Amy Licence – The York King

I’m really happy to say I am taking part in the blog tour for The York King by Amy Licence on behalf of Random Things Tours. Thanks to Anne Cater and Lume Books for my copy of the book.

1464. Family conflicts, Lancaster against York, the fight for the English throne continues.

During the early years of his reign, Edward IV of York battles to bring peace and stability to the country, as Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, raises support in the north, attempting to return the Lancastrian king, Henry VI, to the throne.

With uprisings imminent, the Earl of Warwick pursues a marriage alliance with France, determined to bring about a friendship between the two countries and suppress support for Lancaster.

Unhappy with the match, Edward meets Elizabeth Woodville, daughter of a squire, and marries in a secret ceremony. With verbal agreements broken, friendships damaged and old divisions reappearing, Edward finds himself facing new enemies much closer to home.

The second book in the House of York trilogy set during one of my favourite periods of time. The War of the Roses, a time that was so dangerous to live in. This book focuses on the meeting of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. His brother and Warwick’s betrayal of Edward and his fight to regain the English Crown.

A great historical novel that has been expertly researched and is a great read, too. I would advise anyone wanting to read this book to read the first book before this. Amy Licence has woven a story that held me under its spell, with plenty of battle scenes, even more political intrigue, and the romance of Elizabeth Woodville and Edward.

Elizabeth has always intrigued me. I have read plenty about her meeting with Edward and everything, even so I was happy to revisit this period. Although I knew everything, I was still captivated with the book. The author has brought to life the characters so vividly that I was picturing them as I read.

We are told the story from the perspective of the men mainly. There are chapters that are from the women’s view, but Edward and Warwick tell the story mainly. This is quite different from other books of this period for me,but I did find it interesting.

The action throughout is plenty, and the pace is fast. The characters and their dialogue are both very believable. The inclusion of both sides of Edwards life, home, and the treachery that he was surrounded by during his reign was such a good read. I am looking forward to the next book.

About The Author

Amy Licence is an historian of women’s lives in the medieval and early modern period, from queens to commoners. Her particular interest lies in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century, in gender relations, queenship and identity, female orthodoxy and fertility and childbirth. She is also interested in modernism, specifically Woolf and the Bloomsbury Group, Picasso and Post-Impressionism. She has been a teacher for over twenty years. 

Amy has written for The Guardian, The TLS, The New Statesman, BBC History, The Huffington Post and contributes regularly to BBC History Magazine. Follow @PrufrocksPeach on Twitter