This is a solidly readable account of the origins, rises and reigns of six Kings of England, starting with William the Conqueror and ending with Henry VII. For me, the interesting hook to this work was its specific intent to answer the question 'were these men actually Usurpers?' I found the answers in practice a little constructivist, but it's a clever idea to anchor the six stories.

There is one big weakness in the work, though, which is that there is a lot of overlap in the stories of Edward IV, Richard III and Henry VII, what with them all succeeding each other, and this does start to get a bit repetitive at times.

I did however like the glimpse it gives of the persistence and impact of women in the era; especially Empress Matilda, Margaret of Anjou, and the indomitable Margaret Beaufort.

A wonderful albeit succint
overview of England's royal usupers and the grave and often bloody
political consequences
behind their rash and often
too bold grabs for power.
Just one big disagreement with the author: William I was a conqueror not an usurper. I will advice her to get ready for some very fierce debates if she ever puts that claim on the table in Normandy. I just came back from a week's vacation in Rouen and the idea got some people really pissed....🤣🤣

A solid study of English
Medieval shenanigans to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever👍👍

Many thanks to Netgalley and Pen & sword for this terrific ARC

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. This is a very well written and is perfect for history lovers.

An usurper is the title given to any figure who seizes the throne illegally or by force. In this concise, highly readable volume, Michele Morrical takes a look at six medieval kings who have traditionally been labelled usurpers in the past and decides if they really deserve the title.
The kings are: William the Conqueror, victor of the 1066 Battle of Hastings. His grandson, Stephen who battled with Matilda during the 12th century Anarchy. The last four all ruled during the turbulent 15th century (there is some overlap here): Henry IV, the reckless Edward IV, the murderous Richard III and the first Tudor, Henry VII. Morrical's conclusions are well-argued and clear in this fascinating book.

216 pages

4 stars

Brief vignettes of six medieval kings who were traditionally named as usurpers. Ms. Morrical examines their ascension to the throne to determine if the usurpation charges are true.

The first three examined I knew of but have not studied them in detail. However, Edward IV, Richard III and Henry VII I have studied.

While Richard III certainly got a bad rap from Shakespeare, I am still uncertain if he ordered the murders of the Princes in the Tower. Could Tyrell or Buckingham have done the deed without Richard’s knowledge? Or, is that why Buckingham turned against Richard? Hmm…Ms. Morrical seems comfortable enough to state that Richard was ultimately responsible. This appears to be the telling point in the author naming him a usurper. (I agree.)

This book is well written and linearly plotted. It is interesting, although I take exception to some of her conclusions. There were many tidbits in this book that I either did not know, or had not considered before. Food for thought! There is such a wealth of rich history, this book could have gone on for pages and pages. A few typos are present, but I assume that these will be caught and corrected before final publication. It must have been rather painful to cut it to a limited number of pages. Ms. Morrical has also included her notes and a bibliography for those who would like to further explore.

If I know anything, however, it was not a good time during which to live.

I want to thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword/Pen & Sword History for forwarding to me a copy of this interesting and informative book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.