The Kingmaker's Daughter

I read The White Queen some time ago and fell in love with the beautiful Queen Elizabeth even if she comes from a family of witches or Melusina ( a spirit of the rivers). I watched the TV series and I despised the Nevilles, I was convinced that Anne had been responsible for the deaths of the Princes even though it was inconclusive and just so in this book. I realise that on reading this story the observer should be seeing this piece of history from Anne Neville's side of the story. However, I cannot see her in any other light than the plotter and schemer she was, although I believe her good nature had been tainted by the continual poison she had been fed by her parents and sister and brother-in-law. Of course, how much is actual fact and how much is fiction is difficult to say but it all leads to a decent novel. Philippa Gregory's writing as always makes a good story with plenty going on to keep the reader interested. One wonders how these people coped with life when they were having to continually look over their shoulder and I am thankful that times have changed and our country is not so volatile internally. If you like historical novels then you can't get much better than Philippa Gregory.

The story of Anne Neville. It is told in 1st person by Anne. Since it is from her perception often we have to rely on other people telling her what had been happening that she wasn't involved in.Her sister really did give birth on the sea voyage and the baby did die, but having Anne have to deliver the baby seemed a bit much.I liked Anne's reaction to having to marry the son of the "bad queen."Richard is portrayed as loving Anne and being interested in the money and power he gains from her inheritance. The question is often did he marry for love or money, well why couldn't have been a combination of both.It was annoying how during her marriage every thing that went wrong was the witch Queen Elizabeth's fault.After the death of her son Anne just gives up.

It gives me no pleasure to write this but my reaction to this book was: "meh." I don't think this is entirely Gregory's fault except in her choice of subject matter. As in The Red Queen, an earlier book in this series, Anne Neville just doesn't have much agency in her own life. She is raised, married off and manipulated for the needs of men engaged in the Wars of the Roses, primarily her father, the Earl of Warwick, and her second husband, the eventual, doomed Richard III. I don't think it helps that the story is told in first person present, either, and it's frequently repetitive (Elizabeth Woodville is beautiful! But she hates us! Because my father killed her father!). OK. Got that after the first four times.I like the Woodville entries in this series a lot more: The White Queen and The Lady of the Rivers. Maybe because both of those women seemed to have some more say over their fates and weren't just reporting on the actions of others.

I have to admit that I was hesitant to listen to this historical fiction novel after the last one totally missed the mark with me. Not so with The Kingmaker's Daughter by Gregory! I absolutely loved this novel and the narrator, Bianca Amato, gave me a vivid picture of our heroine Anne, by embracing her character in every way.The story opens with Anne and Isabel as young girls, clueless as to what their father has planned for their futures. Their father, Richard Neville, is a politically powerful man, who decides the fate of the individual that will sit on the throne. Not only has he put men on the throne, but he has been responsible for removing kings from the throne as well.As the girls get older they have the opportunity to visit the court of King Edward and Queen Elizabeth. Anne is fascinated by the beauty of the Queen, admitting that she has never set eyes on anyone more beautiful. When Anne and Isabel decline the Queen's offer to join her court as maids in waiting, the Queen develops an anger for these two girls that will continue for the the rest of their lives.When Isabel marries King Edward's brother, George, the Queen dislikes the girls even more, knowing that if anything were to happen to Edward, Isabel and George could take over the throne. Isabel develops a fear towards the Queen when she convinces herself that both the Queen and the Queen's mother know how to practice witchcraft and they probably put a curse on both herself and Anne. Anne tries to discount Isabel's claims, but eventually these thoughts will consume her also.After all the political struggles between several countries, Anne finds herself married to the King's younger brother, Richard, who she hoped to marry years before but the Queen would not allow it. I cheered when Anne was finally going to have a bit of happiness in her life. It doesn't take long after their marriage, for the Queen to self-destruct and lose her position on the throne, leaving Anne and Richard as the King and Queen of England.I didn't realize that this is the fourth novel in the series until after I had started it. I did not feel lost in the novel because of this, but it does make me want to read the other books that precede this one. This novel contains so much more than what I have listed above. Anne and Isabel's sisterly relationship is compromised at one point, and it is a hard journey for them to find their way back to one another. With themes of sisters, love, power, and loyalty this was an amazing novel to listen to and I highly recommend it!

What's not to like about anything Philippa Gregory writes? Well except for her depiction of Anne Boleyn. Despite claims by the author, any historical fiction is just that: fiction. As good as it can be when interspersed with facts, it remains fiction and many authors, including Gregory make choices that fly in the face of what historians believe.When it comes to history, even when related by a first person witness, the truth is what we make it until proven otherwise. I do believe Anne Boleyn has been misjudged. Gregory apparently chose to imply otherwise. When you think about it though, it makes sense because it makes good fiction.It is because of this that I had to stop myself and wonder if I'm actually being objective enough, because the story is so good I find it easy to forgive when she alters an aspect of history that may be in dispute, but most believe to be accurate.With page turners like The Kingmaker's Daughter, it can be a challenge to see the forest for the trees. I am a devout historical fiction fan. I am also a history buff of sorts, and especially of English history up to the Victorian era.Yes, there is some license taken here. However, the facts are inserted well and often.This story is timely because of the discovery of Richard III's body. Some things about him turned out to be true, but how much of the rest is really Tudor propaganda? There is usually more going on in history than what anyone can guess. This is what makes historical fiction shine when done right. It fills in the blanks creatively and believably - meshing fact and fiction that will have you reading late into the night.I know some won't forgive her for her characterizations of historical figures. But she isn't writing history or trying to rewrite it. She is fictionalizing people and events and doing a wonderful job of "what if" he/she/it were this way instead of that.And I don't think you can get any more right than this. (Well, at least until her next book.)

In this fourth book of The Cousin's War by Philippa Gregory, we're introduced to the Neville sisters, Isabel and Anne. In The Lady of the River, Gregory gives us a taste of what it was like to live with, and love, the Woodville family - but sides are switched and now we're on the opposite side, looking at that dratted large family with something very close to hatred.The Kingmaker's Daughter follows the story of Anne Neville and her tumultuous life as the daughter of the man who set aside the "sleeping king," Henry VI, and put Edward IV on the throne instead. Edward, married to Jacquetta's daughter, Lady Elizabeth Grey, was once influenced by Anne's father, Richard Neville, but now has been drawn into the arms of the abundant Woodville family.This is a story of struggle - struggle between kings and would-be kings, between two insanely strong Queens (both of whom share a common bond through Jacquetta), and a story of how difficult a life Anne Neville had, beginning at such a young age. It's about blood feuds and witchcraft, murders and sickness, and life and death in the most base of forms. I really think the books contained in Gregory's Cousin's War series have been building up to this book - because this is where things really got interesting, it's where history became so turbulent that there was never once a sense of ease within the court of England. And honestly, Henry VIII, no matter how fascinating he is with his ability to set aside wives like they are delicacies he has lost his taste for, is not nearly as interesting to me as this period of time is. Margaret of Anjou and Queen Elizabeth (Formerly Elizabeth Grey) were strong, independent women who knew exactly how to muster the men of their families to their aid and pitted against each other... that was some formidable stuff.I thoroughly enjoyed The Kingmaker's Daughter and look forward to seeing what Gregory has up her sleeve next.

Switching perspective to see these events from the Neville side was interesting, but it seemed to drag. The narrative felt pushed along without the easy exciting flow I have usually enjoyed from Ms. Gregory. I'm still looking forward to the next book in the series since it shouldn't have so much overlapping, I hope!

Where I got the book: purchased through Waterstones. UK edition, signed.Despite my eternal resolutions not to read any more of this Cousins' War series I couldn't resist getting a signed copy at the Historical Novel Society conference, so here I am reviewing yet another of these books and noting pretty much exactly the same things that annoy me with all the others.This one covers the story of Anne Neville, wife of Richard of Gloucester aka Richard III. Her father is the political mover and shaker Warwick, whose intention is that whatever side of the York/Lancaster divide rules England, he should be standing behind it. And...I'm already too bored to continue. Let's recap:- maaaaagic. Mercifully Anne herself declares she doesn't believe in witchcraft, but that doesn't stop her from believing that the bad things that happen to her family could have witchy origins. Storms? Witch. Sickly child? Witch. Sudden death? Witch. Someone else being way more successful than you? WITCHWITCHWITCH OK you get the idea. Yawn.- PG's characters relentlessly explain to each other who they're talking about. "Your mother-in-law, the Duchess Cecily"..."your husband George Duke of Clarence"..."Margaret Beaufort...the wife of my friend, the trusted Lord Thomas Stanley, whom I made Lord Chamberlin"... Ya know, at some point you've just got to trust the reader to be able to follow the plot.- PG is writing about women in a world where men did all the doing and the women stayed at home and made babies (or not). Consequently, practically all of the action in TKMD happens offstage. The only really vivid scene (which was very well done) WAS ABOUT HAVING A BABY. *headdesk* There were some great--GREAT--scenes that only happened in the retelling and I longed to actually SEE them.- hard-to-like characters. Nope, can't think of a single one I actually liked, including Anne. And they all sound the same, have you noticed?And yet PG's a good writer and I'm going to say it yet again: please, PLEASE get shot of this series and go back to making stuff up, PG (I wrote that with a completely straight face. Honest.)One thing I DID like about the book and that was the quality of the UK binding. From Croydon, that was. Saaarf London quality, innit?

This was my first Gregory and I loved it; now I understand what the fuss is all about. Based on research, this novel is first and foremost great entertainment and recreates a slice of history ? la soap opera: intrigues, allegiances and betrayals. It was sometimes difficult to figure out who was true to whom which made the story all the more gripping.I had to remind myself that all this was but an interpretation of history, which in my mind, is a testimony of Gregory's story-telling talents. She conjures the fears, hopes and ambitions of the times while spinning a great yarn. It may not be History but I've learned more about that period than in any "serious" book.

I've never been much of a student of British history, particularly of all the shifts and changes to the monarchy during the times when several powerful families fought over the crown. This novel, narrated by Anne Neville follows England's history through her eyes as Henry VI has been deposed, Edward IV is now king but her father, Richard Neville the Earl of Warwick, become upset after he secretly marries against his wishes. Her father, the so called kingmaker, is a powerful man and it was with his support that Edward came to the throne in the first place. But the new queen's family, the Woodville's, threaten Richard's power and influence and he eventually decides to work against them and the King Edward. Anne's sister Isobel and Anne herself become pawns in his plans, as he tries to place various men of Royal blood on the throne in Edward's place. Much blood is spilt along the way, and Anne has much heartbreak to endure before eventually becoming a queen as the wife of King Richard III. I was definitely sucked into Anne's story, Gregory did a great job of creating a character who I felt for as she described the dramatic events of her life. There was of course a lot of drama and intrigue and much changing of sides. I kept turning to the real historical accounts to confirm and clarify some of what I was reading, and I suppose the author can be criticized for not always following history faithfully--though much of what she fiddled about with is disputed so her interpretation can be as valid as anyone's. The mystery of the princes in the tower is not given a clear cut answer, so it appears even Anne--the queen of England at the time--is not entirely sure what happened to them. Some readers may be upset with the author over details like these, I for one appreciated an emotionally engaging story that helped me to learn more about the English monarchy than I ever knew before.

Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, is known as the Kingmaker. His daughters Isabel and Anne are just pawns in his political games. As Anne grows she comes to realise the games her father is playing and her place in them as he turns on his former friends. Married at 14, she is soon widowed and her father killed on the battlefield. Her only option for survival is to marry Richard, Duke of Gloucester. She finds love with him, but will never be free of the political game playing and maneuvering required to keep their positions and their family safe. When they are crowned King and Queen, there are even more who would seize power from them and destroy their family. A well researched story bringing women's stories to the fore with the sumptuousness and ruthlessness of court explored in depth. However I couldn't help feeling appalled about how those at court lived compared to those ordinary people struggling in hardship and suffering who seem to get little thought during the posturing and political game playing.

At the court of Edward IV and his beautiful queen, Elizabeth Woodville, Anne grows from a delightful child to become ever more fearful and desperate when her father makes war on his former friends. Still only a girl she is married and then left widowed and fatherless, with her mother in sanctuary and her sister married to the enemy. She manages her own escape by marrying Richard, Duke of Gloucester, but her choice will set her on a collision course with the overwhelming power of the royal family, and will cost the lives of those she loves most in the world, including her precious only son, Prince Edward. Ultimately, the kingmaker's daughter will achieve her father's greatest ambition.My Thoughts:I seem to be reading about Anne Neville all of a sudden. She seems to be cropping up in historical novels at the moment.There is no doubt that in this account by PG that a lot of research has gone into the book. Again though I am finding that like the other books in the ?cousins war? series the book was a little overlong and a bit drab in places. The story itself was interesting but I found that I was just re-reading what I had read before in the other books. I am reading the same accounts but just been told the story through the eyes of different historical figures. The whole thing could have been done in one book. Out of all the books in the series so far the best one has to be ?The White Queen?Overall a bit of a historical yarn, full of facts and interesting at times. Anybody who like either Philippa Gregory or history it will appeal to. For me I would like PG perhaps to move to a different period in history.

Another good read by Gregory! She's taken the same historic events as her other books about the War of the Roses, (The White Queen, The Red Queen, and The Other Queen) but this time from another point of view. This time the main character is Anne Neville, the daughter of the influential, Richard Earl of Warwick. She was married to Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou's son, Edward of Westminster and after a early widowhood ends up married to Richard III, the youngest brother of the Yorks. The same story is told as the other books, Edward the King who is bewitched by Elizabeth Woodville, George the next brother who is married to Anne's sister, Isabella, who fights for the right to be King. Richard in this story is seen as a more sympathetic character who is just trying to protect the Prince of Wales after his father's death to keep the River's (Elizabeth Woodville's family) from the throne. But alas greed and power, as always get in the way. Great read, better if the Internet is available to help you distinguish between the myriad of Edwards, Richards, George's and Elizabeth's in the story!

What a Wonderfull read
The facts are there
Made so interesting
As usual turned into a great novel
Stunning work

I listened to this book which is part of the Cousins' War series. I have read the previous books which show the War of Roses from the point of view of various women involved. In this one Anne Neville is the narrator and main character.Anne and Isabel Neville were the only surviving children of the Earl of Warwick who was the mentor to the Yorks and helped put Edward IV on the throne. When he discovered that Edward's wife, Elizabeth Woodville, had such power over her husband that her relations were being given positions of power and wealth Warwick decided to back Edward's younger brother George. He married Isabel to George and went to war with Edward's army. Unfortunately for him George switched sides again and backed his brother. Then Warwick placed his hopes on Anne and married her to the Lancaster heir, Edward. Warwick's army was defeated and Warwick was killed. When Anne and Edward landed they discovered this defeat and tried to get to Wales but the York army caught them. Edward was killed and Anne and his mother were captured. Anne was given into the safekeeping of her sister but she chafed at the restrictions. Richard, the youngest York brother, wooed her and married her in secret. For many years Richard and Anne lived in northern England staying as far from the court as they could. Anne feared Elizabeth Woodville and her mother who were reputed to be witches. Isabel died and George was killed for treason and Anne and Richard raised their two children. Then Edward IV died and his son, Edward, was too young to reign on his own. Richard had been asked by Edward to act as Regent but the Queen had other ideas. Richard took their sons prisoner and kept them in the Tower and then had Edward and Elizabeth's marriage invalidated. He became King Richard III with Anne as his Queen. Anne was never able to enjoy this triumph as her young son died soon after. She thought it was a curse from Elizabeth Woodville for the disappearance and possible death of her own two sons from the Tower. The next book in this series is The White Princess and I have a copy of it. I'll have to get to it soon.

I admit I have taken a break from Philippa Gregory; while nothing can top her tour de force "The Other Boleyn Girl," and nor did I expect anything to, her subsequent novels were a rather bland disappointment. I picked up "The Kingmaker's Daughter" with no real expectations aside from some healthy historical fiction, and thankfully that is what I received. I am glad to see Gregory back on her game!

A typical Phillipa Gregory. A historical romance with the emphasis on romance. It does show the emnity and horror that the fight for power produces.

Another beautifully written novel by my favorite author, Philippa Gregory.

The Kingmaker's Daughter is the gripping story of the daughters of the man known as the "Kingmaker," Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick: the most powerful magnate in fifteenth-century England. Without a son and heir, he uses his daughters, Anne and Isabel as pawns in his political games, and they grow up to be influential players in their own right. In this novel, her first sister story since The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory explores the lives of two fascinating young women.

At the court of Edward IV and his beautiful queen, Elizabeth Woodville, Anne grows from a delightful child to become ever more fearful and desperate when her father makes war on his former friends. Married at age fourteen, she is soon left widowed and fatherless, her mother in sanctuary and her sister married to the enemy. Anne manages her own escape by marrying Richard, Duke of Gloucester, but her choice will set her on a collision course with the overwhelming power of the royal family and will cost the lives of those she loves most in the world, including her precious only son, Prince Edward. Ultimately, the kingmaker's daughter will achieve her father's greatest ambition.

Circumstances meant I read this out of sequence and I shouldn't have as although I know the history I wanted to see how the author wove the women's stories together. As always a excellent, light read and timely as well since the body of Richard III was found as I was reading this ....now I must go back and read the earlier books

I can't tell you how much I love reading Philippa Gregory's books. In fact, she's getting very close to dethroning Anne Rice as my favourite author of all time. Wow.The Kingmaker's Daughter is the story of Anne Neville, daughter of the Earl of Warwick (named the Kingmaker) who successfully survived a forced marriage and subsequent widowhood, then navigated the deadly politics of the time; which included changing allegiances and the execution of her father.Anne Neville became Queen of England in 1483, but even knowing the historical outcome in advance didn't stop me from being gripped by her journey to the throne as told by the author.The Kingmaker's Daughter is the fourth book in the Cousins' War series, however it can easily be read out of sequence and as a stand alone novel.In a period where parents named their children after their fathers or the king, many of the characters share the same name. But don't panic, Gregory always manages to keep the characters separate in the reader's minds. This is a difficult feat and not one easily achieved by other historical fiction authors I've read; and I've read quite a few!If you have even the slightest interest in the history of the period (mid to late 1400s England) then you are in the safest of hands with Philippa Gregory. She has a natural gift for making any period in history relatable and easy to follow despite the complexities of the times. Whenever I pick up one of her novels I'm thoroughly transported, entertained and educated without even realising it.The Kingmaker's Daughter is outstanding, I loved loved loved it!

It was very odd to read this story from Anne's point of view. Pretty sad all of the way through, and honestly I was feeling very heart broken at the end for every side. Philippa described a tragic story in a beautiful, interesting to read way.

Excellent read! Breathtaking intrigue (as always). Enough twists and turns to give you a headache, but you can't put it down! Loved it!

The original soap opera of deception in pursuit of self ambition.

The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory - good

I've always liked historical fiction (in my teens I devoured Jean Plaidy books) and I like Philippa Gregory. She researches her subject in detail and then builds up a story around the facts. Of course, it is fiction, but....

I have to admit to being a little varied in my feelings on her Cousins' War books. Whilst I have no problem with her characters believing that someone was practising witchcraft, I don't like the idea that the characters themselves believed they could do so. This means that I didn't particularly like The White Queen, and haven't managed to start The Lady of the Rivers yet. I did, however, like The Red Queen and I especially liked this book.

Anne Neville (the Kingmaker's Daughter in question) is someone I knew very little about other than her existence. What the author achieves here (and with the other books in the series) is show us the events from differing viewpoints: York, Lancaster and Warwick: a family who tried to manipulate the succession, changing sides to suit and to advance their own fortunes.

All very interesting. I already have The Lady of the Rivers and The White Princess, I shall certainly read the latter pretty soon and will continue to debate reading the former. The beauty of it being the same story from different pov's means it really doesn't matter too much if I skip it or read it out of order.

?Well, it makes no odds. A girl?s no good. A girl can?t take the throne.?The fourth in Gregory?s highly successful series of The Cousins? War (as the War of the Roses, as we now know it, was known at the time), The Kingmaker?s Daughter tells the story of Anne Neville, daughter of Richard Earl of Warwick. Warwick had put Edward IV on the throne, but Edward had proved to be not quite as malleable a puppet as Warwick had expected, by marrying Elizabeth Woodville (The White Queen, daughter of The Lady of the Rivers) in secret. Disappointed by his protege, Warwick turned to Edward?s other brothers in an effort to control the throne, and married his daughters off to meet his needs.Anne?s life is portrayed in the other books as a sorry one ? sickly, often overlooked for advantageous marriages, having to cater to her sister?s every whim. However, this book was considerably more positive than I had expected ? Gregory imbues her with a resilience and loyalty which is not expected, given the other books I had read in the series. She deals with her father?s repeated changing of sides, her sister?s superiority and paranoia, the trouble caused by her over-ambitious brother-in-law; none of it causes her much distress. What is interesting is her introspection towards the end ? she knows she has become hardened and deadened to political movements and changes that would have once scandalised her.It is a little frustrating to read the same material again (admittedly through different eyes and different imagined private events), but Gregory does an admirable job of introducing enough new material to keep us interested and a different perspective on familiar events. My main objection to the prior books has been the sheer number of battles to wade through; this book misses some of the first ones out by starting only once Edward IV is on the throne, and ending before the Battle of Bosworth field which would ultimately conclude the Cousins? War.I found it interesting that Richard III is ultimately portrayed as sympathetic, loyal, in fact fatally loyal to the York cause, and not the evil hunchback that Shakespeare would have us remember. In this, Gregory builds on the not unsympathetic picture conjured in The White Queen.If you?ve read the other three, you?ll read this one too. If you haven?t read the others, I wouldn?t worry about this one ? start with The Lady of the Rivers (first chronologically) or The White Queen (best written) and see how you get on with the series.

As much as I like this series by Philippa Gregory, I can only give this one 3 stars. It is my least favorite of the series, not because of the writing which is wonderful as always, but because the main character, Anne of Warwick, had so little go right for her. It ends in a sad, solemn, depressing way which fits the tone of the entire book but I felt like it was too rushed and didn't explore the relationship between Anne and her husband enough. It was interesting to see things from Anne's point of view after reading the first three books, I just hope that the next is a little more cheery, or at least a little less melancholy which may be difficult given the subject.

Phillipa Gregory always goes for the gossip. She writes history "through a chick's eyes." Lots of great detail, but most characters come out like cardboard.

This novel stands out among the several dozen books on 15th-century English history that I've read. Firstly because it's written from the point of view of the tragic Anne Neville, of whom we know little except that she was used as a pawn by the men in her life and then -- to add insult to injury -- misrepresented by Shakespeare in his play Richard III. I also recommend this book because it really helps the reader appreciate that the Wars of the Roses, although a dynastic struggle between two rival branches of the Plantagenet family, also became a fight to the death among the members of the House of York. Philippa Gregory describes with deep emotional power how this "Cousins' War" brings about the deaths of all the people Anne loved. We see how the Yorkist rebellion against the legal king, though grounded in a rightful claim, moves its participants inexorably down a shameful and murderous path. And we understand that none of these individuals remained wholly innocent.

This book was very intriguing like all of Philippa's books. It's nice to see events from the perspective of another major player Anne Neville. I will admit that I do favor Queen Elizabeth Woodville and wanted to shake Anne and Isabel several times throughout the novel. I have sympathy for Anne though as at the time I'm sure she didn't know any better. It was interesting to see Richard from the perspective of Anne. In the previous two books you feel as though he is evil for taking over the throne, but in The Kingmaker's Daughter you see he was influenced into it. Overall a great novel.

Loved this book as well as the story between Anne and Richard. I also like the exploration that the Duke of Buckingham or Margaret Beaufort could have had the Princes in the Tower killed. I don't think Anne and Richard would have been able to raise the Princes as their heirs as they would have been a focal point for potential "kingmakers". Cecily Neville, the York brothers' mother sure didn't help her House's cause by favoring George above her eldest. I'll be waiting for Philippa Gregory's next book, The White Princess