Holly's Book Corner

The Kingmakers Daughter

By Philippa Gregory

 

 

Pages - 428

 

Publication Date - 2012

 

Publishers - Simon & Schuster UK ltd

 

ISBN - 978-0-85720-746-3



 

 

Summary (via Goodreads)

 

The Kingmaker’s Daughter, New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory presents the riveting story of Anne Neville, her sister Isabel, and their ever-changing fortunes.

The Kingmaker’s Daughter is the gripping and ultimately tragic story of the daughters of the man known as the “Kingmaker,” the most powerful magnate in England through the Cousins’ Wars. In the absence of a son and heir, he uses the two girls as pawns in his political games, but they grow up to be influential players in their own right. In this novel, her first sister story since The Other Boleyn Girl, 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 brought up in intimacy and friendship with the family of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, to become ever more fearful and desperate when her father makes war on his former friends. Her will is tested when she is left widowed and fatherless, with her mother in sanctuary and her sister married to the enemy.

Fortune’s wheel turns again when Richard rescues Anne from her sister’s house, with danger still following Anne, even as she eventually ascends to the throne as queen. Having lost those closest to her, she must protect herself and her precious only child, Prince Edward, from a court full of royal rivals.

 

 

 

Review - Guest Post by The YA Nightstand

Ah I love this book! The Kingmaker's Daughter is my favourite out of the three books I've read so far. I don't know if it's because I watched the TV series while reading this one or just the book itself but I'm a little in love with Richard III.

The thing about Anne Neville is that no matter how petty and vindictive she was at times I couldn't help but sympathise with her in a way I wouldn't with batty old Margaret. Anne was the second child, she was her father's second choice when he was planning his rise to the Kings side, in all fairness she was pretty much every ones second choice and that makes her claim to the throne all the more captivating. It's almost like she came out from no where. No one expected this girl to amount to all that much and yet she captures the heart of a Duke, brother to the King and they become a force to be reckoned with. Together Anne and Richard take their place on the throne of England and this book is Anne's story. It's how she went from being the Kingmaker's daughter to the Queen of England.

Well if she doesn't I bloody well do!

I know that if I was to look at this threw un-bias eyes I would be able to tell you that Richard III and Anne Neville's relationship was so far from perfect that it's actually hard to read but I can't. I know Richard was a bit of a tosser towards the end of their marriage but I can't help but think they were happy at one point. That until the end Richard loved Anne and he saved her because of his feelings without an ulterior motive. If I was keeping on the rose tinted glasses I would say that this is one of my favourite couples in history. I have a soft spot of Richard and think that he was a good and loyal brother who was simply pushed to far and made to deal with impossible situations. But I think even I know I'm being a little too optimistic there.

One of the great things about these books that even though they tell you a story and even though there are facts woven into the fiction there are still a lot of plot lines left open for interpretation. Philippa leaves it open for the reader to decide what really happened all those years ago and who the villains really were. After far as history goes we'll probably never truly know what happened but I like to believe that there was good in Richard. I like to think that despite her stubbornness Elizabeth Woodville was a good mother and did what she thought was right for her children, not just her throne. But most of all I believe that it was Margaret and the Tudor line that ultimately tore apart not just the York throne but also their family.

This is how I like to remember these two. 

Overall this was by far my favourite book that I've read so far in this series. I love the character's, in fact they were the ones I was most excited to read about. I can't say it's not because I'm not crushing on the actor who plays Richard but I don't think that really matters? The story is exciting and, again, full to the brim with plot twists and action. It's an epic read that I would recommend to anyone. Even if you don't read the other books in the series I hope you think to pick up Anne's story because it is one of my all time favourites.