The King's Mother
Four mothers fight for their sons as the Wars of the Roses rage
by Annie Garthwaite
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction
I loved this book, I'm more familiar with later history, but have read a few set in this time. I've always read Richard very differently to how he is portrayed her, and this interpretation of him makes so much more sense.
Cecily was an incredible women, so determined and so cleverly calculating – and she needed to be in this turbulent time. She amazed me how she pushed forward, commanded so much respect at a time when women were still very much second class and property.
Edward – I can't imagine being king at just 18. It explains his actions, he was determined to be a good king, wanted to do the best for his country and yet still had the emotions of a teen. His actions caused trouble for so many women and children, and yet it wasn't done maliciously, but at a time when every misstep gets picked up by an enemy and used against that person.
There's so much emotion here, and we see just how determined mothers can be for their children. Especially the sons, as they would be the ones holding power. When I look at what the families went through I do wonder why any of them actually wanted the positions, it rarely brings happiness, just prestige for a time until someone else comes and takes over.
As before the story is so well written that I just fell into the past with the characters, drawn into the dramas of their lives, feeling the despair and fear, happiness over victories, and trying to keep up with the manipulations that were part of daily life. A fabulous read, with a new and interesting slant for me on Richard.
Stars: Five, a cracking read, pulling me back into history along with the characters.
ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers
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