iamqueenfal's review against another edition
5.0
I was thrilled when an ARC of "Tarnish" made it's way into my hands. After loving "Gilt," I couldn't wait to read the second novel—especially when I found out it followed Anne Boleyn's story. She's my favorite of Henry VIII's wives. As soon as I started "Tarnish," I was hooked. You may think you know the story of Anne Boleyn, but before she lost her head at the hands of her tyrannical husband, she was a girl who was determined to make a bright future for herself.
In the second book in Katherine Longshore's "Royal Circle" series, Anne Boleyn is the new girl. Since she's been away in France, everything about her is different—from her clothes to her sharp tongue to her unwillingness to blend in with the rest of the ladies in the Tudor court. She doesn't know how to keep silent and fall in step with a society that revolves around gossip and expects women to be seen and not heard. But when Anne makes a life-altering bet with charismatic poet Thomas Wyatt to escape a loveless, arranged marriage, how she's seen could lead to her demise or rise. She could end up as nothing or she could finally become something.
Katherine brilliantly captures Anne's voice in her teenage years. Often seen as a manipulating home-wrecker, Katherine throws away these labels to give Anne a fresh start with new ones: a dreamer and an optimist with a desire for her words to be heard, for them to have meaning. In the midst of tragedy, Katherine Longshore offers hope—not just for Anne, but for us all. Our voices matter. Our words have meaning. Don't settle for less than you deserve. In the end, yes, it lead to Anne's downfall, but it also, in a way, lead to her immortality.
In the second book in Katherine Longshore's "Royal Circle" series, Anne Boleyn is the new girl. Since she's been away in France, everything about her is different—from her clothes to her sharp tongue to her unwillingness to blend in with the rest of the ladies in the Tudor court. She doesn't know how to keep silent and fall in step with a society that revolves around gossip and expects women to be seen and not heard. But when Anne makes a life-altering bet with charismatic poet Thomas Wyatt to escape a loveless, arranged marriage, how she's seen could lead to her demise or rise. She could end up as nothing or she could finally become something.
Katherine brilliantly captures Anne's voice in her teenage years. Often seen as a manipulating home-wrecker, Katherine throws away these labels to give Anne a fresh start with new ones: a dreamer and an optimist with a desire for her words to be heard, for them to have meaning. In the midst of tragedy, Katherine Longshore offers hope—not just for Anne, but for us all. Our voices matter. Our words have meaning. Don't settle for less than you deserve. In the end, yes, it lead to Anne's downfall, but it also, in a way, lead to her immortality.
gregoreads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. This ended up better than expected, despite the beginning. I was so close to putting it down because of the writing and the characterization at the beginning, but I was too intrigued by the thought of a story that focused on Thomas Wyatt and Anne Boleyn, so I continued, and I'm glad I did. It was a pretty good read overall. I found Anne's characterization a little questionable; she spent like 97% of the book having 0 self esteem, and I know it's supposed to be about her coming into her own and all, but I've always had a picture of an Anne confident since, like, birth, so the absolute pale noodle Anne was at the beginning didn't jive as much with me. But yeah, really refreshing to read about her and Wyatt for a change. I also really liked the little nods to other parts of Anne's history, like "the most happy" and her casually saying "I have but a little neck" and other stuff like that.
_maddierose16's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a sad book! Makes me so excited about history, especially this era. Can't wait to start another one of this authors book!
onegirlreads's review against another edition
4.0
King Henry the VIII will always be one of my favorite kings of history... The psychology side of me comes out with him lol.
I enjoyed this, Anne Boleyn always seems to get a bad rap, and I'm so glad this story portrayed her as a normal person just trying to make a place in her world...
I like that it was about her time before King Henry and the idea of getting a glimpse into her life before it was all turned around...
I wish she'd write some more of these, I'd own every single one :)
I enjoyed this, Anne Boleyn always seems to get a bad rap, and I'm so glad this story portrayed her as a normal person just trying to make a place in her world...
I like that it was about her time before King Henry and the idea of getting a glimpse into her life before it was all turned around...
I wish she'd write some more of these, I'd own every single one :)
clementine_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
smallwifery's review against another edition
3.0
I mean it's YA tudor fiction but it pulls it off! not my favourite george boleyn but then again my standards are extraordinarily high because he is, as the kids say, mine own boy
agkrob's review against another edition
4.0
This was a decent book. It was a really interesting take on a story I have read and watched many times before, and it was refreshing to see a younger version of Anne finding here way in the world. It was a much more optimistic version of Anne's story than I was expecting.
bookshy's review against another edition
4.0
Not exactly what I was expecting. More of a prequel to Anne Boleyns life, but still interesting.