Queen By Right

Summary (from the publisher): From the award-winning author of A Rose for the Crown, Daughter of York, and The King’s Grace comes another masterful historical novel—the story of Cecily of York, mother of two kings and the heroine of one of history’s greatest love stories. Anne Easter Smith’s novels are beloved by readers for their ability “to grab you, sweep you along with the story, and make you fall in love with the characters.” 


In Cecily Neville, duchess of York and ancestor of every English monarch to the present day, she has found her most engrossing character yet. History remembers Cecily of York standing on the steps of the Market Cross at Ludlow, facing an attacking army while holding the hands of her two young sons. Queen by Right reveals how she came to step into her destiny, beginning with her marriage to Richard, duke of York, whom she meets when she is nine and he is thirteen. Raised together in her father’s household, they become a true love match and together face personal tragedies, pivotal events of history, and deadly political intrigue. All of England knows that Richard has a clear claim to the throne, and when King Henry VI becomes unfit to rule, Cecily must put aside her hopes and fears and help her husband decide what is right for their family and their country. Queen by Right marks Anne Easter Smith’s greatest achievement, a book that every fan of sweeping, exquisitely detailed historical fiction will devour.

Review: I loved Smith's first three novels so was really excited to see she had published a fourth book. Smith spends extensive time researching her subjects before writing about them and Queen By Right is no different.  One of my favorite aspects of Smith's novels is that characters from other novels appear as minor characters in others. For example, Margaret, Cecily's daughter, was the main character of Daughter of York.  I was particularly interested in learning more about Cecily, the Duchess of York, because I've read several novels about her son, King Edward, and his wife Elizabeth Woodville. Cecily was fortunate to find love in an arranged marriage and seemed very happy with her husband Richard, with who she had a very large family. 

While I enjoyed this novel, it was not my favorite novel from Smith. I think the picture this novel painted of Cecily was a little too rosy. She seemed a little too perfect, and her relationship with her seemingly perfect husband was just too over the top to be believable. Additionally, I was disappointed the novel concluded when it did. After her son gained the throne, I know that Cecily lived in near seclusion, but she still had to face accusation that her son was a bastard and view turmoil within his reign. Seeing that Cecily lived a long life into her 80s, I was disappointed the novel concluded when she was in her late 40s. I would have enjoyed it more if the flashbacks incorporated throughout had come from an elderly Cecily rather than a middle aged one. But that being said, the novel was already nearly 500 pages and I'm sure Smith felt it prudent to conclude before it got too long. 

As a huge historical fiction fan, I'm eagerly anticipating more from Anne Easter Smith. I enjoy her historically rich and detailed writing style, and her choice to focus on historical figures other writers pass over. 

Stars: 3