THWARTED QUEEN, by Cynthia Sally Haggard, is the story of Cecylee Neville, Duchess of
York, and mother of two kings; Edward IV and Richard III. Comprised of four books into one, spanning over
almost a century, it’s a recounting of the War of the Roses seen through
Cecylee’s perspective.
Cecylee was the youngest child in her family and as such,
her mother, Countess Joan de Beaufort, delayed the marriage to Richard Duke of
York for well longer than customary. This
allowed Cecylee to revel in her youth while strengthening and cultivating her
mind in all realms that were usually only privy to men; A definite asset when
she later married Richard.
Their union was based mainly on the relentless campaign to
restore England’s rightful heir to the throne-much rather than love. Cecylee,
would forever pay the price for having dabbled in a bout of romantic
infatuation outside of her marriage; resulting to serious consequences for the
future of England.
Despite obstacles beginning with Queen Marguerite of Anjou (‘the bitch of
Anjou’)all the way to her dreadful daughter-in law Elisabeth Woodville (‘the
Serpent’), Cecylee managed to run a tight ruling in her own right that
commanded and paved the way for her youngest son, Richard, to becoming
king.
Thwarted Queen is a captivating read right from the start. The author’s smooth writing style and ability
to capture even the slightest detail lingering within the silent moments is
what renders this tale even more breathtaking than the history itself. In addition, the battles, the conflicts- this
whole epic time is neither too much nor too dry; a perfect blend of history,
saga and romance with Cecylee at the forefront of it all.
Bonus: There is an extensive list of characters and their
history at the end of the book. Also most enjoyable was the author’s explanation
for choice and time of events, and creative reasons for adding and/or modifying
aspects within the book.
Extremely interesting and cleverly written-I was completely
enthralled by this read!
Lucy - EBJ- History Salon
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