|
|
 |
| A new look at a bygone era... |
|
|
Smith's newest historical fiction (after Daughter of York) is a complex exploration of a turbulent period of English history, taking on one of its biggest mysteries: the fate of princes Edward and Richard, locked up in the Tower by Richard III.
Protagonist Grace Plantagenet is the illegitimate daughter of Edward IV and had been confidant to his family—including her imprisoned half-brothers Edward and Richard. After Richard III is killed and the princes disappear, a man named Perkin Warbeck appears to challenge Henry VII, claiming to be the presumed dead Prince Richard. Determined to discover the truth of Warbeck's claim, Grace throws herself into the politics of the court, knowing that if Warbeck is Prince Richard, it could be drastic for Grace's family—especially for her half-sister Elizabeth of York, now Henry's queen.
Examined through the eyes of a minor historical figure, Smith introduces readers to 15th-century political intrigue with thought, courage and honesty. Though her major historical figures (especially Henry VII) get the broad-brush treatment, Smith is careful to make Grace and her world detailed and engaging. -- Publishers Weekly
---- Reviews of Anne's previous books ----
"Smith, fresh off of her triumphant debut, A Rose for the Crown, returns to the drama and intrigue of the York family in this stunning follow-up. ... Unrequited love simmers throughout this richly detailed historical romance; Smith's vivid characters and deft handling of the passions and prejudices that so greatly influenced the events of this era in history make for a delicious read. Highly recommended for all popular fiction." -- The Library Journal
"Genre fiction with meat on its bones. This could be a good choice for book groups that want to read a historical romance that isn’t cheesy." -- One-Minute Book Reviews |
|
---------------------
|
|
Historical Novel Society Reviews: (Editor's Choice award) This is a marvelous book, long and complex, deeply satisfying and a great read. Highly recommended.
Library Journal writes: "In her first book, writer and musician Smith has produced a vibrant story full of careful historical detail and well-developed characters. More than just retelling historical events, Smith creates an empathetic and fascinating heroine in her own right. As Kate witnesses the monumental events that take place at the highest levels, the reader becomes engrossed in her story. ...this novel is highly recommended..." |
"Into the crowded ring of fictional treatments of Fifteenth Century English royal court life, rife with strife, this first novelist tosses her colorful hat. ... it is apparent that a copious amount of research has been done. ... What Smith accomplishes with elan is a very credible biographical novel about a woman whose true identity has never been known. ...Fans of historical fiction will little note nor at all care that this is the author's first novel. Smith's involved plot correlates well with the convoluted politics of the time." Booklist
And the author of The Oracle Glass and The Serpent Garden, Judith Merkle Riley says: “Move over Amber St. Clare! Here comes Kate Haute, ... who might have been mother of Richard’s three illegitimate children, this tale plunges the reader into the treacherous politics of the War of the Roses. With Richard, Kate shares passion, regal glamour, and in the end, partakes of the bitter cup of loss."
"For readers who expect realism, want a well-researched story, and characters who jump off the pages and into your heart, A Rose for the Crown is the book for you." Romance Reviews Today
| | | | | | | | |
Copyright © 2008 Anne Easter Smith. All Rights Reserved. |
| | |
