Glorious, exciting history brought to life

 ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ 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.