A fascinating book written from a point of view of Cecily Neville. Well researched and beautifully written. I thought I was quite well versed in this period of history but I learned a lot more from reading this book.

An historical novel about the life of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York (1415 - 1495), this is an impressive and well-researched debut. The novel spans about 30 years of Cecily's life, from the early years of her marriage to Richard of York (aka Richard Plantagenet, the same Richard of York who gave battle in vain) to her son Edward IV ascending the English throne.

The novel is narrated in the third person but it keeps close to Cecily throughout, as you might expect from the book's title. I enjoyed the sparse writing style, which is detailed enough to give a sense of place and atmosphere without becoming bogged down in unnecessary descriptions. The pace is quite fast, as the novel skips through the main events of her life over some very turbulent decades in British history. Cecily herself is an ambitious, strong and hot-tempered character, more admirable than likeable. A few of the other characters, the recurring ones, are also well-rendered but others are merely sketched. I think this is probably inevitable when dealing with so much history because there's no need to become invested in everyone.

I always find the history of the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of the Roses confusing, as they are complex to understand and it's not helped that everyone had similar names or were known by their titles or the houses they were of. I hadn't read about Cecily before - I preferred not to have spoilers, even though that sounds silly when we're talking about things that happened hundreds of years ago - but I think I would have found it helpful to have some background before reading the novel, to reduce my confusion just a little, as the book does not explain that much. If you intend to read this book, I suggest you do some research first, unless you're already knowledgeable.

Recommended if you wish to see an extraordinary and powerful woman - who nearly became a queen consort - brought to life.

[Note - this review will be on my blog, 21st July]

Cecile is someone to be admired. She married a traitors son and found love with him. They strive to be loyal to the King but are constantly under attack.
A brilliant novel that leads us through the trials and tribulations faced by Cecil and her family, eventually leading to her son becoming King Edward IV.

This is a truly brilliant historical novel. I love that it brings Cecily Nevilles story out from the shadows it’s been forgotten in and brings it to the limelight that is usually reserved for the men. I was truly gripped in this book and just wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next!

With thanks to Netgalley and Viking

"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.


As a fan of the war of the roses and anything to do with the 'white rose' I couldn't wait to read 'Cecily' by Annie Garthwaite.

Cecily Neville is the mother of two kings (one of them was the last king to die in battle) but she has all but been forgotten by the history books. Till now

Annie Garthwaite brings Cecily wonderfully to life in this book. Cecily is bold and a strong female in the world of men. From watching Joan of Arc being burnt at the stake and then watching her son become king you find yourself traveling with Cecily from England, France and Wales. You feel with her and the loss of 5 children.

I didn't want Cecily to end and hope that we will get another book from Annie Garthwaite

A stunning and compelling narrative about a woman who is emerging as a figurehead of her time. So well written from Cecily's point of view and her complex relationships with her husband, siblings and children.
There is a very real taste of how tenuous life at court was and the politcal games needed to survive.
Also, a brilliant read, I couldn't put it down. Well done Annie Garthwaite!

This book is a luminous, staggering read. Cecily Neville has been a figure of interest to me for a while, but Annie Garthwaite has blown that interest wide open with this novel. Cecily leaps off the page, with her loves, her fears, her rivalries, and her dogged devotion to her cause. It is clear that Annie Garthwaite has done her research, but it is present here with a light touch, not too distracting from the story itself. My only criticism is that I wanted more! I want to read about Cecily navigating the rest of her life, watching her sons grow, rise, fall, and tear each other down - maybe a sequel in the works?? A fantastic read for anyone interested in historical women!

YES!!! A historical novel that features women as powerful agents, even when no one would acknowledge them or their influence. This time period especially and specifically the women and their role in it has always fascinated me. "Cecily" was a woman ahead of her time and an inspiration to us all.

From Lancashire, England myself I’m quite familiar with the War of the Roses and I was really interested in reading this female-centric take on it. I really enjoyed the women being centre stage and seeing how important and powerful their subtle influence is. It also made me really appreciate the freedoms that I now enjoy compared to the constraints and expectations of women in the Middle Ages. I think Annie Garthwaite managed to depict this alongside all the political intrigue and action of battle really well.

I was also quite unaware of many of the characters mentioned and these important historical figures which the book gave voice to. That said, at least in the beginning, I struggled with so many names and characters. Some of these could have done with cut down or perhaps given a bit more characterisation earlier on, especially as the time and events pass quite quickly.

Overall I enjoyed this novel and think it does an excellent job of highlighting the important role of Cecily of York and other female figures of the time who are always overshadowed by the achievements of men.

History is written by the victors: and, as we well know, those victors are traditionally high status white men. This is the case with the Wars of the Roses, which is taught as a battle between York and Lancaster- a cast of powerful men. Learning about it at school, I learnt more about multiple men called Richard, Edward or Henry than I did about the women who were at the heart of what was essentially a dynastic struggle that plunged England into a brutal civil war ended by (spoilers) Henry VII defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth.


In Cecily, Annie Garthwaite breathes life into one of the constellation of these mighty women: Cecily Neville. Daughter of a powerful man, wife to the heir to the throne and mother and grandmother of kings, all monarchs from Henry VIII are descended from her- she was a powerhouse who has all but been forgotten by history. Here we see her as a prime mover in her husband's career in the court of Henry VI, a famously delicate king whose lack of control led to the unrest that caused the war with the bloodiest battle on English soil. In order to survive and protect her family's right to the throne, Cecily is pitted against a ferocious rival and another woman: Marguerite of Anjou, wife of the weak king, who is equally convinced she is right. What unfolds over the pages is a parallel battle in which these two women fight along the lines of courtly courtesy and quiet coups using words, not deeds, to win the day. After all, whoever has the ear of the king controls the crown.


This is a novel that does its protagonist justice. Cecily is very human: not always likeable, her flaws very apparent. But it wasn't hard to have sympathy for someone trying to protect her family in every way she could. The women in particular, whether Cecily or Maguerite, or nursemaid Annette, were so vividly drawn that I was transported very easily into 15th century Fotheringay or Baynard's Castle and the plotting and dramas that unfolded within them. I loved the undertone of women getting things done when the men were overly hesitant or hot-headed. Like the best of historical writers, Annie Garthwaite manages to finely balance the contrast of banality of life as a mediaeval woman (child birth, arranging a household) with the excitement of unfolding seismic historical events that would change the shape of the country forever.


Before reading this novel, I realised that I had confused about four of the 'famous' women of the period with each other, so vague was the history on anyone female involved in the wars (side note: if anyone would like to write a novel about Elizabeth Woodville, I'm here for it.) This book has left me with a clear picture of who Cecily was- yes, she's the mother and grandmother of kings, but she was a powerful, vibrant, ambitious woman in her own right and deserves to be remembered as such. This novel has allowed her to be so and will hopefully put right the view of her that has come to use through the mists of history.

Cecily is a portrayal of Cecily Neville, the wife of Richard, Duke of York and mother of Edward IV and Richard III.

It spans the time from her betrothal to Richard until her son becomes king, taking in her time in France, then Ireland and then back in England. It portrays her as taking a full role in the machinations of her husband and contrasts her with the feeble Henry VII, the plotting queen and the corrupt lords. It also contrasts her with her husband, who is more keen to be seen to be doing what is right for the country than for himself.

A tantalising read in to the lead up to the War of The Roses in British history from the viewpoint of one of the most powerful and charismatic women of that era.
It is a long book but there's plenty packed in to it that can be read enjoyably and with a differing perspective, i.e from a female character away from the bloodied battles but very much involved in the plotting and politics that are so fascinating about this part of our history.
An enlightening and entertaining story

Cecily by Annie Garthwaite - ⭐️⭐️⭐️. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for sending me an advanced copy to review.

For me, this was very much a book of two parts, one I’d give two stars to, the other four. Cecily, simply, tells the story of the much unexplored but very powerful Cecily of York, the mother of Edward IV and the power behind her husband, Richard Duke of York who together successfully plotted to put their family on the throne.

The first half of the book, for me, is where the problem lies. First, Cecily is not written as a sympathetic, likeable, or even a love-to-hate character - I found her a little flat and she gave no reason to keep on reading her until much later on where all the action was and the Wars of the Roses kicked off in earnest. For me, the book took a good two hours to get going.

The second big issue is context. You’re dumped right in the middle of things at the burning of Joan of Arc (a seemingly popular start point for woman-centric fiction of the age, this is where Philippa Gregory’s The Lady of the Rivers starts too) and so many names and titles are thrown at you at once without any context that even if, like me, you’re familiar with the events and players of the Wars of the Roses and the years beforehand you’ll struggle to get everyone and everything straight. I think it would be a much easier book to get into if some things are explained; I’ve just started The Lady of the Ravens by Joanna Hickson which deals with the aftermath of the wars started in Cecily and the same thing is done so well, with explanations of who is who and why they’re important woven seamlessly into the narrative.

But then, once I’d got situated and as I said, history got exciting enough to overlook the way Cecily (the woman) was written I did enjoy the book in the end. It’s a thing among those of us who are in love with historical fiction of a certain period that we want to read every single book out there even if we know how they end, and from this perspective Cecily is a great new read. However, if you’re looking into getting interested in historical fiction or trying something from the period for the first time, I’d really recommend you read Philippa Gregory’s Cousins War series, or even Jean Plaidy’s slightly more old fashioned, but still excellent books instead. But if you’ve read all of these and you’re hungry for more, go and pre-order Cecily, which will be published on 29th July. Also, because just how beautiful is that cover?!

She is introduced to the reader as a young bride, but this Jane Seymour quickly rivals Lady Macbeth in ambition and ferocious intent. The bloodshed is not confined to the battlefields, and preservation of her family dictates everything she does. Told with humanity and love she is a compelling character who is both courageous and fearsome. They were dangerous times for a family so close to inheriting a crown, and although the political allegiances are confusing at times, the story was one I became immersed in and I was keen to refresh in my mind. It is very engaging and well told. I didn’t feel quite so connected to Cecily’s character, but felt a great deal of sympathy for her precarious life.

I enjoyed reading this account of Cecily’s life. I can’t help but feel however that this period of English history has been well covered by other authors.

You know a book is good when you get to the end and want it to carry on. That’s how compelling Cecily is.

Cecily is set before and in the early part of the War of the Roses. As Duchess of York, Cecily has been at her husband Richard’s side throughout his time as Governor of France and Normandy, as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and as Lord Protector of England. History has focused on Richard as rival to Henry VI’s throne and indeed famous sons Edward IV and Richard III (and of course his grandchildren who died in the Tower of London). But what of his wife, who was also a descendent of Edward III?

Garthwaite brings Cecily to life in glorious technicolour. She is bold and ambitious, a gifted politician and strategist. She is also a loving wife and mother who had eight long years waiting for a surviving child, bearing 12 children in total, 7 of whom survived their early years. There is no shying away from the horrors of this grief or the impact bearing so many children has on Cecily, and the other women featured.

As someone fascinated by the War of the Roses (I devoured all of the Phillipa Gregory books in addition to history books) the nods to characters we’ll see further down the line, not least Margaret Beaufort serve to increase intrigue and tension.

At the start the story felt a little slow before the action and tension really built up with to war, but it is completely necessary to set the scene and by the time the battles have started I was gripped, despite loosely knowing what was coming.

This is an incredible debut for Annie Garthwaite and I really hope she’s going to write a follow up. I need to know what happens to Cecily next!

As the epilogue says, “Cecily lived more than five hundred years ago, in a pre reformation, pre feminist, male dominated world. And yet, without question, she is a woman we can fee kinship with today.” I couldn’t agree more. Bravo Annie Garthwaite, bravo!

With thanks to #netgalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a captivating and insightful portrayal of Cecily' s personality that she literally jumps off the pages into vivid life.
The in depth research that went into the book was obvious. This account starts in the earlier years of her marriage to Richard, ,heir apparent to the dukedom of York. This gives us an understanding into the reasons for their later actions , which I found i could relate and empathise with.
What a courageous woman she was , with an aptitude for strategic planning a nd a keen tactical understanding of when to retreat and when to advance. Her political acumen is legendary .
Cecily really comes into her own in this immersive and evocative offering from Annie Garthwaite. I especially liked the portrayal of the loving relationship between herself and her husband, Richard. Yes she was the driving force behind his campaign to overthrow the puppet king Henry , she was also a wife and mother.
I Hope that there will be another book charting her later years, this book ended with the Crowning of her son , Edward . I'll certainly be looking forward to reading more from this author now. I found Cecily captivating reading .

story 4/5
characters 4/5
writing 4/5
audio/paper E-book, provided by the publisher; Penguin Random House UK via Netgalley.
reread? I might.
Recommend it? Yes, I highly recommend this if you are into historical fiction (with a strong female lead), or are interested in what happened leading
up to the War of the Roses.

There is quite a time span being covered through out this book.
And in my opinion, you really live and get older and wiser with Cecily.
All the events that happen contribute to her personality, though we as reader see much more of some of
her thoughts and thus feelings as a reader than the other characters do.
She really was quiet a personality

If I had started/read it later this year, I think I might have enjoyed it even more.
But I was sent this ARC and I really did not want to put of starting it any longer than I already did.
The only "issue" I had with it, and I have trouble with this in every adult historical fiction, is the
time passing during and in between the chapters.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Penguin UK for sending me this ARC.

Oh my! I didn't need to read this straight away-it's not due for publication till July but I wasn't about to wait that long and I'm so glad I didn't. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Cecily come across as quite blinkered in her quest for the crown but then again that was what it was all about then for noble women. Although Marguerite D'Anjou isn't portrayed in any kind of flattering light, underneath it all I think Cecily may have had a sneaking admiration for her. A great book.

A precise, forward-thinking retelling of the story of Cecily, this novel provides beautiful detail and illustration to a story that most of us know like the back of our hands. Unfortunately - that wasn't me. I knew NOTHING of the historical context of this story and my enjoyment sadly suffered a little due to it.

However it is testament to this writer that I still loved the story - the language was beautiful and Cecily was a perfect antihero to take us there.

I know in the print version of the book there is a handy family tree at the back and I think this addition alone would take my review up to five stars.

This is a story about motherhood, love, loss and power. A story about women influencing the way of the world behind closed doors and lesson to never underestimate the ferocity of a mother.

If you like historical fiction, retellings or stories about Royals- you will LOVE this.

Thanks Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review :)