Goddess Fish Promotions Book Review: The King Must Die

Author: N. Gemini Sasson
Title: The King Must Die
Publisher: Cader Idris Press
Publish Date: April 4, 2012
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: The Goddess Fish Promotions and the author
Book Blurb: England, 1326. Edward II has been dethroned. Queen Isabella and her lover, Sir Roger Mortimer, are at the pinnacle of their power.

Fated to rule, Isabella's son becomes King Edward III at the callow age of fourteen. Young Edward, however, must bide his time as the loyal son until he can break the shackles of his minority and dissolve the regency council which dictates his every action.

When the former king is found mysteriously dead in his cell, the truth becomes obscured and Isabella can no longer trust her own memory . . . or confide in those closest to her. Meanwhile, she struggles to keep her beloved Mortimer at her side and gain yet another crown-France's-for the son who no longer trusts her.

In the sequel to Isabeau, secrecy and treason, conspiracy and revenge once again overtake England. The future rests in the hands of a mother and son whose bonds have reached a breaking point.

Review: I've always been a fan of books about royalty, no matter what the country. English kings and queens are my favorite. I have to say, I've not read much about Plantagenet line. I've read about the Tudors and the Stuarts mostly, so when I had the opportunity to be part of this tour, I jumped on it.

The start of the book is slow, because Edward II hadn't abdicated his throne. The story is told from both Edward's and Isabella's point of view. It gave the story good perspective, it also helped the readers to understand what Isabella and Roger Mortimer had been through prior to the events of this story. (You might want to read the first book Isabeau to learn more, I know I will be reading it soon)

What I found refreshing about this book was how Isabella was portrayed in a favorable light, but even still you weren't sure how you felt about her. You saw her, as well as her son, warts and all. You knew she was having an affair with Mortimer, and that her marriage to the king had been a loveless one. You see her love of her children and her thirst for power.

There are times you love her and times you hate her. When she lost power, along with Roger, who also lost his life, you felt sorry for her. Not because of her rule, but because Roger was the love of her life. That love is portrayed beautifully in this book. You knew they loved each other, even though Roger had a wife and family. I think that's what made Mortimer's death more heartbreaking, because she truly lost him. She also does a great job showing the love between Edward and his Queen Phillipa.

This book made me curious about this period in English history. I found myself checking wiki pages to learn more about the characters. I definitely want to learn more about Edward III's reign.  The story was full of intrigues and other terribly bloody things. It is hard to believe how cruel the human race is.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, this book is definitely a must read!

Rating: 5 flowers