Member Review

As an avid fan of the Plantagenet period of history, I have come across Cecily Neville, Duchess of York often appearing in minor roles in many fictional accounts of this time. Annie Garthwaite has creatively and very successfully, woven fact with fiction to portray a woman who had political nouse, a tactical brain and a strength of character that equalled if not exceeded many male contemporaries. A mother to two kings, Cecily Neville lived a long, often challenging and finally, triumphant life whilst bringing twelve children into the world, burying 5 of them.
Annie Garthwaite's debut novel brings depth, context and power to this lady's voice and whose very existence was pivotal in the change of our history..
For those that enjoy historical fiction based on real events and peopled by many those that lived those times, this is a true gem of a read and Garthwaite most definately joins the ranks of fictional authors such as with Sharon Penman, Reay Tannahill, Phillipa Gregory and Anya Seaton.