Gilt by Katherine Longshore

Gilt by Katherine Longshore

Review of Gilt

Title & Author:
Gilt by Katherine Longshore
Publisher:
Viking Juvenile
Publication Date:
May 15, 2012
Pages:
398
Source:
Gabrielle Carolina

In the court of King Henry VIII, nothing is free–
and love comes at the highest price of all.

When Kitty Tylney’s best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII’s heart and brings Kitty to court, she’s thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat’s shadow, Kitty’s now caught between two men–the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat’s meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head. – Goodreads

Gilt by Katherine Longshore completely and utterly overwhelmed me. In a great way, but a heavy way. If you know the history of Henry VIII, Catherine Howard, and his many other wives, you can probably guess that Gilt is anything but a light book.

But my goodness, Gilt is a beautiful book. Katherine Longshore’s writing style is perfect for historical fiction. Even though Gilt is set in the 1800s, Katherine Longshore’s writing didn’t feel stilted at all. I thought it all flowed very beautifully, and I can easily see people who typically don’t read historical fiction enjoying Gilt.

Kitty made my heart hurt. I was so worried through her all throughout Gilt. I mean, I know what happens to Catherine Howard – it obviously does not end well for Henry VIII’s fifth queen. And every little bump in the road was so nerve-wracking because I loved Kitty and admired her fierce loyalty – despite the dangerous road it led her down – and William! Guys, I was rooting for them all the way, even though he had his moments of not-so-goodness.

Thankfully, Gilt is a series. I’m not sure what I would have done if it wasn’t. Gilt is just so heavy and downright depressing at some points and I just wanted to cry – I was so overwhelmed by it all. I wanted a happy ending for everyone! But I’m very, very curious to see where Kitty’s story takes her in the future.

Basically – Gilt by Katherine Longshore rocked. It was heavy and depressing, but beautifully written with an intense story. Gilt is definitely for fans of historical fiction, but I also recommend giving it a try even if it’s not your usual read. Gilt is captivating in its courtly glory, but full of dangers and secrets around every corner.

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