The King's Grace

The King's Grace follows Grace Plantagenet, an illegitimate daughter of King Edward IV of England, as she navigates the dangerous political landscape of the late 15th century. Living at the court of her half-sister Elizabeth of York and brother-in-law Henry VII, Grace becomes entangled in the mystery surrounding a young man claiming to be her lost brother Richard. The novel spans the turbulent period when pretenders to the English throne emerged to challenge Henry VII's rule. Grace must balance her loyalty to the Tudor king with her search for the truth about her brother Richard's fate after his disappearance from the Tower of London years earlier. Through Grace's perspective as both insider and outsider at court, the story explores themes of identity, family bonds, and the personal cost of political power. The narrative examines how truth and memory can be shaped by those who control the official historical record.

Readers note that Smith's portrayal of Grace Plantagenet brings a lesser-known historical figure into focus. The book presents a different perspective on Richard III and the princes in the Tower through Grace's eyes. Readers appreciated: - Detailed historical research and period authenticity - Character development of Grace - Fresh take on a familiar historical period Common criticisms: - Pacing drags in the middle sections - Too many characters to track - Romance subplot feels forced - Some historical liberties taken Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (80+ reviews) Reader quotes: "Smith makes Grace come alive but the plot meanders too much" - Goodreads reviewer "Rich in detail but could have been shorter" - Amazon review "The romance felt unnecessary and detracted from the historical elements" - Historical fiction blog review

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory This novel chronicles Elizabeth Woodville's rise from commoner to queen during the Wars of the Roses, depicting the same time period and many of the same historical figures as The King's Grace.

The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman Richard III's life unfolds from childhood through his final battle, presenting a counterpoint to the events in The King's Grace through the perspective of Grace's purported father.

The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory The story follows Anne Neville's journey through the Wars of the Roses, providing another view of the royal court and political intrigue that shaped Grace's world.

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory Margaret Beaufort's tale of ambition and survival during the Wars of the Roses reveals the machinations that led to the Tudor dynasty's rise and the end of the Plantagenet era Grace knew.

The Last Plantagenet by Thomas B. Costain This historical account focuses on Richard III and the fall of the Plantagenet dynasty, expanding on the historical context that frames Grace's story.

🔹 The book focuses on Grace Plantagenet, an illegitimate daughter of King Edward IV, who has been largely overlooked by history, allowing the author creative freedom to craft her story while maintaining historical accuracy. 🔹 Author Anne Easter Smith spent her childhood in England and Germany, growing up near historic locations that would later feature in her historical novels about the York family during the Wars of the Roses. 🔹 The novel explores the mystery of Perkin Warbeck, who claimed to be Richard of York (one of the "Princes in the Tower"), and created a significant threat to Henry VII's reign in the late 15th century. 🔹 Grace Plantagenet is one of the few confirmed illegitimate children of Edward IV who survived to adulthood, and she served as a lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth of York, her legitimate half-sister. 🔹 The book is part of a larger series by Smith focusing on the York family during the Wars of the Roses, each novel telling the story from a different perspective of those who lived through this tumultuous period.