Book Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A King Under Siege (The Plantagenet Legacy, Book 1) By Mercedes Rochelle @authorRochelle @maryanneyarde

 

A King Under Siege(The Plantagenet Legacy, Book 1)

By Mercedes Rochelle

Audio Narrated by Kevin E. Green

 

Richard II found himself under siege not once, but twice in his minority. Crowned king at age ten, he was only fourteen when the Peasants' Revolt terrorized London. But he proved himself every bit the Plantagenet successor, facing Wat Tyler and the rebels when all seemed lost. Alas, his triumph was short-lived, and for the next ten years he struggled to assert himself against his uncles and increasingly hostile nobles. Just like in the days of his great-grandfather Edward II, vengeful magnates strove to separate him from his friends and advisors, and even threatened to depose him if he refused to do their bidding. The Lords Appellant, as they came to be known, purged the royal household with the help of the Merciless Parliament. They murdered his closest allies, leaving the King alone and defenseless. He would never forget his humiliation at the hands of his subjects. Richard's inability to protect his adherents would haunt him for the rest of his life, and he vowed that next time, retribution would be his.

 

Review 

 

This is a very enjoyable novel. The balance between the history and the story is just right and there is a strong sense of realism in this book that makes it not only unputdownable but unforgettable as well.

I thought the writing style really helped to make this book a page-turning read, and reading about how Richard was coerced and controlled left me with a better understanding of how he became, not only the king he was, but the man he was as well. Richard’s story, which history is quick to tell, is not a happy one. But this novel demonstrates how Richard never really stood a chance. He was far too young when his father died, and this led to a regency that was not only badly managed but ruined by greed. I could not help but feel sorry for Richard, and I certainly learnt to hate some of the characters who were so determined to make sure that Richard remained nothing more than a puppet king.

This may well be the first book I have read by Mercedes Rochelle, but it certainly will not be my last. This novel is certainly worth checking out.

 

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Mercedes Rochelle

 

Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. The next series is called The Plantagenet Legacy about the struggles and abdication of Richard II, leading to the troubled reigns of the Lancastrian Kings. She also writes a blog: HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story. Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the Univ. of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to “see the world”. The search hasn’t ended! Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.

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