Felicia J. (FeliciaJ) reviewed The Reluctant Queen: The Story of Anne of York on + 136 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I found this novel a disappointment, unfortunately. I hoped Plaidy would better illuminate the life and character of Anne Neville, daughter to the powerful earl of Warwick, "The Kingmaker," and wife of Richard III. Although the historical Anne had little control over her own fate, she lived in an especially intriguing and colorful age, during the English Wars of the Roses.
However, the Anne of Plaidy's novel was a curiously flat character who spent most of her time fretting about her future, or Richard's destiny, or both. It read a bit like a personal diary kept by a dull woman with no aptitude for writing beyond stating bare facts. Even her frequent declarations of love and devotion for Richard seemed rather muted and uninspiring.
I did appreciate one aspect of the novel. Plaidy did a fine job of making Richard's personality ambiguous toward the end, so I, as a reader, was never sure I could believe Anne's praise of him. Plaidy left the question open of whether Richard murdered his royal nephews, but skillfully suggested Anne might have a blind spot regarding Richard's ambition or his true personality.
However, the Anne of Plaidy's novel was a curiously flat character who spent most of her time fretting about her future, or Richard's destiny, or both. It read a bit like a personal diary kept by a dull woman with no aptitude for writing beyond stating bare facts. Even her frequent declarations of love and devotion for Richard seemed rather muted and uninspiring.
I did appreciate one aspect of the novel. Plaidy did a fine job of making Richard's personality ambiguous toward the end, so I, as a reader, was never sure I could believe Anne's praise of him. Plaidy left the question open of whether Richard murdered his royal nephews, but skillfully suggested Anne might have a blind spot regarding Richard's ambition or his true personality.
