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Brazen (2014)

by Katherine Longshore(Favorite Author)

3.9 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

067001401X (ISBN13: 9780670014019)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Viking Juvenile

review 1: This was a lovely read about Henry FitzRoy, the illegitimate son of Henry VIII, told from his wife Mary Howard's perspective. I'm not sure why the trend these days with YA literature is trying to make sentence fragments pass as full sentences, though. This is not the first book that I've read like that, and it's really getting on my nerves. Younger people can read full sentences, too. Really, though, it sort of worked with the narrator's voice in this one, so I'll give the author a pass. I'm very interested in reading more about Margaret Douglas and Madge Shelton after reading this one, too. To me, the best historical fiction are those novels that make you want to go study the real history, and this definitely qualifies. This is another author to watch out for, I t... morehink.
review 2: I love this book. This is the first book in a while that has kept me up late at night, tearing up and screaming internally at an unexcpected plot twist (even if I knew it would happen, being it is historical fiction.) I have read Longshores other books and have loved them wholeheartedly. I am not disappointed! It is full of turns, plot twists, and Mary developed from a girl who followed the rules and expectations of the court to a strong woman who followed the "rules of her heart." Not only is this inspiring but it made the novel so much more enthralling, layered, and enjoyable. The book is over 500 pages long, but it is an pleasurable read and it feels as if it ended too soon. Mary and Fitzroys romance is built up slowly, and it was laced in perfectly with the other components of the novel (such as Anne Boleyns fall, other characters love interest, the looming threat of the throne, etc.) It is never too much romance, and it is never annoying, cliche, or repetitive. You never feel as if it is another YA romance book, yet you will be brought to tears when.... a certain thing happens...I also love how Anne Boleyn was potrayed in the novel. I always like to see her as an independent, progressive, and fiercely intelligent woman who was ahead of her times. These attributes were consistent with how she was potrayed in Brazen, and Annes slow fall was written so well. Marys loyalty to her was touching, and I feel like Mary learned a lot through Annes example in the novel. It helped her develop more as a person throughout the story.I am also in love with the unique way Henry VIII was potrayed. As you get to know Fitz (the kings bastard son), you get to see more and more of Henrys true colors. His courtly persona is gradually ripped down, leaving a complete tyrant by the end of the novel. It is a big contrast to the King Henry Mary sees at the beginning of the novel. Anne and Henrys true relationship also becomes revealed through the story. I also found Marys family interesting. At the beginning of the novel, her family life seemed pretty black and white. Her mother was a villian, her father always took Marys side and was a victim of her mothers temper, and her parents were always fighting. But when Mary found her independence, her voice, her father became a completely new man, one who would use his daughter as a pawn or a piece of meat. He certainly did not take Marys side when it did not suit him, as stated in the novel. I liked her father at the beginning of the novel, but by the end, I saw him as a mysogonistic, ambitious father who didnt care about Marys feelings. By the end of the novel, I felt almost bad for her mom, as terrible as she might be, because she was ruled by men her entire life and she never really found peace. It was interesting seeing Mary trying to seperate herself from her unhealthy and troubled family background, and her parents dysfunctional relationship in her relationship with Fitz.I love this book, its characters, and the plot. I like how Mary always described the taste of important words in the novel, like death, freedom, and marriage. I love this novel, It is HIGHLY reccommended! (also, there were many characters I did not mention in my review, such as her brother and her friends. There is SO much more scandal than mentioned in this review). less

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