The King’s Mother follow on from Garthwaite’s first novel Cecily, named after the protagonist Cecily Neville, Duchess of York. In this second instalment Cecily has just become mother of the King - her son Edward has taken the throne of England to become Edward IV. Cecily’s relationship with her husband was one of my favourite things about the first novel so I really missed that strand here where Richard is no longer in the picture, however much of Cecily’s strong character and political force is still evident here - she was the first monarch’s mother to style herself as ‘the King’s Mother’ and this does show how much of a player she was as part of his royal household - in the novel she acts as a key adviser to her sons, and another an interesting facet is her power struggle with Margaret Beaufort, another woman playing power games for the benefit of a son who eventually goes on to be a King.

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher, Viking, for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this!! The previous book, Cecily was right up my street and I was excited to start this one. Easily the best story I have read relating to the War of the Roses. I love historical fiction and this is a must for any fan. I enjoy the authors style of writing and I look forward to reading many more books from Annie Garthwaite.
Thank you to Netgalley, Annie and the publisher for this ARC.

Historical fiction at its most powerful in storyline with four mothers each competing to have their done claimed as king and therefore they become ‘Kings Mother’ . Set at the time of the Wars of the Roses and a follow up to the earlier novel Cecily

After reading the brilliant Cecily last year I couldn’t wait for Annie Garthwaite’s next instalment in the history of the matriarch of the York family, Cecily Neville.

The King’s Mother begins at Easter in 1461 following Edward IVs decisive victory in the Wars of the Roses at the bloody and terrible Battle of Towton which confirms Edward as King and Cecily as the King’s mother. But despite the victory on the battlefield, the struggle for power is far from over for Edward and for Cecily, as they face the on-going threat from the deposed King Henry VI and his wife Marguerite of Anjou, threats which will lead to betrayal from Cecily’s own family. Cecily has to use her status and power as the King’s mother to keep Edward on the throne, whatever it takes.

The King’s Mother focuses on the royal women of the second half of the fifteenth century: Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward IV, mother of Edward V and Queen Elizabeth of York; Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII; and Margaret of Anjou, Queen Consort and wife of Henry VI. Above them all stands the magnificent Cecilly Neville, the mother of Kings Edward IV and Richard III. I loved this book because it brought these women to life through a female gaze and explores the rhythms of power as they use their status and relationships to fight for power for their families, as there can only be one King, and one King’s mother.

Thank you to @netgalle@penguinrandomhouse for the advanced copy. I can’t wait for the event with Annie Garthwaite

How completely satisfying to have such thrilling history as the War of the Roses brought so vividly to life through the eyes of Cecily, mother to King Edward IV. If she was half the strategist and political mover as she was in this novel she must have been a frightful women to behold!

I loved Cecily, the novel that preceded this, but I adored The King's Mother even more. A shocking amount of historical events covered brilliantly with style, intrigue and backstabbing, I couldn't have loved this novel more. I know the story well - three brothers, two become king, one driven by jealousy which leads to his undoing. The characters not pantomime villains we learned of in school but three dimensional people who loved, hated and gambled with the lives of thousands.

I have a soft spot for Warwick. I do agree he was treated wrongly by Edward and the Woodvilles were unworthy of their lofty elevation. Elizabeth seemed fairly portrayed as the grasping, desperate woman. Though, as this book was skewed by Cecily's view of things she must, of course, feel that way, too. George, well, what can one say of George?? I did love Richard, though, and have come to agree he was undeserving of the rough treatment history often lays at his feet. I hope his actions as this novel portrays are, in fact, the truth of it. We may never know but this novel is completely enjoyable, making history accessible in all its excitement and heartbreak and encouraging us to strive to know more of these incredible characters in British history.

Picking up The King's Mother is like renewing a satisfying acquaintance with a treasured, old friend.

There's intensity to Garthwaite's writing, something in the cadence that induces a tension & anxiety which brings the reader into Cecily's inner circle &, like all great fiction, transports you, in this case back in time. I adored Cecily the first time around & immediately fell back into her story.

If historical fiction is your thing then I can only encourage you to do yourself a favour & read this wonderful novel. In fact, treat yourself to Cecily too & start at the very beginning of the story.

The era around the Wars of the Roses was full of intrigue and a whole host of men laid claim to the Kingship of England. Behind much of this plotting was Cecily, the King’s Mother and possible the most powerful woman in England at the time. When her husband, the King of England, died she had three living sons and was determined that the eldest, Edward would also be crowned king.

This is the second book in the series, set in a fascinating period of history full of plotting and betrayal. Well written and totally captivating.

This book is a master class in how to take a complicated period of English history and present it in a way that combines thorough research with captivating and engaging storytelling. While the book is about politics, power, and betrayal, it’s also about female agency and ambition and what a mother may be prepared to do for her children and the family line. It’s interesting to see this turbulent period of history and the bloody battles for the crown of England through the eyes of strong female characters, and while we might not always like them or approve of their behaviour, Annie Garthwaite cleverly shows us that in their fierce maternal competitiveness, and their willingness to fight for their sons, perhaps they’re not so different from many of us. With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC

I enjoyed this. Annie Garthwaite portrays Cecily as horribly practical, brutal even, which is refreshing as you'd think an author might want to portray their main character in a way that's more acceptable in this day and age. Richard of Gloucester comes out of it better than history has treated him.

I’ve read many books about the War of the Roses before, written from the perspective of the women, but never one from Cecily’s point of view. It fascinates me the role these strong women played and how much their men needed them. Cecily is a strong, powerful force in this retelling, determined to do anything to keep her son Edward’s crown safe. I particularly liked the relationship between Cecily and Margaret Beaufort: the utter depth of their love for their sons; their plotting and planning; their clever gameplay; and ultimately their understanding and mutual respect of each other. Having adored Elizabeth in other retellings, she was portrayed very differently in this version of events.
Overall, a great read for fans of historical fiction and I will definitely be reading Annie’s previous book Cecily now as I’m intrigued to know about her earlier years.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin General UK for an arc in exchange for a review.

This is real and believable account of events behind history that is more often told from a male perspective. A follow on to the excellent Cecily, The King's Mother carries on the story of Cecily and her family following the death of her husband King Richard and the ascension to the throne of her son Edward.
Cecily manages a lot of business behind the scenes, orchestrating the lives of followers and family with an admirable ruthlessness and a steady hand, as the end of the War of the Roses draws near.
The writing is clear and unsentimental, the characters are beautifully drawn as strong uncompromising women who will do anything for their sons and to protect the succession.
Annie Garthwaite brings a whole period to life with her interpretation of the facts and her imaginative expansion of a whole world.

Brilliant, this was the first novel I had read by Annie Garthwaite and being familiar with the stories of this time via other novelists I found this a fascinating, alternative angle for the events of this period. Portrayed as a strong, very politically minded woman - this book credits Cecily for decisions made by others and makes you question what you may have previuosly believed.

I will 100% look out for more from Annie Garthwaite.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read The King's Mother.

This second novel tells the story of Cecily as a newly appointed King's mother, to Edward IV but it is a shaky throne and there are many battles to be won, not least behind the scenes amongst the women behind these great men. I loved this so much. Cecily remains such a strong character, one not dogged by grief despite the loss of her husband and son. She is not overly maternal but yet so many go to her for advice, she lives up to the title given to her by Edward: captain mother. She arranges marriages, discusses politics with the women involved in court from so many different angles, and is a mother to many.

This is written in present tense, but where I might have found this annoying in other novels, it makes this feel immediate, you are present there with Cecily as she fends off ambitious women and their pesky sons. Compared to Mantel, I think this period of history comes alive with Garthwaite's wonderful words.

The part with Edward IV near the end had me in tears, I raced to finish this and the use of dramatic irony in the talk of Henry VI had me chuckling with the knowledge we have afterwards.

This is historical fiction at its finest and I will be eagerly awaiting more from Garthwaite in the future.

This novel is the sequel to Cecily and focuses on the bloody wars and battles for England's crown after the death of Cecily's husband, Richard. It explores the reigns of Edward and Richard. It focuses on Cecily who was a dominatable force and how she tries to steer her son's reigns. I loved how the characters truly leapt off the page and despite knowing the actual history of the main players fates, I was still praying for a different outcome. This is a real must for those who love historical fiction. The intrigues and politics of court was fascinating. This novel brings to life the people and events of a time that I didn't know much about.
I thought this was a truly wonderful sequel to Cecily, a character I don't always like, but I understand her motives and feel her frustrations.
This duology is a must for an history buffs and it's such a change to view the events through the eyes of the main female players.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc in return for an honest review.

“…do you imagine being someone’s mother makes you blind to their faults?…”

The Kings Mother by Annie Garthwaite tells the story of the reign of King Edward IV, the fall of The House of York and the bloody beginnings of The Tudor Dynasty. A game of treachery, betrayal and family drama, Cecily, the Yorkist matriarch is a character now firmly embedded in my hippocampus alongside Mantels Cromwell. Yes, I’m going to go there and say it, I think this is the next Wolf Hall! Superior historical fiction, modern sentiment, medieval backdrop.

For full disclosure, I already loved this period in history, the War of The Roses lives rent free in my head, and still, the powerful storytelling of The Kings Mother had me on the edge of my seat. Sometimes historical fiction from this period can be daunting, many characters having the same names, titles switching so quickly it can be difficult to follow the narrative, but the author is clever in her use of epithets as a literary device establishing characters in your minds eye before building her plot around them.

Cecily is an unforgettable protagonist, stalwart and tenacious, single minded in her love for her Yorkist family. There are many reasons to hate her for her drive and ambition, the pace of the narrative so fast it leaves few moments to observe any of her tenderness, and still, the quite moments, when they come, will break your heart a little.

A must read for true lovers of historical fiction.

Thank you to the author, @netgalley and @vikingbooksuk for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

Well, that was a wild ride.

This is the sequel to Cecily, and continues the story of Cecily Neville's life and the Wars of the Roses. Cecily is an amazing character, I loved how she was portrayed in the first book and she is just as strong here as she supports her sons and wields power from behind the throne.

Even though I'm familiar with the history and outcome, I was on the edge of my seat. The characters all come to such vivid life and I really felt like I was there with Cecily. The focus is always on her and on the other women rather than on the actual battles, but I also enjoyed what the author did with Richard III and her take on what happened to Edward IV's sons. This was a brilliant book and I'm only sorry that there is no more to say about Cecily and her family. Highly recommended.

I'd like to thank the publishers and Netgalley for kindly providing me with an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

"The King's Mother" was great conclusion to Cecily's story.

I really liked reading about this part of history from her perspective and how the author portrayed her role during her sons' reigns.

The ending dragged a little, in my opinion, but overall I definitely enjoyed this book.

Since reading Annie Garthwaite’s first novel, Cecily, about the life of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, I have been looking out for a sequel. As the first book ended in 1461 and Cecily lived until 1495, I knew there was more than enough material for a second novel – and here it is, after a three year wait!

Cecily was set during the reign of Henry VI and the early stages of the Wars of the Roses, describing how Cecily’s husband, the Duke of York, led an army against the king and was killed at the Battle of Wakefield. A few months later, Cecily and York’s son, Edward, was more successful, defeating the king’s forces at the Battle of Towton and being crowned Edward IV. The King’s Mother picks up the story as Edward begins his reign and Cecily enters a new phase of her life as mother to the king and therefore one of the most powerful women in England.

This is a complex period of history and I would find it difficult to give a summary of the plot. You may already be familiar with the key points anyway – Edward IV’s unpopular marriage to Elizabeth Woodville; the various threats to his reign and the battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury; his death, leading to the accession of his younger brother, Richard III; and finally, Richard’s defeat by the future Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth, marking the start of the Tudor dynasty. This entire turbulent period is seen only from the perspective of Cecily, which is slightly limiting as Cecily is rarely at the heart of the action herself and often has to learn about major developments from letters or messengers. However, the story is never boring and moves along at a steady pace, holding my interest until the end even though I’ve read about this period many times before.

Cecily is shown as a controlling force behind Edward’s throne in the early days of his reign, advising him on what to say and do, but her influence over him gradually fades. She concentrates instead on building alliances, arranging marriages and doing whatever else she can to keep the kingdom and her family secure, taking her title of King’s Mother very seriously. The cover of the novel states ‘There can only be one’ and it’s true that Cecily is not the only candidate for this position. She forms an uneasy friendship with Margaret Beaufort, mother of the young Henry Tudor, deciding to trust her even while knowing that Margaret will do whatever it takes to further her own son’s claim to the throne. Then there’s Elizabeth Woodville, Edward’s wife, who also expects her eldest son to inherit the throne. Cecily makes it clear that she disapproves of the marriage and dislikes Elizabeth, but she accepts that Elizabeth is queen whether she likes it or not and does what is necessary to protect the Woodvilles – at least while Edward is still alive!

Elizabeth herself is not shown in a sympathetic light at all and comes across as immature, whiny and spiteful, which is disappointing as other characters are given more nuance. I thought Cecily’s relationship with her middle son, George, Duke of Clarence, was particularly well done, capturing Cecily’s mixed feelings about him – the love of a mother for her son mingled with anger and frustration as George, along with his cousin Warwick, betrays Edward over and over again.

One of the interesting things about reading a lot of books about the same period of history is wondering how the author will tackle some of the controversies and mysteries of the period. One of these is Edward’s alleged pre-contract of marriage to Eleanor Talbot, signed before he married Elizabeth. Some historians believe this was fabricated by Richard III in order to invalidate Edward and Elizabeth’s marriage and declare their children illegitimate; in this book, Annie Garthwaite assumes that the pre-contract did exist and was known to Cecily, who tried to cover it up. Another controversy, of course, is the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower. I won’t tell you how Garthwaite approaches this, but authors do usually have to choose one side or the other and this is definitely more of a pro-Ricardian novel.

Richard’s entire reign is covered in the final 20% of the book, which does feel a bit rushed considering how eventful that period was. I think there would have been enough material for a third novel, which would have allowed for more depth. I felt that we never really got to know Richard’s wife, Anne Neville, for example, which took away some of the emotional impact from the later stages of the book. Still, I really enjoyed The King’s Mother. Start with Cecily if you can, but they are both excellent novels and reminded me yet again of what a fascinating period of history this is!

Being a fan of War of the Roses era fiction, Annie Garthwaite's newest novel sounded like the next perfect read and I was on point. Garthwaite transports the reader back in time to an era of political unrest, never-ending games of power and manipulation and wars that may bring down houses or worse, nations. She writes with a matter-of-fact style and yet if you read between the lines, there are still hints of secrecy and ulterior motives with each conversation Garthwaite makes.

But I think the thing I love the most about The King's Mother is the way Garthwaite wrote her characters. All of them feel natural, with their own personalities and motives for power or survival. I especially love how Grthwaite doesn't shy away from showing their ugly sides too, the ones where they are selfish, manipulative, some even murderous; she breathes life into characters that fit perfectly into a world of political warfare and bloody battlefields.

I think if I read Cecily before The King's Mother I may have had a broader picture to look at regarding Cecily's early life. However, that doesn't take away that The King's Mother is a brilliant read that any historical fiction fan has to read this year.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin General UK for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The King's Mother takes us into the turbulent world of the War of the Roses when cousins were fighting against each other. Cecily Neville has grieved the loss of her husband and eldest son but has never lost sight of the crown. When her son Edward takes the throne from the beleaguered Henry VI, Cecily, at last, takes her place at the new King's side and proudly stands with him as the King's Mother.

However, fate is fickle and the crown of England never sits easily especially when Edward's controversial marriage to Elizabeth Woodville only makes more divisions within the House of York. The York brothers are a fascinating bunch. Edward IV by the Grace of God, and the skill of his sword, is King of England, whilst it is his brother, George, Duke of Clarence who is the proverbial thorn in his side. Younger brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is depicted in a more sympathetic light which I rather enjoyed and with a new slant on a old story it gave me much to ponder over.

In this dangerous Game of Kings we soon become immersed in Cecily's life as she fights for the security of her son and once Edward is recognised as King she does all she can to ensure the stability of her family, often remorseless in her regard for those she considers her enemies. That Cecily was a strong matriarch is never doubted but it is her absolute strength of spirit and stoic determination which keeps this tentative house of York from floundering but even the King's Mother is no match against deadly conspiracy and political unrest which seems to thwart all her attempts to keep the peace. The author captures the unease of the time perfectly and jumping at shadows we become privy to a world of deadly conspiracies and hidden secrets which, if discovered, will blow the House of York wide open.

The King's Mother follows on from this author's first book Cecily which explained much about Cecily's determined personality and her earlier life as a young wife and mother. This continuation is just as expertly written, beautifully researched and historically accurate it can be read as a standalone however, Cecily Neville is such a fascinating woman that her life, and that of her family, deserves to be discovered from the very beginning of the York story.