Queen by Right (Smith) - Book Reviews

Book Reviews 
Intelligent, compelling and engaging, her novel is lively, believable historical fiction with a heroine readers will take to their hearts.
Romantic Times


Familial betrayal, political scandal, savage wars, decapitations, and licentious affairs.... Fans of medieval historical fiction will undoubtedly appreciate this intimate portrayal of some of the era's key players.
Publishers Weekly


Thanks in no small part to William Shakespeare, history recognizes Richard III, the last king in the Plantagenet dynasty and last ruler of the House of York. But less well remembered is his mother, Cecily of York. An intelligent, dynamic woman unafraid of speaking her mind, she and her husband, also Richard, were a rare love match in a time of marriage as social and political contract. With her signature attention to detail, Smith fully fleshes out the life of this English lady and, through her eyes, skillfully dramatizes the thick of the Wars of the Roses. A master of historical accuracy and complex political intrigues, the author suffers one surprising downfall here; at times flat and at times awkward, the romance between Cecily and Richard works best when the lovers are apart. Verdict: Though this latest is not quite as effortlessly engaging as Smith's previous novels (e.g., The King's Grace), her fans will enjoy it. —Leigh Wright, Bridgewater, NJ
Library Journal