Scan barcode
A review by rosietomyn
The Royal Game by Anne O'Brien
5.0
The Royal Game by Anne O'Brien is an interesting and engaging take on life in England during the Wars of the Roses (and very early Tudor era). Based in part on the Paston letters, the novel offers a truly unique take on daily life for families on the periphery of prominent royal circles during incredible political and economic upheaval.
The novel's narrators are Margaret Mautby Paston, Eliza Paston Poynings, and Anne Haute. Each protagonist offers a unique perspective on their life and time, but all are sympathetic narrators that readers can't help but root for. Even the most narcissistic of the bunch is compelling in her own way, and all offer biting critiques of the patriarchal social systems that inhibit their abilities -- and, refreshingly, those critiques are well placed and realistic for their time period.
I thoroughly enjoyed each character and the storyline of The Royal Game and definitely look forward to reading the sequel.
The novel's narrators are Margaret Mautby Paston, Eliza Paston Poynings, and Anne Haute. Each protagonist offers a unique perspective on their life and time, but all are sympathetic narrators that readers can't help but root for. Even the most narcissistic of the bunch is compelling in her own way, and all offer biting critiques of the patriarchal social systems that inhibit their abilities -- and, refreshingly, those critiques are well placed and realistic for their time period.
I thoroughly enjoyed each character and the storyline of The Royal Game and definitely look forward to reading the sequel.