The Kingmaker's Daughter

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.

The first thing I want to start off with is that Philippa Gregory writes historical fiction, not history books. Where as I have found most of her books very accurate, I feel that a person should remember that before any discussion actually ensues. I am a big fan of her works, I think they are interesting and usually keep to the facts while telling a good story. I found this to be a very enjoyable read, a vacation from the heavier history books written about this time. Also, this was my favorite of Gregory's Cousin's War series so far. I adore this time period, and the following Tudor reigns as well. The stories of the princes in the tower, and Richard the Third himself have always held a fascination to me- I am also a member of the American branch of the Richard the Third Society! I found that I really enjoyed the perspective of the story being told from Anne's eyes. It was interesting to see how she, the younger of Warwick's daughters, was handled through her life. I felt this was a very believable character. And the author did a very good job of handling the princes in the tower. It has to be a very challenging story to tell without any proof of who actually did kill the princes. I liked the way she handled it, including the self-doubt and confusion at the whole situation. A very good read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history. This could even be considered a decent way to whet an appetite to a very complex but interesting time period.

I have given this work a five star rating because of the historical insight it provides into a very interesting period of history. Gregory once again creates a moving portrait of what living was truly like for these characters versus traditional history where we just read a line of chronological events. Gregory's novel takes us there and in a woman's shoes no less! The extra research that must be required to accurately portray what these characters' daily lives and feelings and thought s and fears were or could have been! So intriguing! Having read other novels by Gregory I will say that Anne's voice as narrator is quite annoying at times. She is such a girl, an immature girl. Her voice doesn't grow up quick enough. However fans of Gregory and particularly readers of The Cousins' War series will love reading this book.

Here's the thing. I love history. A lot. I love when Philippa Gregory novels. A lot. The fact that her books are historical novels makes me nearly giddy. I might love Gregory's novels to the point I almost hate them just a little bit, too. The Kingmaker's Daughter was no exception. The Kingmaker's Daughter is the story of Anne Neville and her road to becoming queen. It starts when she is 8 years old and ends when she is 28. She starts off as her father's pawn, a way to move higher in importance by marrying her off to the best offer. Her father uses her to try and win back his power over the king after King Edward's (of the York side) wife and her family steal his influence away. She is married to Prince Edward of the Lancaster side as a way to buy a tie to the kingship. After her husband dies and the Lancaster line is officially ended, she loses nearly all her potential power and influence. It is at this moment she starts to make choices for herself. She knows there are very few options to gain independence for herself, so she takes the next best road and marries someone she cares a great deal for, and eventually loves. Richard. I never doubted for a second that they came to love each other. To begin with, it almost feels as though the marriage is one of purpose. She wants to leave the house of her sister and brother-in-law, and Richard wants access to the land, wealth, and power her name brings. But by the end of the novel, there was love there. The princes in the tower are touched upon, and yet nothing is definitively said about their fate. I like that Gregory doesn't try to take a side. She keeps that mystery going and I appreciate that. In the past 3 novels, I had come to form an opinion of Anne Neville and it wasn't the greatest. Even though I saw her as a product of those around her, I wasn't overly fond of her character in the last three books. However, when it's finally her turn to tell the story, I fell in love with her and started to despise characters I had loved previously. This is what I love most about The Cousins' War series. In one novel, a character is painted as horrible, but the next makes him or her lovable. There isn't one "villain" you can root against. They are all good and bad. Gregory has taken the stories we read in history books and made them into people. I can't get enough of it. The Kingmaker's Daughter is yet another brilliant addition to The Cousins' War series and I'm hopelessly upset I have to wait another year to hear Elizabeth of York's story.

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.

I was waiting on pins and needles for this book to be released. I really enjoyed the other books in this series and hoped this would be just as enjoyable. And I am pleased to announce that I was not disappointing. Anne Neville was easy to like and I enjoyed our journey together.I really felt that I was able to relate to who she was and what she wanted. At this moment I can't think of anything I didn't enjoy in this book. In fact after reading this book I was finally able to figure out what it was about the Cousin's War series that I have found so intriguing. Ms. Gregory gives us multiple points of view of one particular historical event (The Wars of the Roses). Just when you think you know who the heroes and Villains are you read the next book and you find your loyaties shifting. It's not all black and white there are grey areas and I love that. But as for this book...It was moving and powerful. It was a little bit sad but in a really awesome way. The love story between Anne and Richard was endearing. This book made Richard III come alive for me in a way he has not done in the past. I have always been so confused as to what I feel about Richard III, stories on who he was are pretty conflicting. The supernatural elements that was weaved through (the supernatural coming from the Rivers woman) was done well and not at all overwhelming. I was pleased about that. As I have said about every other Philippa Gregory book I have read ...I absolutely would (and have) recommend this book to anyone who loves history and anyone who loves fiction.

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.

The Kingmaker's Daughter is the one of Phillippa Gregory's best books so far and that says a lot when I have read all of them. This book takes place in the 1300 hundreds during the War of the Roses between two royal and powerful house The House of York and The House of Lancaster. The book's main character is Lady Anne Nevile, The daughter of Earl of Warick and Countess of Beauchamp. The book is her point of view it describes in great and strongly worded detail the hardships she endured being a pawn in her father's ambition to put himself near the throne. She is a great heroine and also the antagonist in some points of view. The facts are very accurate and you see how she ends up controlling her own future after being called "spoils of war". The Kingmaker's Daughter is very thrilling and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a real story about murder and ambition and even a bit of love.