cakt1991 's review for:

The Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson

4.0

emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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 Coronation Year is a thematic follow-up to a previous Jennifer Robson title, The Gown, this time chronicling the  lead-up to Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in June 1953. Given how long traditional publishing can take from conception to finished book, was no doubt conceived to honor the seventieth anniversary of her coronation, and now serves double duty of marking the coronation of the new king, Charles III. 

Unlike The Gown, which focused solely on Elizabeth’s wedding gown and the preparations for it, there are a few different fictional players who come together for a plot that uses the coronation preparations as a backdrop. Each of them is compelling, having their own things to contribute to the event and the plot. I also liked how each was fleshed out with their own personal stakes in the event, which was widely viewed as a celebration after long hard years of war and the aftermath. 

While the narrative initially feels very character-focused and about each of the co-protagonists finding a new sense of purpose or direction, there’s an external plot surrounding  bomb threats on Coronation Day. And the way it ties into a dispute over ownership over the Blue Lion created a nice thread of suspense. 

This is a great tribute book that also incorporates the experiences of regular people during the time period. If you enjoy historical fiction related to the Royal Family, I recommend checking this out!