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 :)

Cecily gives voice to a woman glossed over by history. Known only to most as the mother of Edward IV and Richard III, tainted by his legacy of the rumoured murdered princes in the tower. However, the beautiful delicacy of history is that it can be revitalised in the right hands and Anne takes up the mantel of giving Cecily her voice in history.

The novel begins with the burning of Joan of Arc. Cecily watches with a mix of admiration for such a fearless, powerful woman and disgust for the French commander. In that moment, Cecily learns the valuable lesson that strong women have the farthest to fall. From the outset, the novel positions itself as a lens fully focused on the women in the 15th century that were pivotal in the War of the Roses and the hundred year war in France. The novel is very ambitious in its scope but it more than pays off in the sumptuous delivery of love and loss, rise and falls, kings and queens, traitors and loyalists.

Cecily’s‘ main qualities are her endurance and ruthless determination. She endures heartbreak at the loss of children, shame at the loss of favour at court and heartache at the knowledge that her husband has a more legitimate claim to the English throne but instead has to act like the king’s lapdog. She survives the ocean of childbirth twelve times! Which in 15th century England, is a miracle. Cecily talks openly about the pressures to give birth to an heir and also the pressure to procure advantageous marriages for her daughters. Even if that means marrying them to a traitorous, aggressive, narcissist. Cecily, determined to place her husband where he belongs, fights and schemes for decades, delicately guiding her husband towards his rightful throne.

Throughout Cecily’s trials and triumphs, other women are also given centre stage in the novel such as Marguerite, daughter of France and Queen of England who holds onto the reins of England and the reins of her puppet, sickly, mad husband. She is another female force to be reckoned with, devious and sly. There are also gloriously cunning enemies at every turn but Beaufort being the main Machiavellian whisperer, whispering demands and commands in the ear of the king, steering his policies alongside Marguerite. Beaufort will stop at nothing until Cecily’s husband Richard is destroyed along with the dynasty of York.

The novel sweeps through Whitehall, Ludlow, France, Ireland and Wales, giving a real sense of the tension and fragility of 15th century England’s feudal power. The king is only able to retain his power through the loyalty, hard work and sacrifice of his men. Richard swears fealty to his king, despite being the son of a traitor to the crown. He is always treated with suspicion because of his father and cast away to maintain foreign policy in France and Ireland. Cecily dreams of a world where Richard’s soul shines at the head of the English throne – will they make it to stand side by side as king and queen? Pre-order Cecily to find out.

Cecily is the youngest daughter of the powerful Neville family and finds herself married to Richard, next in line to the duchy of York, if he can secure it for himself. This is the same Richard who served the king he later turned on in order to secure the crown for himself, by dint of being descended from an older son of King Edward III and so ahead in the line of succession, if there had not already been an anointed king on the throne.

The novel starts with the death of Joan of Arc, described from the point of view of Cecily who witnessed it with some sensitivity and some realism. taking the propaganda out of it. And so the novel progresses, in a calm manner, almost serene, due to the present tense used and the third person omniscient narrative. That means the story is told by someone other than a protagonist, relating what happens, and so there is little tension woven into the story. However, in return we know a lot of what is going on, how everyone feels, and we do feel, as a reader, we are peering into the lives of these people.

Cecily is someone who knew all the characters involved in the Wars of the Roses and we meet them as she does, and her opinion is never held back. Despite the limitations of the narration, we do get a strong sense of her character and Ms Garthwaite gives us excellent insight into those around her.

I read a proof / review copy so it is hard to comment on the detail, the anachronisms, typos and other errors that creep in - will they creep out of the finished publication? I do hope so. Either way, it is certainly worth giving it a go - a fascinating story and a thought provoking way of telling it.

Cecily Neville was part of a historic family, a leading force at the time in the country, which also played a central part in the Wars of the Roses, along with the Percy family. This book follows Cecilys’ life from when she witnesses Joan of Arc being burnt at the stake through to the raising of her son to King Edward VI. Her power was increased with her betrothal to Richard, Duke of York and she was lucky in that they did love each other, unusual in a time where children were used as pawns for power. The one drawback with Richard was that he was the son of a traitor, and this would follow him all of his life.

Cecily is portrayed as an incredibly strong woman, having very ambitious plans for her husband, although meeting her match with Queen Marguerite. A well researched book and beautifully written, it describes the tensions in and out of Court, the intrigues and the treachery. The historical events are well imagined by Annie Garthwaite and this book brings history to life. Hopefully there will be another in the series to see where Cicely goes from here.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.