In the vibrant, volatile court of Henry VIII, can even the most willful young woman direct her own fate and follow her heart in a world ruled by powerful men? Clever, headstrong Elizabeth Rose Camperdowne knows her duty. As the sole heiress to an old but impoverished noble family, Eliza must marry a man of wealth and title — it’s the only fate for a girl of her standing. But when a surprising turn of events lands her in the royal court as a maid of honor to Anne of Cleves, Eliza is drawn into the dizzying, dangerous orbit of Henry the Eighth and struggles to distinguish friend from foe. Is her glamorous flirt of a cousin, Katherine Howard, an ally in this deceptive place, or is she Eliza’s worst enemy? And then there’s Ned Barsby, the king’s handsome page, who is entirely unsuitable for Eliza but impossible to ignore. British historian Lucy Worsley provides a vivid, romantic glimpse of the treachery, tragedy, and thrills of life in the Tudor court. Gr 9 Up—The fate of the noble Camperdowne family rests on the marriage prospects of the baron's spunky but dutiful daughter Elizabeth. After a canceled betrothal, Elizabeth is sent to live with distant relatives in the hopes of furthering her prospects. At the age of 15, she becomes a maid of honor at the court of Henry VIII, along with her cousin and rival, Katherine Howard. Instead of securing an advantageous marriage, Elizabeth befriends Ned Barsby, a courtier of low standing. As it becomes increasingly clear that the king is displeased with his current wife, Elizabeth's father asks her to aim to become Henry's mistress. But Katherine beats her to the game and becomes not only the king's mistress but also his next wife and queen. After two years, word spreads that Katherine is having an affair, and she is arrested and later beheaded. The dialogue-heavy prose and the courtly intrigues make this historical novel a riveting page-turner. Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces and a British television personality, uses the perspective of a fictitious cousin to explore the motives of the ill-fated Katherine Howard. Although some historical details are altered—the character of Francis Manham, Katherine's lover, is a blend of at least three different individuals, for example—much of the novel comes from documented events, such as the scene in which Queen Anne of Cleves's staff must inform her "exactly how babies were made." VERDICT Dense but accessible, this title will enhance larger collections where historical fiction is in demand.—Magdalena Teske, Naperville Public Library, IL 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. —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) A thrilling read that is sure to have readers running to a history book, eager to learn more about the facts behind the story. —Booklist The dialogue-heavy prose and the courtly intrigues make this historical novel a riveting page-turner...this title will enhance larger collections where historical fiction is in demand. —School Library Journal 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.” —VOYA 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. —Publishers Weekly Online Fictional and historical figures and events are woven together seamlessly in Worsley's tale, which challenges readers to reimagine the lives of courtiers and two of Henry's wives, Anne and Katherine, through the eyes of the fictional Elizabeth...Every bit as captivating as Katherine herself, Maid of the King's Court is not to be missed. —Shelf Awareness for Readers This book is well written and leaves readers anticipating the events of the next chapter. —School Library Connection Lucy Worsley is the chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces. She is also a presenter of programs on royalty and other topics for the BBC. Maid of the King's Court is her young adult novel debut. Lucy Worsley lives in London.