The Kingmaker's Daughter (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels)

After all, this is yet another wonderfully insightful historic novel authored by the incomparable Philippa Gregory! I have been an avid reader of this lady's writings for years, and I've yet to be even slightly disappointed by any of her works. She has an amazing ability to bring her readers directly into the Times, the People we have heard of and may think we know a bit about these fascinating individuals now cast in folklore and make us realize that they were indeed quite human - with genuine emotions and needs, and aids the Reader to be "of that moment" and in this book, casts a very intriguing light onto King Richard III & Queen Anne that supersedes that which many in present day even still revile and demonize. Especially King Richard III has been despised, ridiculed, and perceived as one of the most heinous, vile, and hated monarchs in the history of British monarchy. He has rarely been cast in a good light, despite the fact that he was a beloved brother and loyal to his brother King Edward and his brother George. To be quite honest, I'd never even heard any detail of his marriage to Anne aside from the fact she was indeed Warwick The Kingmaker's second daughter, and until this book I'd known nothing of her brief 1st marriage. As most write it, Richard was forced to marry the Warwick "spare" to "keep up appearances" & of course, a politic and political duty! I'm thankful Philippa Gregory does offer historic relevance to the unsung, and typically altogether ignored women of this time! These women were not deaf mutes who flitted here and yon doing needlework 24/7 while lying in bed scared stiff & nothing more than, forgive my crudeness,"sperm receptacles" &/or if much more than AKC registered "pedigreed bitch for breeding". Perhaps they were thought of that way, but I don't believe this was the case for the majority. I certainly believe, given the lack of the papal dispensation and the law regarding Anne's inheritance that IF Richard had not truly loved and respected Anne and the sanctity of marriage, . He could have and would have been rid of her easily and quickly if he didn't genuinely love and care for her. He never failed her in that respect.

“We hold each other as we did when we were little more than children and had run away together to be married. Once again I remember him as the only man who could keep me safe, as he holds me as if I am the only woman he has ever wanted.” The Kingmaker’s Daughter by Philippa Gregory tells the story of Anne Neville, who is the youngest daughter of Richard Neville, who is known as England’s Kingmaker. As her father changes his support from one potential king to another, his family is constantly on a ride with him of being uplifted by royalty or considered as traitors. Anne finds herself in many scary scenarios as she grows up and tries to make it in the world her father has made for her. “Now I see that everyman is a Kingmaker. A throne is not empty for a moment before someone is being measured for the crown. And fresh princes spring up like weeds in a crop as soon as the rumor goes out that those who wear the crown are dead.” I really enjoy all of these books by Philippa Gregory. I love how she spins history into such an interesting and fantastical story, that shows how horribly women were treated in the past and also represents their intelligence and resiliency. I especially liked the romance in this book between Anne and Richard. I highly recommend these to anyone who find the topic interesting and I give this one 4 stars.

This book so well tells the story of Anne Neville, wife to Richard 111. You will learn much of the key turn of events in the War of the Roses, and the tragic figure of Anne, used as a chess piece of power. This author is best at making you feel you are there in the 15th c.

Anne Neville is the daughter of Richard Neville Duke of Warwick and called Warwick the Kingmaker. The book starts out with her as a preteen at the coronation of her cousins wife Elizabeth Woodville. Her father hates the marriage and switches sides and goes to fight for Lancaster and Margaret d’Anjou. Anne is forced to marry Margaret’s son. After he dies in battle she is forced to be a ward of her older sister Isabelle and Isabelle’s husband George, Duke of Clarence the brother of the King. George’s brother Richard rescues her and they marry. The two become King and Queen after the death of his brother, but not everything is rosy. A good book about the Cousins War and Anne Neville.

WHAT I LIKED: What I liked the most was the really believable POV depicted throughout Anne Neville. The build up of her life and the experiences she had that lead her to be a Queen of England- it was well written, it was entertaining, and Anne Neville's view of history, especially around Richard her husband, is really refreshing. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Anne Neville and Isabelle Neville. I loved seeing the world through Anne's eyes, but I could not bring myself to like her or her sister Isabelle. With every page, I found myself more annoyed or frustrated with their characters. Maybe that was Philippa Gregory's goal- to make them more frustrating and unlikable next to the White Queen & Princess. I don't really know, but I do think this is worth the read at the end of the day. I give it 3/5 stars instead of 4/5 because even though it was well done, I found the overall read of this book more exhausting than energizing.

The story is constantly moving and interesting. This account of medieval royalty is riveting. No boring bits.

I read this book as I was inspired by the TV series The White Queen and wanted to find out more. Philippa Gregory has a way of writing that puts you, the reader, at the heart of the action. I was there! This book follows ups and downs of the trials of war and covers the love and life of Anne Neville. Anne was the youngest daughter of Warwick the Kingmaker and was a pawn in the game of war. The author has well researched the events of the time and wove them into this very plausible story. I had great sympathy with Anne as I read this book. She was a woman at the control of the whims of men, as they changed their allegiances. It was always about her place and the best marriage, Poor Anne is married to her enemy's son in a cruel loveless marriage only arrange because of who she was and her father's ambitions. Then as a widow, she is virtually under house arrest in order for her sister's husband, Prince George, to claim her lands. Then rescued by Richard (111) she eventually becomes Queen of England fulfilling her father's ambitions. Sadly...this doesn't last long and again Anne knows tragedy. An easy read, but compelling, I couldn't put the kindle down! Very enjoyable!

I have not been reading this series in order, so after I read the White Princess, which was an okay book, I was hesitant to read back. But this was amazing. I was able to sympathize with the character and yet still see the flaws without becoming completely frustrated or wanting to shake them. This has lately started happening with a few of Gregory's characters. The people seem like real people with insecurities and emotions rather than just caricatures filling hundreds of pages. Really satisfied with this purchase. 👍👍

Historian dig a da aurora. Muito detalhista e em alguns momentous pouco explicada Poderia ser mais emocionante Obrigado Boa leitura

Je n'ai pas tout à fait fini de lire ce livre (j'en suis aux deux tiers) mais je suis enchantée de l'avoir commandé. Avec Anne Neville (qui épousa le futur Richard III), Gregory met cette fois le projecteur sur la fratrie et notamment sur George, le cadet. Ce recueil contraste fortement avec "The White Queen", qui donnait la parole à Elizabeth Woodville, l'épouse d'Edward IV (donc la belle-soeur d'Anne Neville, j'espère que je suis à peu près claire !). Très intéressant car la jeune et jolie reine sympathique de "The White Queen" est cette fois vue par George (le frère d'Edward et de Richard) comme une dangereuse arriviste, empoisonneuse à l'occasion. Je trouve ce changement de perspective fascinant. Bref, je recommande sans hésiter cette lecture !