Cecily by Annie Garthwaite is an excellent historical fiction novel that covers the life of one of the women that was at the heart of the War of the Roses and the House of York: Cecily Neville . This novel has it all: historical context, captivating plot, complex and well drawn out characters, suspense, intrigue, all combining into a wonderful story that kept me enthralled.

As an avid reader of history, especially in regards to English and Russian histories, I was intrigued when I saw that there was a novel about the formidable wife of Richard of York, mother to Edward IV. There is not as much known about Cecily as compared to her male counterparts, but still enough to create a captivating novel. The art is creating a story that is both interesting, appropriate, and also follows history as much as possible. This book offers all of that.

I was beyond impressed with the research that clearly was undertaken to create a narrative that not only felt current and present-day, but also followed actual historical events. The author's ability to create a story that felt relevant and accurate is indeed impressive and difficult to do. This is the first book regarding Cecily that I felt did both. The prose and pace were smooth, easy to follow, and captivated me. I found myself flying through the pages wanting to read more, despite the fact that I knew the events and how it would all play out. If anything, this book has cemented my knowledge of names and events even more so. This book covers Cecily’s life into 1461 where her son, Edward, becomes Edward IV. I would love for there to be a second book that continues onward. What a dream!

The author presented Cecily as a strong, independent yet loyal, intelligent, and capable woman that held her own. She was a pillar of strength for her husband and her family, and she made no excuses for it. She made difficult decisions when needed. Was she perfect? Nope, but she did what she needed to do for her family and to survive. I felt as if I was literally there with her experiences her wins, losses, and feeling the highs and lows with her as the wheel of fortune turned.

The author also did an excellent job describing landscapes, locations, nature, and also the emotions/descriptions of each of the characters of the extensive character cast. I am beyond impressed.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the Author’s note at the end to read her own thoughts, history, and inspirations. I would love to read her recommendation of Joanna Laynesmith’s own captivating biography of Cecily. I think it would be right up my alley.

I was in a slump in regards to historical fiction lately, but I have to say this has given me renewed interest and hope. I loved everything about this book and would love to read more from this author. She most certainly gave this larger then life woman of history her due justice.


I cannot recommend this book enough. It is everything that historical fiction should be.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Penguin General UK for this stunning arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub (as of 2/17/21 no BB listing has been created),, and Instagram accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 7/29/21.

I very much enjoyed this.
Cecily (the book and the character) definitely holds your attention.
I know very little of this time in history,but if this book is anything to go by,I need to learn more.
Cecily is a vibrant character,who often gets her own way,but is also treated as all women back in the day seemed to be,as a baby making machine,with the one aim of providing a son and their.
The life of a noble woman had many sides it would seem,
This book opens with a bang,on the burning of Joan of Ark,and it doesnt ever really stop.



Review to be posted at later date

An amazing story of battle and bloodshed. This is well written and well researched bringing the life of the 1400s to life.
The shocking reminder of the subservient life of women in those times but the huge influence that they could wield if clever and informed is fascinating. The story follows Cecily as she marries and builds a family. Tragedy follows her and her children as some are lost and some survive. It moves to the dramatic conclusion in the midst of battles, treason and betrayal demonstrating how nothing in that time can be safe and secure.
This woman is brave and strong as she deals with power and it’s loss - and gain.
Recommended

This is an interesting historical novel focusing on a female character who often gets overlooked in the 15th century history of the House of York.Obviously the male members of the families seem to be written about a lot from various standpoints whereas the women are often in the background.This story redressed the balance of this biased account of history.
Since this is a novel it gives the author Carte Blanc to imagine new scenarios based on historical facts that are available.The main character is Cecily of the title who is the wife of Richard of York a nobleman during the reign of Henry VI who was an exceedingly pathetic and ruler.We are given an idea about this woman’s character and the prominent part she played in British politics and power struggles at this time.Although it is obvious that the men hold sway in most situations Cecily manages to get her voice heard in many of the situations her husban,family and relations find themselves in.I thoroughly enjoyed the whole story of Cecily’s life with her husband and their ever growing family.The importance of a son and heir is foremost in the story.You are given a vivid account of the lives these people led and the trials and tribulations they endured in order to survive day to day.
I can definitely recommend this novel for those people who are interested in this time in history as it is exceedingly accurate and believable as a mnarrative.

Now this is a historical novel.

Cecily is an outstanding and increasingly gripping story that follows the life of the Duchess of York who lived in the 15th Century. We have many stories that focus on the the heroics of battle, the victorious exploits of kings and masculine politicking through the ages, but these stories usually gravitate towards the men. Here, Garthwaite presents us with a new kind of story and a new kind of heroine. It is a detailed read with echoes of Mantel, but much more engaging.

What is the life of a noblewoman in the 1400s? We are treated to a thorough insight: from the perils and pressures of childbirth, to the political interests of delusional kings, bitter queens and greedy noblemen, to the day-to-day running of a 15th Century household - through Cecily we experience it all. Battles occur but we hear the tales from messengers and deal with the fallout accordingly. Women, and how they negotiated the world they existed in, are at the centre of this novel. It is insightful, fascinating and just as engrossing as any other historical novel I've read (if not more so!) It is refreshing to read of a strong woman who speaks into a patriarchal society, who pushes and pulls her husband in the direction of greatness, who demands respect in places where women are not usually given it. The unfolding relationship with her husband, Richard, is a highlight and a key part of this story.

Cecily is a force to be reckoned with throughout. She dominates every page of this book with her commanding presence. Shrewd, wise, decisive and with a ferocious passion for her house and the promotion of her family's interests. She is not an invulnerable character but deals with the volatile realities of her time with conviction. We watch her confront the pain of the experiences of life in the 1400s, we see her carry her grief, we stand with her on the rare occasion she is mistaken, we feel the frustration when gender restricts her due to the societal norms of the time.

Once it gets going this is a delightful read and one of the best books I have read for a while.

Novels that purport to show a reassessment of a historical figure while staying close to historical ‘fact’ often tread an uneasy line but this one succeeds. The central character is Cecily Neville who through her marriage to Richard of York became a duchess and a significant bit player in the Wars of the Roses. She’s worth looking at again if only for her longevity and for the fact that male historians, and Shakespeare, have tended to see her only as a shadow in the background.

The book traces her life from her betrothal as a child to Richard Plantagenet but the first major event she is involved with is the burning of Joan of Arc in 1431. It is not a pleasant sight but it steels her for the life to come which is retold up to 1460 and the establishment of her son as King Edward IV.

It’s a challenge for the book to cover thirty years. It’s least successful where events are quickly passed over to take the reading forward but it works well where there is insight and speculation into how Cecily might have handled, or been involved in, key decisions. Richard comes across as always less than willing to go the whole way whether dealing with his enemies or ensuring his victories so Cecily has a part to play in keeping him glued to his purpose! There’s a plethora of other characters who come in and out of the story as well.

What is missing, maybe it is missing from the historical record as a whole, is any understanding of the state of these noble families – often intermarried – and the horrendous conflicts which wiped out two generations of the York and Lancaster families over this period in a series of chimerical arguments over the throne and the succession. Perhaps the main players had already been damaged beyond repair by the brutality of the Hundred Years War and the notion of constant war. It certainly seems likely that most of these so-called nobles were psychologically destroyed by years of warfare, rather like twentieth century Mafia bosses or the fighters of the Trojan War and severe post-traumatic stress may not be the best prelude to intelligent statehood!

They were certainly not good at it, marching their armies up to each other’s castles, demanding forfeits and permitting towns to be laid to waste. It’s well known that the battles of the Wars of the Roses were some of the bloodiest ever to take place on English soil and considering the pointlessness of the endeavour too many lives were needlessly wasted. Cecily doesn’t see this longer view or present an alternative and, possibly, more female perspective on what was going on although she does undertake some sensible diplomacy with some of the other women involved.

However, it’s not necessarily the job of historical fiction to explain what these quasi-Royal pretenders were up to and Cecily rolls along the years being a loyal wife, confidante and adviser. There is some question over whether her first son was actually a bastard which isn’t dealt with in the novel although Cecily is happy to suggest the same about Margaret of Anjou who is pictured as a seriously bad person!

All in all, if you like historical fiction then this is a good example and it is undoubtedly necessary that the place of women in history is reassessed. Cecily is a helpful and entertaining re-reading of the life and importance of a woman who influenced English history over a long period and through a series of crucial events.

England in the time of Henry VI and the courageous, intelligent Cecily Neville is married to Richard Duke of York, heir to the throne until Henry can be persuaded to marry and father a son to take his place. Cecily and Richard are constantly living on a knife edge as Henry’s advisors jockey for position and try to oust him from the court and must use their wits to keep themselves and their children safe whilst trying to do their best for the country. Excellent depiction of the events leading to the Wars of the Roses focusing on the incredible role Cecily played while not shirking from the horrors that were inflicted on both rich and poor in the fight for the throne.

This is historical fiction at its best! First time novelist Annie Garthwaite provides us with a vivid and very tense portrait of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York & mother of two kings, Edward IV & Richard III. Tartishly written, historically accurate & wonderfully paced, we follow "Proud Cis", the headstrong and highly ambitious matriarch of the house of York navigating the pitfalls, shenanigans & dangerous waters surrounding the throne of the feeble Henry VI and his neurotic queen Margaret of Anjou, on the road towards the bloody Wars of the Roses. This terrific novel is a great gift to all lovers of 15th century English history! To enjoy without moderation.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Viking/Penguin for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel prior to its release date 6

Like buses, nothing for years then two come along at once. No sooner had I finished Anne O'Brien's 'The Queen's Rival', I discovered this book covering Cecily's earlier married life. A most enjoyable read covering Cecily's married life with all the ups and downs, violence and despair that she endured. To be even the slightest bit royal at that time must have been like living on a knife edge 24hrs a day. She seemed an eminently sensible, clever and resourceful woman. I was reading an epub version and all the way through I was wishing for a family tree to help unravel all the complicated relations. Found this eventually at the end and would have much more useful at the start of the book. Also one is sideways and the others rather less than helpful due to the way they appear over two pages on my ipad. Will definitely be looking out for another historical novel by this author. Thanks to Netgalley.

I really enjoyed it, which I’ll be honest, I was surprised! Duchess Cecily has not really been painted well in history but this is a good and interesting portrayal.

Cecily has always in my opinion been overshadowed by her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, the famous White Queen. So this was a very fascinating read.

*A big thank-you to Annie Garthwaite, Penguin General UK, and NetGalley for arc in exchange fo rmy honest review.*
Cecily Neville was one of the most intelligent women of her generation, driven by ambition and by the awareness of her status among the nobles. Mother to two future kings, wife to a powerful Duke of York, she had the skills to manipulate in order to survive despite being close to death, together with her children.
Ms Garthwaite offers a portrayal of a medievel woman, high-born, politically engaged, and married to a possible successor to Henry VI. This historical fiction does not dwell on romantic bits, it is about politics, battlefield, ability to evade death and rise high, if possible. I appreciated both learning about Cecily of whom I had rather general understanding, and about the English politics of the mid-15th century. The mother of one of my favourite English monarchs, Richard III, is now much more than just a name.

This book has nailed historical fiction with the historical accuracy within the text being outstanding. Garthwaite's work is similar to that of Mantel's and is also a masterpiece in its own right. The use of first person and the exquisite detail of the writing makes the reader feel like they are standing alongside Cecily throughout the story.

Garthwaite, through Cecily, takes you on a European tour and adds real colour and vivaciousness to the medieval period.

Cecily is a complex but strong and intelligent character who grows on you the more you read.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

The first half of this book was kinda slow and it took a while for it to pick up; it did halfway through, but that's really not enough. I liked that the author has tried to depict Cecily as this powerful, clever woman, but some part of it felt too impersonal; I didn't really mourn or celebrate with her. I was also not too invested in any of her children or Richard even though I did feel kinda bad for him.