First of all,
yes this is another review on a Philippa Gregory novel. I’m obsessed, can you tell? I just absolutely love the writing and
the historical content in her books, especially those from The Cousin’s War series and from The Tudor Court series. So, I started reading this book right after the first
episode of The White Queen on STARZ aired because at the end of the
episode, it states that the show is based on The White Queen, The Red Queen, and then The Kingmaker’s Daughter. I knew that I immediately had to start it, and it was really
fun to read along with the episodes as they aired! Also, can we talk about how gorgeous this cover is? Definitely one of my favorites!! :)
Title: The Kingmaker’s Daughter
Genre:
Historical Fiction
Publisher: Simon
& Schuster UK
Publication
Date: April 3, 2012
Pages: 417
Out in
Paperback?: Yes; August 1, 2012
My Rating: 5/5
Review:
Goodreads Summary:
Spies, poison,
and curses surround her...
Is there anyone
she can trust?
The Kingmaker's
Daughter is the gripping story of the
daughters of the man known as the "Kingmaker," Richard Neville, Earl
of Warwick: the most powerful magnate in fifteenth-century England. Without a
son and heir, he uses his daughters, Anne and Isabel as pawns in his political games,
and they grow up to be influential players in their own right. In this novel,
her first sister story since The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory
explores the lives of two fascinating young women.
At the court of Edward IV and his
beautiful queen, Elizabeth Woodville, Anne grows from a delightful child to
become ever more fearful and desperate when her father makes war on his former
friends. Married at age fourteen, she is soon left widowed and fatherless, her
mother in sanctuary and her sister married to the enemy. Anne manages her own
escape by marrying Richard, Duke of Gloucester, but her choice will set her on
a collision course with the overwhelming power of the royal family and will
cost the lives of those she loves most in the world, including her precious
only son, Prince Edward. Ultimately, the kingmaker's daughter will achieve her
father's greatest ambition.
Characters:
Overall, I
really enjoyed reading and getting to know all the characters in this
book! If you read my review on The White Queen, then you know
how much I love Elizabeth Woodville and King Edward! In that book, I absolutely fell in love with them! With reading this book, you get a
different perspective on the King and Queen. It is interesting to watch, through the main characters of
Isabel and Anne Neville, the admiration towards the Queen in the beginning and
the change toward loathing and fear of the Queen and her accused
witchcraft. Isabel and Anne are
the daughters of Richard, Lord of Warwick, and a very ambitious, unforgiving
mother. Their father and mother
want nothing more than to have either of their daughters on the throne of
England; this eventually leads to drama and death within the family. Isabel and Anne are ambitious, loving,
and protective, which make them very likeable characters. However, their father and mother did
cause a bit of anger because of some of their horrible actions and deceitful
lies. I, rather unexpectedly,
really enjoyed and loved Anne’s character and personality. Despite my love for King Edward and
Queen Elizabeth, I really did enjoy reading and learning about Anne’s struggles
and seeing her beliefs and thoughts change as she grows up.
Plot:
Personally, I
love the plot of this book! It
follows the same plot in each of the other novels in Gregory’s Cousin’s War
series; however, like each book, it is told through a different perspective. Beginning in 1465 and ending in 1485,
this book spans the childhood of Warwick’s daughters, their entrance into the
court of Edward and Elizabeth, and their marriages, including Isabel’s marriage
to the royal duke, George, and Anne’s first marriage to the Lancastrian prince,
Edward. The plot follows the
Neville family as the women follow the beliefs of Richard and switch sides from
York to Lancaster. The book also
describes Anne’s second marriage to the other royal duke, Richard, as well as
the birth of their son, Edward.
This book is so interesting to read, especially after reading other
novels in this same series, because it takes just about every event and shows
it to you in a different perspective, the perspective of Anne. This book has the perfect amount of romance
and action, and it is filled with suspense, intrigue, and anticipation.
Writing Style:
If you have read
my other reviews on any of Philippa Gregory’s novels, then you already know how
much I adore her writing style! It
is absolutely perfect, in my opinion.
I don’t think there is any more I can say about it besides
perfection. LOL. I just think Gregory’s writing is so
well researched, and her historical description is accurate, while she
effectively brings these characters, especially the strong women, to life!
Have you read this book? Did you watch The White Queen on
STARZ? I absolutely LOVED it! I can’t wait to dive into another one
of Gregory’s novels. Which one
should I pick up next?
FTC Disclaimer:
All items
mentioned were purchased by me. This is not a sponsored post. All
opinions are my own. No affiliate links were used.
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