katherine Longshore’s Gilt I was instantly a fan of hers. She mixes in a great deal of history but as a reader, I am never overwhelmed and of course, there is the swoony stuff which I love.
Brazen is about Mary Howard’s life beginning on the day of her marriage and I have to admit, I loved this book from the very first page. Mary is thrown into a marriage at the age of fourteen to Henry Fitzroy, the bastard son of Henry VIII. Once the marriage takes place, they are not allowed to be together though and in all honesty, that is the only thing either of them want once they get to know each other.
I loved Mary. She was an interesting mix of personalities and I have to believe that is because of who she is and how she grew up. I loved when she would dare to challenge the norms of society and do what she wanted. This was usually when it was something related to Fitz. Obviously, as a woman in the sixteenth century, she didn’t really have many choices but as a member of the Tudor court, she was able to bend some of the rules, with the help of her brother and her friend.
Fitz was an interesting character. He was a good friend of Mary’s brother and he knew Mary distantly when they were married. As they get to know each other better, it is clear that Fitz walks a fine line. Yes, he is the son of the King but he is also illegitimate so while Henry keeps him close, he also doesn’t see him as a “true� son. Fitz fights constantly for Henry’s respect and ultimately doesn’t really get it�.which made me so sad for him. On the other hand, Fitz is swoony…no question. All he wants is to be with his wife and love her but because of decisions that Henry has made, he can’t even do that.
I loved Fitz and Mary together. Both of these characters are being used by their families but despite that, they end up loving each other and even though they can’t technically be together, they find ways to get to know each other and ultimately fall in love. I’m not going to lie here…things don’t necessarily go as they would hope but I was glad to see that these characters had a bit of happiness together. I honestly wish they had had more time together but I suppose that wouldn’t be accurate.
One of the other things I enjoyed about this story was the way Longshore tied the story of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII back into this book. It was done well and I was able to see how their relationship deteriorated while still focusing on the story of Mary and Fitz. It was definitely frustrating to see Henry blame everyone else for his issues in having an heir. The things he got away with just make me cringe.
I am in no way doing this story any justice � I know this and it is mostly because there was so much to this book that I don’t even know where to start. Unfortunately this happens to me with books I love. All you really need to know about this book is that I loved it and couldn’t put it down…literally. I think the only reason I did put it down was because I had to get off the plane. Regardless, this book was exactly what I wanted to read. It has love, betrayal, friendships, and some fantastic characters. If you love historical fiction, definitely check this one out when you can.
Thank you to Viking/Penguin Group for the review copy.
February 28, 2016
To see full review click
I am highly fascinated with the Tudor family.
They are a bat shit insane family, and why wouldn’t they be with that War of the Roses business.
Then there’s Henry the VIII.
Oh, Henry the VIII how you are this enigmatic person who I can’t exactly pinpoint why women found you attractive back in your day. And why Ann Boleyn liked you because you were just plain�
Ugh.
Don’t get me started with Henry the VIII.
I actually was interested in this book for a different reason, Henry’s illegitimate son. You really don’t hear much about Henry Fitzroy and was looking forward to learning about him.
But if you think Henry Fitzroy is going to be a main character.
You’d be wrong.
Wrong.
Wrong.
Wrong.
The book focuses on Mary Howard who is Fitzroy’s wife. Again, this could be interesting, but instead it is just boring. So, so, boring.
Because Mary is boring.
And a lot of this is probably because she’s boring in real life and Longshore was trying to right an accurate portrayal of the period unlike those Philippa Gregory where Anne Bolyen cheats on Henry with her brother in order to give him an heir.
Can you say ew!
Yeah.
But yeah, the Longshore account of what occurred is probably fairly accurate, but she probably focused on one of the more boring figures to focus her attentions to.
Seriously, why not focus on Fitzroy himself, or better yet focus on Anne Bolyen herself. And yes, I know Longshore has a book about Boleyn in her younger years, but I wanted more about this Anne. She was by far the best character in this book.
Because Mary was just dumb and stupid and had a Bella Swan crush on Fitzroy who she barely interacted with.
If their relationship would’ve been something, I might’ve cared. But with 300 pages of very little to no interaction, I just didn’t care.
And again, I think that wasn’t so much of Longshore’s fault since she was going for a more historically rooted story, but at the same time it is her fault because there were more interesting characters to follow.
Hell, I would’ve liked a book about a teenage Bloody Mary. I am sure that she would have a lot to bemoan about other than not being able to tap her teenage husband like Mary Howard Fitzroy did.
Honestly, bordom was what made me give up this book.
And I like history.
If you want to read about an obscure person in history who was really a minor figure (at best) in the whole Tudor cycle you might want to read Brazen, otherwise skip.
I am highly fascinated with the Tudor family.
They are a bat shit insane family, and why wouldn’t they be with that War of the Roses business.
Then there’s Henry the VIII.
Oh, Henry the VIII how you are this enigmatic person who I can’t exactly pinpoint why women found you attractive back in your day. And why Ann Boleyn liked you because you were just plain�
Ugh.
Don’t get me started with Henry the VIII.
I actually was interested in this book for a different reason, Henry’s illegitimate son. You really don’t hear much about Henry Fitzroy and was looking forward to learning about him.
But if you think Henry Fitzroy is going to be a main character.
You’d be wrong.
Wrong.
Wrong.
Wrong.
The book focuses on Mary Howard who is Fitzroy’s wife. Again, this could be interesting, but instead it is just boring. So, so, boring.
Because Mary is boring.
And a lot of this is probably because she’s boring in real life and Longshore was trying to right an accurate portrayal of the period unlike those Philippa Gregory where Anne Bolyen cheats on Henry with her brother in order to give him an heir.
Can you say ew!
Yeah.
But yeah, the Longshore account of what occurred is probably fairly accurate, but she probably focused on one of the more boring figures to focus her attentions to.
Seriously, why not focus on Fitzroy himself, or better yet focus on Anne Bolyen herself. And yes, I know Longshore has a book about Boleyn in her younger years, but I wanted more about this Anne. She was by far the best character in this book.
Because Mary was just dumb and stupid and had a Bella Swan crush on Fitzroy who she barely interacted with.
If their relationship would’ve been something, I might’ve cared. But with 300 pages of very little to no interaction, I just didn’t care.
And again, I think that wasn’t so much of Longshore’s fault since she was going for a more historically rooted story, but at the same time it is her fault because there were more interesting characters to follow.
Hell, I would’ve liked a book about a teenage Bloody Mary. I am sure that she would have a lot to bemoan about other than not being able to tap her teenage husband like Mary Howard Fitzroy did.
Honestly, bordom was what made me give up this book.
And I like history.
If you want to read about an obscure person in history who was really a minor figure (at best) in the whole Tudor cycle you might want to read Brazen, otherwise skip.
November 8, 2014
Read this review on my blog! -->
For me, the thing about historical fiction that always grabs me is just how much I invest in the characters. Especially when it’s derived from actual history. I’ve always loved history and always loved losing myself in imagining what peoples� lives were like then. I first fell in love with the Tudor era after watching The Tudors series on Showtime. If a character intrigued me enough I would spend time googling them and reading their Wiki page (because we all know that’s the most accurate internet source for history!). I’m by no means a fanatic, but I enjoy it in the moment I’m being consumed by it.
I never thought to look into King Henry’s son because in the tv series, he dies as a young boy, so imagine my surprise to have him be the love interest in Brazen. And I didn’t recall Mary Howard at all from the show. I know! I really shouldn’t be using the show as a point of reference but not having studied this in school or anything, it’s the only thing I can go from, okay?? Okay.
There’s so much at stake in Brazen and it makes for quite the page-turner. Mary and Fitz’s marriage is arranged, so they don’t really know each other, but there’s an instant pull between the two that only grows stronger as time goes on. They’re hardly ever together, even after being married, but they get to know one another and fall in love inspite of the separation. It was one of the most sweetest, strongest relationships I’ve read. I completely believed in their love for each other and I wanted them to have their happily ever after, even knowing that was unlikely because, hello! It’s The Tudors!
Another amazing part of Brazen was the friendship between Mary, Madge, and Margaret. Those girls went through so much together and their relationships were tested often. There were a lot of positives and even some sad disappointments in the end. You’re also going to read about people you know something about: King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and so on. You actually get to see Anne Boleyn’s execution in Brazen through the eyes of Mary, who in this book is friends with her. I loved that aspect of this story.
Brazen completely stole my heart. The characters set up shop in my heart from page one and stayed there until the last page. The writing was so enthralling and moving. This was my first Katherine Longshore read, but it won’t be the last.
For me, the thing about historical fiction that always grabs me is just how much I invest in the characters. Especially when it’s derived from actual history. I’ve always loved history and always loved losing myself in imagining what peoples� lives were like then. I first fell in love with the Tudor era after watching The Tudors series on Showtime. If a character intrigued me enough I would spend time googling them and reading their Wiki page (because we all know that’s the most accurate internet source for history!). I’m by no means a fanatic, but I enjoy it in the moment I’m being consumed by it.
I never thought to look into King Henry’s son because in the tv series, he dies as a young boy, so imagine my surprise to have him be the love interest in Brazen. And I didn’t recall Mary Howard at all from the show. I know! I really shouldn’t be using the show as a point of reference but not having studied this in school or anything, it’s the only thing I can go from, okay?? Okay.
There’s so much at stake in Brazen and it makes for quite the page-turner. Mary and Fitz’s marriage is arranged, so they don’t really know each other, but there’s an instant pull between the two that only grows stronger as time goes on. They’re hardly ever together, even after being married, but they get to know one another and fall in love inspite of the separation. It was one of the most sweetest, strongest relationships I’ve read. I completely believed in their love for each other and I wanted them to have their happily ever after, even knowing that was unlikely because, hello! It’s The Tudors!
Another amazing part of Brazen was the friendship between Mary, Madge, and Margaret. Those girls went through so much together and their relationships were tested often. There were a lot of positives and even some sad disappointments in the end. You’re also going to read about people you know something about: King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and so on. You actually get to see Anne Boleyn’s execution in Brazen through the eyes of Mary, who in this book is friends with her. I loved that aspect of this story.
Brazen completely stole my heart. The characters set up shop in my heart from page one and stayed there until the last page. The writing was so enthralling and moving. This was my first Katherine Longshore read, but it won’t be the last.
June 19, 2015
When I saw what this one was about--namely an actual love story--I got really excited. I mean, FINALLY. After reading the two previous books in this sorta-not-really-a-series, I was ready for a legit love story. (The other two were more like courtly love stories, where there were elements of love but without the commitment.)
But I didn't really get that to the extent I was hoping. Longshore's strength--the history--is also a weakness in this element. She's so focused on the history and getting the history right that characters sometimes lack emotion. Don't get me wrong, they definitely feel like real people, but they just don't always...express emotions in a way I can feel. Does that make sense?
As I mentioned, Longshore's strength is the history. I've recently started really delving into this era more (as I research my family tree...interestingly, I may be related to Jane Seymour) and her history is aligning perfectly with the research I've been doing. Obviously, she takes liberties to fill in historical blanks, but that's the point of fiction and I have no issue with that. The vast majority of the story is historically based.
The other thing that bothers me about this book is how slow it sometimes is. The pace can be wickedly slow as characters are court wait for something, be it a party or the king's return or whatever other excitement there is. They're always waiting. It gets boring.
Overall, it's still a really fascinating read. Just be prepared for lots of history, backstabbing, court intrigue, and a little bit of love.
But I didn't really get that to the extent I was hoping. Longshore's strength--the history--is also a weakness in this element. She's so focused on the history and getting the history right that characters sometimes lack emotion. Don't get me wrong, they definitely feel like real people, but they just don't always...express emotions in a way I can feel. Does that make sense?
As I mentioned, Longshore's strength is the history. I've recently started really delving into this era more (as I research my family tree...interestingly, I may be related to Jane Seymour) and her history is aligning perfectly with the research I've been doing. Obviously, she takes liberties to fill in historical blanks, but that's the point of fiction and I have no issue with that. The vast majority of the story is historically based.
The other thing that bothers me about this book is how slow it sometimes is. The pace can be wickedly slow as characters are court wait for something, be it a party or the king's return or whatever other excitement there is. They're always waiting. It gets boring.
Overall, it's still a really fascinating read. Just be prepared for lots of history, backstabbing, court intrigue, and a little bit of love.
August 14, 2016
Mary Howard was married off at a young age to Henry VIII's illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy. You would expect this marriage to be awkward and horrible, and it is in the beginning, but as she gets to know Henry, she realizes that she has true feelings for him and vice versa. So, what is the one problem? Well, they can't be together even though they are married until Henry VIII decides it is appropriate. They can't even spend too much time together alone, let alone a night together and as they grow up, this becomes a source of frustration since they actually have feelings for each other. All the while, the Tudor court is extremely dysfunctional as Henry VIII grows tired of Anne Boleyn. We all know what happens there, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt less, especially since Mary is Anne's cousin and friend. As things get worse at court and Henry VIII's behavior is more and more unpredictable, Mary finds herself wanting to escape with Henry, her husband, but we all know there is no leaving the Tudor court, especially when since Henry Fitzroy is a possible heir to the throne. Katherine Longshore's Brazen is a delicious historical novel that fans of historical fiction as well as the Tudors will devour.
Read the rest of my review here:
Read the rest of my review here:
March 5, 2015
Can I just say that Katherine Lonshore is amazing? She really is. Mary is an awesome character. Her story is a love story of two types, one for her and her child husband who she grows to love and one for her and her girlfriends. Her girlfriends are interesting young women in their own right and watching the three of them play off and learn from each other was awesome. Reading this also made me really curious about her actual life, considering the few things we know about her make her out as an unusual woman and she lived through a very fascinating time period.
It broke my heart to watch the end of Anne's life. Of course I know how everything turns out but that didn't make it any less tragic. I loved Anne in Tarnish. While she's a supporting character in Brazen Longshore continues to deliver an amazingly well thought out representation that challenges all of my preconceptions.
Once again the history is amazing. I can't tell you how good of a job Longshore has done bringing in historical details while also making the book approachable to modern readers.
The only negative I can think of is how at the end it got a little grrl power, but considering what these young women went through it feels very natural.
Overall this book is awesome. If you like historical fiction or YA even a little bit you should check it out.
It broke my heart to watch the end of Anne's life. Of course I know how everything turns out but that didn't make it any less tragic. I loved Anne in Tarnish. While she's a supporting character in Brazen Longshore continues to deliver an amazingly well thought out representation that challenges all of my preconceptions.
Once again the history is amazing. I can't tell you how good of a job Longshore has done bringing in historical details while also making the book approachable to modern readers.
The only negative I can think of is how at the end it got a little grrl power, but considering what these young women went through it feels very natural.
Overall this book is awesome. If you like historical fiction or YA even a little bit you should check it out.
July 25, 2016
DNF @ page 138.
This pains me so much because I LOVE historical fiction set in the Tudor period, but this book is just SO DAMN BORING! It's supposed to be scandalous and fun and romantic, but literally NOTHING has happened in over 100 pages. I just can't take it anymore. So, I'm stopping and moving on to something else. Maybe if the book wasn't over 500 pages, I would try to finish it, but I just can't do it...not when there are so many other books out there to read.
If you want to read awesome historical fiction about this time period, go check out The Other Boleyn Girl/The Boleyn Inheritance and The Boleyn King series.
This pains me so much because I LOVE historical fiction set in the Tudor period, but this book is just SO DAMN BORING! It's supposed to be scandalous and fun and romantic, but literally NOTHING has happened in over 100 pages. I just can't take it anymore. So, I'm stopping and moving on to something else. Maybe if the book wasn't over 500 pages, I would try to finish it, but I just can't do it...not when there are so many other books out there to read.
If you want to read awesome historical fiction about this time period, go check out The Other Boleyn Girl/The Boleyn Inheritance and The Boleyn King series.
July 6, 2018
While it was interesting to finally read a story based on Henry Fitzroy, the illegitimate son of Henry VIII, and his wife Mary Howard, I struggled to get through this. There were parts that were great-Mary and Fitz slowly realizing their passion for each other, the friendship between Mary, Madge and Margaret, and the autocratic authority of the Duke of Norfolk. However, I felt most of this book had a very juvenile, school-girlish take on the Tudor court. Mary was always "blotching" at an irritating frequency and her naivete was exasperating at times. I think I'm just not cut out to read about my favorite time period in YA format.
June 22, 2014
Are you into stories of love, gossip and intrigue set against a real life historical backdrop? Before Reign made history sexy and cool for youths, there was Katherine Longshore and her books set during the reign of the Tudors. First Gilt, then Tarnish and now BRAZEN. Now, looking at just the title: Brazen, you might think that this is one of those seedy books that’s nothing but sex and flirtation and YOU WOULD BE WRONG.
Review goes live in July
Review goes live in July
May 14, 2018
Longshore has done it again! The writing was beautifully crafted, from start to finish. Everything that you would expect and more happened and that made reading this so much more exciting. It made me sad once I finished because I knew that this was the last one.
“Marriage is a word that tastes like metal- the steel of armor, the gold of commerce, the iron bite of blood and prison bars. But also bronze, a bell that rings clear and true and joyously. Like Hope.�
And she was right about that last part, although it didn’t look like a well suited match and for the majority of it, it wasn’t, Mary ended up falling for him. He was understated just like her and like Thomas Wyatt he encouraged her to embrace her words, even if it was written rather than spoken. He gave her the courage to become herself rather than hide and be forgotten. I think the exact moment they fell in love was probably that adorable scene where they dance and find a common thread between them, their own clumsiness.
“When grace meets rhythm, the effect is beautiful.�
“What about when gracelessness meets rhythmlessness? He asks. “Can the effect not be beautiful? Because we too are well matched. Equal.�
“At least I can dance.�
“A little.�
“With the right partner.�
I glare at him. “Obviously not.�
Talk about sparks!!! The whole moment was romantic and the hits kept on coming. Every time Fitz was in a scene you could see them getting to know each other and couldn’t help but watch as they fell in love. In my mind, Fitz was right. They were a perfect match. Mary Fitzroy never married again. As to say whether or not it was because she already found the love of her life can’t be said as true but for me I’m going to let it be.
“I will not haunt you as a ghost. But I will always be with you. I will take on your sadness, Mary. When you feel it lift, you’ll know it was me.�
The whole book felt so real. Brazen opens with 14-year-old Mary Howard moments away from her wedding to King Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy who is also 14. Mary didn’t want this, she knew nothing about being someone’s wife and let’s be real, who does at 14? All of her thoughts and feelings of impending dread is exactly how I would think someone her age would be feeling. Her inexperience is pushed out by greater forces and locks her into a fate not of her own making.
“It’s so easy for him. He spends his days surrounded by friends. Sure of his position. At his father’s side. He doesn’t have to think every moment about the way he walks, the way he holds his head, the way people look at him. He doesn’t have to be a duke. He just is one. I wake up every day feeling like me and then I remember I’m not me, anymore. I’m a duchess. And I need to act like one. So I spend the entire day as if on stage. Always watched but never listened to.�
Although slightly understated compared to her cousin, Anne Boleyn, that fire was still there! She doesn’t like the fact that she is expected to do things on the whim of men. Mary respected and admired her cousin even when treason was thrown around and Anne was executed she still admired her and her spirit.
“There are some people who make an impact as soon as you meet them. Lodge themselves in your mind. Embed themselves in your soul. Anne Boleyn is one of those people.�
Finding out that Mary’s father is more manipulative than first shown was a shock to the system for me and Mary.
“As if by the single swing of an ax, I am separated from the one truth that always held me secure. My father’s name, my brother’s name.�
By the end of Brazen, everything was flipped. Mary grew into a strong, independent woman who wouldn’t let anyone, especially the men in her life from controlling her and changing her into something she’s not. Her father and his name was no longer a warming embrace. And the husband that she didn’t even want to marry broke her heart when he died, losing her chance at happiness.
“The Church tells you to honor and obey me. Me. Not some ghost of a child.�
“He wasn’t a child.�
“You are a Howard.�
“I am a Fitzroy. I am a duchess. I do not need a man to give me my identity, Father. I have my own.�
Absolutely outstanding! Mary standing up for herself and for Fitz was beautiful. Not only did she embrace, the late Queen Anne but she showed everyone who she is. She doesn’t allow anyone to be rude to those she loves and defends those who can’t.
What made these novels so strong and good was the women they were written about. Anne was strong in a time where women were nothing. Mary was thrown into a marriage she wanted nothing to do with at the hands of the very men she felt safe with. They never compromised who they were and got and stronger and stronger as their lives got more complicated. These women fought to be heard and although Anne didn’t end up with Thomas Wyatt or have the chance to raise her daughter, she was strong and never stopped using her words as her greatest weapon. And although Mary never had the chance to spend her life with Fitz, he showed her the strength that he always knew she had and when he died she finally embraced it and got out from under her father’s thumb to start living the way she wanted to live.
“I am a duchess. If I am going to survive, I will not be owned. I refuse to be a doll or a piece of furniture, moved around used and displayed but never cared for. I want to be me.�
“Marriage is a word that tastes like metal- the steel of armor, the gold of commerce, the iron bite of blood and prison bars. But also bronze, a bell that rings clear and true and joyously. Like Hope.�
And she was right about that last part, although it didn’t look like a well suited match and for the majority of it, it wasn’t, Mary ended up falling for him. He was understated just like her and like Thomas Wyatt he encouraged her to embrace her words, even if it was written rather than spoken. He gave her the courage to become herself rather than hide and be forgotten. I think the exact moment they fell in love was probably that adorable scene where they dance and find a common thread between them, their own clumsiness.
“When grace meets rhythm, the effect is beautiful.�
“What about when gracelessness meets rhythmlessness? He asks. “Can the effect not be beautiful? Because we too are well matched. Equal.�
“At least I can dance.�
“A little.�
“With the right partner.�
I glare at him. “Obviously not.�
Talk about sparks!!! The whole moment was romantic and the hits kept on coming. Every time Fitz was in a scene you could see them getting to know each other and couldn’t help but watch as they fell in love. In my mind, Fitz was right. They were a perfect match. Mary Fitzroy never married again. As to say whether or not it was because she already found the love of her life can’t be said as true but for me I’m going to let it be.
“I will not haunt you as a ghost. But I will always be with you. I will take on your sadness, Mary. When you feel it lift, you’ll know it was me.�
The whole book felt so real. Brazen opens with 14-year-old Mary Howard moments away from her wedding to King Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy who is also 14. Mary didn’t want this, she knew nothing about being someone’s wife and let’s be real, who does at 14? All of her thoughts and feelings of impending dread is exactly how I would think someone her age would be feeling. Her inexperience is pushed out by greater forces and locks her into a fate not of her own making.
“It’s so easy for him. He spends his days surrounded by friends. Sure of his position. At his father’s side. He doesn’t have to think every moment about the way he walks, the way he holds his head, the way people look at him. He doesn’t have to be a duke. He just is one. I wake up every day feeling like me and then I remember I’m not me, anymore. I’m a duchess. And I need to act like one. So I spend the entire day as if on stage. Always watched but never listened to.�
Although slightly understated compared to her cousin, Anne Boleyn, that fire was still there! She doesn’t like the fact that she is expected to do things on the whim of men. Mary respected and admired her cousin even when treason was thrown around and Anne was executed she still admired her and her spirit.
“There are some people who make an impact as soon as you meet them. Lodge themselves in your mind. Embed themselves in your soul. Anne Boleyn is one of those people.�
Finding out that Mary’s father is more manipulative than first shown was a shock to the system for me and Mary.
“As if by the single swing of an ax, I am separated from the one truth that always held me secure. My father’s name, my brother’s name.�
By the end of Brazen, everything was flipped. Mary grew into a strong, independent woman who wouldn’t let anyone, especially the men in her life from controlling her and changing her into something she’s not. Her father and his name was no longer a warming embrace. And the husband that she didn’t even want to marry broke her heart when he died, losing her chance at happiness.
“The Church tells you to honor and obey me. Me. Not some ghost of a child.�
“He wasn’t a child.�
“You are a Howard.�
“I am a Fitzroy. I am a duchess. I do not need a man to give me my identity, Father. I have my own.�
Absolutely outstanding! Mary standing up for herself and for Fitz was beautiful. Not only did she embrace, the late Queen Anne but she showed everyone who she is. She doesn’t allow anyone to be rude to those she loves and defends those who can’t.
What made these novels so strong and good was the women they were written about. Anne was strong in a time where women were nothing. Mary was thrown into a marriage she wanted nothing to do with at the hands of the very men she felt safe with. They never compromised who they were and got and stronger and stronger as their lives got more complicated. These women fought to be heard and although Anne didn’t end up with Thomas Wyatt or have the chance to raise her daughter, she was strong and never stopped using her words as her greatest weapon. And although Mary never had the chance to spend her life with Fitz, he showed her the strength that he always knew she had and when he died she finally embraced it and got out from under her father’s thumb to start living the way she wanted to live.
“I am a duchess. If I am going to survive, I will not be owned. I refuse to be a doll or a piece of furniture, moved around used and displayed but never cared for. I want to be me.�
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