Member Reviews
Cecylee,Duchess of York's viewpoint of her life and the happenings of the Wars of the Roses in her lifetime was an interesting novel.Perhaps not so much due to Cecylee's portrayal here rather to the events and people around her.Mostly she was just there with the story flowing around her.The writing was just okay but I might be persuaded to read another due to the author's attention to the detail of the period and the trajectory of the story itself which in my opinion hit all the right places.
"Thwarted Queen" by Cynthia Sally Haggard is a meticulously researched historical novel focusing on the life of Cecylee Neville, a figure often overlooked in the annals of English history. The protagonist, Cecylee, is portrayed as a spirited and resourceful woman navigating the complex dynamics of a world dominated by men. Despite a few instances where the character seems endowed with modern sensibilities, her depiction remains engaging and compelling.
The richness of Haggard's historical detail is admirable, capturing the political and personal intrigues of the Wars of the Roses with impressive accuracy. The narrative intricately weaves the story of Cecylee, offering readers a broad historical scope from her early childhood through the tumultuous events that marked her life.
However, the novel sometimes gets entangled in its breadth. The transition between first and third-person narratives can be disconcerting, and the abundance of characters and events can occasionally overwhelm them. Nonetheless, these minor flaws do not significantly detract from the overall storytelling.
"Thwarted Queen" provides an enlightening and absorbing perspective into the life of Cecylee Neville, making it a compelling read for historical fiction enthusiasts. Despite its minor shortcomings, the book deserves a commendable four out of five stars for its detailed historical scope and the vivid portrayal of its central character. Thank you, NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and Cynthia Sally Haggard, for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. This book was right up my alley being a lover of all things York, Lancaster and Tudor. I know the stories but to hear it from this point of view was even better! Affairs, bastards...oh it was all there spilling out all over my reading device! Once I got into the nitty gritty I just could not stop! I was reading with my eyes burning from exhaustion But I could not stop! A MUST READ for any history lover!