Historian Lucy Worsley transports readers back to 16th-century Tudor England in her debut novel, Maid of the King's Court. Twelve-year-old Elizabeth Camperdowne expects her fate to be the same as any girl: to wed and bear children. As the sole heir to Stoneton, her ancient but impoverished family estate, Elizabeth assumes she'll marry "into a family at least equal to ours in dignity and antiquity." An unforeseen turn of events instead brings her to the court of Henry VIII. Accompanied by her beautiful and vivacious cousin Katherine Howard, Elizabeth is named a "maid of honour," or attendant, to the king's new German bride, Anne of Cleves. As Katherine's charm captivates the courtiers, Elizabeth struggles to control her outspoken nature and catches the attention of Master Ned Barsby, the bastard son of a nobleman. In a land where even a queen may be executed, Elizabeth knows she must quickly learn the rules of the dangerous game of courtly life.
Long stretches between glamorous feasts and festivities lead to boredom in the royal household, and dullness can be shattered by the king's whims. 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. While Elizabeth's fate is always in focus, the fates of those around her often feel just as significant. Every bit as captivating as Katherine herself, Maid of the King's Court is not to be missed. --Kyla Paterno, former children's & YA book buyer