Hampton Court curator Worsley's debut novel for teens digs into the danger that lies just beneath the glamour of Henry VIII's court.Newly trained maid-in-waiting Elizabeth Camperdowne is sent to court to find a rich husband and save her father, Lord Anthony, from financial ruin. Wild-natured, red-haired white Elizabeth and her "luxuriantly plump and sloe-eyed" cousin Katherine Howard arrive at court in time for the lecherous Henry's marriage to wife No. 4, Anne of Cleves, whom they will attend. After Henry sends Anne into exile for failing to consummate their marriage, the narrative proceeds to follow Katherine's rise from mistress to fifth wife and her subsequent execution for adultery. Elizabeth, the fictional narrator, must remain vigilant; one wrong move can cost her her life, but she does have a choice, which gives her more power than she thought she possessed. She can seize the opportunity to save her family by becoming the king's mistress, or she can risk everything to be with the man she loves, bastard-born page Ned Barsby. The novel is a satisfying blend of fact and artistic liberty: the women's duties as maids of the court are drawn from history, but Katherine's illicit lover is an amalgam of her two real-life lovers. The retention of British spellings and the inclusion of lesser-known customs of the period add further authenticity. Exhilarating, romantic, and illuminating; has the potential to turn casual readers into Tudor history buffs. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 15 & up)

Elizabeth Rose Camperdowne has understood her role in life since childhood: she is meant to marry a rich man who will bring wealth and stability to her once-great home. At first, the responsibility to strengthen her family name fills her with pride, but as she adjusts to the court of King Henry VIII, she becomes uncertain of what she wishes her future to be. This fast-paced historical novel will captivate anyone who loves tales about the lives of royalty, wherein real people (Henry VIII, Katherine Howard) appear alongside the fictional. Early chapters, before Elizabeth's arrival at court, do drag a little, but debut author Worsley, a television historian, captures the mood and the details of each moment in the royal home. The strong theme of a place in court not being quite what it seems is reminiscent of Kiera Cass' The Selection (2012). A thrilling read that is sure to have readers running to a history book, eager to learn more about the facts behind the story.

Worsley's well-researched historical narrative places fictional character Eliza into the court of Henry VIII as a maid of honour to Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard (Eliza's distant cousin). During Eliza's formative years, readers learn with her the expectations of court life and customs of the period. The accessible dialogue, political machinations, and romance should intrigue modern readers.

Hampton Court curator Worsley's debut novel for teens digs into the danger that lies just beneath the glamour of Henry VIII's court.Newly trained maid-in-waiting Elizabeth Camperdowne is sent to court to find a rich husband and save her father, Lord Anthony, from financial ruin. Wild-natured, red-haired white Elizabeth and her "luxuriantly plump and sloe-eyed" cousin Katherine Howard arrive at court in time for the lecherous Henry's marriage to wife No. 4, Anne of Cleves, whom they will attend. After Henry sends Anne into exile for failing to consummate their marriage, the narrative proceeds to follow Katherine's rise from mistress to fifth wife and her subsequent execution for adultery. Elizabeth, the fictional narrator, must remain vigilant; one wrong move can cost her her life, but she does have a choice, which gives her more power than she thought she possessed. She can seize the opportunity to save her family by becoming the king's mistress, or she can risk everything to be with the man she loves, bastard-born page Ned Barsby. The novel is a satisfying blend of fact and artistic liberty: the women's duties as maids of the court are drawn from history, but Katherine's illicit lover is an amalgam of her two real-life lovers. The retention of British spellings and the inclusion of lesser-known customs of the period add further authenticity. Exhilarating, romantic, and illuminating; has the potential to turn casual readers into Tudor history buffs. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 15 & up)

In this YA debut, Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces in London (which manages the Tower of London and other sites) delivers a story that-s both delightfully playful and rich in historical detail. It-s 1535 England, Henry the VIII is king, and Eliza Camperdowne has just been betrothed on her 12th birthday, in order to safeguard her family-s future. When the engagement devolves into scandal, Eliza is sent to a finishing school of sorts to -learn how people behave in good society.- Later, she becomes a maid of honor in the king-s court, where she is to wait on Queen Anne herself, but she winds up outlasting Anne and Henry-s subsequent wives as well. Worsley-s accessible prose, headstrong heroine, and sense of romance may remind readers of Shannon Hale-s work. Eliza-s wit and many courtly adventures make her an engaging companion as she transforms from a naïve girl who describes the king as having -exchanged- Anne Boleyn for a new wife to one intimately involved in the machinations of the court. Ages 12-up. Agent: Catherine Clarke, Felicity Bryan Associates. (Mar.)

When Elizabeth Camperdowne turned twelve in 1535, her father, Baron of Stone, announced that she would soon wed the son of the Earl of Westmoreland. Eliza realizes her duty is to revive the distressed family fortune through her marriage. Due to Eliza’s undignified behavior, however, and the revelation that the future groom is already married, the alliance is terminated. Eliza is sent to Trumpton Hall for lessons on becoming a lady. Eliza meets and vies with her beautiful cousin, Katherine Howard, and both become maids of honor to Anne of Cleves, the fourth wife of Henry the Eighth. At court, Eliza and page Ned Barsby develop a relationship, but his illegitimacy precludes a desirable match. King Henry divorces Anne and soon after marries the flirtatious Katherine Howard. When she is beheaded for adultery, Henry turns his attention to Eliza, who escapes court for a different life with Ned. Historian Worsley successfully transports readers into the sixteenth-century world of the wealthy in her debut fiction novel with detailed descriptions of trysts, monthly baths, bowling competitions, and colorful performances of the “Dance of the Gentle Fawn.” Eliza and Katherine exemplify the options titled women had in this male-dominated society—marry well and bear children. How each responds to this truism makes the tale interesting. Ginger-haired Eliza is aghast at her father’s encouragement to become King Henry’s mistress, while seductive Katherine stops at nothing to become queen. History confirms Katherine’s gruesome beheading, but the fictional Eliza follows her heart and gives the novel a happy ending.—Barbara Johnston.