The King’s Mother

Cecily was one of my favourite books of 2021, and when I heard this book was coming out I was over the moon. I am so thankful the publisher gave me an arc of this book. As I expected, it was fantastic from start to finish.

The King's Mother picks up right where the first book ended, with Edward on the throne of England, and Cecily by his side as the King's mother. Cunning, hard and strategic, Cecily was as compelling as she was in the first book. Once again, her personality was one of my favourite things of the book. She wasn't always likeable, on the contrary, but I always cheered for her, and admired her strenght of character.

After Cecily herself, the many different relationships she had with other characters were definitely my favourite aspect of the book. First of all, her relationships with her three sons. Obviously, her bond to Edward was one of the main theme of the book, but her relationships with George and Richard were equally well drawn, complex and emotional. Richard was one of my favourite characters in the book, I felt so much for him. Annie Garthwaite practically turned me into a Ricardian. The ending was especially emotional for me.

Cecily's unexpected friendship with Margaret Beaufort was also one of the highlights of the story for me. Margaret was a beautifully drawn, complex character, and I loved the similarities between the two women. I was genuinely saddened by the knowledge of where the story would go.

Another great character was Anne Neville, who, despite being a secondary character, was a perfect match for Richard and had a strategic, practical mind similar to Cecily, which I greatly appreciated. This book was definitely filled with fantastic female characters.

All in all, this sequel to Cecily was everything I was hoping for and more. I can't recommend this series enough, and I can't wait to read more by Annie Garthwaite.

I absolutely LOVED this book! This is better than Cecily and probably the best book about the Wars of the Roses I've read in 20 years.
Cecily is the She-Wolf of England, she is the master diplomat, survivor, mother and wife. She rules the family from within, the spider in the centre of all the intrigue weaving the web to ultimately keep her family safe. Motherhood and its roles and feelings are done behind closed doors, her private side.
It's a fantastic read and I'll be recommending it to everyone!

So grateful to have been given the chance to read an arc of this. I absolutely loved Cecily and I didn't even realise there was a sequel coming until I saw this on Netgalley.
The book picks up not far from where Cecily ended, and covers the reminder of Cecily Plantagenet (Nee Neville)'s life and shares her side of what happened once her son Edward IV became king through to her son Richard III's death and the start of the Tudor era.
As with Cecily, this book does not disappoint. I did take longer than usual to read this, but this wasn't due to me not liking it.
Hopefully Annie Garthwaite does anymore historical fiction books like this.

As a fan of Annie Garthwaite's previous work, "Cecily," I eagerly delved into her latest novel, "The King's Mother." And once again, she didn't disappoint. In fact, she exceeded my expectations, delivering a captivating and moving tale that offers a fabulous female perspective on the tumultuous era of the Wars of the Roses.

From the first page, I was drawn into the world of Cecily and her sons. Garthwaite's portrayal of Cecily is fabulous, presenting her as a woman of ambition, loyalty, and indomitable resilience.

What truly sets "The King's Mother" apart is its exploration of the female experience during a time dominated by men and political intrigue. Garthwaite brings to light the challenges faced by women like Cecily, and Margaret Beaufort, who navigated the treacherous waters of power and ambition with determination. It's a perspective that is both enlightening and empowering, offering readers a fresh understanding of the roles women played in shaping history.

Possibly the best historical novel I have yet to read! I felt the author was Cecily Neville! I was living her hard fifteenth century life - I was there in the room with her remonstrating with her philandering son ,the King, I felt her every emotion, her frustrations, her anger, her horror of what she was about to do when son was pitied against son! Her deep love for her ‘Son in Splendour’ and the regret she felt for her son whose loyalty bound him to his brother, the King! How could she have given birth to a son such as George! And her nemesis Margaret, their lives running parallel! Oh this book left me breathless, tearful and so very involved! Her conclusion was so plausible though left me emotionally drained! My admiration for this author is boundless - I sincerely hope her next book will be out very soon!

I have read the first book in this series and enjoyed it. The characters are familiar and I feel that the details are well researched and written with detailed knowledge of the period. I took a while to get into the story, in spite of having read the previous book. When I was into the story I enjoyed it thoroughly. It is great to read about a strong woman having power and influence in the 15th century! I am not sure if Cecily Neville was a good person but she’s certainly seems to have been a strong one!
Recommended

The cousin's war is my favorite period of history. This historical novel, told from the perspective of Cecily Neville, strong mother of two kings, helps to make things clearer in what is a very complicated story of betrayals, battles and executions. The characterization is believable; I particularly liked the portrayal of Elizabeth as an emotional wreck, and Richard III as loyal and thoughtful. The author has interesting theories regarding the deaths of Henry VI, George, Duke of Clarence and Edward V and his brother, Richard, A really entertaining and educational read.

I really enjoyed reading this. It was exactly what I needed it to be. Characterisation was great, pacing was good. There were some beautiful sentences too.

Having read "Cecily", and raved about it to everyone I know, I was very keen to read this second book about Cecily Neville, now that her son Edward I is king. A fantastic read, and a wonderful dive into the life of this powerful matriarch of the House of York. Annie Garthwaite is a worthy successor to Philippa Gregory in terms of shining a light on strong women from history. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review of the book.

This is a book I could have done with when doing History at school. It really brought everything to life, giving me a different perspective of King Richard III, who normally comes across as a bitter, twisted person. The times were really hard, death common place, and intrigue and secrets running rife. It really did feel like some of the people were chess players, playing a long game, scheming to get what they wanted, whatever way they could. Even though you knew what was going to happen to many of the individuals, with them having real lives and deaths, it was fascinating to read. I also didn’t realise there was a different view on what happened to the Princes in the Tower. For anyone even vaguely interested in History, or is just looking for a really good read.

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

I loved Cecily, Annie Garthwaite’s first book about Cecily Neville, so was thrilled to see her story continuing in The King’s Mother. Somehow this novel manages to be even better.

Cecily Neville, widow of Richard, Duke of York, and mother to Edward IV and Richard III, was the first woman to hold the title of The King’s Mother. She’s a wonderfully drawn character, very much centred in the time and acting from the beliefs of the period but utterly believable and sympathetic. Her relationships with her children are fascinating – Edward IV is both the ideal of a king but very flawed, George Duke of Clarence is a traitor to the cause but still loved as a son, Richard III is overlooked but loyal and her daughters are key to strategic alliances. She is completely engaged in the politics surrounding the success of her family and not afraid to do whatever is required.

The same is true for the other key females in the book - Elizabeth Woodville (Queen to Edward IV), her mother Jacquetta, Marguarite (Queen to Henry VI) and Margaret Beaufort (mother of Henry VII). The Wars of the Roses are massively complicated but the author handles it perfectly and it’s easy to follow the political machinations even allowing for the difficulty of how many people share names. Although they cannot fight in the battles, the women are involved in discussing tactics, running matters when the men are at war, and ensuring communications are spread throughout the lands. It’s interesting to see the wars going on from the viewpoint of those left behind rather than those directly in battle and their worry, fear and grief is beautifully portrayed.

Obviously there are elements of this story that we can never know, such as what really happened to the Duke of Clarence and, in particular, what happened to the princes in the tower but I thought all those elements were handled very well, with a lot of clear research and plausible theories.

An absolutely wonderful piece of historical fiction and I can’t wait to see what comes next from Annie Garthwaite.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

what a triumph of a book!

‘Cecily. Marguerite. Elizabeth. Margaret. King’s Mother. There can be only one.’

‘It will hurt Marguerite, she consoles herself. And there is some pleasure in that. I’ll have my joy again when she is dead.’

Cecily is an absolute matriarch, strong, unrelenting and knowing. Mother of two Kings, the first part of the book is concerned with her first son Edward IV, how he gets the throne and keeps it. All the while Cecily is there, coaching, directing, basically doing all the things he appears incapable of doing while he’s warring, drinking and womanising! Most of history tells us about these men, the battles and wars but it is the women at the heart of this story and of history, behind the scenes, directing, guiding and standing tall defending their families.

Then in steps Elizabeth Woodville and Cecily grinds her teeth to have to bow to her, Englands new Queen.

‘As queen, I’m told, I need never kneel to you again. Or to any woman. I do it now to show my respect.’

What I love about this is that we feel in the thick of it, actually IN the conversations, the battles etc are at the edges, we are getting to the heart of these people in this book.

‘Let us in,’ Warwick says. ‘We’ve come for the good of the country. We’ve come to set England to rights.’ Have you now, thinks Cecily. I’ll set you to rights with a spike up your arse.’

As time runs on, we see the struggle for supremacy between Elizabeth and Cecily. The latter blamed for allowing her family to try to destroy the former in a simply fantastic piece of writing, women arguing, verbally jousting, it’s just superlative.

‘You told me? Madam, I take no orders from you!’ Another beat. The taking of a breath. ‘I hope you are come then, to do something more purposeful than shout.’ But it seems Elizabeth can do no other.

Elizabeth bends her body almost double and screams, ‘I am your queen!’ And now, Cecily’s voice rises above hers. ‘Then for God’s sake act like it!’ There is silence in the room.’

We see glimpses of Margaret Beaufort and Marguerite in the first half of the book but is the warrior Cecily who stands head and shoulders above them all.

‘She’s grown to like young Henry Tudor’s mother in the years since Edward’s crowning. She gives no trouble, which is something these days.’

‘I speak of Richard, Cecily, your living son. You must get up and fight for him.’

Throughout the book, Cecily is centre stage, is the root of everything that happens, and the twist at the end is a bit inspired actually, I’m not sure how much fact there is to the sequence of events when Richard takes the throne but I loved this version!

‘He turns and stares at her, as if he thinks her mad or devil-sent.’

But was it all worth it in the end for the loss of sons and a family in tatters? She would be called a she-wolf, trying to protect her sons at all costs but as the world turns and Margaret rises she realises she is not infallible.

‘For my son, I’d kill anyone. With my bare hands.’

This ending is brilliant as the women face each other, it is the women, the mothers who rule and hold the power.

An absolute Tour de Force!

I loved every page, and battled not to race through it all in one sitting.

Treachery, a sprinkle of jealousy. a dash of treason and you have the perfect recipe for a fabulous page turning historical novel.
Add in plots, schemes, rumours, mercy, vengeance, and lots of love and loyalty. This is Annie Garthwaites second novel featuring and starring Lady Cecily Neville, the mother of Edward IV King of England from 1461 to April 1483, and Richard III, June 1483 to August 1485.

The King's Mother picks up right where the first book ended, with Edward on the throne of England, and Cecily by his side as the King's mother. Cunning, hard and strategic, Cecily was just as strong as she was in the first book. Once again, her personality was one of my favourite things of the book. She wasn't always likeable, on the contrary, but I always cheered for her, and admired her strength of character.

From the first page I was utterly immersed, I was reminded what an incredible woman Cecily was. We join her as son Edward has taken the crown. Still chasing Mad Henry and Marguerite across England, smashing all dissent in his way while his mother holds London for him, focused, brilliant, inflexible.

This is a propulsive tale of a woman who will literally stop at nothing. As the king’s mother, Cecily binds men to her purpose, removing obstacles, denying all inconvenient truths, raising her own family up and remaking the rule of England to her own will. Divine right is presented in synchronicity with her own desire, and her ambitions are high.

I hope Annie Garthwaite is already writing book 3 because I know it will be fabulous.

A must read book.

I read this recently and, as with Cecily, became rabidly indignant on Richard's behalf. It convinced me that I must visit his tomb, so did the visitor centre and Bosworth. I told most of the people I met about The King's Mother and what a fabulous book it is.
Annie Garthwaite is an extraordinary writer.

Having loved Cecily, I was very eager to get my hands on this and was not disappointed - despite me being busy and so reading it very slowly, it was compelling throughout, beautifully written and had the mark of good historical fiction for me: being hooked, even though I know what’s going to happen.

“But there are men – ‘Always, there are men,’ complains Cecily – who jostle and push for power.”

This brilliant book (UK release 11 July) follows Cecily with the same clarity and vigour as Garthwaite’s prior book, taking us through the triumphs and tragedies of the final years of Plantagenet rule.

The author performs a miraculous alchemy in these books: the human stories at their heart ebb and flow with the tide of history, but are never swept under by the weight of it. She brings us a pacy, gripping, story of real people trying to do the best for their families and their country in unstable times.

Though Cecily is the protagonist in both books, and we admire her capability and resilience, the same qualities are present in the women who stand against her, something Cecily herself acknowledges. The sins of her enemies are so very often sins of her own.

These books are promoted as feminist retellings of the Wars of the Roses. I’m clearly not qualified to assess that either way, but Annie Garthwaite doesn’t approach this by depicting her characters as temporally displaced 21st century people. Her characters are wholly of their time: a time which is constitutionally patriarchal and where dynasties are forged through advantageous marriages and the children they produce.

It is here that Annie Garthwaite foregrounds the intelligence, durability, and influence of the women in the rival families as they circle each other: testing, observing, vying for dominance. We are shown the ways in which wives, mothers, and sisters use their skills and familial bonds to press an advantage. We also see the ways the men can bring crashing defeat to the jaws of victory because of their lust, greed, and pride.

This is the story of the ruling class. Though we don’t spend much time with the commoners we do feel their weariness with the endless years of war. Every triumph brings a challenger, every truce sits uneasily. The people of the country want peace, but a peace that is definitively won, not parleyed and strained.

This is a gripping and moving tale, even if you know the history going in, and a stellar sequel to Cecily. Marvellous.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book; never a dull moment. Much is written about the Tudors, focussed on Henry VIII, and little on who and what came before. The King’s Mother does a very good job of opening that door.

Totally amazing that there was so much manipulation going on of people and situations considering the lack of anything other than backdoor "diplomacy", the sword and having the right son or daughter as a bargaining chip.

If you think that cliques and who/what is in and who/what is out is a new phenomenon invented in the early part of the 21th Century, treat yourself and read The King’s Mother and discovery how unsubtle we really are and discover real history in the making.

👑 THE KING’S MOTHER 👑 by @anniegarthwaite

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I fell in love with Cecily last year and as soon as I saw this pop up on @netgalley I knew I had to click on this straightaway. Often when a book is so built up it very rarely deserves the hype that surrounds it. Nope, not this one. It deserves every praise it receives. I’m very read numerous books based on this period of history and none have hit like this. Cecily is an all rounder, a game player, king maker, political mastermind, bad ass, loving mother, grandmother and sympathetic friend. The action was fast paced, it’s probably one of the most factious periods of history ever, constant skirmishes, battles and petty arguments resulting in betrayal and devastating consequences. There’s nothing not to love about this book. I can’t wait to read more from Annie 🙏🏻

This is not a critique, analysis or essay but quick, overview intended to give you some idea whether or not you might enjoy an author’s work.

NO SPOILERS:
(Although it’s not really possible to have no spoilers when the story is true, is it?)

The King’s Mother is the continuation of the true story of Cecily Neville as recounted in the book Cecily, which I loved and have previouslyt reviewed.

Now, Annie Garthwaite cannot take credit for the plot and story (which is excellent) but she deserves all the credit out there for the wonderful, skillful way this is written. Her style since Cecily has evolved and become even more immersive. I was there with Cecily, standing beside her, sharing her anguish and joy, feeling the cold rain, the calm, warming sun. We are treated to Cecily’s inner thoughts, albeit imagined but so thoroughly researched they are perfectly plausible.

Cecily was a big win for me; The King’s Mother is a triumph, expertly researched and beautifully written.

Also, Annie Garthwaite is just lovely, approachable and generous.

This was an intoxicating story of strong females, power balances and medieval history.

This book has reminded me just why the medieval period is one of my absolute favourites. From the politics, to the characters, to the 15th century world, Garthwaite captures everything in this stunning read.

This novel is rich with historical detail, charting the lives of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York and her sons, friends and enemies.

Having not heard much about Cecily Neville, this novel gives her a voice and has rebirthed her legacy centuries later. Garthwaite paints a vivid picture of this powerhouse of a medieval woman, bringing her back into a well-deserved spotlight. Not only is Cecily presented as intelligent, strong and fearsome, she is also shown to be a tender mother and friend. This book is an admirable tribute to the self - titled “The King’s Mother”.

The lives of other women are also introduced in this novel, such as Margaret Beaufort, mother to Henry Tudor, with whom she shares a complex but respectful relationship. There is also Elizabeth Woodville, wife to her son King Edward, and Marguerite of Anjou, once Queen of England.

Not only are the characters beautifully brought to life, but the way in which Garthwaite tells the story is also admirable. The writing style is punchy, fast-paced and to the point. This style helps chart the turbulence of Cecily’s life, and also lends itself to Cecily’s indomitable nature. The overall effect was a rich reading experience.

This was an in-depth, fascinating and splendid story that brings the incredible Cecily Neville to life.

Let me state from the outset, I am a history nerd and this book sent me down rabbit hole after rabbit hole. My favourite type of book to read and I could not ask for anything more! I first read Annie’s book, Cecily, three years ago and gave it five stars. It was epic! There is historical fiction and then there was Cecily. WOW! This was purist historical fiction at its best - one of those rare and memorable tales that gives voice to someone I had barely heard of but would 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, the first book focused on the life of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, mother of King Edward IV and Richard III and a force within her own right.

‘Cecily the King’s Mother, a title no woman in England has assumed before.’

The King’s Mother is her follow up covering the period of ‘the Wars of the Roses to the dawn of the Tudor age, this is a story of mothers and sons; of maternal ferocity and female ambition - of all they can build and all they can destroy.’ Yup! That about sums it up. I do recommend you read Cecily first as this book picks up right where that one ended with her son Edward on the throne (Cecily is still the main narrator).

‘And so, though she kneels at His altar, Cecily doesn’t so much pray to God as stare him down. Don’t you dare, she says in her heart … say nothing.’

Annie effortlessly regales a complicated time in English history, however, by telling the story through the perspective of Cecily as the ‘King’s Mother’, makes it vivid and compelling. To witness her interactions through her sons and other characters such as Margaret Beaufort is mind blowing. Despite of course knowing how history ends, the magic of Annie’s writing keeps readers on the edge of their seats in anticipation for the conclusion. Think on how history presents certain events and people …. and then think again. Think of the negative light in which Richard III is portrayed and then think again. Think of the legend of the Princes in the Tower and then think again. Outstanding historical fiction.

‘Tomorrow she might be King’s Mother again. Or just another broken woman, with her children dead at her feet.’

One cannot help but be impressed with the depth and breadth of her research and then the very fitting interpretations. To craft a story that reads so well for today’s audience is impressive. I thank Penguin Publishers UK for reaching out once more and offering this follow up book. If epic historical fiction is your thing, be sure not to miss Annie Garthwaite's incredible series.








This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.