The Queen’s Rival: The Sunday Times bestselling author returns with a gripping historical romance

When I first started to read this book which is told in letters mostly from and to Cecily to/from members of her family, it made me think what a beautiful way of telling Cecily’s story. Still very well researched but such a different way of writing a historical novel. I loved it. The book showed Cecily’s strength of character and her love for her Plantagenet inheritance. It was also heartbreaking made more so by writing letters. Of course we do not know what Cecily felt or said as with any historical figure especially women, but Anne O’Brien’s impeccable research brings her characters to life in a way that it is utterly believable. Her story is tragic, so many deaths, so much heartbreak and so much courage. She faced down King Henry’s army in wonderful Ludlow and survived to outlive her whole close family, and dying at the grand old age of eighty. Her love for her husband, Richard, Duke of York shines through and her loyalty to her family, whether she thought they were wrong or not. She was never worried about speaking her mind!! I cannot, in all honesty believe ‘Proud Cis’ would demean herself by committing adultery with a mere archer. It seems that all of her sons broke her heart many times over with their vicious comments to her. The two letters I loved most were the ones she wrote to her husband, one after his death and one at his internment at Fotheringay. So sad, so full of love. This book brings out Cecily’s character - her thoughts and feelings. She must have died a sad, lonely great lady. Thank goodness Queen Elizabeth I saved Cecily’s and Richard’s tomb for us, today, to pay tribute to.A wonderful book Anne, written so beautifully in a totally different way. Very brave. Thank you Anne.

I normally love Anne's books but this one is not for me.Unfortunately the letters format and the contents of the letters seem to trivialise the war and the political conflicts of the time rather than emphasising, clarifying them and portraying the characters involved.These people were split down the middle in terms of family loyalties and that is clear but it seems underplayed from what we know of how they acted in real life.What is somewhat odd, is the amount of recipe swapping in the middle of a civil war.Is this realistic? It seems to pander to female stereotypes of powerless women with nothing better to do than moan about their husbands ,cook, chit chat ,embroider and have no control over events whilst the men are involved in all of the action.They must have been pretty tough in real life to deal with all of the uncertainty and death around them but I feel they were more than passive victims.Little of this comes across run the writing which is disappointing.The only tough female character appears to be Margaret of Anjou who seems universally vindictive and nothing else ie unrounded.

like others I didn't like the format.I found it difficult to believe that such dangerous views would be expressed in letters. I also doubt that so much corresponence would pass between sisters of such disparate ages, particularly with Anne who treated Cecily so harshly as her prisoner. There was also a lot of repetition. However, I'm glad I persevered as it became a lot more interesting after Edward's fareful marriage.There are some historical inaccuracies eg It was Hastings not Rivers who commanded the left wing at Barnet.Also, we now know that Richard 3rd did not have dark hair and that his father's hair and colouring were fair.Edward's hair was probably brown.Novelists continue to trot out these inaccuracies for no good reason.

This novel about Cecily Neville, matriarch of the House of York, is represented by letters she has written to her children, her husband, Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou during the Wars of the Roses from 1459 up to the accession of Richard III in 1483. The letters are interesting and revealing as this was a lady who went through house arrest, the deaths of her husband, brother and three of her sons, and the twists and turns of the Wars of the Roses. It's a good read but I was a bit disappointed that it stopped at 1483 as Cecily lived for another 12 years.

I bought this without checking any reviews because I love Anne O'Brien and have read all her earlier books. I was startled to find it written through letters (epistolary style, like Austen's Lady Susan) which is a bit weird. Although it kind of makes practical sense, since our main protagonist was holed up in isolation unable to observe action in person, it makes the reading a bit stop-start. I like reading historical fiction because of the gentle, lulling pace (before bedtime) and this doesn't have the same flow. It also introduces some rather tiresome repetitions (as if you would be writing to another lady and mention 'your husband, the Duke of Exeter' as if the recipient needed reminding who her husband is!). This can't be helped because readers will need the reminder, but it makes it all a bit fake sounding. Having said that - I'm only halfway through, and I checked in for the reviews to see if it gets better, and many people are saying that it does. And frankly, it's still an Anne O'Brien, which is better than most writers on their best day, so I'll stick at it. But new purchasers might want a heads up on the unusual format.

I loved this book I knew from the first few pages I would. Cecily was a strong woman and would have made a strong Queen. She loved her husband and children and stood by them, but I felt they did disappoint her. If you enjoy the War of the Roses era this book is for you.

Really enjoyed this book. Have read quite a few novels based around the Wars of the Roses but Cecily Neville was only a peripheral character so I was interested to hear the telling of the story from her viewpoint. What a story it is too! Full of meddling, deceit, political intrigue and divided family loyalties.I liked the style and device of using letters to relate the story as it felt like you were really getting into the minds of the characters.

Best read I've had in a long time. What a strong lady, Cecily was. What anger and hurt she must have felt at two of her sons betraying her and their father by slandering her and also to have one son executive another son. Amazing read.