The Queen's Rival by Anne O'Brien [Book Review]

*This book has been kindly given to me pre-publication via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. *

The Queen’s Rival by Anne O’Brien is a historical fiction book following the events of the Wars of the Roses, specifically through years 1459 to 1483, encompassing major battles during the Wars and continuing up to the beginning of Richard III’s reign. The book is written in the form of letters and the narrative revolves around Cecily, Duchess of York, wife to Richard, Duke of York, and mother to two Kings, Edward IV, and Richard III. Themes of scandals, family loyalty and the dynamic between aristocracy and the monarchy dominate the narrative, most notable through these personal letters written by and for the Duchess.

I immediately wanted to read this upcoming book because I am a history student who is always interested to see how fiction combined with real life play out in a novel. Despite historical fiction being one of my favourite genres, I am never able to recommend a favourite because, unfortunately, I never seem to find them accurate or interesting and leaning too far into either the fact or fictional side of things. Maybe I’m too pedantic, who knows?

One of the weakness I found with the book, and this is only a personal matter, but the diary entry-style of the book is definitely not for me. While it does have the advantage of feeling like the reader truly gets to know the characters, that also means that it creates a very character-centred novel, blurring details of description, scenery, and overall drive. On the plus side, the reader gets a very clear picture of the character arch’s and their motives, but if you’re looking for vivid descriptions or a very historic-feeling novel, I’m unsure you’ll find it in this.

Despite this, I only have positives to discuss! As mentioned, the level of historical accuracy is second-to-none, with immense research having gone into this by the author. It’s clear that not only has she researched the timeline and the characters, but there is a strong attachment to the lives of these nobles. This is also evident from the sheer number of books the author has written surrounding this time period. Her level of work is quite outstanding and to constantly be receiving praise for her works is indicative of her talent.

To add to this, the way she writes about the characters makes them feel very real, raw, and relatable, which I find rare in historical fiction, specifically pre-1800 writing. It is rare that people of the modern world would be able to read the words of a monarch or aristocrat from the 1400s and feel they understand all their problems, but O’Brien’s writing allows that connection to happen. The Duchess of York’s unique position, having lived through 5 monarchs, two of those being her son and two of them being usurpers, (depending on whether you acknowledge the Act of Accord or not)makes her a very interesting character. O’Brien’s ability to make the King’s Mother’s troubles feel tangible to anyone in the 21st century is a worthy skill.

Even more plausible is her ability to create a narrative that, despite having an already known ending, still feels new and enticing. As a history student, the Tudor period and the Wars of the Roses is a very common topic to study, and after taking a ‘Monarchy and Aristocracy’ module last year for university, I was worried this book would feel more educational than relaxing, but I was wrong. The story doesn’t present itself solely as a historical timeline of events, rather the letters serve to convey the worries, concerns and fun recipes shared between sisters, allowing for humanity to seep through the fabric of tragedy, war and death. The turbulent time period of the Wars of the Roses is heightened and lessened in importance where O’Brien pleases, and her pace is masterfully done. Adding the layer of a female protagonists gives a rare space to the female perspective of war, rivalry, and family drama in a male-centred world.

Overall, if you’re interested in learning about the Wars of the Roses in a tangible manner, I would highly recommend this book. Even if the diary-style isn’t for you, it is a quick and educational book that anyone can read to expand their knowledge of English history. If you wish to buy this book, you can buy it today if you click here.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐