"Rebellion?"
The word is a spark. They can start a fire with it, or smother it in their fingertips.
She chooses to start a fire. You are born high, but marry a traitor's son. You bear him twelve children, carry his cause and bury his past. You play the game, against enemies who wish you ashes. Slowly, you rise. You are Cecily. But when the King who governs you proves unfit, what then? Loyalty or treason - death may follow both. The board is set. Time to make your first move.
Told through the eyes of its greatest unseen protagonist, this astonishing debut plunges you into the blood and exhilaration of the first days of the Wars of the Roses, a war as women fight it.

as a lover of historical fiction, I knew that I had to read this and I wasn't disappointed.
The author's thorough research into the time period shines through in her writing and her attention to detail really brings home the time period and people's attitudes.
I really enjoyed this book, it took me a couple of chapters to engage with the author's writing style, but after that I found myself immersed in the life and times of Cecily Neville.

I love all historical fiction written around the Wars of the Roses. Two of my most read novels are Anya Seton’s Katherine and Sharon Penman’s Sunne in Splendour. Now comes Annie Garthwaite to fill the gap between those two great historical novels.
Cecily tells the story of Cecily Neville who played an influential role in the beginning of the War between the rival families of York and Lancaster. The story begins with her witnessing the burning of Joan of Arc in Rouen as the young wife of Richard, Duke of York and takes us right through to the crowning of her son as Edward IV.
The story isn’t as emotionally gripping as the two earlier novels but Cecily isn’t that type of character. She’s proud, hot tempered, ambitious and pushes her husband to fight for what she feels is his rightful place. We see the couple at odds when her ambition comes between them but they always reconcile before long. Although this isn’t by any means a romance, the love between Cecily and Richard is a strong part of the story.
This is the story of two strong female characters, Cecily on one side and the Queen on the other. It is sometimes easy to overlook the role that women played in important events. The author makes if very clear that the role of women is very different to that of men but still a vital part of how politics was conducted at that time.
I loved this book and am sure that anyone who has an interest in this period or historical fiction will love it too. The only thing I wanted was an appendix to let us know what happened next. I had to resort to Wikipedia to find out that Cecily lived on for many years to see the founding of the Tudor Dynasty.

I'll start by saying I loved this book! It was exactly what I wanted it to be & I was in exactly the right mood to read it.

Among history's brave & powerful women Cecily shines in this novel. I went in to this knowing very little about her beyond her name cropping up on significant people's family trees. This novel had it all for me, a clever, considered, sometimes feisty female lead, emotion, peril & intrigue. From the start I was hooked & although life dictated a slow read for me I didn't want to put it down.

This is an amazing debut, the writing is entertaining, excellently researched & obviously undertaken with passion. I can't wait to see what's next for Annie Garthwaite.

Cecily Neville is perhaps not the first female who springs to mind when thinking about the momentous years of the War of the Roses, and yet her long marriage to Richard, Duke of York, brought her right into the very heart of Plantagenet politics.

The early years of Cecily's marriage to Richard were filled with both danger and intrigue and the book gets off to a compelling start when the Yorks are biding their time in Rouen and witness, in 1431, the execution of Joan of Arc. This sets the scene for a story which doesn't shy away from giving a fatalistic view of the beleaguered English as they seek to keep hold of French territory which, during the Hundred Years War, had been so hard to gain, and yet, is so easily lost.

There's an almost conversational feel to Cecily's story which shines through with an authority which makes the history of the time all the more realistic. It's almost as though you were sitting alongside Cecily in the women’s solar as she plans her next move. She's definitely a tough character, impeccably flawed and very much a woman in a man’s world and yet Cecily doesn’t suffer fools and is absolutely fervent in her belief that, with staunch ambition, she can advance her family to greatness. However, she discovers, to her cost, that being so close to the Plantagenet crown brings its own brand of inherent danger.

By any standards the fifteenth century was a perilous time to be a woman, the descriptions of childbirth and the high rate of infant mortality is enough to give you shivers and yet even though grief and sadness threatens to overwhelm her, somehow Cecily rises time after time and does what needs to be done in order to succeed. Her strategic influence impacted on generations as here is the woman, who, we must remember, was the mother of two Kings, Edward IV and Richard III, grandmother to a Queen, Elizabeth of York, and the great-grandmother of Henry VIII. It is definitely time for Cecily Neville’s powerful voice to be heard and it is this belief, and the author's passion for history, which gives this story such a compelling sense of time and place.

Beautifully written, meticulously researched, and vibrant with life, Cecily is an impressive debut novel

Cecily Neville is the wife of Richard, Duke of York, under the reign of Henry VI, and mother of future kings Edward IV and Richard III.

Despite studying the War of the Roses at school, I had never heard of Cecily Neville. As it turns out, she was an incredibly intelligent and influential woman who managed to survive and maintain her position during a deadly and turbulent period, and also played quite a pivotal role in the build-up to the War of the Roses.

Garthwaite’s novel offers a fascinating insight into the lives of those close to the monarchy in England during the 1400s, and the surprising influence that certain women had at that time. Cecily is a force to be reckoned with. Though not necessarily a particularly likeable character, she completely dominates the story and it is easy to understand her point of view. As with anything Tudor-based I found it difficult to keep track of who was who (everyone has the same name) but the medieval world and the key players are painted in full colour.

However, despite being very interesting, Cecily is very politically-heavy and focuses on how influential Cecily was in making political connections and manoeuvring her family into a place of power. I was attracted to the novel because I was expecting something more along the lines of Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls, but this is nothing like that. It is a great piece of historical fiction and obviously incredibly well researched, but I actually found it rather boring. This is no criticism of the writing or even the content, but heavy, political historical fiction isn’t my thing and it isn’t what I expected.

I would absolutely recommend this novel to fans of detailed historical fiction and anyone with an interest in the War of the Roses, but not to readers looking for action, romance or a historical re-telling.

Really interesting dramatisation of the story of Cecily Neville, wife of Richard, Duke of York, set in the 15th century. As is frequently the case, we know far less about the women of history than we should, and when they are this fascinating it's more than a shame.

With continual sparring between contenders for the throne, and a weak king in place, the York family are continually on the move both geographically and politically.

Cecily is an interesting character, fulfilling the usual roles of a woman at the time - wife and mother; but is also portrayed with a keen, sharp mind and wit, with her mind on power and politics.

I raced through this pretty quickly, a great read.

‘Cecily’ by Annie Garthwaite was a gradual falling-in-love process for me as I became so immersed in the story and fell in fascination with the character of Cecily Neville. What a wonderful fictionalised account of the Duchess of York it is. Mother of two kings, equal partner to her husband Richard, mother, politician, diplomat, kingmaker.
I started knowing nothing more of her than that she was mother to both Edward IV and Richard III. Garthwaite paces herself in the telling of Cecily’s story and there were times when the [necessary] exposition of England’s 15th century politics and the seemingly endless battles and arguments of the Wars of the Roses, seemed to pause the narrative. But as the pages turn, the tension builds as you wonder how the family will survive. The politics and family connections of the time were intricately linked and can be confusing, so the exposition is a necessary part of the novel.
Cecily is a gift of a character who was somehow overlooked in the history books, as Garthwaite explains in her afterword, ‘Writing Cecily’. “Cecily lived through eighty years of tumultuous history, never far from the beating heart of power. She mothered kings, created a dynasty, brought her family through civil war…. Last woman standing.”
This does not feel like a debut novel. Cecily comes alive off the page and it’s clear that Garthwaite lived and breathed in Cecily’s shoes. She creates a modern woman, a strong woman in a man’s world which, given Cecily’s history, she must have been to survive. This is an epic story starting in 1431 as the teenage Cecily watches as Joan of Arc burns at the stake, ending with the coronation of her eldest son as King Edward IV. On the way, family alliances are sundered, friends become traitors, battles are won and lost and Cecily gives birth to thirteen children. Through it all, she believes her husband has a stronger claim to the throne than the current king, Henry VI. The tension between husband and wife ebbs and flows throughout the years as Cecily encourages and pushes Richard to claim his rightful place.
There are so many twists, betrayals, secrets and threats that I found myself just reading one more page, one more chapter, even as my eyes closed late at night. I did not want this book to end.
And what a stunning cover!
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/

An entertaining way to enjoy history. This is a well-written story of Cecily, the mother of Edward IV and all the plotting of influential families to gain the favour of the king, Not knowing much about this period, I have no idea of the accuracy of the book but it does convey life at that time. I now need to find out more about the preceding and post periods.

This is the story of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, the mother of two Plantagenet kings - Edward IV and the much maligned Richard III. Written off as a bit part player in the recorded history that so loves to glorify the acts of men, Annie Garthwaite gives us a fresh perspective on this turbulent period at the beginning of the Wars of the Roses by bringing Cecily alive in these pages.

As the youngest of 22 children and a direct descendant of Edward III through her maternal grandfather John of Gaunt, Cecily was well versed in politics of power from a very young age. Her marriage to her father's ward Richard Plantagenet, heir to the dukedom of York although his father had been executed for treason, was a political gamble in itself - one that payed off when they became Duke and Duchess of York, forging a happy marriage based on true love and mutual respect, and making them central players in the games of power behind the throne.

Garthwaite begins this novel with a stark reminder about how the fortunes of women are decided by men by introducing us to the young Cecily and her husband at the burning of Joan of Arc, both of them there to show they are staunch supporters of the crown, whatever their pedigree. She then goes on to tell the story of Cecily through her eighty years at the heart of power as she navigates her family through the triumphs and tragedies associated with the the wheel of power.

You may think that the story of the Wars of the Roses does not need to be revisited, but you would be wrong, for this is less about the deeds of men and much more about how women play the games of power. Cecily is smart and ambitious, and adept at seeing the big picture. She is not afraid to persuade her husband into treason, use her daughters as pawns in marriages arranged to gain political advantage, and sway hearts and minds by the sheer force of her will alone to achieve her goals - but she is not the only one. Garthwaite uses Cecily's story to give us a glimpse into the lives of other formidable women too - especially Cecily's fierce foe Marguerite of Anjou, the Queen, who is loath to let anyone stand in the way of her ambitions for her own family and favourites. Theirs is the long game of subtle persuasion, moves behind the scenes, and the power of a softly spoken word in the right ear, that both contrasts with and complements so deliciously the bloody violence of the battlefield.

It is the women that make this novel such a delight, not just by showing how capable they truly are, managing their intricate household affairs and purses, and packing softly-softly political heft, but in the way Garthwaite writes them as realistically flawed characters. We follow Cecily and her female counterparts through the highs and lows of their personal lives too - their desperation for an heir and cement both their own and their houses' futures; their loves and losses; their doubts and vulnerabilities; their cunning, ruthlessness and pride; even their hate and jealousy. These are complex characters, made up of light and shade, and they are glorious, especially the incredible Cecily, who bore twelve children for her beloved husband and buried all but two in her lifetime.

It would be enough to know that the beautifully drawn characters are sufficient to make this story thoroughly compelling, but that is not all folks, because Garthwaite's writing is so engaging that her words pull you right into the action with a wonderful immediacy and feeling of time and place. Even though the events laid out here are bound by historical record, I still found myself pacing alongside Cecily with bated breath as she pled her cause to a hostile audience, or waited for news about the fate of her husband and sons, desperate for their plans to be hailed a success. This is a rare thing indeed, made all the more impressive by the fact that this is a debut novel.

I wanted this story to go on for ever, and was more than a little bereft to reach the end of Cecily's tale. I have been completely bowled over by this fierce and feminist book, and cannot wait to see who Annie Garthwaite chooses to write about next. It's an absolute corker!

This impressive first novel by Annie Garthwaite tells the story of one of the women at the heart of the Wars of the Roses. As a member of the powerful Neville family, wife of Richard, Duke of York and mother to two kings, Edward IV and Richard III, Cecily Neville was a strong and intelligent woman who managed to wield some political influence at a time when it was rare for women to do so. This makes her the ideal subject for a book set during this period – and in fact, there have already been several, such as Red Rose, White Rose by Joanna Hickson and The Queen’s Rival by Anne O’Brien.

Beginning in 1431 and ending in 1461, Cecily is set during the reign of Henry VI, whose weakness as king and inability to rule effectively leads to political instability and eventually to war. Cecily’s husband, Richard of York, is one of several noblemen trying to gain control of the king and his kingdom, while Henry’s young queen, Margaret of Anjou, does everything she can to hold on to power and keep the throne safe for her son. I won’t describe the plot of the novel in any more detail here; you may already be familiar with the history and if you’re not, it’s far too complex for me to explain in a few paragraphs! If you read the book, you’ll certainly learn all you need to know.

Cecily, as she is portrayed here, is not a very lovable or endearing person. She is driven by ambition and pushes her husband Richard towards first of all trying to displace Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, as the king’s closest adviser, and then to aim at the throne himself. As a medieval noblewoman, Cecily is obviously limited in what she can actually do – battles, for example, are played out in the background of her story and she only learns the outcome afterwards from other people – but she takes any opportunity she can find to shape the future of her family and her country, whether this means securing advantageous marriages for her children (she had twelve, seven of whom lived past infancy) or writing to Margaret of Anjou to try to get her husband restored to the king’s favour. Richard, in comparison, is portrayed as weaker and less decisive and Cecily, who almost plays the role of Lady Macbeth, becomes frustrated by his lack of ruthlessness.

The book is written in the third person present tense, which is not a favourite style of mine. I sometimes find it distracting and distancing, but in the hands of some authors it works very well and I think Annie Garthwaite does a good job of using it to give the story a feeling of immediacy, while also giving us access to Cecily’s intimate thoughts and feelings. I was often reminded of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall – not just because of the writing style, but also because both books feature a complex, flawed protagonist and focus on political intrigue close to the throne. This is not the light and fluffy kind of historical fiction and it does require some concentration, particularly if this period of history is new to you. The only problem, for me, was a slight lack of emotion; Cecily’s story was fascinating, but I never felt very moved by it.

This novel only covers the early stages of the Wars of the Roses, ending with the Battle of Towton in 1461. As Cecily Neville lived until 1495, I hope there is going to be a sequel telling the rest of her story!

Annie Garthwaite, wow! Stand up, take a bow- this is a debut book that has completely blown me away. How will any written book do this justice? I feel like I’m about to ramble incoherently trying to make everyone understand just how PERFECT this book has been.

I have to admit, my knowledge of Cecily was zero before reading this book. My favourite period of history has been the Tudors for as long as I can remember. This book has allowed me a different outlook on a period of time, I’ve had very little knowledge of.

The writing is absolutely flawless. This book flows beautifully and events link perfectly with what comes next. I have been completely pulled into this one and unwilling to put this down.

I have literally been transported to the time and places in this book. Garthwaite has given detailed descriptions and really set the scene. I have found it particularly interested in how the women have led some of the events that have taken place.

As with the Tudor’s, the birth of a baby girl indicates that a boy will come. This to ensure claims to the throne. An element of history, that I find particularly annoying. Cecily is a figure I’ve wanted to know more about. She is definitely a feisty character who is strong minded and not afraid to say anything.

I have definitely been surprised at some events in the book. Cecily’s attitude has not failed to shock me at any part of this book. I have loved every aspect of this one and definitely converted as a fan of the author.

I am definitely excited to see what this author has in store for us next. I already cannot wait.

A vivid and startling account of the war of the roses seen from Cecily Neville's point of view, this is a beautifully written book that draws you into the heart of a dramatic story involving dukes and kings, loyalty and treason.

Annie Garthwaite takes a well-known story and makes it real through her characterisation and intimate details of what it would have been like to be a woman in such a position through a time of such major events.

Cecily is a strong and intelligent woman who guides her husband and her family to great power, and her determination and strategy throughout the book is so well-drawn and detailed it makes for an incredibly compelling read. There is the power and the intimacy, and the book draws both out so well in a compelling story well-told.

I do not read many historical novels, I prefer biographies, but I really enjoyed this. It is about my favourite period of history, and to hear it from a woman's point of view is really interesting. I also enjoyed the author's description of how and why she came to write it. I like the style of writing; it feels fitting for the subject, and the way people speak to each other sounds right. The plot flows nicely and it ends in the right place. I hope she continues the story through to Edward and Dickon's reigns. One minor point - in the kindle version the tables of family trees are difficult to follow.

A truly amazing historical novel about a startling woman whose life story is little known. Annie Garthwaite has produced a masterpiece and has given the reader a real page-turner.

Cecily, married to Richard Neville, is one of the most astute women one could have wished to meet in the 15th century. Deeply in love with her husband, she provides wisdom and support through their life together. She shows her ambitions for her husband but treads a delicate path throughout - is she loyal to the King or is she a traitor? She is a loyal wife and a loving mother but is surrounded by those who wish both her and her husband dead. She has known love and loss but must battle on …..

A love this era and I felt Annie Garthwaite captured the drama and romance of the period perfectly. A great edition to the historical fiction genre.

What a fabulous debut novel!

I had already been hearing good things about Annie Garthwaite’s book, Cecily, when I was offered a review copy from NetGalley. So, of course, I jumped at the chance to read it. A book about one of the strongest and most influential women of the 15th century was bound to interest me. I have forever been fascinated with the Wars of the Roses, after all, and written a number of articles about members of the House of York. I’ve also researched and written about Cecily’s amazing mother, Joan Beaufort, and impressive grandmother, Katherine Swynford. So, I was interested to read Annie Garthwaite’s take on this incredible woman.

And I was not disappointed,. It is hard to believe that Cecily is a debut novel. Beautifully written and composed, it transports the reader back the turmoil of fifteenth century England and shows us the Wars of the Roses through the eyes of Cecily and her husband, Richard, Duke of York. Though historical fiction, it has a sense of reality that is not always present in novels.

Cecily is a marvellous, sweeping story, that follows the fortunes of the house of York, through the eyes of its duchess, from the last years of the Hundred Years War, through the turbulent ups and downs of the Wars of the Roses, to the triumphal coronation of Edward IV. Meticulously researched, it strikes the perfect balance between portraying national and international events, and the family life of Cecily and her husband, Richard. Ambition, love and loss, victory and defeat all play a powerful part in the narrative.

The storyline is fast-paced, the political and physical landscape of fifteenth century England providing a wonderful backdrop to the dramatic events of the era. Annie Garthwaite tries to get in the heads of her characters, depicting the Yorks not just as whit knights in shining armour, but as genuine, real people, with their own foibles and ambitions. I do love the depth of the characters. Cecily herself is not perfect, and is the product of her experiences – Annie Garthwaite has really considered how Cecily’s personality would be affected by her experiences and by the characters around her, both friends and enemies alike. The complexities of the family relationships involved in the Wars of the Roses can sometimes get confusing, but the author has managed to navigate her way through the complex relationships to craft a story that is, at once, enjoyable and intriguing.

I can heartily recommend Cecily by Annie Garthwaite to anyone with a passion for historical fiction, and for the Wars of the Roses period, in particular. The book does not disappoint!

‘Women have no swords, brother. We do our work by talking.’

There is historical fiction and then there is Cecily. WOW! This is purist historical fiction at its best. This is one of those rare and memorable tales that gives voice to someone I had barely heard of but will now forever remember. Set at the conclusion of the Hundred Years War between England and France, and moving to the beginning of the Wars of the Roses, this story focuses on the life of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, mother of King Edward IV and Richard III and a force within her own right.

This is powerhouse female historical fiction of an incredible woman from English history. Cecily is captivating, brilliant and on a mission. Highly intelligent she uses her ruthless bravery to further the fortunes of her loved ones and the love of country. For all this, I believe, she is portrayed as somehow authentic with her reality jumping off the pages. This is not some light version of history, oh no, here we have strategic planning, courageous confrontations, deadly battles and heart wrenching losses. A feminine view on a very much manly world of kings and courtiers. Here we are given a heroine to follow and cheer for.

‘In her private darkness she calculates the value of all she has learned since coming into France: that the will of God, which has called all things into being, might turn a child into a king, a girl into a warrior, or a body into ash. And that any man – or woman indeed – may, according to their courage, shape His will to their purpose.’

This story with its cast of characters is rich in detail, locales and plots - in every aspect of the word. Through Cecily’s eyes you see all the outward trials of living in a cunning court to the inward matrimonial love yet sorrow of so many pregnancies and so much loss. It is consuming and fascinating as fact after fact is beautifully narrated with flowing fiction. Through it all the strength of the matriarch shines through and it is glorious to read.

‘We depend, all, from Fortune’s wheel, and the wheel turns faster when pushed.’

Annie (author) does an amazing job in so many respects. You cannot help but be impressed with the depth and breadth of her research. To craft a story that reads so well for today’s audience is impressive. It is as if you are standing beside Cecily as she wisely considers the best course of action, or mourns and moves on. Add to that the descriptions of residences and rooms, the bitter winds of an English winter and it really becomes a complete novel.

I thank Penguin Publishers UK for reaching out and offering a book I may otherwise have missed. If epic historical fiction is your thing, be sure not to miss Annie Garthwaite's incredible debut. As the author states herself:

‘Cecily lived through eighty years of tumultuous history, never far from the beating heart of power. She mothered kings, created a dynasty, brought her family through civil war. She met victories and defeats in equal measure and, in face of them all, lived on. Last woman standing. There had to be a story there, surely?’







This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

The book tells the story of Cecily Neville, the woman who married Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and bore him twelve children, many of whom sadly died in infancy. In doing so, Annie Garthwaite joins other writers of historical fiction such as Philippa Gregory and Anne O’Brian who have chronicled this period of history.

The book opens in 1431 as Cecily witnesses the burning to death of Joan d’Arc and later the crowning of the young King Henry VI of England as King of France, although his realm does not extend to the whole of France and a rival, King Charles of France, also claims that title.

This was a time when the sons and daughters of noble houses were married in childhood in pursuit of dynastic alliances, although such marriages may not be consummated until some years later. Indeed, Cecily was only nine years old herself when she was joined in marriage with Richard Plantagenet.

The image the author presents of the relationship between Richard and Cecily is one of trust, and of real and enduring love. More importantly, it’s a marriage of minds. As Cecily observes: ‘They’re natural allies. Watchers and listeners both. Thinkers, planners, weighers of words.’ And, my goodness, do they need to be because as the years roll on there is power play after power play with rival factions, and families, seeking the ear of a King who proves to be easily swayed.

Together Cecily and Richard make a formidable team with Cecily becoming more involved in events than would normally be expected of a wife. Not that she isn’t also expected to carry out the duties of a wife – running a large household and bearing children, preferably male heirs or, if not, daughters who can be used to make profitable alliances. The perils of childbirth are vividly depicted and, in fact, Cecily’s involvement in the political manouverings provides a distraction from her grief. ‘It has saved her, these past weeks, to be at the centre of his stratagems, poring over maps, drawing up plans, deciding the appointments of officers; weighing up men’s competence and ambition, where they will serve best and how far they can be trusted.’ Trust turns out to be a rare commodity.

The Cecily of the book is intelligent, perceptive, ruthless when needed but, most importantly, pragmatic. As she says at one point, ‘When it’s impossible to do a thing, you must simply find a way to make it happen’. Unfortunately that advice, given in a generous spirit, is ultimately turned against her. It’s the same unflinching pragmatism that sees her marry off her six-year-old daughter, Anne, to Henry Holland. ‘She will do it for a dukedom and for ever closer ties to the old royal house, for the network of affinity that will keep York strong.’

The book is packed with historical detail, especially in the latter stages, but as events are always seen through the eyes of Cecily, either witnessed by her directly or via letters from Richard, this helps to lessen the feeling one is sitting through a history lesson. In addition, Cecily’s shrewd appraisal of the twists and turns of events allows the reader to understand their implications. I also loved her sarcastic asides. ‘She gives her son-in-law [Henry Holland] the best of her smiles and asks after his dogs. She’d like to see them eat him, but there you are.’

With such an imposing figure as Cecily at the heart of the book, it would be easy for Richard to disappear into the background but the author convincingly conveys his natural charm, leadership skills and determination to fulfil what he believes is his and his family’s destiny. Students of history won’t be surprised at how Richard and Cecily’s story concludes. Neither will those who learned the mnemonic for the colours of the rainbow, Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain. However, that doesn’t stop you wondering – mourning, even – what might have been.

Cecily is an absorbing story of a woman who wielded an unusual degree of power behind the scenes in events that shaped the history of England. And of course her legacy continued through her two sons, Edward and Richard.

In recent years, I’ve found that I really enjoy reading about real women whose stories have not been previously told or that somehow didn’t make the general body of history that is common knowledge. I had honestly never heard of Cecily Neville before reading this book and I am now wondering why.

Cecily Neville is born into a noble family and at the age of nine was promised to her father’s ward Richard Plantagenet. In the years that followed, Richard rose through the ranks to dukedom with his headstrong, defiant wife firmly in his corner while Cecily bore Richard 12 children. Seven of them lived including two future kings of England, Edward IV and Richard III. Throughout the bloody Wars of the Roses and incredible political upheaval, Cecily remains a powerful figurehead and inspiration to women everywhere.

Considering that this was not a love match when they were thrown together as children, Cecily and Richard’s relationship is beautiful. They clearly adore each other and are a formidable team. There is no talk or suggestion of Cecily taking a back seat and concentrating her efforts on being a wife and mother. They stand firmly together to defend the House of York and I think the fact that they each allow the other to flourish without any kind of restriction prevents any resentment from creeping into their marriage.

Of course, plenty of people around them have their own opinion on Cecily taking such an active role in her husband’s cause. Cecily is great at shutting these critics down and I felt myself smiling at the parts where she proves that she has just as much right to be in on these meetings as the men do. It’s so refreshing to see women from centuries ago having the courage to take action against the world. Especially in periods as far back as the 15th century, women are depicted as powerless victims whose lives just happen to them. Cecily would never stand for that approach to living at all and it’s fantastic to watch.

In order to secure good marriages for her children and strengthen the bond between York and France, Cecily spends time ingratiating herself with French nobility. In doing this, she forms a wonderful friendship with Isabella who she gushes over inspirational women with. Although we don’t get to see much of their friendship in real time, there is a lovely, playful kinship between them. Isabella introduces Cecily to new ideas and perhaps shows her a side to herself that she otherwise would have never known.

There are also little glimpses of gossip sessions between women that reminded me that actually some things have always been and always will. Their discussions on the men that they admire and the men that are repulsed by reflect conversations that I know I’ve had with my own girlfriends. It’s such an easy, carefree scene and I think I wanted more of these in the book. I wanted to see Cecily simply as a woman rather than as a mother or a warrior, which are the two personas she uses most often.

Of course, Cecily loses five babies over the course of the narrative and each one is marked with her feelings about these little deaths. Her closest nurse Annette is a great comfort to her during these times of grief and helps her to understand it. There is a point where Cecily wonders how she isn’t used to the pain of losing children by now and concedes that it’s not something a mother ever will or should get over. These moments of utter sorrow and heartache give Cecily a warmth that is sometimes lost when she is scheming against her enemies.

'Looking out from the walls, Cecily hears the sound of birdsong for the first time in weeks and, instead of the banners of fighting men, the hills fly the colours of autumn, russet and yellow pouring down the hillsides to the river.'

There are some beautiful descriptions of parts of England in the book too. This simple pause is the calm before the storm that brings horrendous violence and great tragedy. It’s a lovely, engaging way of adding rise and fall to the story and this part in particular paints an atmospheric, forboding image in my mind.

Cecily is a great illustration of a hidden war that was being waged during the Wars of the Roses. A war that the women were fighting to advance their own husbands and families as far as they could. There is extreme slander thrown and a lot of power moves played that have almost been erased from the history books, due to men reaping the glory from these ruthless tactics.

There are a lot of characters to keep track of in this book and at times, I was a little confused as to who everyone was. This meant that I had to look up various names online and read their stories, so that I could clarify everything. An unexpected side effect of the book is that I can easily see where George RR Martin got a lot of his influences. I knew that A Song Of Ice And Fire was based on 15th century English history but I wasn’t entirely clear on which parts. Now, I can easily how he created many of his characters from the real people in Cecily’s story.

Overall, this is an absorbing book and sheds light on a thoroughly interesting figure who has been lost in time. She isn’t wholly likeable, which sometimes made it hard to connect with her, but perhaps she isn’t meant to be! Perhaps this is supposed to simply be an honest depiction of a ruthless but loyal, determined woman.

This novel is a tour de force, as was Cecily herself if she was anything like the woman portrayed here. The mother of two kings, Edward IV and Richard III, a granddaughter of John of Gaunt and the wife of Richard, Duke of York, the Cecily Neville of this novel shapes her fortunes and those of her family with courage, steely resolve, ambition and love. From her marriage at 16 to Richard Plantagenet, a traitor’s son who must prove his loyalty to the young King Henry VI, to the crowning of her son as King Edward IV, this novel charts the role the historic Cecily may have played in driving the events that brought this about.

In the epilogue, the author talks about the ways in which ‘women exercise power in environments dominated by men’, and alongside and opposing Cecily at every turn is Marguerite, the French wife of Henry VI who was a weak, ineffectual, changeable, possibly mad and impotent king. This is the story of Henry VI’s overthrow by the house of York, and the role of these two redoubtable women in defending and promoting and fighting for their families and their lineage.

In the vein of much other recent fiction prioritising historic and mythological women’s voices, Annie Garthwaite gives glorious life to the women who undoubtedly played a pivotal role in shaping the events of their time, but whom the men writing those histories have relegated to a mere mention. She reminds us that the written accounts of historical events are just one narrative, not gospel truth. But most of all, she has created a strong, complex woman and a strong, complex novel, one which is riveting, intelligent and an absolutely compulsive read. I will even dare to compare Cecily to Dorothy Dunnett’s characters both male and female, and the complex sweep of a fraught period in history to Dorothy Dunnett’s inestimable grasp of interweaving historical events and their consequences. Cecily is a tremendous character and this is a tremendous book - both swept me off my feet.