The York King

Very high historical fiction, definitely pulls you deep into the 15th century. Licence did a great job of portraying King Edward as both king and human. However, the intimate scenes were a tad bit too much like a soap-opera and not exactly original. The political intrigue was what carried the book. Still a great read for historical fictions fans in general.

The York King by Amy Licence is a great historical fiction that is the second book in the House of York series. This takes us yet again into heart of Edward IV’s reign and the War of the Roses.

This book starts off where the last leaves off…1464 and Edward IV has been king of England for about four years. This book covers 1464-1471. It covers the aspects of Edward attempting to solidify his claim and position. It also includes his meeting and marriage of Elizabeth Woodville, further ups and downs as many attempt to deceive and grasp for power, and ends with the downfall of the Earl of Warwick.

One does not need to read the previous book to easily follow along.

This would be a good book for those that have not delved into the fascinating War of the Roses ie dueling House of Lancaster and House of York time period. For those that have, such as myself, this is entertaining but nothing new to add.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Lume Books for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately (as of 12/15/21 no Bb listing has been created and link will be updated when it is available) and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/3/22.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC. I love a good history book. Though I already know the outcome, I was still captivated by the story. I was happy this book focused mainly on the relationship between husband and wife and king and his brother . Many other books on the subject delved into the rumors of witchcraft in this scenario and I was glad this book did not do that. I didnt want it to end even though I know what comes next. A must read for any history lover.

An enjoyable book mainly about King Edward IV and his life shortly before he meets his wife Elizabeth and ends with the battle at Barnet. This book is part of a series but stands very well on its own. If you're a hardcore Plantagenet fan like me there's nothing new here but I like the way the author tells the story. I also like that it's mainly from Edwards pov. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I obtained this eBook as an ARC from NetGalley. I am a huge fan of writings of the War of the Roses and this second volume of the York trilogy hit the spot! For fans of Philippa Gregory's "The White Queen", you will be familiar with many of the characters and although the perspective of women is used, more often it is the men and their battles written about. If you thought you liked Edward of York in the first volume, this will cement your admiration for him. Considering all the hardships and betrayals he had to endure to bring stability to England especially after the loss of his father and close brother Edmund.
Even if you are not familiar with this time in English history this book will keep your interest. It will also convince you that "heir to the throne" is never as simple as it seems.
Definitely check this out when it is published, and if you havent' yet, read the first volume "Son of York". I can't wait for the third volume!

The York King by Licence is a good 15th century period piece about King Edward. I enjoyed the political thought processes but felt there was a bit much intimate details. Overall it was a nice read.

If you’re a fan of Philippa Gregory, then you’ll love this. Looking at the wonderful history of the War of the Roses, this book focuses more on Edward IV and his reign. Really well written with great characterisation and dialogue, I felt completely absorbed within this historical fiction.

I’m married to a voracious reader…when I used to lose him in the multi-story used bookstore in our town, I could always find him in either military history or historical fiction. He reads EVERYTHING he can find about medieval history, both fiction and non. And I have TRIED to appreciate the genre, but haven’t gotten there. But I was happy to get a copy of The York King by Amy License from Lume Books and NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

TBH, I was lost righIt away, but after realizing that this is Book 2 in her House of York series, I HAD to buy Son of York, which is book 1. That helped a lot!

The story takes place in the early years of the reign of Edward IV of York, as he tries to stave off the efforts of Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, to return (Lancastrian) King Henry VI to the throne. Edward meets and secretly marries Elizabeth Woodville, a squire’s daughter…and the story continues with Edward facing a raft of new enemies. Looking forward to Book 3 in the series. I’m not hooked on the genre, but I have an open mind! Four stars.

Good steady enjoyable read. I did not realise it was part of series. However that did not stop me from enjoying it.

A different viewpoint from the War of the Roses, usually the stories focus on the strong women that made and shaped the Cousins’ War. This time, the focus is more in Edward the IV and everything internally and externally driving him as the King of England.

A wonderful second volume to the York trilogy. This is a great series for those looking to get into the War of the Roses time period through historical fiction. Looking forward to the ending instalment.

As a former medieval history major I have very high expectations for this book and every expectation of mine was met. I thought the political aspect of this world was handled incredibly well and I also loved the romantic drama side. Well done!

This was an absolute joy to read! I have always enjoyed the story around Edward and this one did not disappoint. It was a great addition to the series and I cannot wait to see what the next book brings.

I love reading historical fiction and this was no exception. I felt like I was drawn into the 15th century and I loved reading more and more of the book and didn't want to put it down.

Really enjoyed reading a book about this part of history. I did read it not having read the first book, but because I read a lot of Tudor history I didn't feel like I was missing part of the story.

Heads up this is the second volume in the House of York trilogy. I had to go back and read book on to follow book two, so that being said make sure you read book one first or you will be lost. I really did enjoy this book and am thankful to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review. These are my favorite types of books and I tend to get lost in them. I love the battles between kings and the whole idea if nobility. I find it rather romantic. I look forward to the final book in the trilogy.

I flew through this book, it was so intrigung and full of vivid descriptions. it was well written with well developed characters that had obviously been well researched and an interesting storyline. I find books set in this period and the tudor period fascinating and this was no exception. I really enjoyed it.

Being a huge fan of Phillippa Gregory I was excited to get a review copy of this not realising there is a book written before this one. But having said that I don't think I needed to read the last book in order to read this one.

A great historical fiction, set in 1464 it is a story about the English throne, the fight for peace and what happens in the world of kings and queens. It is a fascinating time which involves the War if the Roses, the rivalry between the House of Lancaster and the House of York and the history of this era.

A great book, an entertaining and educational read and a story that really draws you in with its intrigue and excitement. Once I start reading books like this I just can't stop!

I absolutely love any kind of royal or historical fiction, and this one was no different. I love that time period, and not only was it entertaining, it was extremely historically accurate.

If, like me, you rub your hands in glee at ANOTHER book about the Plantagenet/Tudor era you won’t be disappointed with this.
The second in the House of York series, The York King offers plots, intrigue, betrayal, treason, romance and a lot of battles. And that last item is what makes this series different to many novels based in this historical period.

The book covers the period when Edward VI becomes king and follows him and his family as their fortunes rise and fall. Rather than focusing mainly on the experience of the royal women of the time, which we see in many wonderful books of this era (eg from Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir), Amy Licence has chosen to focus mainly on the men. The women do get a look-in, and some chapters are from their perspective, but she writes primarily from the perspective of Edward, the King in question and Earl of Warwick, his right-hand man.

I found the first few pages a bit too heavily descriptive, and if you do too, don’t give in! You’ll soon start to see the challenges Edward faces from his rival Lancastrians, as well as from some surprising quarters (if you’re not familiar with the history I shan’t reveal too much!).

If you’ve not read Son of York – the first in the House of York series - I recommend you do so first. It’s not essential if you’re familiar with the period, but Licence spends care and time creating the characters you will meet in this book.

What I really liked: the book is pacy, and the action moves swiftly. The characters are believable, as is the dialogue between them.

What I would change: apart from struggling through the description in the first few pages, I loved much of the book. The end came a bit suddenly for me. I would have liked to have seen some other scenes between the final battles. Perhaps it was because I just didn’t want it to end?

Edward IV is a fascinating figure in history. One of the last kings to win his crown in battle, this novel takes place several years into his reign and continues where the previous novel left off. This book was written so well and truly pulls you into the action of the time period. His marriage to Elizabeth of Woodvile and how that affected his reign and his constant battle to keep the throne. Recommended for fans of historical fiction and the age of the war of the roses.

1464. Family conflicts, Lancaster against York, the fight for the English throne. English history is filled with the opportunity to write good HF novels. This is one of them. and we find ourselves in the midst of the War of Roses. White rose/Red rose...very interesting. A well written novel, I found it entertaining and would highly recommend it. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable read set during the War of the Roses. I hadn't read the 1st book (didn't realize this was the second) but I was able to catch on. It's evident Amy Licence did the necessary historical research for this novel and I was impressed with the detail. The style of novel reminded me much of Phillipa Gregory's novels, especially with the added descriptions of romance which I wasn't into so much. The romantic scenes distracted me from the overarching story. I wish there was more historical exposition and less dialogue at times too.

From the perspective of someone who knows relatively little about Edward IV and the War of the Roses, The York King is a highly intriguing and enjoyable historical fiction read. It centres around Edward IV between the years 1464 and 1471 and explores his relationships with both Eleanor Talbot and Elizabeth Woodville. I was not previously aware it was a part of a series, but it works perfectly as a stand-alone novel.
Occasionally the book felt confusing considering the sheer number of characters. Perhaps it could benefit from a family tree or two at the beginning to aid readers who are not as knowledgeable about Edward IV and his relations.
Regardless, I feel as though I have come away from this book with much better understanding of Edward IV and the War of the Roses. I would give The York King 4/5 stars and I would highly recommend it to historical fiction fans.

1464. Family conflicts, Lancaster against York, the fight for the English throne continues. This is truly an unstoppable read! And I loved every minute of it!

I loved this book. An era of English royal history that I was familiar with, the war of the roses and the fight between the house of York and the house of Lancaster. The multi faceted look - both at the love side and the war side was wonderful. The author deftly was able to encompass both the home life of the king and the treachery that surrounded a large part of his reign. I didn’t imagine that I would enjoy this book quite as much as I did, not having as much of a frame of reference for it. However, it proved to be just as enjoyable as more notable and well-known periods (Tudor, Victorian). I highly recommend it if you enjoy well researched and animated books that bring the past to life! This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed book 1 so was looking forward to reading this, the second volume in the York trilogy. Set in 1464, during the Wars of the Roses, King Edward IV has now reigned for 3 years. A great historical novel, brilliantly researched and a great read but I would definitely recommend reading book one first. The book is very descriptive and there are quite a lot of battle scenes, but these are interspersed with a bit of romance, a lot of intrigue and plenty of betrayal.

Briefly, the battle for the throne continues, Lancaster against York with the Duke of Somerset, lured back to his former comrades, leading the fight to return Henry VI to the throne. With both sides trying to raise armies Warwick travels to France to arrange a marriage to thwart the allies of Henry but unhappy with this Edward meets Elizabeth Woodville and marries her in secret.

Although most chapters are written from the POV of Warwick and King Edward IV some are written from the perspective of the women. Excellently written, a fast paced read with great dialogue and I am really looking to reading the final book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The York King is an immensely enjoyable book about the reign of King Edward IV . A definite must read for anyone who enjoys reading about The War of the Roses. Amy Licence brings the time period to life with vivid details of battles and of every day life. This is a truly gripping portrayal of a tormultous time in history. I enjoyed this book very much.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.