The Royal Game

Name: The Royal Game
Brand: Harper UK
Availability: InStock
Author: Anne O'Brien
ISBN: 9780008422875

Author: Anne O'Brien

Narrator: Jilly Bond

Unabridged: 13 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: HQ

Published: 09/16/2021

Categories: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Women, Family Life, Literary Fiction

Synopsis

‘I was completely captivated’ Barbara Erskine The spellbinding new historical novel from the Sunday Times bestseller Anne O’Brien. England, 1444. Three women challenge the course of history… King Henry VI’s grip on the crown hangs by a thread as the Wars of the Roses starts to tear England apart. And from the ashes of war, the House of Paston begins its rise to power. Led by three visionary women, the Pastons are a family from humble peasant beginnings who rely upon cunning, raw ambition, and good fortune in order to survive. Their ability to plot and scheme sees them overcome imprisonment, violence and betrayal, to eventually secure for their family a castle and a place at the heart of the Yorkist Court. But success breeds jealousy and brings them dangerous enemies… An inspirational story of courage and resilience, The Royal Game, charts the rise of three remarkable women from obscurity to the very heart of Court politics and intrigue. ‘A wonderfully immersive and intriguing read, meticulously researched. I was completely captivated’

Reviews

Goodreads review by Ceecee

4+ The fifteenth century Paston family letters are an invaluable historical resource and in this novel Anne O’Brien brings the Norfolk family to life and includes some of the letters. John Paston at the age of 23 becomes head of the household following the death of his father Justice William. He is i......more

Goodreads review by Kathy

Tackling the Paston family in a historical novel takes courage. Anne O'Brien does an excellent job of bringing the family's women to life in an engaging way, providing insight into medieval England. I'm looking forward to the second book.......more

Goodreads review by Theresa

A splendid historical fiction saga that heralds the beginning of a new series. Anne O’Brien is a master at writing royal historical fiction, she has an ability to not get bogged down in the politics whilst still conveying the key points of the politics in an extremely readable fashion. I had never he......more

Goodreads review by Helen

With a title like The Royal Game, you might expect this novel to be about a king or a queen; in fact, it’s the story of the Pastons, who rose from humble origins to become members of the aristocracy and one of Norfolk’s most influential families during the 15th century. Their collection of personal......more

Goodreads review by Karen

I listened to the audio version of this book - it was brilliantly read!! My knowledge of the Paston famiy was zero before reading this book, and now I just want to know all I can!! The author has done a wonderful job of conveying their story through 3 very different female characters - from Margaret......more

Quotes

‘A gorgeously insightful, inspiring and courageous read’ ‘An engrossing story of one family’s attempts to gain land and power in fifteenth century England … an eye-opening insight into how wealth was gained and lost in late medieval England as well as a pleasure to read’ ‘Fast paced, immersive historical fiction that breathes life into the figures that populated our Medieval past – I thoroughly enjoyed it!’ ‘A gripping historical novel that captures the turbulent rise of one of the most influential families of the Middle Ages in rich and exciting detail’ ‘A wonderfully immersive and intriguing read, meticulously researched. I was completely captivated’ Praise for Anne O’Brien: ‘A compelling story of divided loyalties and family betrayals. Dramatic and highly evocative’ ‘There are historical novels and then there are the works of Anne O’Brien – and this is another hit’ ‘O'Brien manages to reinvent historical fiction’ ‘Dramatic and highly evocative’ ‘One of the best writers around … she outdoes even Philippa Gregory’ ‘O’Brien is a terrific story teller’ ‘O’Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political in this enjoyable, gripping tale’ ‘This thrilling historical novel has it all – high politics, drama, emotion, excellent writing … It's a rollercoaster of a read’ ‘A deftly woven journey. Impeccable research shines through’ ‘A gripping story of love, heartache and political intrigue’ ‘The characters are larger than life … and the author a compulsive storyteller’ ‘This book has everything – royalty, scandal, fascinating historical politics’