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A review by srash
The Royal Succession by Maurice Druon
5.0
This series continues to fire on all cylinders, though this one is easily the darkest book so far.
After the successful poisoning of King Louis, several contenders rally to be named regent. The late king's brother Philippe emerges as the most crafty and competent candidate, but he faces fierce and legitimate challenges from several quarters. He's also still a pawn in his mother-in-law's feud with her nephew, which spills into open warfare as the fight over who is to be regent ends up being, like everything else, a proxy battle over who has the right to control the county of Artois. When Robert and Mahaut match wits, nothing is off the table, including infanticide and tormenting the hapless peasants caught in the middle.
After the successful poisoning of King Louis, several contenders rally to be named regent. The late king's brother Philippe emerges as the most crafty and competent candidate, but he faces fierce and legitimate challenges from several quarters. He's also still a pawn in his mother-in-law's feud with her nephew, which spills into open warfare as the fight over who is to be regent ends up being, like everything else, a proxy battle over who has the right to control the county of Artois. When Robert and Mahaut match wits, nothing is off the table, including infanticide and tormenting the hapless peasants caught in the middle.