I thought Cecily was an absolute tour de force so I was greatly looking forward to this second instalment in the story of the War of the Roses as shaped by Cecily Neville, wife to Richard of York and mother to two kings, Edward IV and Richard III.

While not quite as grippingly complex as Cecily was, The King's Mother is still an excellent, riveting read. Starting with the battles that led to Edward being crowned king after he defeats Henry VI, this book takes us through his reign, his death and the accession of his brother Richard to the throne of England. Cecily is still very much the formidable kingmaker, mother bear to her cubs, doing anything for her sons' success and succession. In doing so, she is pitted against other mothers who are equally motivated to promote their own sons - not least Edward's wife and widow Elizabeth Woodville, who hates the Nevilles.

We know the bare bones of the historical facts, but Annie Garthwaite puts flesh on the bones of the historical figures and succeeds in turning them all into complex, real people we are interested and invested in. I was particularly fascinated by the sympathetic portrayal of Cecily's youngest son Dickon who goes on to become Richard III - this is a very different man from Shakespeare's malevolent hunchback who has long been thought to have killed his brother Edward's young sons in order to hold on to the throne.

I thought Cecily was worthy of comparison with Dorothy Dunnett's historical novels. The King's Mother doesn't have the same depth and complexity, and I thought it suffered somewhat from covering too long a span of time so that the second half does feel a bit rushed. Still a hugely skillful and enjoyable retelling of an important slice of British history though. Recommended.

1461 and, after losing her husband and eldest son, Cecily Neville sees her second son, Edward, crowned king of England. He is young and impetuous and she needs to guide him in his early years of rule. However, Edward marries for love and to a commoner so Cecily has to adapt to this and to build a relationship with Elizabeth. He also manages to fall out spectacularly with his supporter Warwick and with his own brother Clarence.
I loved Garthwaite's previous novel about Cecily Neville and this is even better! Often the women of the 15th century are ignored, mentioned in name only, or they are fictionalised in an overly romantic way. Garthwaite treads a fine line by presenting Cecily in a historically accurate manner (the research is superb) but also in a literate sense. This book is a treat.

The previous book, Cecily, was one of my favourite reads of 2021 so I was thrilled to see a sequel, and even more thrilled that it did not disappoint in the least. What Mantel did for Henry VIII, Garthwaite has done for the Wars of the Roses.

This was a fantastic read, and I expected nothing less from Annie Garthwaite, especially after how incredible her novel ‘Cecily’ was. ‘The King’s Mother’ was enchanting, with Annie’s full care going towards honouring the lost points of view and filling her novels with an incredible amount of historical detail. The point of view follows on in the novel through Cecily’s eyes, as in Annie’s other novel of the same name, and Cecily continues to be smart and observant as she stands by her son’s rule. The female characters and friendships in the novel were yet again fantastic, with Cecily being a character that was honest and true, and not always likeable but I was still left rooting and cheering page after page. The novel as a whole was engaging, thought provoking, and all in all a masterful retelling of a story of a woman who’s ambition knows no bounds.
As I’ve said, this was a fantastic read, and one I will be recommending again and again to people.

Although the book is pitched as a battle between four women – Cecily Neville, Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort and Marguerite of Anjou – to see their sons become of King of England and therefore be in a position to claim for themselves the title of King’s Mother, the book is really Cecily Part 2 as we see events entirely from her point of view.

As in the earlier book, she’s a schemer and a behind-the-scenes fixer whose favourite game is chess and is not averse to creating her own rules in order to win. She frequently finds herself having the task of cleaning up her sons’ messes. For example, suppressing knowledge of her eldest surviving son Edward’s secret ‘marriage’ to a young noblewomen that might, if it was discovered, threaten the legitimacy of future offspring and, in the process, the succession.

When it comes to Cecily’s second son, George, Duke of Clarence, lets just say that if he’d have written his autobiography it probably would have been entitled ‘Spare’ so visceral is his anger at being continually passed over for the wealth and status he believes he deserves. It leads him to make some disastrous decisions having been manipulated by others for their own ends that see him eventually put to death for treason. An habitual drunkard, the manner of his death – possibly at his own request – is said to have been drowning in a butt of Malmsey, although the author gives us a slightly different angle on this.

Cecily’s youngest son, the man who will become Richard III, gets a flattering portrayal. He’s a skilled soldier, able administrator, loving husband and doting father who would surely never dream of doing away with two young princes.

For the first half of the book, although exerting what influence she can, Cecily is pretty much an observer of events. I’ll be honest, I found myself yearning for a little less historical detail, a bit more pace and something that would make me more invested in all the women’s stories. I did get that in the latter part of the book as Cecily jockeys for position with Elizabeth and Margaret Beaufort who, it turns out, is a pretty good chess player herself. Marguerite of Anjou, although having a key role in events, remains rather in the shadows throughout.

Even if I couldn’t be quite as enthusiastic as other readers, The King’s Mother completes the fascinating story of the life of a woman who was at the heart of events during a turbulent period of England’s history.

Having read and enjoyed Cecily, I was really looking forward to getting stuck into The King's Mother and it did not disappoint.
I am not convinced of Richard III's legitimate right to the throne, the premise on which the book is based, nor of the secret marriage of Edward IV and Eleanor Butler. For me, it is all too convenient.
However, I suspended my own understanding of the events of 1483 to sit back and enjoy the ride. Cecily is one of those great characters of medieval England - and the Wars of the Roses in particular - a matriarch, an astute politician and a stalwart defender of her family and dynasty. I do not doubt that she would do whatever she needed to preserve that dynasty.
Annie Garthwaite recreates the world of late 15th century England, as the Renaissance arrives and the country is on the cusp on the early modern era. And is still reeling from the devastation and death wrought on the country by the 30 years of warfare that was the Wars of the Roses.
The King's Mother is a thoroughly enjoyable read that draws you into the machinations, intrigue and drama of the world of Cecily Neville.

The King’s Mother follow on from Garthwaite’s first novel Cecily, named after the protagonist Cecily Neville, Duchess of York. In this second instalment Cecily has just become mother of the King - her son Edward has taken the throne of England to become Edward IV. Cecily’s relationship with her husband was one of my favourite things about the first novel so I really missed that strand here where Richard is no longer in the picture, however much of Cecily’s strong character and political force is still evident here - she was the first monarch’s mother to style herself as ‘the King’s Mother’ and this does show how much of a player she was as part of his royal household - in the novel she acts as a key adviser to her sons, and another an interesting facet is her power struggle with Margaret Beaufort, another woman playing power games for the benefit of a son who eventually goes on to be a King.

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher, Viking, for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this!! The previous book, Cecily was right up my street and I was excited to start this one. Easily the best story I have read relating to the War of the Roses. I love historical fiction and this is a must for any fan. I enjoy the authors style of writing and I look forward to reading many more books from Annie Garthwaite.
Thank you to Netgalley, Annie and the publisher for this ARC.

Historical fiction at its most powerful in storyline with four mothers each competing to have their done claimed as king and therefore they become ‘Kings Mother’ . Set at the time of the Wars of the Roses and a follow up to the earlier novel Cecily

After reading the brilliant Cecily last year I couldn’t wait for Annie Garthwaite’s next instalment in the history of the matriarch of the York family, Cecily Neville.

The King’s Mother begins at Easter in 1461 following Edward IVs decisive victory in the Wars of the Roses at the bloody and terrible Battle of Towton which confirms Edward as King and Cecily as the King’s mother. But despite the victory on the battlefield, the struggle for power is far from over for Edward and for Cecily, as they face the on-going threat from the deposed King Henry VI and his wife Marguerite of Anjou, threats which will lead to betrayal from Cecily’s own family. Cecily has to use her status and power as the King’s mother to keep Edward on the throne, whatever it takes.

The King’s Mother focuses on the royal women of the second half of the fifteenth century: Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward IV, mother of Edward V and Queen Elizabeth of York; Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII; and Margaret of Anjou, Queen Consort and wife of Henry VI. Above them all stands the magnificent Cecilly Neville, the mother of Kings Edward IV and Richard III. I loved this book because it brought these women to life through a female gaze and explores the rhythms of power as they use their status and relationships to fight for power for their families, as there can only be one King, and one King’s mother.

Thank you to @netgalle@penguinrandomhouse for the advanced copy. I can’t wait for the event with Annie Garthwaite

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.

Picking up The King's Mother is like renewing a satisfying acquaintance with a treasured, old friend.

There's intensity to Garthwaite's writing, something in the cadence that induces a tension & anxiety which brings the reader into Cecily's inner circle &, like all great fiction, transports you, in this case back in time. I adored Cecily the first time around & immediately fell back into her story.

If historical fiction is your thing then I can only encourage you to do yourself a favour & read this wonderful novel. In fact, treat yourself to Cecily too & start at the very beginning of the story.

The era around the Wars of the Roses was full of intrigue and a whole host of men laid claim to the Kingship of England. Behind much of this plotting was Cecily, the King’s Mother and possible the most powerful woman in England at the time. When her husband, the King of England, died she had three living sons and was determined that the eldest, Edward would also be crowned king.

This is the second book in the series, set in a fascinating period of history full of plotting and betrayal. Well written and totally captivating.

This book is a master class in how to take a complicated period of English history and present it in a way that combines thorough research with captivating and engaging storytelling. While the book is about politics, power, and betrayal, it’s also about female agency and ambition and what a mother may be prepared to do for her children and the family line. It’s interesting to see this turbulent period of history and the bloody battles for the crown of England through the eyes of strong female characters, and while we might not always like them or approve of their behaviour, Annie Garthwaite cleverly shows us that in their fierce maternal competitiveness, and their willingness to fight for their sons, perhaps they’re not so different from many of us. With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC

I enjoyed this. Annie Garthwaite portrays Cecily as horribly practical, brutal even, which is refreshing as you'd think an author might want to portray their main character in a way that's more acceptable in this day and age. Richard of Gloucester comes out of it better than history has treated him.

I’ve read many books about the War of the Roses before, written from the perspective of the women, but never one from Cecily’s point of view. It fascinates me the role these strong women played and how much their men needed them. Cecily is a strong, powerful force in this retelling, determined to do anything to keep her son Edward’s crown safe. I particularly liked the relationship between Cecily and Margaret Beaufort: the utter depth of their love for their sons; their plotting and planning; their clever gameplay; and ultimately their understanding and mutual respect of each other. Having adored Elizabeth in other retellings, she was portrayed very differently in this version of events.
Overall, a great read for fans of historical fiction and I will definitely be reading Annie’s previous book Cecily now as I’m intrigued to know about her earlier years.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin General UK for an arc in exchange for a review.

This is real and believable account of events behind history that is more often told from a male perspective. A follow on to the excellent Cecily, The King's Mother carries on the story of Cecily and her family following the death of her husband King Richard and the ascension to the throne of her son Edward.
Cecily manages a lot of business behind the scenes, orchestrating the lives of followers and family with an admirable ruthlessness and a steady hand, as the end of the War of the Roses draws near.
The writing is clear and unsentimental, the characters are beautifully drawn as strong uncompromising women who will do anything for their sons and to protect the succession.
Annie Garthwaite brings a whole period to life with her interpretation of the facts and her imaginative expansion of a whole world.

Brilliant, this was the first novel I had read by Annie Garthwaite and being familiar with the stories of this time via other novelists I found this a fascinating, alternative angle for the events of this period. Portrayed as a strong, very politically minded woman - this book credits Cecily for decisions made by others and makes you question what you may have previuosly believed.

I will 100% look out for more from Annie Garthwaite.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read The King's Mother.

This second novel tells the story of Cecily as a newly appointed King's mother, to Edward IV but it is a shaky throne and there are many battles to be won, not least behind the scenes amongst the women behind these great men. I loved this so much. Cecily remains such a strong character, one not dogged by grief despite the loss of her husband and son. She is not overly maternal but yet so many go to her for advice, she lives up to the title given to her by Edward: captain mother. She arranges marriages, discusses politics with the women involved in court from so many different angles, and is a mother to many.

This is written in present tense, but where I might have found this annoying in other novels, it makes this feel immediate, you are present there with Cecily as she fends off ambitious women and their pesky sons. Compared to Mantel, I think this period of history comes alive with Garthwaite's wonderful words.

The part with Edward IV near the end had me in tears, I raced to finish this and the use of dramatic irony in the talk of Henry VI had me chuckling with the knowledge we have afterwards.

This is historical fiction at its finest and I will be eagerly awaiting more from Garthwaite in the future.

This novel is the sequel to Cecily and focuses on the bloody wars and battles for England's crown after the death of Cecily's husband, Richard. It explores the reigns of Edward and Richard. It focuses on Cecily who was a dominatable force and how she tries to steer her son's reigns. I loved how the characters truly leapt off the page and despite knowing the actual history of the main players fates, I was still praying for a different outcome. This is a real must for those who love historical fiction. The intrigues and politics of court was fascinating. This novel brings to life the people and events of a time that I didn't know much about.
I thought this was a truly wonderful sequel to Cecily, a character I don't always like, but I understand her motives and feel her frustrations.
This duology is a must for an history buffs and it's such a change to view the events through the eyes of the main female players.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc in return for an honest review.